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Incorporating Scrapbook Storytelling

Spring-Summer 2008

"Because a memory a day keeps the blues far away."

Table of Contents

  1. Nice Things People Say
  2. An Easy Mini-Album (It's recycling at its best!)
  3. Layouts from The Best of British Scrapbooking Contest
  4. Free Downloadable Paper Pattern
  5. Pssst... Wanna Be Immortal?
  6. Check Out the Killer Hobbies Blog...and Contest
  7. Personal Note


Nice Things People Say

Alice B. from Georgia wrote:

I love your style of writing and have gleaned inspiration from your articles in scrapbooking magazines, as well as your books.

Just two more words, THANK YOU.

I have to tell you, Alice--and all the rest of you, my loyal friends and readers--this keeps me going. I'm no different from you. I have family obligations, a house to clean, meals to cook, laundry to do, a husband and son who need me, an aging mother in another state. We're all struggling, aren't we? So much is expected of us. So many roles. So much responsibility.

And yet...I'm the luckiest girl I know. I thank God every night that I get to do work I love.

You can't imagine how much it means to me when you write to me. Each and every one of you is precious to me. I hope that in September when Paper, Scissors, Death comes out, and I'm traveling around, that I get to meet you in person so I can give you a hug.

You can always contact me at savetales@aol.com. Please put something like "I read your ezine" in the subject line so I know you aren't spam.

  
Find on Amazon.com


An Easy Mini-Album

I made this as a charity auction item for Malice Domestic, a conference of fans and readers of Agatha Christy-style mysteries.

Here's what you need: Two empty boxes of cereal, sandpaper, glue, at least one piece of 12" x 12" paper, another sheet of paper, a hole punch, an el-cheapo $2 plastic flip album (I bought mine at Office Max, but I've seen them at WalMart) and some ribbon.

  
Click to enlarge

Yeah, you're reading this right! Cereal boxes. Hey...let's recycle.

  1. Cut the cereal boxes into four 6" x 6" squares. Sand the side of the square that was shiny and printed. I rounded my corners because I like that look.
  2. Adhere your paper. Okay, my 12" x 12" paper was a cheat. It was smaller than 12" x 12". I also used bits and pieces of this and this, leftovers mainly. Do decide which 6" x 6" square will be your cover and decorate it accordingly.
  3. Using a journaling tag stamp, I added two journaling tags and put ribbons through them. I also added paper to the back of the tags so they could stick out above the pages.
  4. With my craft knife, I cut free three plastic pages from the small cheap album. (This resulted in the pockets being sealed on two sides, and open along the long top side and open on a short side for inserting photos.) I folded a piece of paper over them and used brads to close the open top side. I glued this small book onto one of my 6" squares so the recipient could add more photos. But you don't need to do this. You could simply put photos on the blank 6" pages.
  5. Using the hole punch, I punched two holes on the right of the 6" square I wanted for my cover, for the next two 6" x 6" pages, I punched two holes on BOTH the right and left sides. For the last page, I punched two holes on the right side.
  6. I tied ribbon through the holes to attach everything together. I found that by inserting my glue stick and tying the ribbon around it, there was enough play so the ribbon didn't bind too tightly.

How simple, cheap and fun is this? I love how the album can stand by itself. To give credit where it's due, I saw something similar at Red Lead. If you ever come to St. Louis, you absolutely have to stop in there. It's more than a scrapbooking store, and the two sisters who run it are so exceedingly clever that I always come out with new ideas. Check them out at www.redleadpaperworks.com


Layouts from The Best of British Scrapbooking Contest

Wow. This contest just keeps getting better and better. The entries this year were simply astonishing. I'm the judge. Let me say this: I hate the fact I am limited in the number of winners I can pick. But the wonderful people at ScrapBook Inspirations (UK) have assured me there's a limit to the number of pages in their magazine that they can publish each month. Sigh. So I have to choose only a few top entries.

Overall winner Klara Wilson created layouts that astonished me. She had a one-of-a-kind style. Her journaling made me feel as though she was sharing her innermost thoughts with me, her reflections on the world and her life. She displayed an uncommon confidence in her approach to her photos and memories. This particular page-Olga-was a real knock out. I suggest you look closely. The amount of detail here is fascinating. Sorry, that it's a scan from the magazine-I can't find my diskette!

  
Click to enlarge


Free Downloadable Paper Pattern

Most of you have probably seen the great cover of my new book Paper, Scissors, Death, which debuts this September. If you'd like a free download of the pattern (it's sort of a design of flames) on the cover, email me at savetales@aol.com and I'll send you the file. Be sure to put "Paper Pattern" in the subject line, so I know you aren't spam.

  


Psst... Wanna Be Immortal?

Want to be a character in my next book? You could be (or you can designate someone special to be) one of the scrapbookers in my next Kiki Lowenstein book, the second book in my Scrapbook Mystery series which is called Designed for Death. For each copy of Paper, Scissors, Death you pre-order from Main Street Books, you'll be entered into a drawing. Email msbstchas@sbcglobal.net or phone Vicki, the owner, at 636-949-0105. Check out Vicki's new website at www.mainstreetbooks.net.

You can also pre-order through Amazon, but Vicki is my friend and she has this lovely little shop in beautiful downtown St. Charles. The bricks on the outside are weathered. The floor is wonky. Upstairs there's a welcoming fireplace and comfy chairs, so it's a very special place indeed. I appreciate Amazon, really I do, but I love doing business with friends, don't you? Besides, if you let Vicki know how you want your book autographed, I'll stop by and sign it just for you. (Do allow us a little extra time as I might be out of town.)


Check Out the Killer Hobbies Blog-and the Contest!

Seven of us mystery writers and hobbyists post here at killerhobbies.blogspot.com

Monday - I write about scrapbooking.
Tuesday - Camille Minichino/Margaret Grace writes on miniatures
Wednesday - Monica Ferris tells us about needlepoint
Thursday - Linda O. Johnston shares information on pets
Friday - Kathryn Lilley tackles diet and exercise
Saturday - Terri Thayer covers quilting and rubber stamping
Sunday - Betty Hechtman combines crocheting and mysteries

And of course, we invite lots of nifty guests to join us. Please stop by, or better yet, add us to your RSS feeds so you stay updated.

CONTEST: Be the first to email me with the title of MY post on June 9, and I'll send you a special Summer Gift Package. (No, I'm not telling what all will be in the package, but probably there will be:

  • my favorite flavor of Crystal Light
  • a box of Good and Plenty
  • a cool paperback, Jess Lourey's Knee High by the Fourth of July
  
Find on Amazon.com

How to enter: Send your name, your POSTAL address with house/apartment number, street address, city, state and postal code to me at savetales@aol.com

It's a good idea to also include your phone number. Put Summer Gift Package in the Subject Line so I can pick you out of the spam-blocker.

I'll pull a winner on June 10, 2008.

I've tried to run contests where I just select a name from your email addresses. Unfortunately, I'm STILL trying to track down winners. Seems there are some really smart machines out there that spam our mailing lists-and I can't tell if there's a person behind them or what. Trust me...I'd rather just slap an address on a prize and send it along than spending hours (yes, HOURS) trying to track you down. So...I really do need your postal address, okay?


Personal Note...

On June 16th, I'm having surgery. I'm trying to think of this as extensive interior remodeling. Sort of like cleaning my garage, but uh, messier??

I'm sure I'll be fine, but I am a firm believer in the power of prayer, so...could you say a prayer or two for me? I'd really like to be done with this and get back to writing books and scrapbooking. Sigh.

I'd pray for you! You know I would. In fact, I have a special Prayer Board in my office where I list people who need prayers. I write names on it...and golly, it must work because you'd be amazed at how fast people come off that board.

Have a cool summer-

Much love,

Joanna


Stuff You Need to Know

Like the ideas here? You'll love our books. You can order any of our books through msbstchas@sbcglobal.net (That's Main Street Books of St. Charles, MO)

Comments? Contact Joanna at joannaslan@aol.com. We love to hear what you think and what you'd like to read more about. We like questions, too, but give us a while to answer them, okay?

About the author...Journaling goddess Joanna Campbell Slan is the author of Scrapbook Storytelling which has sold 80,000 copies in addition to seven other books on scrapbooking, one textbook on storytelling, two inspirational books. Her new mystery series featuring Kiki Lowenstein, scrapbooker extra-ordinaire will debut from Midnight Ink in September 2008. The first book in the series will be Paper, Scissors, Death. Contact Joanna at joannaslan@aol.com