People Doing Good...

These are pictures from an event we did personalized shirts for. On Oct. 11th Alleluia! Lutheran Church hosted their annual Scrap-N-Stamp. They choose to have our "care. crop. cure." design on the front of the shirts and their church/event logo on the back. They raised money for Breast Cancer charities in Illinois. As you can see there was a large turn out and we were very excited to be a part of this great event.

Fence Post Interview: Stephanie Ackerman (Creator of Home & Heart Magazine)

Stephanie designed our ScrapHappy logo that is available on a brown tote bag as well as any of our shirts. She is also the creator of Home & Heart Magazine (new issue due out next month). Stephanie answered a few questions for our Fence Post Interview.

Tell us a little about yourself? I am a “Simply Complicated” girl…. I love the simple things and most of the time complicate them… in a good way (most of the time). I am an ordinary girl living an extraordinary life... let me explain what it means... I am a regular girl. I love GOD, my family, my friends, my neighbors, my kids school & the teachers who teach there & the volunteers who volunteer there. I am a simple girl. I love Chips & Salsa, ice from a bag and Fuji Apples from Costco. I used to drive a mini van, but got a newer car a few years back, but am not to proud to say I would go back to a mini van any day (it is easy to haul around bikes, skateboards, boogie boards & skate ramps)! Oh, and I LOVE paper, batter, fabric, dough (as in cookie dough) & paint... A LOT... probably more than the average person.

I am not a "celebrity" and on the contrary, I am the one who won't even say hello to Heidi Swapp when I see her. I know, that is soooo lame, the thing is, my lil crop friend Heather said "I was her new celebrity friend". Now I will be honest and tell you that many years ago, my friend Deena & I sat at a table and dreamed about what it would be like to be one of "The Big Girls".....but I am no celebrity. no sir-ree...when you meet me, you will realize that I am really am a jean wearin, flop flop sportin, God Lovin, paper craftin dork. And I am okay with this.

That is why I get confused and totally embarrassed when someone wants me to sign an autograph... duh, who's name do you want me to sign... where am I going with this? I am flattered that people consider me being a celebrity, but I am going to burst your bubble and tell you that there are no paparazzi helicopters flying in my airspace... only fly's (from the bunny poop). Maybe the word celebrity has to do with the fact that I have (for a few more months) a publication from CK Media... but celebrity is not the word. Blessed is a better word and I am so sad to have to share that after the August issue, it will be no more.

When someone asks me how long I have been "creating", I explain that I started at birth. My very first project was shortly after birth, when the nurses stamped my lil tiny baby foot in ink and stamped it on something official. When I was a young girl, I made Barbie Clothes, Barbie forts, pot holders, sit-upons, a doll for my grandma when she was in the hospital, Christmas ornaments from plastic champagne glasses, dolls from clothes pins...I could go on for a long time...but I will stop ( I am starting to ramble)... I am starting to document what it is to me and sharing with you my "Living a normal life", with school, kids, dishes, laundry, bills (&%$#) but also being blessed by GOD & the people I have come to meet, to be able to live my dream of being a "sorta big girl". I guess my point is, I am a normal & simple girl...and one who sees things complicated, or heck, complicates them. I am affected by world events & local problems and quite honestly, dang tired of hearing about the presidential election and the price of gas. My point to all of this rambling is to repeat that I am just a girl....living an extraordinary life...
and remember this... I am you and you are me...just paper lovin, GOD prayin', good do-er tryin' to live this life...while raisin' kids, doin' laundry, payin' bills and makin' stuff....

Scrapbooking product you can't live without? My ATG gun…hands down, I am a total over adhesive user, and that has got to be the best product for adhesive… I also LOVE all night media brand foam pop dots.

If your house was burning down and your family was safe, what 1 item would you grab? My wedding ring, which was also my great grandmothers wedding ring, and the ring I wear on my right hand which was my grandma’s wedding ring….and my photos.

How did you come up with the "ScrapHappy" design? It is the name of one my best scrappy friends blog, Lain Ehmann of Simple Scrapbooks.

Your perfect day would be... June 23, 2007…the day I married the boy I fell in love with waaayyyyyy back when I was 15….22 plus years later..we met up again and fell in love for real and forever!

1 person you wish you could have over for dinner? Actually, with such busy sports schedules, summer sleepovers, activities 24/7 & my husband being gone for two months, I would just love for my family to sit down together for dinner, right now.

Favorite Color? Barn Red & Sage Green

Favorite Yellow Fence Product? Well, the ScrapHappy Tote Bag, of course…and Tara’s t-shirt.

Where do you get the inspiration for your doodles? I am inspired by quotes, songs, smells, paper patterns, color combinations…holidays…& a big one is… emotions.

Favorite Album Ever Created? My Rhonna Farrer 21 Day Journal. A few years back, on her blog, Rhonna would inspire us with a quote each day for 21 days. I printed out her quote, adhered it to my page, re-doodled the same quote and then journal about how it inspired me, reminded me and /or affected me. I looked forward to getting up every morning to find a new quote….21 days forms a habit, and that it did…I doodle everyday..everywhere I go…It is a good habit to have!

What projects are you currently working on? I am working on a cornucopia of projects… like always… I have at least 10 projects going… I am designing some products for Bo Bunny… I just released an entire alphabet stamp set that you can purchase through my Etsy Shop, I am starting to teach store & home workshop/craft nights that consist of my “How-To-Doodle like I do” and I am getting ready for an experience of a lifetime in October… I am going to South Africa to meet up with Lara Cousins to teach what is being called “The Creative Journey” A scrapbooking excursion on a train that will benefit Breast Cancer Research…& I am excited that my mother-in-law with be traveling with me. Anybody want to come with me???

Fence Post Interview: Tammy Wynard (Guest Designer & "care. crop. cure." Contest Winner)

Say hello to Tammy! Tammy created the "care. crop. cure." design that won our design contest a few months back. Tammy choose the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization as her charity of choice to receive 25% of the profits from the sale of all "care. crop. cure." merchandise. Tammy answered a few interview questions for us so we could get to know her better.

Tell us a little about yourself? I'm a 33 years old - Native of Chicago suburbs and currenlty live in the west suburb of Aurora. I am a professional public and school health educator. I taught middle and high school health education up until my daughter was born and now teach undergraduate and graduate public and school health education courses at two local universities at night and on weekends. I have been married nine years to my very giving and loving husband Kevin, and have two totally adorable kids - Teddy 4 years old and Katey 1 1/2 years old and I love that I get to play with them everyday!

Scrapbooking product you can't live without? Stamps (and ink!)

If your house was burning down and your family was safe, what 1 item would you grab? It would have to be my kids' blankets and my daughter's dolly, if everything else was gone at least they would have their lovies

How did you come up with your "care. crop. cure." design? Being a health educator when I read about the contest I was excited because it bridged my two passions - health & wellness and scrapbooking - these two world's don't collide that often, so I let it sink in for awhile but kept thinking of different ideas for the shirt. I have a lot of wonderful artistic ideas but don't have the graphic design background to really put it on paper so I decided to go the simple route which is what I really love about the Yellow Fence products to begin with. As a teacher and avid reader I love words, so I decided to do a word play on the "care. crop. cure." theme. I used the thesaurus for care and cure which was easy to come up love and heal and threw in scrap for crop. When I came to the word "heal" I knew it was good because everyone can be part of someone's healing process, but everyone doesn't have the ability to necessarily cure someone.

Your perfect day would be... wake up hearing the waves crash on the beach, then eat a huge buffet breakfast with mimosa's, go to the beach with my family where it is the perfect temperature and not to much wind, have some pina coladas with shrimp cocktail for lunch, take a nap, go for a dip in a pool, take my family and go to a restaurant on the beach to watch the sunset, go for a walk on the beach, end the night reading a book for leisure and not work related.

1 person you wish you could have over for dinner? My best friend Angie, who is truly my sister, is an international school teacher and has lived over seas for nine years. We only get to see each other maybe every 2-4 years so I would love to eat a great meal with her and just hang out like we did in college, and after when we were roommates.

Favorite Color? Purple

Favorite Yellow Fence Product? Ladies V-Neck Shirts

What charity did you choose to have profits from the sale of your shirt donated to and how did you pick them? I chose the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization based out of Chicago, Illinois. I wanted a organization that was local to me but had national appeal. I also believe their 24 hour question and support hotline is undeniable one of the best ways to help newly diagnosed and their friends and family. Pairing someone with breast cancer with a survivor that knows how they feel when family and friends may not, is a huge ingredient in someone's healing process.

Favorite Album Ever Created? I was a card maker for three years and said I would never become a scrapbooker. Well, my Close to My Heart Consultant was doing a workshop on making a 6X6 album for each person in your family. Since we didn't have kids then I did my husband, myself, and our dog Wilson. I made a blank page for my future baby because I knew that someday I would be able to put a picture of my child in it. My consultant thought is was quite humorous, but 1 1/2 years later I was able to put the picture in the album, which was one of the happiest moments because I was then a mom. That first album will always be special - even though it is only twelve pages long.

Fence Post Interview: Karen Wilson (Executive Director of The Unforgettables Foundation)

Karen is the Executive Director for The Unforgettables Foundation. They are the charity that Tara selected to benefit from the sales of her shirts. Karen answered a few interview questions for our blog. And, as a side note, this picture of Karen was taken right after she cut 13 inches off all of her hair and donated it Locks of Love.

What is the purpose of The Unforgettables Foundation? We have 2 roles: The first is to help families with burial assistance expenses after the death of a child (ages 0-18). We assist 300-400 families a year. Secondly, in an effort to save lives, we offer free CPR training. We travel to schools, businesses and community agencies.

How and when did you become involved in the organization? A friend of mine was on their board of directors and I mentioned to her I was looking to leave my job as a full time school administrator and she suggested I apply for their part-time executive director position and I did!

Scrapbooking product you can't live without? I think I use glue dots on every thing I create. I have them everywhere--even my 5 and 7 year olds use them. I also love Bazzill cardstock.

Your perfect day would be... Just hanging out without a "to-do" list! Ideally, waking up early, eating a yummy breakfast, getting a pedicure, spending the afternoon at an uncrowded beach with my family, having a bon fire and s'mores, coming home to scrapbook!

1 person you wish you could have over for dinner? McDreamy :)

What is 1 thing you would like everyone to know about The Unforgettables Foundation? We are working really hard to expand outside of California but need community volunteers to make that happen in their city.

Favorite Scrapbook Idea Books? All of the Cathy Zielske books--they are awesome and fun to read!

Favorite Album Ever Created? It had to be my first, it was a ABC album of my kids. I did it as a gift for my mom.

Tell us about your Unforgettable Crop for Kids... Our first Crop for Kids was held in January 2008 and it was an amazing success--we raised over $17,000!! We had make-n-takes with Stephanie Akerman (CK Media), Cheryl Waters (FISKARS), Leah Fung (MAKING MEMORIES), Donna Salazar (PRIMA), & Candice Carpenter. We are having our 2009 event on February 21st in Redlands, California. The cost is $100 per person and that covers all meals, snacks, drinks, goodie bags, and lots of surprises, make-n-takes and more!! Registration will open in July and even people who can't attend ours can have a crop in their town and donate the proceeds back to us. It really is an amazing cause and all of the money goes to help the families. I knew this fundraiser would work because anytime you take a cause and a hobby you are passionate about you will be successful!

Fence Post Interview: Tara Whitney (Orange County's Premier Family Photographer)

The fabulous Tara Whitney did us the honor of being our first guest designer for our new Chari-tees program. You may know Tara from her work for Simple Scrapbooks as well as her phenomenal photography. Tara answered a few questions for us about The Unforgettables Foundation, her charity of choice.

What made you choose The Unforgettables Foundation as your charity? Their organization was brought to my attention just after having a session with a family who lost their child at birth. The pain that they experienced was so raw and it stayed with me. It is still with me. So, it was a natural choice.

Are you now, or have you in the past participated in any other fundraising events for them? They recently had a crop where they raffled off prizes. One of the prizes was a photo session with me, anywhere in the USA.

Your perfect day would be... My perfect day would include in some order: a massage, a clean house, laundry put away, shopping with friends, a movie, laying pool-side having drinks brought to me, watching my children have fun, sitting on the beach, taking pictures, snuggling and laughing with my husband. All while eating whatever I wanted and staying a size 10.

Fence Post Interview: Kristi Sikora-Blankenship (Organizer Extraordinaire)

You may know Kristi from her work with Cropper Hopper teaching organizational classes at scrapbook conventions and events throughout the country. I've known her for many years and she truly is a great person and a very inspired scrapbooker. We recently did a little interview for the blog. Enjoy!

Scrapbooking product you can't live without? My Epson Picture Mate Printer.

If your house was burning down and your family was safe, what 1 item would you grab? My parent's wedding album.

If your house did burn down would you consider rebuilding in Florida? OH YES!

Your perfect day would be... Waking up a little late (9 AM), going to a gym for a high impact work out class, swimming for 45 minutes, shower and massage, come home to scrapbook with my neighbor Shannon, and taking the kids to a festival that night. :) Oh yeah, and I am SUPER SKINNY this entire day, too. :)

1 person you wish you could have over for dinner? My mom.

Favorite Color? Pink.

Favorite Yellow Fence Product? V-neck Shirts and Yellow Fence Tote Bags.

Favorite Scrapbook Idea Books? Cathy Zielske (Both Clean & Simple), Ali Edwards (Life Artist), Stacy Julian (Big Picture).

Favorite Album Ever Created? Week in A life - I love having a snapshot of our lives for one week. I wish I had this from my childhood.

What are your scrapbooking goals for 2008?
* Get my perpetual albums up to date. * Do a story week by week so my kids know stories about our lives. * Get all my digital photos onto my mac. * Create a gift album for my dad's doctor's family. * Create a gratitude album. * Scrap at least once a week for a little bit.

Why do you love scrapbooking? It really leaves something real for the people you leave behind should anything ever happen to you. I love knowing my kids will have no doubt how much I loved them each and every day.