As the end of the year approaches (wow—that went fast!), do you find yourself reflecting on the celebrations, challenges, and memories your family has experienced over the last 365 days? Whether you've created a few or a few dozen layouts over the past 12 months, I hope you've captured details of your everyday life, relationships, and family values in addition to the major holidays and events. But if you haven't, this time of reflection is the perfect opportunity to do just that!
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Here’s a simple scrapbooking idea that counts for November and December: a gratitude journal that doubles as a highlights-of-the-year scrapbook. Here are three time-saving tips to help you turn your ambition into a beautiful, meaningful mini-album that will fill you with holiday spirit.

How many of you start the holiday season feeling ambitious, as visions of scrapbooking dance in your head? And how many of you end the season with a shrug of defeat, comforting yourself with the words “there’s always next year?" Read more »

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In 2004, my cousin, Julie Watson Smith, invited me to contribute to a book she was writing titled Mommyhood Diaries. The assignment was simple: keep track of what I did for a day, from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. It was an easy enough assignment, and I faithfully kept notes on my assigned day, Read more »

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In elementary school, my favorite art activity was collage. The diversity of materials and element of choice was completely exhilarating as I filled my standard-issue Styrofoam tray with a jumble of treasures. Not surprisingly, I’m also a big fan of salad bars, reversible raincoats, and watches with interchangeable bands. Read more »

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Some of our devoted Ella fans out there may have noticed that this month’s eZine is a wee bit late. But we have an excuse—a 6 lb. 11 oz. excuse, to be precise. As the co-founder and primary editor at Ella Publishing Co., much of the wordsmithing and uploading falls to me. (And I wouldn’t have it any other way.) But the 11-days-early arrival of my new bundle of joy threw a little pink wrench into my plans. Read more »

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Girls like pink. Boys like blue. Girls like crafting. Boys like sports. Girls are neat, clean, and like to dress up. Boys are slobs. Oh, the world is filled with these little nuggets of half-truth. If you know any kids (of either sex), then you know that some girls hate pink (I do), Read more »

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We’ve all heard the legendary tales of boys and their stinky socks, broken windows, snakes, and other outdoors-only wildlife loose in the house… And believe me, we mamas-of-just-girls know how good we have it. In our world, we have tea parties! Shopping partners! Pretty hair to fix! Read more »

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When I first started scrapbooking, I learned about design by copying (or very closely following) other scrapbookers' placement of photos, titles, and journaling on their pages. These days, when I look at layouts online or in magazines, I'm inspired not just by the structure of the page, Read more »

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Time is the one commodity we never seem to have enough of, especially when it comes to scrapbooking. When life gets too hectic, our crafty pursuits are often first to be sacrificed. So what’s a busy memory keeper to do? Read more »

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Have you seen the new Ella Publishing eBook Eight is Enough? Five designers from the Studio Calico kit club were challenged to gather eight products from their stashes and create four unique layouts with those items. Staples like fonts, pens, machine-stitching, cardstock, and Read more »