Why choose a name like Scrapbooking for Newbies?

Hey Newbies, I hope your day has been filled with lots of scrapbooking layouts and card making for the special people in your life!

I wanted to touch base on why I named this Blog and my FB and IG pages Scrapbooking For Newbies.  Well, I don't share this on my pages but I have MS (Multiple Sclerosis) which basically is a disease that makes your body attack itself. In the case of MS it's the Mylan sheath (which is what surrounds your central nervous system (CNS)) that is being attacked.  When your body attacks itself, it puts holes in the Mylan which is what protects your CNS.  When this happens your spinal cord and brain start suffering, become damaged and don't communicate.  There is no cure and the meds only slow down the progression.  There are lots of symptoms to MS (let me say that again...LOTS of symptoms), one being cognitive.

Some times my cognitive issues go from non existent to mild to I'm not sure what my name is.  So naming my Blog Scrapbooking for Newbies sounded fitting because even though I'm learning new stuff, I'll pretty much be a Newbie the entire time.  I may learn new stuff but may not retain it all which means I have to go back and read notes, watch videos or just jump in and hope I get the technique right (or maybe make a new one, which would be awesome)!

The second reason is, I know that there are a lot of new scrapbookers who get a little intimidated by the other sites because most are experts creating these awesome layouts and cards and have fancy cameras and picture boxes so that their finished product looks amazing.  I'm not knocking them for this, I actually want to become one of those experts one day!

Also, some (most) sites won't let you do challenges or post your layout (because come on, don't we want to share our awesomeness, our one of a kind creations with the world)?  I know I did and since I couldn't find anywhere to do that at I started my Facebook group - Scrapbooking for Newbies.  I also put the word out that anyone can join not just newbies!  We love to get feedback from other scrapers and learn new things, like mixed media!  Who knew!?!?!  

So those are the reasons for naming my Blog and other social media platforms Scrapbooking For Newbies.  I'm hoping you come join us on this journey of learning new stuff, meeting new scrapers and getting some answers to questions on new techniques.  I can tell you, my IG page is full of experts who love to give great advice and helpful hints when ever you ask, so feel free to join me there as well!

Thanks for visiting my Blog and hope to see you on my IG and Fb pages!

Happy Scraping!
Kimberly

Blog Hops and what are they?

  

Hey there Newbies, so today lets talk about Blog hops.
This month I learned about blog hops from Amy Tsuruta  at Coffee Loving Cardmakers! This site is all about card making and Coffee loving and who doesn't love that combo?  (Click here for the link to the actual hop).  They put hops on a couple of times a year, so if you sign up for their news letter or follow their facebook page you will be able to join them next go around!

I stumbled upon Amy's blog via Facebook and was intrigued!  I've never heard of a blog hop nor have I ever made a card so I said to myself, self, why not.  So I did and how fun was it... so much!

You make a card, submit it by uploading it to their site and then winners are randomly picked.  You hop from card to card and make comments (which was one way of winning a prize) visit the sponsor sites, join in on conversations via facebook and keep in touch via her blog and facebook.  The best thing of the entire hop...seeing these beautiful handmade cards that really inspire you.  

I didn't think I had a chance being a newbie and all but I had so much fun figuring out how to make one and learning about digital downloads (that's for another blog another time) and getting to know all of these awesome, coffee loving people on this hop!  Amy was so helpful and took time out of her super busy schedule to help me!

There were thousands of cards (I believe the final count was a little over 1,300!).  There were over 70 sponsors and are you ready for this...I actually won a prize!  I couldn't believe it!  The sponsor I won from was Whimsy Stamps and I was so excited!  This is my entry...

Not too bad for a Newbie (if I do say so myself).  

Well, that's a little info on blog hops and I hope you take some time to visit Coffee Loving Cardmakers! Blog site and learn some awesome ways to make cards.  Oh, one more thing, their Facebook page is always posting S-A-L-E-S from a lot of different crafting sites and who doesn't love saving money!

I hope you enjoyed this blog about blog hops.  Be sure to follow me for more info on scrapbooking and card making stuff for Newbies.  Come join us Newbies on Facebook (it is a closed group only because most of us are working on scrapbook pages that we intend to give as gifts and don't want to spoil the surprise).

Happy Scraping!

Kimberly