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Scrabook Dimensions Hybrid--Rocks!
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Sunday, 08 June 2008
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If you haven't visited this site, I think you'll be very fanatically impressed. There's a lot of creativity and help there...challenges, directions, ideas, ETC! I happen to be the featured member this week-- (isn't that nice?)--
Here's a link to them in case you are interested!
http://scrapbookdimensions.ning.com/
CONGRATS to Amy Roszak, Our Featured Member of the Week
I wanted to feature Amy this week because she's been a participant in our challenges and recently an excellent resource on printing tips. Since Amy owns ScraPerfect - The Printing Pouch, I thought it would be neat to find out more about her and her invention!
1. How often do you use your printer for your scrapbook projects?
Just about every time--absolutely no kidding. If not for titles, then for journaling or embellishments or sometimes I've done something to a photo. I have Photoshop Elements but mostly, I use plain old word processing.
2. How did you come up with the idea for the ScraPerfect Perfect Printing Pouch?
Necessity is the mother of invention -- it's really true! I was having trouble getting good, consistent printing on vellum and thought that there had to be something to make the vellum more receptive to the ink. I also was not happy waiting for the ink to dry. So I created this little product that you treat your vellum with and voila!
But I NEVER expected it to help in so many different applications from vellum to wood to shrink plastic to transparency film to tissue paper to ribbon etc! And although I use my printer mostly, it has tons of uses that were discovered mostly by others who have inking issues and were clever enough to try it. Stampers and Altered Artists use it as an anti-static bag, for overstamping,and for stamping on surfaces that resist ink--like old postage stamps, for example. It also lets you write with any markers or gel pens on vellum and it looks just like you were writing on cardstock. It takes a village...
This year I came out with a new product-- because I needed it, too. I don't do web design--yet- so it's not available for sale on my website. It's being sold at stores, though, and in fact my first reorder from the CHA (Craft & Hobby Association trade show) was for the new product--The Perfect Cleaning Cloth. (It removes grime & fingerprints from photos, computer monitor screens, camera lenses--and eyeglasses-- and also removes any visible powders from The Perfect Printing Pouch or other embossing anti-static bags.)
3. Can you share a neat story since you've started selling the printing pouches?
Just about every time I do a "with and without" demonstration using a Tombo Marker on Vellum, people's mouth's actually hang open. I remember a man from the the midwest that after seeing the demo said, "That's not too bad" and a woman from the UK who said, "It's brilliant." I love hearing the different ways people express their amazement. The most emotional was when I had a booth at a tradeshow. After watching me do demonstrations for a number of people, a woman came up to me and asked me about the product and the story behind it. Then she started to cry! She put her arms around me and told me she was just so proud of me and hoped it would become a huge success. Seems odd in the re-telling, but it was really nice. I guess the thing is that I am just so pleased when people tell me how much they love the thing. How can I explain that, sure, I'm hoping to sell a bunch...but, it's the feedback from people who use it that really is priceless!
My son once said he wished there were two of me so one could do ScraPerfect and the other could just play with him. (How I wish there were more of me so one could do the housework, and another could get caught up on scrapbooking!)
But those are not really stories...
The last time I got a call from a gal from Texas who called to see if I I could overnight the pouch (and was willing to spend more than twice as much on shipping than on the product) was so surprised when I said congratulations--and asked if she was getting married. She actually thought I was a psychic! (In truth, whenever I've gotten that request, it's been from someone in the middle of printing invitations, having a horrible time, and who has googled for help.)
I'm sure there are much better stories-because this whole experience from inception of the idea to reality of a business has been an incredible learning adventure and I'm sure it's not over yet... and this from someone who left "work" to be a Stay at Home Mom!
4. What is one thing that you want us to know about printing?
You can use any printer -- even a very old or cheap one -- to get fantastic results. The one I use for local demos cost under $40. And although I'm not suggesting you try printing on a tortilla, you probably can. There isn't much I haven't tried!
5. Why do you scrapbook?
Let me count the "Whys"... to preserve memories, naturally. But I wouldn't keep at all these years it if it didn't fulfill something for me. I love being creative and this lets me put it to good use. That is, maybe I can justify all the time, and expense of my hobby since the family gets so much pleasure from seeing the pages. And with Scrapbooking, I can do as much playing and trying as I want, and include all the other kind of crafts I've ever done. If it doesn't work too well--oh well, there's always another page. AND there's a whole world of other people doing it both locally and online so there's a connection piece and a way to socialize. Finally, I love to organize and there's just so much stuff that always needs to be put into order!
6. What else do you want us to know about you?
I'm thrifty. A lot of what I use on my pages is either created (MOSTLY on my printer!) or bought at bargain basement prices or had another use elsewhere and has been incorporated onto the layout.
I love to invent and am always thinking up new ways to do stuff--(sometimes to get around buying it). When I see something that just doesn't work great and I comment on it--my husband and kids say "They just didn't ask you!" and we all laugh. I have a whole bunch of ideas that one day soon may make it into the marketplace.
I was a math teacher in my former life...I always said that the difference between a good math student and a poor one is the latter thinks that no matter how much time they try, it's not going to matter so they give up. But the good student knows if she keeps at it, she'll solve the problem. I think this applies to about everything in life.
OH! I just moved from NY and don't know many people here--so if anyone is having a small, friendly crop near Poulsbo, Washington....
Visit Amy's Wall
Amy's Favorite Hybrid Project: an envelope scrapbook with printing on a 35 mm film negative.
Website: http://www.scraperfect.com
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