July MMM is...

Stephanie Newton!!

My name is Stephanie Newton. I became a scrapbooker because I went to some Creative Memories and Stampin Up parties with friends about 8 or 9 years ago. Ever since I went to these parties, I have started collecting stamps, papers, stickers and adhesives. Recently, I started using bling on my creations and making 6 x 12 scrapbook pages. I am a middle school social studies, math and reading teacher for 7th and 8th grade. I have been a teacher for 4 years now, and I absolutely love teaching kids what they will need for the future to succeed. But scrapbooking and cardmaking is a hobby. This is probably my biggest reason for scrapbooking. Someday I hope to work more on running my own business selling wedding invitations, bridal shower invitations, baby shower invitations, thank you cards, and Christmas cards. I enjoyed making my sister’s wedding invitations and received so many compliments on them that this is why I would like to do this. I also like to read and hang out with friends and cherish the fun memories with them.

I asked Stephanie some questions about her hobby and here is what she said:


Name: Stephanie Newton

Username and history: StampinSteph – I created this username because I used to be a demonstrator for StampinUp and I love to stamp on cards and layouts.

How'd you find TMS? I found TMS through Julie’s (alteredego's) blog space. Thanks Julie!

What do you do? I have a Bachelor’s in Science from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a teaching certificate to teach kindergarten through 9th grade. I am highly qualified to teach Social Studies and Math in Middle School. Currently, I am working on my Master’s in Literacy to become a literacy specialist.

When and how did you start? I started scrapping in 2001 or 2002 when a friend of mine got me to start going to a Stampin Up class with her, and she had her first child and we began scrapbooking the first year of his life.

Describe your style: I don’t know that I have a particular style. I just scrap what I like based on layouts I have seen and just creations that I have come up with on my own.

What size do you normally scrap? I normally scrap 12 x 12 pages, but I have done an 8 ½ x 11 book for a friend, and a couple of 8 x 8 books for people expecting babies from kits. Recently, I began scrapbooking 6 x 12 pages and I definitely like these half sheet layouts.

Are you a single photo scrapper or the more the better? Usually my layouts have multiple pictures because I like to use up the space on my pages and scrap as much as I can about family and fun activities.

Do you put your layouts right into albums? I usually put my layouts right into albums so that they don’t get ruined in anyway or get dusty. You are too good!

How many full albums do you have? I really only have one complete album, but two or three other albums started because my albums are for certain years of my life, family life, or friends lives.

What are your current projects? My current projects are that I am doing an album for a friend for her year as an ambassador in Illinois Job’s Daughters. To find out more about Job’s Daughters please check out the following website that I help maintain. http://www.iljd.org/ This is a wonderful thing for young woman out there!

Who are the focal points of most of your layouts? Most of my layouts are of family and friends.

What’s your idea of a perfect way of scrapping? Scrap the easy pictures first and work towards the hard pictures.

Do you have any favorite lines? Why? I think my favorite line is Basic Gray and Bo Bunny. I seem to like these lines because of some of the colors and patterns that they use on their paper.

Do’s of scrapping:

• Do use embellishments.
• Do scrap the bad times, as well as the good times.
• Do have fun!

Don’ts of scrapping:

• Don’t worry about making a mess.
• Scrapbooking is definitely not a clean hobby.
• Don’t rush a project.

Any words for advice for any scrappers out there? Clean up your work area after each layout and keep photos in chronological order or divided into their dates, so that it is easier to put dates on the layouts with the pictures.

Well, I need to take Stephanie's advice and clean my area each time I use it. The office would be such a happier place if I did!

And here are some of Stephanie's creations this year:

CONGRATS Steph for being THE MOSY'S July Monthly Mosy Member! Can't wait to chat with you more on the boards and see what you keep creating!