[creative] I would like to start off by welcoming Vicki back to CCAS

[Vicki Boutin] thanks!!!

[creative] The ladies and I have been anxiously awaiting your visit

[Vicki Boutin] I am home alone so I am raring to go!

[guest] Thank you for coming to chat with us tonight Vicki!

[guest] We’re so glad you’re here Vicki. I really enjoyed the last chat

[Vicki Boutin] thanks for having me!

[Vicki Boutin] me too!

[guest] We’re honoured!

[guest] This is my first Vicki chat!! How exciting!!

[Vicki Boutin] oh well! That makes a girl feel good!

[Vicki Boutin] you gals are rowdy tonight!

[Vicki Boutin] I love it!

[guest] We always have fun together!

[guest] we do!

[guest] we are a little cyber family!

[Vicki Boutin] hey…I am Vicki who scraps in the basement!

[guest] Hey…I scrap in the basement too! LOL

[guest] I am Jackie who scraps in my lap

[creative] As with our other chats, I will go ahead and ask you a bunch of questions that the ladies have all posted for you.

[Vicki Boutin] ok, I’m ready!

[creative] Once all the questions have been posted, I will open the floor up to all these lovely ladies

[Vicki Boutin] sounds good!

[creative] How did you get started?

[Vicki Boutin] After my son was born, I went to a CM party….

[Vicki Boutin] and that is when the seed was planted

[Vicki Boutin] I really became interested when I joined the DT at Scraptivity

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

[Vicki Boutin] that was a couple of years ago now

[Vicki Boutin] hmmmm

[Vicki Boutin] it was either Scrapbook Trends or the BHG Inspirations issue

[Vicki Boutin] they were both right around the same time

[Vicki Boutin] it was THRILLING!

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

[Vicki Boutin] yes

[Vicki Boutin] SS only one time

[guest] WOW

[Vicki Boutin] but I don’t really submit there

[Vicki Boutin] I met Stacy Julian…

[Vicki Boutin] and she looked at my early pages and asked “Do you read our magazine?”

[Vicki Boutin] I guess I was not a “Simple” girl in her mind

[creative] Was Scraptivity the first DT you were on?

[Vicki Boutin] yes

[Vicki Boutin] I had never been on the internet before S!

[creative] What was the first manufacturer DT you were on?

[Vicki Boutin] Imagination Projects

[Vicki Boutin] love that team!

[Vicki Boutin] well, I really love them all!

[Vicki Boutin] I get to work with some fabulous people

[creative] How did you get on the Scraptivity team without having been on the internet?

[Vicki Boutin] a lady at our local scrapbook store told me about the DT search…

[Vicki Boutin] my DH actually emailed back and forth with the owner until we talked on the phone!!!

[Vicki Boutin] crazy!

[Vicki Boutin] now…

[Vicki Boutin] I would be lost without my computer!

[Vicki Boutin] this is fun!

[creative] Would you say that one DT position has had more of an impact on your than the others?

[Vicki Boutin] hmmmm.

[Vicki Boutin] not really

[Vicki Boutin] Each of them offers something the others don’t, kwim?

[Vicki Boutin] I scrap ALOT…

[Vicki Boutin] the variety of a few teams helps my stuff stay fresh

[creative] are you still on the same teams, or do the contracts end and you move to different DTs?

[Vicki Boutin] all the same teams

[Vicki Boutin] requests for new ones

[Vicki Boutin] 60 projects in January

[creative] How many teams are you on now? Are you joining any new ones?

[Vicki Boutin] Scenic Route

[Vicki Boutin] Gel-A-Tins

[Vicki Boutin] Daisy D’s

[Vicki Boutin] Imagination Projects

[Vicki Boutin] Fiskars

[Vicki Boutin] A2Z

[Vicki Boutin] Queen and Co

[Vicki Boutin] I do some stuff for Kelly Panacci too

[creative] I was going to save this question to closer to the end, but with 60 projects in January, Do you ever worry about burning out or not enjoying the scrapbooking given that you are always working towards a deadline?

[Vicki Boutin] I love deadlines

[Vicki Boutin] I love to create

[creative] Where do you draw your inspiration from?

[Vicki Boutin] everywhere, really

[Vicki Boutin] decor mags

[Vicki Boutin] I sketch all of the time

[Vicki Boutin] scrap mags

[Vicki Boutin] the internet

[Vicki Boutin] it’s all about shapes for me

[creative] Do you publish your sketches anywhere?

[Vicki Boutin] no

[creative] Are your sketches just for you?

[Vicki Boutin] never really thought about it

[Vicki Boutin] they are not neat…

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

[Vicki Boutin] whatever the project dictates

[Vicki Boutin] if there is a lot of colour or pattern…black and white

[creative] What colour do you find the most challenging to work with?

[Vicki Boutin] not a lover of purple

[Vicki Boutin] the rest are far game!

[Vicki Boutin] I also don’t love muddy colours

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

[Vicki Boutin] I love PS Elements and photo editting

[Vicki Boutin] I print at home

[Vicki Boutin] on a Canon Pixma ip6600D

[creative] Glossy or Matte and Why?

[Vicki Boutin] only Matte

[Vicki Boutin] my fav photo paper is Staples Photo Supreme Satin PAper

[creative] Do you dabble in digital scrapbooking or do you strictly prefer paper scrapping?

[Vicki Boutin] I play around with brushes…

[Vicki Boutin] love photo frames

[Vicki Boutin] and digi accents

[Vicki Boutin] but first and foremost…

[Vicki Boutin] I am a paper and embellie girl

[creative] Do you add them to your photos, or print them and add them to your paper layouts?

[Vicki Boutin] add them to my pics and print

[Vicki Boutin] I have made them from transparencies as well!

[creative] What kind of camera do you use?

[Vicki Boutin] a Minolta Maxxum 7D

[Vicki Boutin] my next one will be a Nikon D200

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

[Vicki Boutin] a lot

[creative] How do you manage your time efficiently?

[Vicki Boutin] it is like work now a days

[Vicki Boutin] but the best job I have ever had!

[creative] Don’t you have kids at home with you? Where do you find the time?

[Vicki Boutin] manage time???

[Vicki Boutin] ha!

[Vicki Boutin] they are here some days and school others…

[Vicki Boutin] they are right here with me while I work

[Vicki Boutin] and I take breaks to play

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

[Vicki Boutin] rarely

[Vicki Boutin] they like my stamps

[Vicki Boutin] and the punches

[creative] Did you do any other types of crafts before you started scrapbooking?

[Vicki Boutin] mural painting, flower arranging, love interior decorating…

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

[Vicki Boutin] anything that is out there I have probably tried at some point

[Vicki Boutin] I went to college for Graphic Design but never persued it

[Vicki Boutin] no photography training

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

[Vicki Boutin] I am not a big technique scrapper

[Vicki Boutin] I can’t think of one I don’t like off the top of my head..

[Vicki Boutin] I know of a few that don’t appeal to me

[Vicki Boutin] like Mica

[creative] Now that you are a scrapbook celebrity, do you get recognized a lot?

[Vicki Boutin] that’s funny!

[Vicki Boutin] I have been recognized at non scrapping events

[Vicki Boutin] the pumpkin farm

[creative] Do your kids get recognized as well?

[Vicki Boutin] I don’t think that has happened

[creative] do you enjoy the recognition?

[Vicki Boutin] I love when I meet people who are as excited about scrapping as I am…

[Vicki Boutin] it can be a little strange

[Vicki Boutin] like I said, I am Vicki who scraps in my basement…

[Vicki Boutin] but it is VERY flattering!

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

[Vicki Boutin] I have no idea…

[Vicki Boutin] hopefully doing something that is a little more stable in this industry

[Vicki Boutin] maybe working with one company…

[Vicki Boutin] a book would be nice

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

[Vicki Boutin] authoring a book

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

[Vicki Boutin] it can be

[Vicki Boutin] especially on the big message boards

[Vicki Boutin] there are only so many spots in the mags and on the teams

[Vicki Boutin] and people seem to be very hungry for the “Fame”

[creative] Do you participate on any big mb or just read posts?

[Vicki Boutin] not much any more

[Vicki Boutin] too busy scrapping

[Vicki Boutin] and I don’t care for some of the nastiness that is out there

[creative] Do you get to travel a lot to scrapbook related events?

[Vicki Boutin] I go to all of the trade shows and I have just started to teach more

[Vicki Boutin] so there will be more travel in my future

[creative] Do you ever teach classes in the area where you live? or at shows?

[Vicki Boutin] I just listed a bunch of places I will be teaching at on my blog today

[Vicki Boutin] I will be in Fonthill this weekend

[Vicki Boutin] none of my local stores have asked me to teach

[creative] I saw that you will be at the Ottawa Scrapbook Expo in May

[Vicki Boutin] very excited about that!

[Vicki Boutin] http://vickiboutin.typepad.com/

[creative] What is your favourite layout and why?

[Vicki Boutin] eek!

[creative] Not an easy answer.

[Vicki Boutin] I usually don’t like them once they are done!

[Vicki Boutin] I am very critical of my own work

[Vicki Boutin] I would have to say I like the ones that are recent the best

[creative] What do you think makes your work stand out from others that are submitted?

[Vicki Boutin] Oh, I wish I knew the answer to that!

[Vicki Boutin] I don’t think there is a formula…

[Vicki Boutin] just strong, clear photos

[Vicki Boutin] and using good design principles

[creative] Do you spend a lot of time submitting - or did you before you gained popularity? Any tips?

[Vicki Boutin] I submitted a lot in the past…

[Vicki Boutin] not as much anymore

[Vicki Boutin] but for people trying to break in …

[Vicki Boutin] submit, submit, submit!!!

[creative] How long did you submit before your first layout was picked up by a magazine?

[Vicki Boutin] a couple of months

[Vicki Boutin] then I receive an honorable mention in the CK HOF and stuff started to come

[creative] What are your fav product lines?

[Vicki Boutin] I love almost everything out there!!!

[creative] Is there a line of papers that you absolutely love to work with?

[Vicki Boutin] Scenic Route has always been a fav!

[Vicki Boutin] that one

[Vicki Boutin] great design and colour…

[Vicki Boutin] consistently!

[creative] Has she ever been disappointed with any scrapbooking lines or products?

[Vicki Boutin] there are some lines that just don’t appeal to me

[Vicki Boutin] I don’t like really busy patterns

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

[Vicki Boutin] right now everyting!

[Vicki Boutin] lots of patterned papers

[Vicki Boutin] I need to have a sale!

[creative] I know we are all waiting to hear what you thought about CHA, so here come the questions LOL

[Vicki Boutin] ok!

[creative] What companies product line were you most excited to see at CHA Winter?

[Vicki Boutin] other than the obvious:)…

[Vicki Boutin] Elsie’s new line

[Vicki Boutin] American Crafts…

[Vicki Boutin] Maya Road..

[Vicki Boutin] Fancy PAnts…

[Vicki Boutin] Sassafras Lass

[Vicki Boutin] I try to run the floor and see it all

[Vicki Boutin] love Autumn Leaves too!

[creative] Was there one company that really stood out to you? Any new ones?

[Vicki Boutin] Loved the new stamps from Fancy Pants!

[Vicki Boutin] they are HUGE!

[Vicki Boutin] the Queen and Co felt ribbon!

[creative] What new company holds the most promise?

[Vicki Boutin] Imagination Projects Essentials Line

[Vicki Boutin] there was a lot of chatter about Tinkering Ink..

[Vicki Boutin] but I never made it to her booth

[Vicki Boutin] she is a Canadian I think

[creative] If you were poor and could only buy one thing that you saw at CHA what would it be?

[Vicki Boutin] GLITTER

[Vicki Boutin] Melissa Frances had glitter and cool mini books!

[creative] What were the trends at CHA? New ones or ones that are continuing on…

[Vicki Boutin] tons of acrylic stamps

[Vicki Boutin] tons!!!

[Vicki Boutin] everyone is doing stamps

[Vicki Boutin] stuff to alter was big too

[creative] Did you like a particular alterable item?

[Vicki Boutin] love Maya roads stuff..

[Vicki Boutin] Making Memories..

[Vicki Boutin] Creative Imaginations

[Vicki Boutin] and Melissa Frances

[creative] Do you think altering home decor items will stay around for long?

[Vicki Boutin] I hope so

[Vicki Boutin] it is fun to do stuff other than a page

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

[Vicki Boutin] yes

[Vicki Boutin] lots of altered stuff for Fiskars..

[Vicki Boutin] I even have to sew!!!!

[Vicki Boutin] I love making paper crafts!!!

[Vicki Boutin] just finished a canvas class

[Vicki Boutin] I really love to create

[creative] I always miss one question and have to throw it in at the end … Do you prefer to hand journal or computer journal?

[Vicki Boutin] hand journal all the way!!!!!

[creative] Ladies, I open the floor up to you all. Go nuts!

[Vicki Boutin] phew!

[creative] Those were lots of great questions.

[guest] Do you think that it’s a bad idea to submit the same project to lots of different places?

[Vicki Boutin] no, in the beginning I sent out mass submissions

[guest] Is there a place out there that could help with getting started with stamping?

[Vicki Boutin] stamping….

[Vicki Boutin] I stamp and cut them out like paper piecings

[guest] That’s a good idea!

[Vicki Boutin] than you don’t have to commit it to your page

[Vicki Boutin] there are alot of stamping sites if you do a google search!

[Vicki Boutin] stamps, they are a great investment! Choose a set that you can use in a lot of different applications

[Vicki Boutin] and I like the acrylic ones

[guest] Vicki I have one question, I have seen but not had the chance to feel the Dream Street Papers.. Did you get the chance at CHA?

[Vicki Boutin] I have not seen the Dream Street papers, but I have heard alot about them

[guest] What cutting system do you use personally?

[Vicki Boutin] still love my old 12×12 grey Fiskars trimmer!

[Vicki Boutin] and my craft knife!!!

[Vicki Boutin] new trimmers scare me! There are so many on the market now!

[guest] Tell us about your scraproom in the dungeon of a basement of your..

[Vicki Boutin] I have a room for all of my product…

[Vicki Boutin] and then an area with a desk and shelves and such in the family room

[creative] Do you handcut titles?

[Vicki Boutin] I don’t really handcut any more

[Vicki Boutin] I want a Cricut or a Wishblade

[guest] I absolutely love, love, LOVE Fiskars - any tips for submitting to them in particular?

[Vicki Boutin] Fiskars is a HUGE company…

[Vicki Boutin] I would say post stuff here…

[Vicki Boutin] http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/aboutus/

[guest] I saw the demo for the new Silouette…..it is very nice

[guest] I have the Cricut and absolutely LOVE it

[Vicki Boutin] I just don’t want to buy the cartridges…

[Vicki Boutin] but my friends on the Provo craft team LOVE their Cricuts!!

[guest] There must have been some stiff competition with the displays. Any others stick out?

[Vicki Boutin] Elsie’s booth was very cool!!!

[Vicki Boutin] it was a little kitchen!

[Vicki Boutin] I love that girl!

[guest] I’ll bet that was cool!

[Vicki Boutin] it was…

[guest] She is very talented and seems very approachable.

[Vicki Boutin] very unique

[Vicki Boutin] she is a friend of mine and the sweetest girl ever!

[guest] she was all smiles everytime I passed her booth

[Vicki Boutin] Elsie is the real deal

[guest] That’s what you seem like to see. People who are obviously happy with what they do and what they are promoting.

[Vicki Boutin] so, what products are you ladies eager to buy??

[guest] I am excited for you all to see some of Vicki’s work in the next issue of Scrapbook and Cards! It is beautiful!!!!

[Vicki Boutin] aw shucks!

[Vicki Boutin] now, I liked those pages

[guest] cool! Can’t wait!

[guest] she takes Easy, Detailed, Expert to a whole new level!!

[guest] oh yummy - my fav part of the mag

[Vicki Boutin] that is such a fun column!

[guest] Another reason to pick up the next issue …

[guest] Yes.. disappointments. There must have been some.

[Vicki Boutin] I didn’t get out of the Scenic Route booth enough at this show to see enough!

[Vicki Boutin] I came home feeling like I missed out

[guest] Was there some you really wanted to see but didn’t get the chance?

[Vicki Boutin] Tinkering Ink…

[Vicki Boutin] BAsic Grey…

[Vicki Boutin] My Minds Eye

[guest] Tinkering Ink was great - really fun!

[Vicki Boutin] actually…I have yet to see any of those lines

[guest] How do your children like seeing themselves featured on the cover of scrapbook magazines?

[Vicki Boutin] well…my son is a little upset that he hasn’t had a cover

[guest] LOL

[Vicki Boutin] he was on the MM cover…

[Vicki Boutin] but his sister was too!

[Vicki Boutin] and that is not good enough for him!

[guest] You’ll have to work on that.

[Vicki Boutin] what does Tinkering Ink look like??? What style is the paper??

[guest] very bold graphics - big colour!

[Vicki Boutin] I really loved Crate PAper at this show!

[guest] I’m a fan of Crate Paper too. Love the texture and colors.

[Vicki Boutin] the new stuff is GORGEOUS!

[guest] love the new Crate ribbons on the rings

[Vicki Boutin] Sassafras was fun, too!!!

[guest] Vicki, do you find that mags or DT when they put out calls are looking for newer techniques, embellishments, supplies on the LOs, or are they just looking at the basic LO?

[Vicki Boutin] I think they are just looking for something new, different, a new take on an old theme…

[Vicki Boutin] good photos

[Vicki Boutin] but there is no real formula!

[Vicki Boutin] people have their favorites

[guest] Our “comfort zone”. We all have it.

[Vicki Boutin] yep!

[guest] Every once in awhile it’s fun to break out of our comfort zone. But.. I slip right back in.

[Vicki Boutin] I love a good challenge!

[guest] My main weakness is paper.. What is yours?

[Vicki Boutin] I love chipboard and embellies

[Vicki Boutin] rhinestones and buttons too

[Vicki Boutin] and Idea books!

[guest] I love Bling.. Especially the glitter

[Vicki Boutin] I think the papers need to be “newer”..

[Vicki Boutin] and you need completed material lists

[guest] I think that would be very important

[Vicki Boutin] good, sharp photos too

[guest] do you prefer to take photos or scans of your finished work for submitting?

[Vicki Boutin] I take pics

[Vicki Boutin] hard to scan lumpy pages

[Vicki Boutin] I used to scan until I got a digi SLR

[guest] any tips for taking good pics of finished work?

[Vicki Boutin] I lay my pages flat, in good light and take a pic standing over it

[guest] You had mentioned earlier that your sketches are messy. Mine are too. I have a special friend who helps me make them look more professional. Do you always sketch before doing a layout?

[Vicki Boutin] I always sketch!

[guest] Do you keep your sketches or just move on?

[Vicki Boutin] I keep them

[catherine] it always is amazing to see how people interpret sketches

[guest] I love that too

[Vicki Boutin] I think I must say goodnight, ladies!

[Vicki Boutin] I am beat!

[Vicki Boutin] this was fun!!!!

[creative] thanks for coming tonight Vicki!

[creative] The ladies sure had a ton of questions for you

[Vicki Boutin] thanks for having me!!!!

[guest] Vicki I think you inspire many!

[guest] Thanks so much for joining us again Vicki.

[creative] You are welcome here anytime

[Vicki Boutin] I will come back when ever you want me!

[guest] you truly are Vicki who scraps in her basement

[Vicki Boutin] I am!

[guest] love that!

[creative] Thanks. We would love to have you again.

[creative] Have a good evening!