May's Scrapbooker Spotlight

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This month, we had our most successful cover contest yet! With so many great layouts to choose from, our job certainly wasn't easy, but we were particularly drawn to the happy, springy colors and fun product combinations of Keri Babbitt's layout—not to mention her engaging,

vibrant photos. Here's your chance to meet this scrapbooking veteran, who started putting photos to paper back in high school.

My name is: Keri Babbitt

I spend my days: trying to find that elusive balance between work and play.

My family is made up of: me, my husband of 13 years, and our two daughters, Ariana and Mariah.
~Lovely names. If a third daughter comes along, we suggest naming her "Bunny." (Sorry, Babbit family— we're probably not the first to come up with that joke.)


If there's one thing I know for sure, it's this: I function at my best when I get a bit of creative time each day, no matter what form it’s in.

The Cover Layout Supplies: patterned paper (Me and My Big Ideas) • letter stickers (Prima) • label sticker (October Afternoon) • felt embellishments (American Crafts, Sassafras Lass) • stickers (Basic Grey, Sassafras Lass) • metal words (Karen Foster) • brads (S.E.I.) • flowers (Prima) • chipboard (Pink Paislee) • inks (Clearsnap, Tattered Angels) • glitter glue, embossing mediums (Ranger Industries) • 12 x 12 layout by Keri Babbitt

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My cover layout was inspired by: the vibrant green grass in the photos and the cherished memories of our favorite canyon. I also enjoyed mixing old and new product in a fresh way on this layout.

I've been scrapbooking since: high school. It helped that I lived across the street from one of the first-ever scrapbooking stores: Keeping Memories Alive. I think I bought every variety of Suzy’s Zoo sticker and decorative-edge scissors ever made!
~Suzy's Zoo was totally the bomb back in the late '90s. As was calling things "the bomb."

I'd describe my scrapbooking style as: clean-lined with a bit of whimsy thrown in for good measure.

My favorite inspiration sources are: textures, colors, photos, products, vintage shops, and memories.

A Favorite Layout I love the combination of magenta and aqua blue on this layout. I had a lot of fun making the handmade tissue-paper and shrink plastic embellishments too. Plus, I love how the thoughtful photos of my daughter turned out! Supplies: cardstock (Die Cuts With a View) • patterned paper (Melissa Frances) • letter stickers (American Crafts) • tulle (Bazzill Basics) • shrink plastic (Grafix) • Vrinda font • tissue paper, date stamp, trim • 12 x 12 layout by Keri Babbitt

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In 10 years, I hope to be: more settled into a career I love, a bit more well-traveled, and a mom of two well-adjusted, happy teenagers.

My guiltiest guilty pleasure is: eating Nutella straight from the jar. (I wrote that before I saw Lisa Kisch’s answer back in February, I swear!) So my second guilty pleasure would be fresh donuts for breakfast—raspberry bismarcks, powdered cake donuts, and apple fritters are my favorites. Yum!

~Note to selves: explore link between Nutella consumption and creativity.

People are always surprised to find out that I: am an introvert who craves solitude.

Another Favorite Layout I love the bright quirkiness of this layout, with the misting, the twine circles, and clay buttons my kids helped me make; it all makes me smile. I also love that the journaling is the actual conversation that was going on between the two of them when I took this photo—such a fun captured moment! Supplies: cardstock (Core'dinations) • patterned paper (Jillibean Soup, October Afternoon, Sassafras Lass) • letter stickers (American Crafts) • tickets (Tim Holtz) • spray ink (Maya Road) • twine (Divine Twine) • tape (Pink Paislee) • Kingthings Trypewriter and Vrinda fonts • chipboard, Fimo clay, lace • 12 x 12 layout by Keri Babbitt

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I never thought I'd: love the technique-based, messy, artsy side of scrapbooking as much as I do! I also never thought I’d be proficient with Photoshop. (I’m a low-tech girl, so having that amount of computer savvy still shocks me.)

If I were to author an eBook, I'd title it: Eco-Conscious Crafting or The Alpha Project. (I’ve GOT to do something with the over 200 alphabets I have in my scrapbook stash.)
~That's a heck of a lot of Z's to get rid of! Here a suggestion for her next page title: "Pizza Pizazz!" (Five down, 195 to go...)

If I were a scrapbook supply, I'd be: Glimmer Mist, because it’s versatile, fun to play with, and shimmery.

	Keri's Scrap Space After finishing our basement this past autumn, I finally graduated from scrapping on the floor to having my own crafting corner!  My favorite things about my new space are my framed vintage art books and looong Ikea desk.
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If I could go back in time, I would: take more photos of my teen and college years, and when my babies were little!

I've loved elephants ever since: I was born! My very first toy was a squeaky pink elephant named Tiger, and I still have him.
~Which makes us curious—what did she name the toy tiger?

My favorite Ella eBook is: Quick and Creative Quizzes: 129 questions to ask and answer. I love ideas that motivate me to capture details and themes that would otherwise go undocumented.
 

Keep up with Keri by visiting her blog, Kensington Design, which she updates frequently with layouts and responses to online challenges. Keri is a member of the Snobby Walrus and Midnight Rooster design teams—and there aren't very many people out there who can say that.