Stolen Moments: Spotlighting Linz and Lisa

This week I'm excited to bring you two more spotlights! These ladies seriously ROCK their layouts. First off, let me introduce you to another March CT guest...

Linz

{aka Linz}

I've been married for 11½ yrs. We live in the Midwest and I'm a SAHM to our 4yr old son. I've been digi scrapping with CS3 for nearly 2yrs now (never paper scrapped). It's a much needed stress reliever after my little guy's in bed, which is why I scrap every.single.day.

How long have you been scrapping? Since May '08. Have you ever paper scrapped? Nope.
What do you feel is your strongest scrapping skill? Clusters and layering Your weakest? Keeping things simple
What advice would you give someone just starting out digi-scrapping? Find some tutorials and jump right in! Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Describe your scrapping "system"... What program do you use? Photoshop CS3 Where do you start first - photos, papers, elements, journaling? Once I know what kit I'm working with, I find a photo. Then I grab a bunch of papers and drag them in. After I've placed the papers and photo(s), I just start throwing elements on the page...moving, resizing, layering, etc. Journaling, if any, is last. Do you always have something in mind when you start, or do you let your creativity guide you? I wing it! How long does it take you to complete a layout? I'd say roughly an hour, though some take longer.
On average, how much time do you spend scrapping each week? I usually scrap for a few hrs every night after my son's in bed.
Describe your perfect scrapping environment - coffee? soda? music? snacks? Pepsi and silence is all I need. Sometimes the TV's on, but I find it distracting.
What's your favorite thing to do BESIDES scrapping? Take photos....to scrap. Of course. ;)
What is one thing you would love to do, just so you could scrap it? Hmmm....insert witty line here. I have no idea.
Who inspires you in the scrapping community? Any person or site in particular that you look to for inspiration? I get inspiration from all over!
If you could have Amber create a kit just for you, what colors, theme, etc would it be and why? Probably a boyish outdoor/playing/getting dirty kit. I don't think I could ever have enough of those. As for colors...I dunno. What matches dirt?? :p It would need to have sticks, rocks, tree bark, a dirty handprint...maybe some bugs. Once the weather warms up, that's all my little guy cares about is going outside and getting as dirty as possible!

Linz has shared with us some of her awe inspiring layouts. She mentioned clustering in a strong point for her, and you better believe it! Check out the clustering on these layouts!

First Layout

Favorite Layouts

Using Stolen Moments Products

Most Recent Layout

Those were great huh?! If you want to catch more of her work check out her BLOG and her GALLERY!

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Next let me introduce you to one of our permanent CT members!

Lisa

{aka aprilisa}

How long have you been scrapping? I start scrapping about a year ago. Have you ever paper scrapped? No, never! When did you make the switch to digi and why? I actually started everything by learning some designing things. My aim was to be a designer at first. But ever since I tried scrapping, I enjoyed it very very much. I learned about digital scrap booking from one of my best friends who is a designer. She showed me her stuff and encouraged me to give it a try. I still remember how I used to refuse it over and over because I feel that I am not a creative person. But, look at me now, lol. Nothing more I can say other than I love everything about scrapbooking!
What do you feel is your strongest scrapping skill? I’m not sure, lol. I don’t have much confidence. But my friends and other scrappers who left comments for my layouts said they like my layering and the composition of my elements. So I think I will take that as my strongest. I’m still learning, though. Weakest skill? Definitely extracting! I hate it, lol. And I think I still need to learn about shadowing. I want to know how to make realistic shadows. I have a hard time with title and journaling also. I love to see layouts with journaling, but when I want to try it myself, I don’t know what to write, lol.
What advice would you give someone just starting out digi-scrapping? Follow a lot of tutorials. There are tons of amazing tutorial out there. Browse the galleries to also help you get ideas of scrapping.
Describe your scrapping "system"... What program do you use? I use PS CS2. I have PS CS3 but I failed to install it on my old laptop. Don’t know why. I have PSE7 also but I never use it. Where do you start first - photos, papers, elements, journaling? I start with the kit (papers are the first thing I would love to see when I have new kit). Normally I start with layering some papers as background then I will find some photos matching the kit. Elements go next. Sometimes I will start with the photo if I have some special photos to scrap. Do you always have something in mind when you start, or do you let your creativity guide you? Both. If I have a kit in my hand and I know I have some photos matching with the theme, I will scrap with some idea in my mind. But mostly I will go with the flow. If I don’t have any idea I will use templates. I love templates. How long does it take you to complete a layout? One to two hours per layout. I’m a slow scrapper. Especially if my baby’s crying, lol.
On average, how much time do you spend scrapping each week? I will scrap minimum 2 hours a day. And that is around 4 – 6 AM in the morning, lol. Don’t think I’m weird, it because that’s the only time I can scrap freely without distraction from my daughters. My second daughter is 4 months old, and she wakes up very early in the morning. I will change her diaper and go to my computer while she’s playing on her bed. I will scrap anytime I had a change, too. It’s a way for me to get relax. So 2 times 7 will be 14 hours. That’s a minimum. Usually I never do minimum, lol
Describe your perfect scrapping environment - coffee? soda? music? snacks? Coffee, of course! I start my day with coffee. And scrapping in the morning makes me have 2 cups of coffee daily. I’m not with my husband now, so I can drink my coffee near the laptop, lol. He’s an IT man, he doesn’t like me to eat or drink when I’m working in front of computer. I need some music also to enjoy my scapping time. Or TV will be ok ;-p
What's your favorite thing to do BESIDES scrapping? Baking! I have a lot of recipes book and magazine. I love to try some new recipes. Reading always makes me relax too.
What is one thing you would love to do, just so you could scrap it? I don’t know. Maybe it will be fun if I go travelling and then scrap it. I travelled to many places before I have daughters. Now, I’m lazy to do it. Oh, I know. I wish I can meet Supernatural hero: Jensen Ackles, take some photos with him, and then scrap it, lol.
Who inspires you in the scrapping community? Any person or site in particular that you look to for inspiration? There are a lot of great scrappers that inspire me. If I should mention a name, I love Lori and Yolanda’s layouts. Ok, that’s 2 names :)
If you could have Amber create a kit just for you, what colors, theme, etc would it be and why? Baby Girl Kit. My daughter is 4 months old, So I have plenty photos of her, plus my first daughter’s when she was a baby . A kit with love theme also would be great.