[tara] I would like to start off by officially welcoming Kimber CCAS.

[kimber] thank you!

[tara] As with our other chats, I will go ahead and ask you a bunch of questions that the ladies have all posted for you. I told them to be nice.

[kimber] darn glad to be here!

[guest] Basically we ask that Tara have time to interview Kimber and then she’ll open up the floor at the end of the chat

[tara] Once all the questions have been posted, I will open the floor up to all the wonderful gals who joined us tonight.

[tara] When did you get bitten by the scrapping bug?

[kimber] I had 2 friends that scrapped and were getting published and such… I resisted them for over a year but, leafed through their albums and their publications when I was at their houses

[kimber] then when I had my 2nd kiddo… my friend laura came to the hospital right after she was born and took photos of my daughter

[kimber] then went home, made me a mini album that night and brought it to the hospital the next day.

[kimber] such a heart felt gift and I knew I wanted to try it at that point

[tara] Holy smokes. A mini album?

[tara] Do you remember your first layout?

[kimber] I do! it was a layout about my friend eating a big mac

[tara] haha

[kimber] it’s actually in my gallery at 2peas

[tara] I’m sure she loved that

[tara] We’ll have to check it out

[kimber] do you want me to post it here?

[tara] That would be great

[kimber] lol…she commented on it at 2peas

[tara] What is the first magazine that you were published in?

[kimber] gosh…

[kimber] LOL… I will have to go look

[tara] I can’t believe you don’t remember

[kimber] I really don’t

[tara] I’ll always remember mine… right Catherine

[tara] What are the current Design Teams that you are creating for?

[kimber] Scrapbook Answers

[kimber] I had to go to my resume

[kimber] I just recently stepped down from a few DT’s due to a HUGE project I am working on

[kimber] Currently: We R Memory Keepers and PageFrames

[kimber] Kit Clubs: Serendipity Kits– Kit Jr, Homegrown Scrapbooks Quarterly Kits

[tara] Hmm… any hints Kimber?

[tara] On the Big project?

[kimber] Yes, big project—-I am writing a book!!!!

[kimber] due out March 2009

[tara] Whoohoo.. that is BIG!!

[tara] How hard is that to organize?

[kimber] It was tough at 1st but, now that things are moving…much easier now

[kimber] The next few months will be busy but, After Jan 15th… I will have a lot of the art done and just need to write

[tara] Are you writing it too?

[kimber] yes, I am writing it

[tara] Good for you

[kimber] I have some help on the art. Which to me is the hardest part

[kimber] My 1st article was for Catherine though!!!!

[guest] trash to treasure baby!!!

[kimber] tee hee! and thank you again for making me look so good Catherine!

[tara] Have you always been a creative person?

[kimber] I like to think so

[kimber] I have always been into crafting of some sort

[kimber] since I was a kiddo

[tara] What else do you dabble in other than Scrapbooking?

[kimber] right now I crochet, knit, sew basic things

[kimber] I like to play with beads too

[tara] and raise a family!!

[kimber] oh yeah…that too

[tara] Do you ever worry about burning out or not enjoying the scrapbooking given that you are always working towards a deadline?

[kimber] it gets a little stressful at times but, I can manage my time pretty well. I see the deadlines and work backwards to know what needs done when

[kimber] I always do my pages for my family though… the teams I am on don’t require work that we don’t get to keep so that is nice

[tara] You work well under pressure then?

[kimber] I do. I love a deadline

[kimber] if I don’t have a deadline… I get lazy and it will never get done

[tara] Where do you turn to when you are in a scrap slump?

[kimber] magazines

[kimber] home decor especially

[kimber] love the color combos, the textures

[tara] Which are your favorite ones right now?

[kimber] right now I get country living and real simple

[kimber] I used to get better homes and gardens too

[kimber] blue print is fun too

[tara] I actually meant the scrapbook mags..lol

[kimber] ohhhh

[kimber] well… ok, I will admit this outloud… I get scrapbooks etc and paper crafts

[kimber] of course SCT when I am lucky enough to be in it.

[kimber] it’s kinda hard to get across the border

[tara] Have you been published in all the major magazines now?

[kimber] I think so

[kimber] lol

[tara] That’s cool!

[tara] Where do you draw your inspiration from?

[kimber] there are certain scrappers that always inspire me

[tara] Such as?

[kimber] then there are the mags

[kimber] I LOVE Summer Fullerton and Kelly Goree’s work

[kimber] the funny thing though, I can draw inspiration from almost all scrappers. everyone is so different

[tara] Do you sketch a layout out before or do you just go for it? What is your routine when it comes to designing a page or project?

[kimber] nope, no sketching

[kimber] most times I am working from product — the different DT’s

[kimber] I find photos that I want to work with that go with the product and just go to town

[tara] That’s how I scrap too

[tara] Do you prefer to work with colour photos or black and white or sepia?

[kimber] always color

[tara] Have you done any digital or hybrid layouts? Have you found them challenging?

[kimber] I HAD to do my 1st digi page thanks to CK

[tara] How was that?

[kimber] we answered a questionnaire right after HOF about our favorite things and the things we are scared to try

[tara] I know.. I saw the challenge. You did a great job!

[kimber] so, I was asked to do a digi page…

[tara] Did you freak?

[kimber] I did an all digi one and then erin lincoln asked that I do a hybrid since she didn’t think I would do a whole digi…LOL

[kimber] I did freak! ALOT!

[kimber] my friend that started me in scrapping went all digi

[tara] It must have been exciting too

[kimber] she makes and sells her own kits

[kimber] so I called her up for ‘product’ and then pulled out the jessica sprague book

[kimber] computer tips for scrapbooker

[tara] Having both a girl and a boy must make it easier when it comes to scrapbooking. You’re not limited to one certain color scheme time and again. What colour do you find the most challenging to work with?

[kimber] yes, it is great that I have both a boy and a girl for the scrappy reasons

[kimber] most challenging… purple

[kimber] and pastels

[kimber] I like bold colours

[tara] I have to mention how much I love and adore your photos. What I love most about them is that they are mostly comprised of candid shots. Your pictures seem to capture the everyday life! What kind of camera do you use and do you have it attached to your hip in order to take those fantastic picks?

[kimber] thanks!

[kimber] I do like to take everyday photos…the things the kids do and say

[kimber] they crack me up and are a never-ending source for photo ops

[kimber] I have a nikon D50.

[kimber] I don’t shoot on manual

[tara] Auto?

[tara] Do you alter your photos before you work with them? Do you print them at home?

[kimber] I print at home and I am lazy when it comes to editing my photos

[kimber] I will sharpen them sometimes or pop the color if the lighting was off a lot

[kimber] I can mess with the lighting and such that way

[tara] That camera is so loaded!! I’d never be able to learn it all.

[kimber] just out of auto on the P setting

[tara] What kind of printer do you use at home to print your photos? Matte or glossy photo paper?

[kimber] I have an epson R320

[kimber] it came w/ my camera

[kimber] I print premium glossy

[kimber] it’s a great printer

[tara] What type of Photo editing software do you use? What are your favorite features?

[kimber] I have a cheap filter on photoshop I use sometimes otherwise I use picasa just to sharpen the photos and print them out

[kimber] I am a simple girl

[tara] How much time do you spend a week scrapping?

[kimber] I try to do a little bit each day. an hour or two

[kimber] some days nothing and others up to 4 hours

[tara] With your two adorable children running around the house how do you manage your time efficiently?

[kimber] my scrap space is in the basement w/ all of their toys, a couch, tv, etc

[kimber] I don’t have a room to hide in…

[kimber] I get interrupted ALOT while scrapping

[tara] When they’re that little.. you can’t hide

[kimber] right

[kimber] I would worry what they were doing

[tara] Do the kids scrapbook with you or is it your thing?

[kimber] no, they are still too young

[kimber] they LOVE to look at the pages and my mini albums

[tara] Have you ever had any design or photography training?

[kimber] nope

[tara] What technique do you find the hardest to work with? Why?

[kimber] technique? hmmm

[kimber] stamp I guess

[kimber] I have no idea what the different inks do

[kimber] I can’t ever get the stamping straight

[tara] What type of scrapbooker do you categorize yourself as?

[kimber] clean and kinda trendy

[tara] Now that you are a scrapbook celebrity, do you get recognized a lot? You might actually be recognized more that you’ve been seen with me

[kimber] not really recognized. 1 girl at another scrapbook store was cute when I was in there

[tara] Do your kids get recognized as well? How do they feel when they see themselves in a magazine?

[kimber] I have been told when people are looking through the mags, they do recognize my son because of his red hair.

[tara] It is distinctive. He’s also sooo adorable

[guest] Kimber your kids are very photogenic!

[kimber] for the most part… our city is huge and no one knows me or really cares. lol

[kimber] we have some bigger celebs here

[kimber] I teach at a store w/ julie scatteregia and valerie salmon

[tara] Wow…

[tara] Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

[kimber] in 5 years… hopefully still doing the same thing… by that time the kids will be in school and I would love to do it more regularly and maybe even make some money at it

[tara] Make money in it? What a concept.

[kimber] my husband is still hoping

[tara] Is there something you would like to accomplish in the industry that you have not had a chance to yet?

[kimber] maybe work for a MAGAZINE

[tara] Do you find the scrapbooking industry as a whole quite competitive?

[kimber] writing the book is a huge thing for me right now… I still can’t believe it

[guest] Kimber, you are so talented, but what I love most about your work is your smaller projects, mini albums, etc. I find myself inspired by what you create.

[kimber] I think it is competitive

[kimber] no more than any other business though

[kimber] I am always a believer in if you work hard and are honest… you will get what you desire

[tara] Do you participate on any big message boards or just read posts? What sites do you like to visit?

[kimber] I used to be on 2peas a lot… but, with all that is going on recently… I have been trying to lay low

[kimber] I am also at busybeescrapbooking, serendipity kits and homegrownscrapbooks

[tara] Do you get to travel a lot to scrapbook related events? What has been your favorite so far?

[kimber] and I have been checking in here regularly now that I know where you all are hanging out

[guest] This is the ONLY place worth being

[kimber] I have been VERY lucky this past year. I have been to CHA summer and winter, Memory Trends last year

[kimber] I taught at CKC in Phoenix and also in Canada… as you know

[kimber] I have attended 2 CKU’s and 1 CKC as a student

[kimber] they were fun

[kimber] Most stressful was CKC to teach and most fun CANADA!

[tara] Tell us what it was like to be chosen as a Hall of Famer for CK magazine? Were you surprised to be chosen?

[kimber] OMG was I ever surprised. I NEVER expected the call. EVER

[kimber] don’t get me wrong… I LOVED my entry. 100% my best work ever

[tara] Please tell everyone about being chosen as Champion at this years Crop 4 Kids in London. What was that all about?

[kimber] ohhh I wasn’t the Champion

[kimber] I worked with Sarah to get the teachers to work on the Champion Child’s Scrapbook

[tara] It was awesome!

[kimber] each hospital has a Champion Child — someone had overcome a MAJOR issue at the hospital

[kimber] OMGosh…that little girl was just amazing

[kimber] I was very lucky to get to do that for her.

[tara] She had everyone in tears

[kimber] I had to leave before it was presented to her

[kimber] I met her at the door on my way out

[tara] What were your favorite moments of the Crop? Besides meeting and stalking me all weekend!

[kimber] It was really great to see Catherine again! I had a BLAST in the classes. Everyone was soooooooo kind.

[kimber] I stayed up wayyyyy late on Saturday night causing trouble

[kimber] just too many fun things really! FUN!

[guest] Yup drove all the way to London to spend a few minutes with my fave CCAS girls!!

[tara] We love you Catherine!!

[tara] Any pointers for anyone considering submitting their work to a magazine?

[kimber] submit, submit, submit

[kimber] don’t EVER take it personally if you don’t get something picked up

[tara] What makes a great layout?

[kimber] put your best foot forward… make sure your image you are submitting is clear and close up

[kimber] great layout — strong photos (supporting photos) good color combos…ones that make sense to the story or feeling

[kimber] what I mean is don’t give up

[tara] What are your fav product lines? Do you tend to lean towards one line when you scrapbook?

[kimber] favorite lines — right now I am addicted to anything making memories

[kimber] and american crafts THICKERS

[kimber] can’t get enough of them

[guest] our DT just received a whole lot of MM and I wanted to keep it all!!!!

[guest] just want to frame it and look at it!

[kimber] ohhhhh I LOVE MM Noteworthy

[tara] Have you ever been disappointed with any scrapbooking lines or products?

[kimber] Yes, I have been disappointed in some products

[kimber] rubons that don’t rub— on.

[tara] I hate that too!

[kimber] most everything else I can get over and find a way to use but, that… is very annoying

[tara] What is the one scrapbook supply that you have way too much of?

[kimber] LMAO… Pattern Paper!!!!!

[tara] What do you see as the current trends right now? Are you a follower of the trends or do you tend to stick with what you like and with what works for you?

[kimber] a little of both… I am NOT a trendsetter but, I do like to try certain trends… a least once

[kimber] I think there is a bit of a metallic embellishment trend going on… I like it

[kimber] and definitely FELT

[kimber] I was never into the whole scull and cross bones trend

[tara] Do you alter items, as well as do layouts for DTs?

[kimber] yes!

[kimber] I love to alter items and do mini albums

[kimber] but, they are always true to me… super simple

[tara] What has been your favorite altered project?

[kimber] I did a snowman box last year… super cute

[kimber] I worked w/ a box that was shaped like a snowman

[kimber] covered him, embellished him…

[kimber] made him really purty

[guest] and in case you haven’t seen, Kimber does a beautiful flower shape card in this new great book that is just out

[guest] there’s also a picture of her snowman box on her blog

[tara] Do you prefer to hand journal or computer journal?

[kimber] totally and only hand journal

[tara] What has been the hardest layout you’ve had to create? Emotionally and technically?

[kimber] ohhhh man, I just did a layout for the Jan CK… made me cry when I did it

[kimber] and it was using purple so 2 for 1 on that layout

[tara] Really cry? Tears and all?

[kimber] yep

[kimber] it’s about my DH leaving for Iraq

[guest] oh Kimber….how difficult

[tara] Yep.. That would do it!

[kimber] it is going to be in the 4 product challenge in the Jan CK

[tara] It will be one to treasure

[kimber] definitely. I am excited it will be coming out before he leaves

[kimber] I want him to take it with him

[tara] That would be nice

[guest] we will be there to hold your hand Kimber - at least in our little cyber world

[tara] What the weirdest thing you have every altered?

[kimber] a muffin tin

[kimber] had to do it…donna downey was my hero

[tara] What was the hardest?

[kimber] hmmm…

[kimber] a bird house

[kimber] it turned out cute but, it was hard to get the right cuts

[tara] Do you give them away as gifts

[kimber] yep

[kimber] after I try to submit them. LOL

[tara] What did you make in the very first class you ever taught?

[kimber] a lunch box tin

[kimber] it’s in my gallery at 2peas too

[tara] Ladies, I open the floor up to you all. Go nuts! Oh, and be nice!!

[kimber] thanks tara!

[tara] It was a lot of questions Kimber…

[Cynthia] Kimber, what do you hoard? Thickers, eyelets, Paperkins?

[kimber] all but the paperkins

[guest] Can you please give Valerie and great big hug for me Kimber?

[kimber] absolutely ally

[kimber] tara rocked the questions!

[guest] totally!

[guest] Did you get any personal scrapping done in London?

[kimber] I did! I got 1 layout done for the CK HOF product challenge

[guest] If you had an unlimited supply of money, what would you buy scrap wise?

[kimber] I am having a hard time spending a $50 gift certificate right now

[kimber] I don’t need anything

[guest] Kimber…do you have any thoughts on new trends emerging? You mentioned metal…what about style or colors?

[kimber] I think styles are getting simpler

[kimber] and I am GLAD

[guest] I’m glad to hear you say that Kimber

[kimber] other than that… I see a huge mirroring to fashion and home decor for colors and such

[guest] agree with that Kimber

[guest] I was asking the girls just before you came in if their styles every change because lately I am finding myself very unhappy with my work unless it is pretty plain and simple

[kimber] yep me too … to the point where I have been forgetting to use my embellishments

[guest] I like clean and simple too

[guest] I have always preferred a cleaner simpler design, less frenetic and grungy.

[guest] I think we went through a bad … put EVERYTHING you own on your page era

[guest] Who is helping you with the “art” side of the new book Kimber?

[kimber] I have 2 main contributors… Summer Fullerton and Kim Moreno

[kimber] and then a few girls that I have asked to do a layout here or there

[guest] cool!

[guest] same here, most of my embellishments keep getting pushed to the back, other than a piece of chipboard here and there

[guest] the book is sure to be a great success Kimber - what a great team

[kimber] I do use a lot of chipboard

[guest] I also find myself digging out the simpler small striped paper and the small dots

[kimber] omg … I am all about the stripes and subtle prints

[kimber] but, I LOVE color

[guest] I’m not a simple scrapper… I find it hard to scrap with clean lines and right angles.

[guest] ……just go back to the basics and remember why we all scrapbook

[guest] as long as you tell a story, no matter what trend you are following, you have captured a moment

[tara] Everyone has their own comfort zone. It’s okay to stay within in.

[kimber] I just tossed a page I started in canada… I couldn’t make it work

[guest] I scrap form myself.

[tara] How hard was it to choose people to help with the book?

[kimber] very tara

[tara] Did you have people approaching you?

[kimber] not really. most people understand that they can’t PUSH their way in

[tara] That’s good Kimber! Makes it easier.

[guest] Kimber, what is your favorite tool OTHER than the CropaDile?

[kimber] an exacto

[guest] We have an Exacto Queen here at CCAS = Melody!

[guest] I find cutting with my exacto very relaxing.

[kimber] rock on melody!

[tara] Thanks for everything Kimber!! You’re awesome and I love ya.

[kimber] THANK YOU for a GREAT chat!

[guest] Thanks for the encouragement Kimber

[kimber] that’s what it’s all about. supporting each other

[guest] thanks to u too Kimber

[guest] thanks for comin’ to chat with us tonight!!!!

[guest] Thanks so much for coming here tonight Kimber!

[guest] Thanks for talking to us tonight Kimber