Cathy Zielske's Blog

Sponsor Giveaway: win Scrap Chic, the newest eBook from Ella Publishing

Scrap Chic, Ella Publishing's newest eBook is now available. Some of you may know this, but I've been working as Ella's eBook designer since their inception, a few years back. This is the first time I've actually contributed any layouts to one of their books, which is kind of fun for me. It's also fun because I get to work with my former Simple Scrapbooks managing editor, Angie Lucas. Sometimes when you have a good thing going, it's so great to extend it into your freelance life.

All that is well and good, but today, I get to giveaway two copies of this book. All you have to do is leave a comment today, and tell me what is the trendiest thing you've ever done on a scrapbook page. 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Learn how to avoid "trend takeover" with help from 14 of the biggest names in scrapbooking, from Ali to Zielske!

Honoring trends can make you feel inspired and energized, truly reinvigorating your scrapbooking. The trick is to keep the trends in check and make them work within your own personal style, so they don't overwhelm the story you're trying to tell.

In 36 inspiring pages, you'll learn insider secrets for showcasing your best stories using today's top trends. You'll also enjoy plenty of bonus tricks, from design ideas to product tips to journaling solutions.

See our designers' takes on: clotheslines, hexagons, ombre, sunburst, wood grain and more—plus a dozen bonus trends to add to your scrapbooker's toolbox.

• 14 top trends with 2 examples for each
• 14 diverse, well-known scrapbookers
• 36 pages of ideas and inspiration

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: The 14 contributors to this eBook were all featured in the 2012 Big Idea Festival (2012) at bigpictureclasses.com. They include: Ali Edwards, Amy Sorensen, Angie Lucas, Becky Novacek, Cathy Zielske, Courtney Walsh, Karen Grunberg, Lisa Dickinson, May Flaum, Nichol Magouirk, Rebecca Cooper, Stacy Julian, Stephanie Baxter, and Wendy Smedley.

TO ENTER: Okay, let me have it: what is the trendiest thing you've ever done on a scrapbook page? I'll choose a winner on Sunday night.

And what is the trendiest thing I've ever done? Hmmm. That's a tough one. Anyone remember Twistel? BOOYA! Old school, baby. 

This contest is now closed. I'll be contacting the winners shortly!

Project Life, Week Thirty-Eight

OBSERVATIONS: My big DSLR is getting an awful lot of rest these days. I didn't take a ton of photos last week and almost every shot was taken with my iPhone. And keep in mind here, I don't have the iPhone 4s with the fancier camera. (The horror!) It's just always with me, and so it documents my life. I suppose it's a testament to the great quality, and the fact that I'm not hung up on making sure every photo in my life is a perfectly exposed masterpiece. The highlight of last week? Chester the dog came for the weekend. Much snuggle time was had with that now 10-year-old charmer. I'm looking into having him cloned. Here are my pages for the week.

The other notable part of last week? Fall arrived. Yeah, baby! Having to flip on the fire was pure bliss. Temps at night dropping into the 30s makes for some awfully nice sleeping weather. 

Here's a recap of the week:

And that is all I wrote in Week 38.

SUPPLIES:

InLinkz.com

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Project Life, created by Becky Higgins, is a flexible, easy-to-use, highly customizable way to save your memories in a fun, stress-free way. Learn more about getting started with Project Life by clicking here.

 

Two years ago, right now (another lurid tale from the scale)

This is not going to be a woe-is-me, what-the-hell-happened kind of blog post. In case you're wondering. Nope. Not going to go there.

Okay, maybe just a tiny bit.

I was going through my iPhoto library over the weekend, looking for some specific shots for a project and came across a series of photos of me in my hallway mirror in October 2010, and I remembered what it felt like to have a new skirt, new boots and a new waistline to match.

This was me at 141 pounds, after losing 41 extra libbies. This was me after 10 months of religious adherence to the Weight Watchers plan. This was me, thinking, "Oh yeah, baby. NOW life begins!"

I so got this.

Of course, I did not 'so got that'. Not really. Not at all, some might have said.

So began the past two years of slowly moving back up the BMI chart. When I started teaching Move More, Eat Well, I was very inspired at the idea of making changes that would stick. When that class began, I had worked my way up to around 160, and I was hell bent on getting back to where I'd once landed.

It didn't quite work out that way.

One of the positives of the past two years, however, is a commitment to getting my move on. Whether it's been running, walking, swimming, biking, or hanging out with Jillian Michaels in my family room, I've made the effort to Move More whenever possible. And I've realized that even if it isn't the magic key to weight loss, it is a key to a clearer mind and a calmer heart.

The summer, specifically August, saw a huge drop off in my exercise habits. I could make some tepid excuses about bone spurs and foot pain, but as I have learned, there are always other things you can do. I just got sloppy.

And if I get sloppy in moving my body, the food component—or rather, the crappy food component—catches up in a big way. And fast.

In my class this year, it has been all about keeping it real and not giving up. Even when you feel defeated. Even when you start to think, as I have, "Oh, shit. Here we go again."

As I sit here typing, following a 3.5 mile run where things didn't really hurt all that bad, glowing red like a freshly cooked lobster, I still believe that I have the capability of living a healthy, fit life. That I can figure out this insane sugar habit I seem to have picked up in my life. That I can be the changes I truly want to see.

I mean, hells bells, I quit smoking. I think that qualifies me to do just about anything.

So I'm puffy right now. So I'm not doing what I know how to do. 

There's really no need to mope about now is there? Every day is a whole new ball game.

The possibilities are actually pretty endless.

That's where my head is today.

How about you?

Announcing Two Views, my newest online workshop coming to Big Picture Classes in November

Today I'm announcing my newest workshop coming in mid-November to Big Picture Classes.

The class is called Two Views. The project is an album of prompts designed to be answered and recorded by two people. This class got started in my head about a year ago when I had the idea of making an album wherein me and my then 15-year-old daughter, Aidan, would create a sort of she said/she said type of album designed around a series of pre-determined prompts.

I wanted to find a way to save two voices—hers and mine—and celebrate where and if they merged, or where for sure they differed. 

The nice thing about Aidan is that a) she's crafty, and b) she likes to write. But as much as we both loved the idea and were excited about it, we just sort of sat on it until mid-Summer, when I said, "Okay, let's do this thing."

The result is an album that I may love above all others I've completed to date. A document of two completely different perspectives—mine and hers—in one, sweet little 8 x 8 album. I created a class around this project realizing that there are many ways two voices can come together in a project, beyond simply a mother and a daughter. It could be sisters, best friends, spouses or partners—any two people who like the challenge of tackling some questions that are designed to reveal little slices of authenticity for each person who undertakes the project.

And this is something that you don't have to be a full-blown scrapbooker to complete. Sure, I've tossed in a bit of the printing/production aspects of crafting that we all enjoy, and yes, you'll learn some digital tips and tricks along the way, but you can recruit anyone to participate with you. You sign up, and help them get set up, and off you go.

Although the class doesn't begin until November, when you sign up you'll be able to download a PDF of the prompts to give you a chance to get the creative wheels turning. In this way, when class begins, you'll be ready to jump in and start applying your words to the class templates.

If you have any questions about this workshop, please post in the comments and I'm happy to answer. Two Views runs November 8–21. You can read the full class description by clicking here. Registration is open now.

I hope to see you there!

You can listen to an audio promo on the class by clicking here.

 

 

The winner of a seat in True Scrap 4 is…

The winner of the seat in True Scrap 4 is:

Bernice! Email me asap at czdesign@comcast.net and I'll get you hooked up!

 

Designer Digitals Sale + My New Recipe Album

Ah, fall is in the air and savings are on tap over at Designer Digitals. Save 30% throughout the store (and 20% on new releases for this week) and speaking of new releases…

I'd been wanting to create a recipe album for a while now, something simple, something that I would use with my current 5.5 x 8.5 system.

However, I couldn't find a 5.5 x 8.5 binder that I really liked. Until now.

Enter Martha Stewart's office collection. I fell in love and thought: this would make a cute binder for recipes.

And so I set out to create a simple album set with layered PSD files to let you drop a photo of your recipe in (or not) and set up a simple album with lots of categories and a quippy food quote on each category divider page.

I designed the basic recipe pages using my favorite font, Avenir, in one single weight, 45 Avenir Book. All of the dividers are designed using this font and they will print on any computer. However, the recipe templates are set up with this font, but you can just replace it with another font you love, or buy the Avenir 45 font. (It's such an all-around superstar typeface.)

I am going to be making an album for my daughter, adding in recipes that I know she will like (and eat) and yes, they are all vegetarian recipes. My thought it to create something for her that will remind her of the meals we cooked with her in mind for all these amazing teen years.

The binders themselves are not huge, but I like the idea that you could make volumes for specific categories. Who wouldn't want a binder full of just cookies?

I've picked a handful of colors for the dividers. Each PDF is printable and there are also PSDs so you can change the background colors to suit your tastes.

You can use photos with your recipe, or not.

There is a second page for more directions, of course, that you can add as many as you need for each recipe. But if your recipes are that long, then God bless you, woman.

This set is on sale as part of the 3rd Quarter Designer Digitals sale. 

Bon apetit, and happy clean & simple scrapbooking.

 

Project Life, Week Thirty-Seven

OBSERVATIONS: Last week was the week where Children Were Not Around. It was weird and peaceful as the same time. It made me realize that we may have a whole other life to live one day. One where we eat when it suits us. And stuff like that.

Anyhoo, I also used some of the kids' photos from their trips. My kids attend a Montessori High School, and taking trips is an essential part of their community-building approach to education. Apparently, both trips were a success. Always good to hear this from your wayward offspring. Onto the week:

Upon Aidan's return, we hit the yarn store. She has become the family knitter, and is presently obsessed with making a Dr. Who-themed scarf. She is also obsessed with themed-nail art, as you see below.

I love having shots taken by them. Especially the one in the lower right? Only a 13-year-old boy could have taken that. Love the composition.

Here's the recap:

And that is all I wrote for Week 37.

SUPPLIES:

InLinkz.com

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Project Life, created by Becky Higgins, is a flexible, easy-to-use, highly customizable way to save your memories in a fun, stress-free way. Learn more about getting started with Project Life by clicking here.

 

Recent Instagram faves

Still adore that little iPhone app. Most of these shots from last week are going into Project Life this week. Who knew a phone would be so useful to a scrapbooker?

You can follow me here. I won't lie: I talk a lot of pictures of my food.

 

Special Monday Giveaway: True Scrap 4

My friend Lain Ehmann, would like to tell you about the return of True Scrap, so today, I'm handing over the reigns, and also giving one seat away to one of you. Read on for more info.

THE DEETS: True Scrap 4 is the galaxy's ONLY online, live scrapbooking and papercrafting experience. With 15 A-list instructors, five virtual make-and-takes, and a ton of fun, you won't want to miss it. Instructors bring classes on everything from photography to design to inspiration right to your computer – live! You log in from home and interact in the state-of-the-art webroom, chatting, learning, and interacting in real time. And it's all recorded so you can go back and watch again and again.

True Scrap producer Lain Ehmann invited me to appear as the keynote interview for True Scrap 2 last year, and ever since then I've been keeping an eye on this innovative event. You won't want to miss it!

Sound cool? I think so! And here's something even cooler: You can WIN a FREE spot in True Scrap 4, valued at $147, plus some other great prizes. Here's how to enter:

1. Click here and watch the sneak peek instructor video.
2. Sign up for the “More Info” email list at the bottom of the page.
3. Come back here and leave a comment letting me know you've done steps 1 & 2.

Contest closes on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012. Winners will be notified by Wed., Sept. 25, 2012, and all prizes must be claimed by Friday, Sept. 28, 2012.

Here's the full list of instructors who will be appearing LIVE at this event:

• Julie Fei-Fan Balzer
• Erin Bassett
• Monica Bradford
• Kelli Crowe
• Laura Denison
• Jennifer Gallacher
• Nic Howard
• Noell Hyman
• Katrina Kennedy
• Nichol Magouirk
• Gretchen Schmidt
• Katrina Simeck
• Jessica Sprague
• Heidi Swapp
• Jennifer Wilson

Ready to sign up? You can get $20 off your registration by clicking here.

This giveaway is now closed. The winner will be announced soon!

 

 

Sponsor Giveaway: win a seat in iScrapit from ReneePearson.com

One blog reader will win a seat in, iScrapit!, Mobile scrapbooking for iPad & iPhone, scrapbooking anywhere and anytime with Apple Keynote for iOS.

ABOUT THE CLASS: In iScrapit, you’ll learn how to create beautiful digital albums, to show or print, using Apple Keynote for iPad or iPhone. Over the course of 3-weeks, Renee will cover everything from adding images and text to animations and transitions. You’ll also learn how to convert your digital kits and templates to sizes that work with your mobile device and how to take your Project Life mobile.

 Bonus! Free sampler kit from Karla Dudley of Design House Digital.

 What students say about iScrapit and Renee Pearson:

“I'm just excited to be able to scrap on my iPad! The class was well organized, informative, and fun.”

 “I loved this class! I was hooked from the very beginning. I love scrapbooking and technology.”

“Every lesson had something in it that was new to me. I never thought scrapbooking on the iPad was possible. Renee moved right through the lessons.”

This class runs from September 24 - October 14 (3 Weeks).

TO ENTER: Leave me a comment and tell me if you have ever considered using your iPad or iPhone to scrapbook your memories. I'll choose a winner on Sunday night.

This contest is closed. I'll pick and winner and notify them by email!