[creative] Welcome to CCAS Jessica! We are all very excited to have you here with us tonight.

[Jessica*Sprague] Hello everyone!

[creative] How long have you been scrapbooking?

[Jessica*Sprague] I started scrapbooking in the summer of 2004, about 6 months after the birth of my daughter.

[Jessica*Sprague] I think I followed in the footsteps of MANY people in that regard. LOL

[creative] What or who got you started?

[Jessica*Sprague] I took the plunge fully into scrapbooking (having messed around with a few pages here and there for a couple months) when I read Cathy Zielske’s book, Clean & Simple Scrapbooking

[Jessica*Sprague] I remember sitting in the tub (my fave reading spot) with my jaw dropped open

[Jessica*Sprague] totally astounded that scrapbooking could be so COOL.

[Jessica*Sprague] haha all my books are pretty waterlogged. It’s one of the few places to get a few minutes’ peace.

[creative] Did you start off as traditional, and move to digital or were you always digital?

[Jessica*Sprague] I started off as traditional, but I always used my computer for things like journaling, titles, photo editing, and even kind of sketching out layouts

[creative] And now, are you only digital?

[Jessica*Sprague] I do about half and half right now

[Jessica*Sprague] Totally depends on the project.

[creative] How long have you been a digital scrapper?

[Jessica*Sprague] I have been doing digi since fall of 05

[Jessica*Sprague] I remember stumbling on some layouts by Rhonna Farrer

[Jessica*Sprague] and I was like whoa! Again with the jaw dropping

[Jessica*Sprague] LOL Just totally blown away by the beauty of her digi pages - and so unlike paper ones

[creative] When did you start to create your own kits?

[Jessica*Sprague] I really only make kits when I get assigned to do them, so my very first one was the Echoes of Asia kit that was the free download with the January 07 issue of CK

[Jessica*Sprague] I would much rather use the gorgeous stuff made by all the creative designers out there
[creative] Echoes of Asia is very pretty too!

[creative] Where do you get most of your ideas for the designs? (what inspires you)

[Jessica*Sprague] This is a good question. I think advertisements and magazines in general are very inspiring

[Jessica*Sprague] I love graphic design mags, and the annuals especially

[Jessica*Sprague] I get inspired by anything that strikes an emotional chord with me, though

[Jessica*Sprague] could be a photo, could be a color scheme, anything.

[creative] What do you do for those times when you just don’t feel like creating? Do you ever have creative slumps and how do you manage to get past them?

[Jessica*Sprague] Oh man, this is a good question. I’m just pulling out of one of these, in fact

[Jessica*Sprague] Never mind that I’ve got all these projects piling up. This is one of those ebb-and-flow kind of things.

[Jessica*Sprague] It’s very difficult to be creative “on demand”.. so I look at books, I read a lot, I try not to push too hard. And it (the mojo) usually comes back after awhile.

[creative] What is your favourite part of the creating process?

[Jessica*Sprague] Every now and then when I’m making a layout, I just get in this groove. Everything seems to fit

[Jessica*Sprague] And I could scrap for hours and never notice. That’s my favorite part

[creative] What is the hardest part of creating for you?

[Jessica*Sprague] Cleaning up afterward.

[creative] Which is easier for you, paper or digital?

[Jessica*Sprague] That’s a great question. There are difficult things about each format, really.

[Jessica*Sprague] The toughest thing about hybrid for me is getting all the cool stuff I’ve designed out and onto a “real”, layered layout

[Jessica*Sprague] The toughest thing about digital is to keep all my elements under control and organized so I don’t just get in a rut of using the same thing over and over.

[creative] What tool do you use for organizing your digital pieces?

[Jessica*Sprague] I use the ACDSee Photo Manager. So far it’s pretty darned perfect for my needs.

[Jessica*Sprague] I love that I can use either Photoshop Elements or CS2 with it, and as long as I am diligent about tagging all my files, it keeps me very organized.

[creative] Are you planning on writing another book to help all of those just getting started in digital?

[Jessica*Sprague] There is another book in the works.

[Jessica*Sprague] If you liked the Computer Tricks special issue, full of hybrid pages and single Photoshop techniques, you’ll like this one.

[creative] Can you tell us when the next book is due out?

[Jessica*Sprague] It’ll be out in the first quarter of 2008

[creative] Can’t wait!

[creative] What software do you use for your digital layouts?

[Jessica*Sprague] For tutorials, I use Photoshop Elements 5. So if I am creating a layout where I’m showing a technique, I’ll use PSE

[Jessica*Sprague] For my own layouts, for the magazine, etc, I’ll usually use Photoshop CS2.

[creative] What are the costs involved with digital scrapbooking? for the beginner and someone intermediate?

[Jessica*Sprague] This is a great question. There’s a joke in the digi world that we scrap for free!

[Jessica*Sprague] You can download lots of free kits, but then you’ll need an external hard drive to store them, a new computer to scrap with them, a new software to use them, and a new printer to print them out.

[Jessica*Sprague] But seriously, it doesn’t take that much to get started

[Jessica*Sprague] Some software, a few digi kits, maybe a book or a magazine or a class to get started from

[Jessica*Sprague] and then a plan for how you’ll print those layouts out

[Jessica*Sprague] For the intermediate scrapper, you’re probably to the point where you’re more picky about kits, paying for them, etc

[Jessica*Sprague] You might be interested in the full version of Photoshop, and a wide-format printer to print 12×12 layouts from home.

[creative] What do you do with your digital layouts? Print them into bound books, or get them printed a page at a time for individual albums?

[Jessica*Sprague] I own an Epson R1800, and I print my digi layouts here at home, and slip them into my albums.

[Jessica*Sprague] Yesterday was my birthday, though, and just for a little treat, I shirked my work and uploaded some pics to Shutterfly and had 2 books made.
[guest] Happy belated birthday, Jessica!

[Jessica*Sprague] Thank you! It was a great day! So relaxing.

[creative] What is your best tip for beginning digital/hybrid scrappers?

[Jessica*Sprague] My best tip. Hmm. I think it’s this: Start from where you are, and go where your passion is.

[Jessica*Sprague] If you are a time-crunched toddler-mama, for example, full digi might be the way to go, at least for now

[Jessica*Sprague] If you’re a hardcore Prima lover, or you just can’t get enough of sanding, inking, stitching, and so forth, hybrid might be the answer.

[creative] What is your all time favorite way to enhance a photo?

[Jessica*Sprague] Most of my photos go through a similar process

[Jessica*Sprague] I’ll usually do some color correction first, then crop, then sharpen.

[Jessica*Sprague] Or convert to b/w, then crop, then sharpen

[Jessica*Sprague] Probably my favorite technique is a dream-i-fied photo.. it’s from an older tutorial on my blog, but it gives such cool results.

[Jessica*Sprague] Ok. here is the link to that particular one:

[Jessica*Sprague] http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/imported-archives/2006/5/12/photoshop-friday-issue-5.html

[creative] What inspired you to call your blog the Sprague Lab?

[Jessica*Sprague] I have an index of a bunch of tutorials there if you are interested in them!

[creative] Cool. Thanks!

[Jessica*Sprague] Hehe. That’s a little joke Jared and I have going. He’s a software engineer, and I was a user interface designer before I left my job to stay home with my kids

[Jessica*Sprague] so we’re pretty geeky…

[Jessica*Sprague] he was laughing kind of maniacally in the kitchen about a year after we got married

[Jessica*Sprague] while he was building a computer..

[Jessica*Sprague] and then he came out and said, “I’m like a total mad scientist!”

[Jessica*Sprague] so the Sprague Lab is our geeky mad scientist laboratory. Hehe

[creative] Have you scrapped a page about that?

[Jessica*Sprague] Oh my gosh! I totally haven’t! That’s such a cool idea.

[Jessica*Sprague] I haven’t ever been asked that question before, so it never occurred to me

[Jessica*Sprague] thank you!

[creative] What prompted your decision to do start offering online classes?

[Jessica*Sprague] That actually came about because CK asked me to teach a class at their CKU Homestudy

[Jessica*Sprague] they were offering online classes for awhile there, and mine was to be one of those

[Jessica*Sprague] then they made the business decision not to offer the classes anymore, so I asked for mine back

[Jessica*Sprague] so we decided to build the site and get started.

[creative] Were you surprised as to the interest your classes garnered?

[Jessica*Sprague] yes!

[Jessica*Sprague] I’ve been really nervous both times the night before registration.

[Jessica*Sprague] would anyone come?

[Jessica*Sprague] We’ve been so pleased with the response. I’m currently working on the 2nd class in the series.

[creative] Do you limit the registration to a certain number of people, or do you leave the registration up for a certain period of time?

[Jessica*Sprague] This time we left registration up until midnight, so 12 hours. We’re still trying to gauge how many people we can reasonably support.

[Jessica*Sprague] We loved having a big class the first time around - it helped our message board and gallery stay very lively!

[creative] Do you enjoy the online teaching the same as teaching in person?

[Jessica*Sprague] That’s a great question. I definitely think there are similarities. I love the human interaction in a live class

[Jessica*Sprague] but I feel like we get some of that in an online class as well, and the benefit of being able to reach people all over the world is a huge one to me

[creative] Who designed your website? You, Jared or both of you.

[Jessica*Sprague] I designed it - it’s actually a very hacked-up template.

[Jessica*Sprague] We use an open-source software for the backend, so Jared is in charge of that part.

[Jessica*Sprague] He has done a lot of custom programming to make everything come together.
[creative] Do you have a favorite photography tip you can share?

[Jessica*Sprague] If you have a camera that you can set to the Fine or High setting, do that.

[Jessica*Sprague] It’ll give you the most data to play with when you get your photos into Photoshop.

[creative] Where do you see yourself in the future? Is there anything further you want to try and do or offer to your fans?

[Jessica*Sprague] We’re starting a new thing with Creating Keepsakes in the monthly magazine, which will be announced here shortly. And hopefully we’ll be offering more digital in live events in the future

[Jessica*Sprague] At my own web site, I’ll be developing and teaching classes, both digital scrapbooking and photo editing related.

[Jessica*Sprague] Hopefully my future also has a lot of popcorn in it. I see myself next to a big bowl of popcorn.

[creative] what professional goals have you set for yourself for the upcoming year?

[Jessica*Sprague] What an awesome question. I started one of my goals this weekend, which is getting organized.

[Jessica*Sprague] my scrap space looks like a bomb went off in it.. so clearly that’s still a work in progress.

[creative] Can you tell us more about your family.

[Jessica*Sprague] I have been married for 7 years, and we’ve got 2 kids. Rowen is 3, and Elliott is 2

[Jessica*Sprague] So I’m living in Toddlerville right now.

[creative] Where did you go to school and/or what did you study?

[Jessica*Sprague] My undergraduate degree is in English - literature.

[creative] In your “about me” you say that you are a web and user interface designer but have a background in writing and editing - how did you learn web design and computer language?

[Jessica*Sprague] I worked as an editor, an instructional designer, and a user interface/web designer for my career

[Jessica*Sprague] I started building web pages in 1998

[Jessica*Sprague] learning most of it on my own, and then Jared and I built sites for people on the side for years

[creative] How do you manage a thriving business and home life?

[Jessica*Sprague] This is a great question. I try to keep things in balance. Keep perspective. Segment my life.

[Jessica*Sprague] I have a babysitter who comes 12 hours a week, so I really try to keep my work life limited to those daytime hours, and then after the kids are in bed.

[creative] Is it true you used to have an online store for clothing and gear for martial arts?

[Jessica*Sprague] I sure did! Jared and I ran Capoeiragear.com for about 3 years from our basement

[Jessica*Sprague] we designed and imported clothing from Brazil

[creative] What got your started with that business?

[Jessica*Sprague] We played capoeira for a few years, and then decided with our friends that the world needed an online capoeira store. We ran one of only 3 online at the time.

[Jessica*Sprague] So we started that business in 2002 and closed up shop in 2005.

[guest] Hi Jessica. Me question is: With two small kids, I don’t know how you find the time to read, blog, surf, scrap, design, teach, travel, write and everything else you do. Can I be you when I grow up? Lol

[Jessica*Sprague] Oh my goodness. This is the very toughest thing. Just trying to keep my priorities straight.

[Jessica*Sprague] I have an awesome husband, who cooks a mean frozen ravioli.

[guest] Hi Jessica…. it’s hard to come up with a question after that great interview. You were very thorough and informative.

[Jessica*Sprague] Well, we can go back to the recommendations if you want? I’d love to know who is a hybrid? and who a digi?

[Jessica*Sprague] or what you’d be if you consider yourself to be a beginner in both!

[guest] I am just starting digi. I am signed up for your class, but was on vacation last week and am now playing catch up.

[guest] I am trying both. I am taking your class right now and before that had only done one digital page. I have always been a hybrid scrapper though.

[guest] I love the idea of hybrid.

[guest] Jessica, I’d love to learn how to design kits to give away like you. I’m still a newbie. What would you recommend for resources so I could do this say in the next six months?

[Jessica*Sprague] I actually think the digi class is a great place to start, even if you don’t plan to make another digi page afterward, it’ll teach you all the fundamentals of Photoshop.

[guest] OMGosh. There are so many people taking it right now! I tried to read all the intro posts the other night and my eyes got tired before I could finish. Lol

[guest] How do people design the 3D things in the kits? Are they scanned items?

[guest] I am taking your course and I love how you have set it up that we can access it at any point. Especially since life gets in the way sometimes. Are you ever surprised with the interest in your classes?

[Jessica*Sprague] I am surprised at the interest! And Delighted! I absolutely LOVE teaching, and I love digi, and providing solutions and answers to questions. I think everyone needs a guide in the digi world, to get started

[Jessica*Sprague] it’s like driving a car. You have to have someone sitting next to you when you learn.

[guest] I need one of those classes!

[Jessica*Sprague] Designing is a whole other issue. I think some of the embellishments are scans

[guest] You’re a wonderful teacher! And a great person. Love your class.

[guest] I love the fact that the course teaches Photoshop. I will never be a digital scrapper but I love to try. I would love to do a hybrid layout… combine the two.

[Jessica*Sprague] I think a lot of them are hand-done, especially the doodley ones.

[guest] How do people become designers? College or can you self-teach somehow. Any advice?

[Jessica*Sprague] My opinion is that Photoshop is worth knowing, for every scrapbooker. I really think that.

[guest] I believe that too Jessica

[Jessica*Sprague] You just have so many creative options when you can navigate the software a bit. So much more at your fingertips to tell your stories with.

[Jessica*Sprague] You can totally teach yourself to design. I think it just takes practice. There are a lot of layers involved in most of the papers I design, for example.

[guest] Is it easy to transition from PSE to Photoshop?

[Jessica*Sprague] I think the transition from PSE, if you know it pretty well, isn’t too difficult

** Unfortunately, we lost the last few minutes of the chat.  Jessica provided a few links for sites to get actions from.  I will ask her for them and post them here.

** Here are the links for the actions:

Full PS:
http://www.ittybittyactions.com/

PSE:
http://www.scrappingpro.com/