Editor’s Note: We are excited to have Valerie Bisson as our featured artist for February Her work inspired our latest style challenge inside of the membership. Please enjoy this interview with Valerie for our My Way series.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My family and I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I have been married for 37 years, and we have two beautiful daughters who are frequently featured in my scrapbooking layouts. I’ve always been a creative person for as long as I can remember, trying all the things—just to mention a few: drawing, painting, digital art, and fiber arts, including achieving a diploma in Art.
Do you have a favorite recent layout or project?
A recent favourite layout I made was an idea I picked up from Paige Evans—a genius idea using the cover sheet of a paper pack, which typically has a sampling of all the papers. I love patterned paper, and I made the layout my own using that great jumping-off point. I love how it turned out and want to do this again with other paper packs. Even better, it documented a favourite past Christmas photo of me and my girls.
What is something new you’re excited to do, use, or try?
Something new I started working on is a traveler’s notebook. I love the small size—it lends itself to much quicker projects when you want to be creative but also want to be done in less time. I also love this size for documenting everyday moments that you might not scrapbook otherwise.
What would you say to a non-scrapbooker about why you love this hobby?
It’s a wonderful creative outlet where every project is different, so it’s never boring.
When did you start scrapbooking and what precipitated it?
I first started scrapbooking in 1998 after my first child was born. I saw some products in a local craft shop and thought, what a great way to document that first year of her life. After about six months, I just kind of stopped and didn’t pick up scrapbooking again until ten years later. A friend reintroduced me to the hobby, and here we are today, still scrapbooking.
What sizes or formats do you typically create in? Why do they work for you?
I typically work with 12 × 12 pages. It gives me lots of room for photos and extra space for all the fun stuff like stickers, die cuts, hand stitching, mixed media, etc. I do enjoy trying out different album sizes as well.
What projects or activities are you focused on this year?
I never plan ahead when it comes to scrapbooking—I just work on whatever grabs my attention at the time.
How would you describe your style in three words?
Detailed, hand stitching, modern.
What are some of the products, tools, and/or techniques you use most often in your scrapbooking?
My favourite product is patterned paper, which of course is something we need for every layout. One technique I use fairly often is hand stitching—I love the texture and design it adds. I also love using my Cricut for cut files; add a cut file to a page and half or more of the work is already done.
Is there a trend you are loving right now?
A trend that has been around for a while but continues in popularity is hand stitching on scrapbook pages—definitely a favourite.
Is there something in scrapbooking — a supply, technique, size, or format — that you’ve decided is just not for you?
I’d like to say I love trying all different techniques, and I don’t think I’ve ever come across one that I don’t like, other than maybe embossing powder. It always seems to get everywhere, but I still love the technique.
Where and when do you typically scrapbook? Has this changed over time?
Most often, I find myself scrapbooking late in the evening, which has been fairly consistent for me. My space is pretty limited, so it usually happens in the living room or on the kitchen table.
Is there an organization strategy for photos, supplies, and/or tools that has worked well for you?
When it comes to supplies and tools, keeping like with like makes it easiest to find what I’m looking for. Photos, on the other hand, always seem to be a work in progress.
Where would you like your scrapbooking to be in 10 years?
I would love for more of my albums to be complete. I don’t scrapbook chronologically, so I have several albums on the go.
What has being a scrapbooker taught you
It has taught me to try new things. Nothing has to be perfect, there are no rules—just enjoy the process.
Where can our readers follow you?
I am currently on two design teams: Paige Taylor Evans and Allison Davis / Scrapbook Generation. For Paige, there will be new projects using her collections with Pinkfresh Studio, and I also love creating with her cut files. For Allison, I have been making projects using her vast collection of sketches.
The best place to find what I’ve been up to is on instagram, I share all my projects there.
Thanks Valerie for sharing a peek into your hobby!
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