Featured Employee

Kelsey McDill

There are so many things to say about our Kelsey. Kelsey is our true artist in residence. Her graphic design talent is undeniable. She has a colorful imagination with an "out of the box" approach.  If Kelsey wants to use the kitchen sink on her page, it will happen. No rules, mixed media, colorful, and creative.

Name: Kelsey McDill

Family:  I am the oldest of 5, an identical twin, and a girlfriend to my great boyfriend Adam. My family lives here in Oregon and also in Wa. where I am from. I have a 3yr old Cat Shadow and 5yr dog named Cherie.

Years as a scrapbooker: Believe it or not it I have been scrapbooking for 10 years now! I started by being paid in Creative Memories product for babysitting when I was 14 :)

Describe your style: I look at scrapbooking other then the traditional hobby of preserving my history for future genterations, but as a peice of art. I set out each time I scrapbook to create a work of art. I use alot of paint, my pages are never complete w/out it, fabrics and textures, chipboard and real cardboard, wrapping paper, art papers.... I'd like to say my style looks flea marketish and vintage grunge.

Describe your creative process:

Of course having your photos organized is the first step, however Im terrible at that, I have 24yrs of photos in 2 large photo boxes and when I scrapbook I choose to do what is most recent. Not only is it more exciting to scrap those pix verius something 20yrs ago :) So after photos are picked out, I always start with patterned paper as my background. And ten yrs of collecting makes this process the longest, but after paper I start to develop the page style and vibe, and then look for all embellishments. I rearly do a title or "journaling block" on my page, its about the photos, product and art.

Once I have all my product out I start the visual arrangement and think of the layout direction. If stumped I have a binder of collected ideas from magazines and blogs, I go through and scraplift a concept or several ideas and piece together as my own. I want my final outcome to be art that can be hung on the wall.

What are your favorite companies, tools, and types of product to work with? Hambly Screen Prints, Scenic Route, Basic Grey and Sassafras Lass. My favorite products, I would have to say paint, patterned paper, fabric, inks, brushes and paint applicators.

What scrapbooking things could you not live without (besides the obvious cardstock, paper, adhesives, etc)? Other the the basic tools also (trimmer, scissors, sanding block..) Id have to say paint&fabric! Yes I love the dabbers but I tend to brush on or roll on a large surface of paint. My favorite for scrapbooking is Making Memories and for fabric, hands down is Amy Butler (shown above). I love that woman's ideas and taste :)

Do you scrapbook chronologically?

I never have! I always do whats most current. You wouldn't believe how many people say "Im not caught up" or "I'll never be done doing this". We take pictures as we live, so there for as long as we are still living, pictures keep getting stacked up... therefore is it even possible to ever be caught up? And if you say yes, go backwards and do your photos or your families.

When I scrapbook I have excitment to do what I just lived, it's fresh in my memory and the pictures are guaranteed to be better then 10yrs ago. Once a page is done, I usually keep it hung up or displayed somwhere for a little bit, and then it goes into an album of all newly done pages. Once that one album is full then I divide them all into there corresponding year albums. By doing this I can show off all my new work and appriciate it before it gets hidden onto a bookshelf.

How do you fit scrapbooking into your life? Where do you draw inspiration from? I wish I could create art everyday, I wish I could sit down for more then a hour at a time to complete something. Lately, I have been weighing out being active and being outside, or choosing to be glued to my scrapbook table (which is my dresser top). I think I can justify it when its ugly outside or no one else is home. So for right now not much is getting done, but what is, Im loving it ;)

I went to school for graphic design and fine art. Even before that I have always had a fasination with print adds, magazines, billboards, clothing labels and anything with graphics and print on it. Also art of all kind, in a musuem, on walls downtown, on a canvas... So my Inspiration comes from print, but I also get a lot of ideas from blogs and websites. Some of my favorites are; billabong, urbanoutfitters, I love gd magazines, . Hi my name is Kelsey and I like to blog surf... I love blogs, I like knowing what "famous scrapbookers" are up to and creating, its a great source of inspirations, some of my favorites are Ms Elsie: Celine Navarro,and Marie Stockton.

What’s the hardest part of scrapbooking for you? Finding Time! I dont have any kids of my own, but being the oldest of 5 and having a 4yr almost stepson, working full time, oh and did I mention its summer. I haven't made it a priority. Other than the time...? Im hard on myself, I have to have every scrapbook layout perfect, if its ugly or not 100% perfect I hate looking at it. Like all those old layouts (most of us started with CM), I know you are not supposed to, but I re did all those haha I couldnt look at them anymore.

Favorite layout right now and why? Id have to say my Seattle New Years, Saturday Market or Oregon Beach. I loved the textures I created, the eye flow and materials used, Im proud of them :)

Kelsey!

Coming Soon!

Kelly!

Meet Kelly, our adorable, quirky, and all around wonderful Event Coordinator! You may not see her around the store much anymore (too busy planning a wedding!) but when you take our classes or attend our special events, know that she was a BIG part in making them happen! She has an infectious personality, a sense of humor that is absolutely unforgettable, and an incredibly beautiful scrapbooking style...

Name: Kelly Gillespie

Family:  Youngest; 4 sisters & 1 brother.  Going to get married in August 2008 and then looking forward to babies J.

Years as a scrapbooker:  13

Describe your style:  Nuts?  I don’t think I could really classify myself as one type of style, it all depends on what I am working on.  I really like to “crafty” stuff…painting chipboard, flocking & foiling, chalking, paper piecing.  I like to make one of a kind items that are the perfect fit for my page.

Describe your creative process: Well I definitely THINK about scrapbooking much more than I actually scrapbook.  Whether it be reading my beloved magazines, organizing my photos and supplies, or as you will often find me, sitting at my scrapbook table staring blankly at my cutting mat, I am also thinking/planning the next page.  Once the time comes for me to actually scrapbook it comes together really fast because I have been thinking about the page for hours!

What are your favorite companies, tools, and types of product to work with? I think the Memory Makers Precision Trimmer is awesome!  Love my CutterBee Retractable Knife, Basic Grey Precision File Set, Bazzill, Prima flowers and Pebbles chalks.

What scrapbooking things could you not live without (besides the obvious cardstock, paper, adhesives, etc)? My square punch, American Craft Rub-ons, just about anything PINK, oh and lots of BLING.

Do you scrapbook chronologically? Mostly.  I do occasional theme albums but mostly my albums are by the year.

How do you fit scrapbooking into your life? I scrapbook in the evenings while Roy is playing his obsession…XBOX

Where do you draw inspiration from? I draw most of my inspiration from my photos…matching color palettes or repeating elements

What’s the hardest part of scrapbooking for you? Actually doing it.  My mom and friends always tease me about how much I sit there staring, thinking, instead of scrapping.

Favorite layout right now and why? This one of Roy & I that is for the album I am making to be at our wedding.

Crys!

Meet Crys. She is an old soul with a mellow disposition. Beautiful, responsible, technically advanced, dead-pan creative genius. Sheri and I have been scrapbooking for years but creatively don't hold a candle to this young wife and mother. We admit it openly, because there is no point in denying her contibution to our store every day. She is an incredibly hard working night owl who often stays up into the early morning creating new layouts, cards, classes, and updating our blog. We salute you Crys! Now, where is the cute picture of you? (answer: if someone else could pry my camera from the death grip I keep on it, I might have one someday)

Keep updated on the day to day life on Crys's Blog

Name:  Crys (Chris)

Family:  Me, my husband Scott, and two kidlets Devyn (4) and Trevor (1). Also including our crazy monkey-cat Smudge.

Years as a scrapbooker: A little over 3, I started right before my daughter's first birthday after finally admitting I just couldn't cram any more stuff into her pre-made, store-bought baby book; I needed to make my own. I walked into Scrapbook Attack and never looked back.

Describe Your Style: Clean, simple, graphic lines, basic.... Not really a whole lot of "fun" but it's DONE!

Describe your creative process: I always start with journaling - to me it is the absolute most important part of my pages. I type it up, figure out how much room it's going to take, then go from there. I pick out photos to go with it, then grab the product that catches my eye first and go to town. I don't limit myself at all when I'm scrapbooking. I vary the sizes of my pages from 8.5x11 to 12x12 (yes, they sit side by side in my albums and I think it looks awesome), I do single and double page layouts, I scrap black and white photos and bright colored photos on the same page. Heck I even scrap digitally if the mood strikes. If it makes me happy and works for me, I do it. No restrictions!

What are your favorite companies/tools/types of product to work with? American Crafts is my current (and becoming long-time) love. It's so versatile, gorgeous, and easy to work with. And lets face it, Thickers are the most addictive thing EVER. Technique Tuesday is, of course, another favorite. I love all the different looks you can get from a single set of stamps. It's a fun way to push my creativity and force myself to think outside my clean-and-simple-scrapbooking box.

What scrapbooking things could you not live without? So these aren't really dedicated "scrapbooking" things but I guarantee I couldn't scrap a page without them: my sewing machine and my camera. I sew on everything but fabric (can't sew a straight line to save my life) and to this day my husband wonders why he bought me the thing. My camera is my life. I bit the bullet a few years ago and bought a nice camera and some nice lenses to go with it. Over the years I've taught myself how to use it and now it captures priceless moments of my life every day. Oh and Thickers, I couldn't live without those :)

Do you scrapbook chronologically? NO!!!!! Never have, never will. Heck I started 11 months behind with my daughter (lets not even consider MY life, my romance, my wedding, and everything else I'm attempting to scrap and am years behind in...) so I figure what's the point in trying to catch up? I scrapbook what the mood strikes, when it strikes. I don't pressure myself into creating a specific something, too many limitations equal not enough creativity.

How do you fit scrapbooking into your life? My life starts around 8am and ends around 4am each day. Not recommended for the faint of heart. No seriously, I've suffered from insomnia for years. Instead of fighting it I just learned to accept it and embrace those wee hours of the morning by scrapbooking the night away. It goes by quicker and I don't go insane quite as often when I'm playing with paper. So I put the kids to bed at 8, spend a few social minutes with the husband, and then lock myself away in my scrap room until sleep comes easily. Again, not recommended.

Where do you draw inspiration from? I'd love to say something cool like "junk mail" or "shopping in the seasonal section at Target" but... I'm not cool. I get it from scrapbooking magazines galore. I subscribe to just about every one out there and each month I pour over them and rip out the pages, colors, articles, etc, that catch my eye. I have a dream of organizing said ripped-pages into a cool binder or something someday but in reality it's a big ugly pile in a basket at the moment. Whatever. I'm inspired.

What's the hardest part of scrapbooking for you? Ok this is going to sound dumb: Using the products. Quit laughing... Seriously once I tell the story, get the pictures down, and stick on a pretty piece of paper or two, I'm usually done. I'll add a few brads, attach the requisit Thickers, but other than that I don't use a whole lot of product. Plus, and here's another stupid thing, I don't want to use the product because then I won't have it anymore. Hehe, see - dumb! I collect these gorgeous products and then if I do find a page that it will work on, if it's my last Basic Grey rub on or the only 7 gypsies sticker that I have, I worry that someday down the road a better page will come along that it would work better on. So I set it aside, put it back in the ever-growing stash, and wait. This is why I love my TT stamps - they are RE-USABLE!!! I can never run out of my Whispy Gigs or Borderlines... or E's or S's or any other thing for that matter.

Favorite layout right now and why? I couldn't pick just one, I love them all! I guess my favorite type would be the ones that make you re-live the moment - feel the moment - years later. My journaling is honest and from the heart so it can make you laugh and cry while looking at the same page... and I love that. I love feeling something from a piece of paper... something magical about that.

Sam!

Get to know our favorite red-head a little better! Sam has been with us for 5 years now and she plays the parts of manager and custom scrapbook extraordinaire, she's in charge of our ordering (yes, you can thank her for all the wonderful products you find at SBA), and most of all she's our friend. Read on for her full bio in her own words:

Name: Sam

Family: My husband Carter, my daughter Tabitha (9) and my son Cooper (7). Also our cat/dog Brody; he is our cog or dat, he acts like a cat but looks like a dog.

Years as a Scrapbooker: Back in the day we called it a photo album. I always loved to collage my pics from school. I had a camera in my book bag way back in 88’. Ouch, that dates me. Long time.

Describe Your Style: I am so style-less!  I like clean lines and playing w/size, shape and color. I think my style is described better by my mood.

Describe Your Creative Process: Process?  I have a very simple process: what deadline is next? Seek balance. In my personal scrapbooking, I always start with my latest and greatest pictures printed at Scrapbookpictures.com. I consider this one of my best tools. Good quality pictures motivate my creative spark. I like to start by picking a base color paper, even if it is patterned. I love the gallon, quart, pint analogy. It really helps my sense of balance on my layouts. I go for it from there. I almost always stamp some element on my layout.

What are your favorite companies, tools, and types of product to work with? My favorite companies will be no surprise to anyone, but know that this changes all the time. I do anticipate that this list may change in a week or two. Technique Tuesday, Tsukineko, Basic Grey, Fancy Pants, Creative Imaginations and Scenic Route.

What scrapbooking things could you not live without?  Clear stamps, Stickles, Versamagic, Fundamentals by Technique Tuesday

How do you fit scrapbooking into your life?  I don’t fit it in, I jam it in. I have my crop space in my family room.  This is the hub of our home. It is a hideously decorated room. Too much furniture, gross carpet from 1979, we even have some wood paneling for you nostalgia buffs. However, this is my favorite room in the house. We can all come together in one room and be together. Dad and Coop play games while Tabby and I scrapbook. Function over fashion is the theme in my space which leads to creative bliss! I can always go in the family room and sit down at my desk and get happy. My corner desk is full from floor to ceiling w/ all my gear. I label and try and stay ahead of my own mess.

Don't miss my fabulous T.V. mirror. It sits behind my back.  Carter says by viewing it in reverse, he and I are watching two completely different shows on the same set at the same time. Who say's Mom's don't have eyes in the back of their head?

Where do you draw inspiration from? I love to look at magazines for inspiration. I also find inspiration in just trying a new product that has come in. I am also very inspired by my amazing customers and friends. I think we have a tremendous talent pool. Eileen Collins, Creative Director at TT, is my favorite scrapbooker. She is always good for a new direction or angle I never would have thought about.

What is the hardest part of scrapbooking for you? The hardest part of scrapbooking for me is letting  my inner skeptic come out.  She can really be a tough critic. I try to come up with new and innovative pages that make others want to scrapbook, but sometimes, it just goes sideways. I do the same thing every time this happens. I get a little help from my friends. I bring my pages into the girls at SBA and we work it out. Seriously, everytime.

Favorite layout right now and why? My fav layout right now might have to be on page 75 in the new Technique Tuesday catalog. It is called “The next Generation”. I love it because it uses what I think many people would call feminine stamps and uses them on a completely male page. It is dirty, busy, colorful, and I love that little boy in the picture learning the ropes from his Dad! (the pictures tell the story)

Sheri!

She's got an all around fun approach to scrapbooking and life, her smiles and laughter are contagious, and - lets face it - because of her we all get the pleasure of knowing each other and doing what we love. She's the irresistibly sweet owner of Scrapbook Attack and she is our Featured Employee for December and January!

(be back soon with recent picture!)

Name: Sheri

Family: My husband Bob, my son Ben – age 10, and my daughter Elli – age 8, and two kitty cats Dash and Lucky!

Years as a scrapbooker:  Many, many years!  I still have my first scrapbook that I made when I was 12.  I saved ticket stubs, rocks (not exactly sure why, but 1 was 12), a corner of a torn dollar (again, why?) and lots of bad pictures!  However, it was my first book and I love it still! 

Describe your style: You may look at my pages and believe that I have a style, but truthfully, I am not sure what you would call it.  I often say in my classes you just have to get inside my head – because I do not know what my style is – I just scrap what I like and that it is it!

Describe your creative process:  Ahhh I have a deadline!  I have a class coming up and I need to create a page!!  Or, I have kits to create, or I need a sample for the store!  So, generally, I choose things that need to be sampled in the store and then I go from there!  I flip through magazines sometimes for inspiration – however, truthfully, I rarely find any there.  I tend to start with a piece of patterned paper and then I match ribbons, buttons, inks, and cardstock to it.  Then, I find photos to go with the paper – backwards to many of you I suppose – but, that’s my process!

What are your favorite companies, tools, and types of product to work with? I really don’t have any one favorite of anything.  I tend to pick a product that makes me feel happy – colors, patterns, etc. and go from there!  I don’t like to use the same look over and over ever – too boring!

What scrapbooking things could you not live without (besides the obvious cardstock, paper, adhesives, etc)?  Buttons and ribbons!  They add so much to a page.

How do you fit scrapbooking into your life?  If I am cooking dinner and I am waiting for the pot to boil, I’ll go and steal away 5 min. in my scrapbooking room (don’t be jealous, it’s not that great – but, at least it’s my room!) – Basically, I’ll try and find 5 min. here, 5 min. there between running the kids to their different events and commitments.  I rarely get to create for more than 15 min. at a time – it’s what works for me!

Where do you draw inspiration from?  Hard question.  I wish I knew.  I flip through books and magazines often, but again, I rarely am inspired by them.  I am mostly inspired by my photos.

What’s the hardest part of scrapbooking for you?  Finding and making the time!

Favorite layout right now and why? Actually, it’s not a layout, it is one of the acrylic books from Pageframes that I just put together in about 15 min. – Awesome photos of my kids playing in the backyard having a blast with mud and water!  I used the pictures, the album, rub-ons, and crystals from Prima.  Very quick and easy to put together!

Betsy!

Chances are you've seen this beautiful lady a time or two while shopping in our store. She's been with us for 8 years and we are so proud to call her our friend and co-worker! Get to know her better by reading on...

Name: Betsy

Family: My husband and myself, 3 grown children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 4 grandkids plus loads of extended family (I am one of twelve children)

Years as a scrapbooker: Current style of scrapbooking 8+years, but I have my scrapbook from my elementary/junior high school (hideous)

Describe your style: Simple

Describe your creative process: My creative process has changed since I got my digital camera, so I will go with that.  I plan as I take the photos (not all photos, but a lot of them are taken w/scrapbooking in mind), then mull over the photos for awhile, finally print the photos, figure out how many photos per page, then get out my supplies and pick out what I will use.  I am not a good “spur of the moment scrapper”, I need time to think it through.

What are your favorite companies, tools, and types of product to work with? I love acrylic stamps, my two favorites are Technique Tuesday and Close to My Heart.  I love my computer for journaling and looking things up (quotes, definitions, places we went, etc) paper, paper and more paper, printed and cardstock, love Bazzill and Basic Grey.  I also like to add color to my pages and paper, whether it’s with ink or paints.

What scrapbooking things could you not live without (besides the obvious cardstock, paper, adhesives, etc)? My computer and paper trimmer because my handwriting is atrocious and I can’t cut a straight line to save my life.  Also idea books, they inspire me, I may not scraplift, but sometimes I need the inspiration.

How do you fit scrapbooking into your life?  Well…. lately I haven’t been very good at that.  I find I have to make time for it and sometimes I go weeks, literally, without actually scrapbooking a page (that doesn’t mean I am not still buying stuff or thinking about my eventual pages – that is an ongoing thought process for me, sometimes I think I eat, breathe and sleep scrapbooking, but I just don’t get a page done) but eventually I sit down and then go like crazy, will do 4 or 5 layouts a day 2-3 days in a row.  I would like to change that and am working on a goal in my head.  You would think since it’s just me and my husband at home that I could scrapbook all the time, but I also work two jobs, travel, garden, quilt, read, etc., etc, but I really do want to make more time for actual scrapbooking so when you come into the store ask me how many pages I have done.

Where do you draw inspiration from?  Idea books, magazines, the store and most often my grandchildren.

What’s the hardest part of scrapbooking for you? Doing it, ha ha.  Actually journaling is the hardest part for me.  I still have pages that are years old, literally that I haven’t journaled yet, I know I’m a bad girl, but I am being honest with you.  Journaling is my bug-a-boo!

Favorite layout right now and why?  The one titled “Grandma can you make me a cape?”  I love the picture of my grandson in his cape, it is blurry but it captures his pure joy while playing in the cape and I actually journaled – it’s  the conversation Josh and I had when we discussed him wanting a cape so it was pretty easy to journal but it is such an adorable story it makes me smile everytime I see the layout.