Scribble Me This

It's hard to believe, but, it's true, Fall is officially here! In Georgia we have to wait a while for the nice cool tempertures that accompany the change of the season, but, I don't mind. I woke up the other morning to a crisp 58 degrees and I was thrilled LOL! We've been taking advantage of the beautiful weather by playing outside more. I snapped a lot of photos the other day and one of my favorites was this one of Jill, striking a pose. I knew right away that the gorgeous, rich colors of the Sweet n' Sour Collection would be perfect for it. They remind me of fall with the deep purples, browns and greens! One of my favorite things about the new collections is the distressed notebook paper each line has. I don't even bother with cardstock, these sheets are nice and thick! I doubled up on them for this layout and distressed the edges a bit further by tearing them. I also love the flocked Chippers - they are SO cool! They add the perfect amount of dimension! I layered some of the die cut sheets and the Chippers for lots of texture and dimension. I love the color combo of this layout, I think the Sweet n' Sour Collection is my new favorite! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday!!!

Jaime Warren

My daughter's 4th grade teacher does a time capsule every year. Her current 4th graders write an essay with their plans for the future and include photos and items that are special to them. They also get to witness returning 12th graders revisiting the same project they did when they were 4th graders. At the time, the Webkinz craze was in full force. My daughter spent months mooning over them. I admit I did not understand it. I remembered the Ty Beanie Baby craze and was worried it would come and go just as quickly and at a greater expense. I thought $14.95 was a bit much to spend on a small stuffed animal when all my daughter really wanted to do was to be able to access the on-line games.

And then her birthday rolled around. She received one for her birthday from a friend. I thought that was wonderful. Thought we were done.

Imagine my surprise when *I* was the one to buy the second one! I was shopping for a gift for another of her friends and saw a wide assortment. I had no idea that they were hard to find at the time and I had just walked into a store with a fresh shipment. Still, I bought her the pink poodle.

After that, the number of Webkinz in our home seemed to multiply exponentially! There were gifts from each of the grandparents... repeatedly. There were gifts from others and my daughter even saved money to buy some on her own. Then, the Webkinz folks started to put out accessories. Yes, accessories for stuffed animals. My daughter is a girlie girl and she cannot resist accessories. Trouble with a capital T!

At last count, there are over 20 Webkinz living in a hat box atop a trunk in my daughter's room, along with scatttered accessories. But, just as I predicted, at least for my child, the craze is dying down. She rarely signs on to the Webkinz site any more, has not asked for a new pet or accessory in months, and the actual stuffed animals only get moved when she needs something in her trunk.

I do think she made a good choice for the time capsule... and it forced me to take a photo of something I might not have ordinarily thought to capture. The papers, chipboard flower and rickrack border are all from Scribble Scrabble's new Sweet N Sour collection.

Melissa Ackerman

Years ago I worked a couple summers as a docent in an antique museum. I spent much of my time watching over the exhibits and asking people not to touch. Despite all the “Do Not Touch” signs and my verbal reminders, people of all ages would frequently reach forward to get a quick feel of the different items. I found it fascinating to observe the seemingly incontrollable urge of some to get their hands on things. It was as though seeing just wasn’t enough. Somehow touching made the experience complete.
Knowing how people like to touch, I’m not surprised to see attendees, when they come into the Scribble Scrabble booth at tradeshows, walk right up to our displays and immediately feel the products. It’s part of their observation process. It’s interesting to see that people will also run their fingers, feeling texture and dimension, across sample layouts and projects.
I totally understand the need to touch things. I’m a tactile person too. I try to keep my hands off museum pieces, but where touching is allowed, I’ll do it! Touch is one of my five senses, after all, and I like to use it.

One of my favorite things about scrapbooking and paper crafting is using my hands to create tangible items. It’s a very “hands on” activity. The results are “hands on” too. I really enjoy being able to hold, share, and display my creations.
Now and then a friend or associate will ask me if I think digital scrapbooking will bring an end to paper scrapbooking. I don’t think so. Despite all its appeals and advantages, digital scrapbooking can never completely fill that “hands on” need that so many of us have when we create.
Admittedly, I spend most of my creative design time on the computer. I couldn’t do what I do without it. My computer is one of my BFFs. But as happy as I am to do digital work and see a design come together, it is SO much more exciting and satisfying when my “virtual” paper becomes real and I hold it in my hands. Then the fun begins. Then I can really play with it!
So, here’s to all of us that love to handle, touch, manipulate, cut, feel, tear, fiddle, and create with real paper in the physical world!

Cynthia Coulon