Guest Designer for Luv U Lots Scrapbooks on Etsy

Hello Fellow Bloggers,
Hope you are all doing well. Today's blog will be a feature on the guest scrapbooker/designer that recently visited my Etsy shop.
Jessica Allen is an artist, education professional and mother of two very active children age 4 and 6. She and her husband currently reside in Santiago, Chile, but are US citizens.
     Ms Allen has been interested in Art since a very early age. As an elementary schooler she created a complete Nativity scene out of cardboard and won a local newspaper "Create a Hat" contest. In high school she participated in both juried and non-juried art shows where she won numerous awards. Her greatest accomplishment however, (aside from her marriage and children) is creating the illustrations for a childrens storybook that was ultimately published.
     Jessica feels that art is fundamental in the growth and development of children and strives to include all aspects of the field in both her job as a parent and educational professional.
     On her recent visit to the US she contacted me to see if perhaps she could visit my shop and catch up on the latest trends in US scrapbooking.
     This cute jungle themed mini scrapbook album was the result of that visit. You can see that she scraps with a "no limit" philosophy, just as she lives her life. This scrapbook is full of bright colors and bold images combined in creative and sometimes unorthodox combinations. Surprisingly, though, it all works well together.

     As I look at this album, I can not help but wonder how I can add some of the "joie de vivre" that Jessica scraps with to my scrapbook style. Is there a new element that you would like to add to your scrapping style? Would it make you feel uncomfortable to change your style? Do you think it would help your scrapping skills to expand into new techniques?
     The "Mash-Up"....  how could expanding your outlook on a subject improve your life style? How scary would it be to make that change?
     For more mind expanding and life expanding outlooks watch this TED talk from Sir Ken Robinson on creativity.

Let  me a comment below.

What Do You Want to See?

 I am sitting here, in front of this blank computer screen wondering what on earth I should blog about today. I suppose I could show you the newest item in my Etsy store. Or I could talk about the latest TED talk that I listened to. Maybe we could all discuss our "bucket lists", our family ancestry searches or what type of technology we enjoy the most or what book you are currently reading.

Maybe some of you would like tips on how to declutter your home, shop and lives. As a new blogger I would find it really interesting if you would let a comment below about subjects that concern or interest you. That way we would all have something to talk about.

In the meantime here is that new album in my etsy store.

Meet Crafty CupCake Girl -

As you may or may not know, I currently have an Etsy store where I sell custom and premade scrapbooking albums and mini albums.
Today, I started a new collaboration with a customer of mine, Lilli, who also has an Etsy store.  If you know someone who is having a baby or you need a baby shower gift you absolutely must visit this store.

Lilli's creations are some of the most original baby gifts I have ever seen. From customized onesies

To baskets of creatively folded washcloths and towels

Crafty Cupcake Girl has it all! Not only are her items creative and unique they are delivered in adorable baskets and sealed with protective cellophane. Her gifts come in all sizes and all types of assortments, and her Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes are one of my favorites.

 Lilli's items are available in traditional baby colors of pink and blue as well as gender neutral colors of green and yellow.

In addition to her many item choices she also has various shipping choices in case you need your items quickly. Should you spend more than $20 on your gift she graciously tucks in an additional surprise full of lovely little baby treat's.

So the next time you need a baby related gift stop by Crafty Cupcake Girl and pick up a dozen or so. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Happy Birthday USA and Welcome to my blog,

I have been wanting to have a blog for a very long time. Thanks to my daughter Jessica, it has finally become a reality. I hope to make this blog a collaborative effort between you my readers and myself so that we can both be entertained, enlightened and educated.

As a recently retired boomer, I have been spending my time establishing a presence on Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade goods of all types. Some of the posts, naturally, will revolve around my activities with that. Additionally, there will be other scrapbook related articles about new items, new techniques and general information from the world of scrapbooking. The items that I create are made from as many upcycled (recycled), materials as I can creatively incorporate into my designs. Some of my designs are original, some of them are my interpretation of original works from two of today´s leading designers, Laura Denison, ¨Following the paper trail¨and Kathy Orta, ¨Paper Phenomenon¨. There are links to both of these very talented designers on this page. Please visit their web sites if you would like to be amazed, their work is that good.

In addition to the posts, which I will update on Tuesdays, there will be weekly polls, guest bloggers, contests, drawings and interviews. I look forward with enthusiasm this new journey that you and I will be taking down the blogger path.