SYW328 – My Way with Cassie Wiscarson

Cassie Wiscarson: [00:00:00] It's those little moments that I think add up to our lives actually being rich and enjoyable. And those are what I want to focus on. Versus sometimes the big stuff or the sad stuff. Which still make it into my scrapbook, but I think finding joy in those little moments is what makes my life more full and brings me more joy.​

Jennifer Wilson: Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a memory keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of The New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is episode 328. In this episode, I'm interviewing Cassie Wiscarson for the My Way Series. My Way is all about celebrating the unique ways memory keepers get things done.

We're excited to have Cassie as the March featured artist at Simple Scrapper.

Hey, Cassie. Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way.

Cassie Wiscarson: Thanks. I'm so excited to be here today.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, I love chatting about scrapbooking and I can't wait to hear more about your [00:01:00] hobby. Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, of course. So I live up in Washington State. I've been married, oh my gosh, for like 23 years this year now. And I have one daughter and several dogs. I think currently we are at three dogs.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. Yeah. My husband and I were just talking yesterday how we realized we've known each other for 20 years this, this past month, and I'm like, how is that even possible? So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, I've now determined that it's his fault how I've turned out, because I've been with him longer than I have not so.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes, yes. So I always like to ask our guests, um, a few icebreaker questions. So do you have a favorite recent layout or project?

Cassie Wiscarson: I have several. I really love the one I just shared for, um, Pear Tree Cut Files. It was just a really fun, I did some mixed media on the background. And I just love their giant cut files. Then I also have one that I did last month for, um, [00:02:00] Scrapbook Generation that used the Heart and Home Collection from Cocoa Vanilla Studio, and I had a whole bunch of like fun paper strips and hand stitching. And so those, I just love how they just turned out.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, I, yeah. Your, your work is beautiful. Of course. Let's just add another question in here. What is one tip you have for someone who wants to use more cut files, but maybe like gets frustrated with either the part on the computer or the, you know, backing it with papers? What, what's your one tip for cut files?

Cassie Wiscarson: So I don't actually use my computer for backing it. I literally just glue it onto the back of the cut file and then fussy cut around it. Usually while I'm watching something on my computer.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Honestly, like trying to do it in the computer just sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. So I'm like, I'll just go old school with that one.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, like I, I started doing it that way and I'm like, is this how everybody's doing it or are they like, you know, actually tracing and expanding and trying to make shapes that are the exact size. I'm like, that seems really [00:03:00] fussy. So I've learned that people do it all different ways, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'm definitely not one to trace it 'cause I'm like that's just an extra step. And undoubtedly I will draw an on my cut file, so.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Let's not try that one. And then I've only used it in the computer, like if I'm cut backing the whole cut file. So I had one last month with that was a whole bunch of words and I only used one paper for the background.

So that one I went in and changed up the cut file and removed cut lines that I didn't need so I could just cut it or like cut one big background.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice, nice. Now, the other question that I always ask, is there something new that you're excited to do, use or try either in scrapbooking or in your everyday life?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, this year I am actually trying to join more online scrapbooking events. I've.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: Really missed like any of the in-person events. And I can't travel right now, um, due to some family things going on. So I'm like, I need that time where I can like block it off on my calendar and just sit in my scrap room and create and have that social [00:04:00] aspect. And.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'm really looking forward to, um, my husband splurged and let me get an X tool, uh, diode laser last fall. So I wanna play some more with that so I can cut different wood embellishments and acrylic. And like, we just spent three weekends cutting and designing shelves for my scrap room with it. So.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. That's so cool. Yeah. We'll have to link that up in the show notes. That sounds like, you know, uh, quite a fun toy.

Cassie Wiscarson: It is a fun toy and it was a splurge. So.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I will be home more. And then my husband just discovered how great it was over this last project.

Jennifer Wilson: It's always fun when you can share that excitement, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh, yeah. He thought it was cool and then he, it was intimidating him, and now think he's using it more than I am.

Jennifer Wilson: That's funny. That's funny. I love it. So this is a My Way episode 'cause you're our featured artist from March, 2026. Yeah, A selection of your layouts inspired our recent [00:05:00] collection of, uh, sketches and templates for our members. Um, you'll have a chance to see you inside the community as well. Hopefully you can join some of our crops and, and spend time at our events and, uh, get some of that, you know, person time that you really need. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

Jennifer Wilson: So what would you say to a non scrapbooker about why you love this hobby? What keeps you coming back?

Cassie Wiscarson: I actually have loved photography since I was in high school. And I love that with this hobby, it's a way to like document and have those pictures printed out. But then I can also tell a story behind it and I've just always kind of been an artsy person. So I love the creative aspect of just playing with paper and trying different things and it just brings me joy. So that's what keeps bringing me back to it. Like I don't see myself ever giving it up.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes. So I'm curious, when you were in high school, did you have a chance to like learn how to develop film? I couldn't fit that class in my schedule and I was so sad.

Cassie Wiscarson: So I actually started my high school, um, in [00:06:00] like the photography classes and took all the photography classes. Became their TA was on yearbook and that was all in the dark room.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: I actually convinced, um, my husband's actually my high school sweetheart, so his parents had a windowless room in their basement. And I convinced them to let me turn that into a dark room. So I even had a dark room there for a while. my husband joined the military and we moved away.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, but no, that's so cool. Way, way to go.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, it was, it was really fun. 'Cause actually one of her, my mother-in-law's, clients donated, had like a whole dark room set up to get rid of.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh.

Cassie Wiscarson: Gave it to her. And so I was able just to set it all up there and still like, do it all with film. 'Cause this was all pre, like before digital became big.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's so fun. So what led you to scrapbooking as a creative hobby? You've always had this love of photography, but what led to, you know, what we think of as scrapbooking today?

Cassie Wiscarson: I always loved photography. Um. [00:07:00] Kind of around the same time that, right, right after my husband and I got married, he joined the military. And so he was gone for several months of training. His mom was kind of doing like a family scrapbook, um, as a gift. And I had gotten like a really old style, like all solid paper, like cut apart scrapbook from my sister. I was like, okay, like let me just play around with it and then quickly became obsessed. So like my first album was a whole book of all the letters that my husband was sending me back from basic training

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, that's so sweet.

Cassie Wiscarson: Back in like 2004. So like there was no email, like they don't have access to that.

This was barely flip phones, right? Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: It was all old school paper pen. So that was my first album. Quickly moved into my wedding album and it has never stopped.

Jennifer Wilson: That's really cool. That makes me think about how, and I thought about this a lot recently, how the two thousands were just such a rapid [00:08:00] evolution of technology and, and how it was part of our lives. Like that's the whole scrapbook page in itself, I think.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, like, um, my husband and I are actually rewatching Veronica Mars right now. Just.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: Because we needed something mindless. And like seeing the flip phones, my husband's like, I don't even remember them being that expensive. Like, and now it's like so expensive for a new phone and I'm just like, oh my gosh. Like this is when we met and got married. And just crazy to see like how far things have come and it feels like a really short time.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. No doubt. I know when I moved here to Illinois, I had a Blackberry. And, uh, yeah, that was, and then things, I think things changed very quickly after that. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. Like I, I remember like, and we lived in Germany for three years.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh,

Cassie Wiscarson: So the phones were really different over there and we.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, I bet.

Cassie Wiscarson: Came back and I'm like, oh yeah, now we need, like, we wanted a phone with a keyboard. 'Cause like would be make it so much easier to text on. And, uh, it just, I almost wanna [00:09:00] laugh. I almost wish I had all of the old phones just to like, take a picture of progression of how we had to go super small with phones and now we have like super gigantic phones.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes. Well, I'm sure we can find pictures online too, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. I'd have to even remember what we had. It was, it was a crazy time.

Jennifer Wilson: No doubt. So what sizes or formats are you typically creating in today?

Cassie Wiscarson: For my most part, I scrapbook in 12 by 12. And that's just like my standard everyday like albums. Um, I do create a monthly like recap album, kind of think of it like a Week In The Life or like Project Life.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: But I don't set myself up for like a set week, like I, it's just a month recap. So I can use as many pages as I want, and that's in a six by eight pocket page book.

Jennifer Wilson: And when you're creating your 12 by 12 layouts, are they usually single page or sometimes or often double page.

Cassie Wiscarson: Usually single page. I just like that square format of 12 by 12 pages. And, [00:10:00] usually I don't have like big enough events that like, go across multiple pages.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Like if I'm scrapbooking Christmas, each page is gonna be different. It's just how it is.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. I've also found over the years that I rarely have enough room on my desk. I, I love two page spreads. But I don't have enough room on my desk because of all the other stuff that's like falling over and all the supplies you've gotten out. And I'm like, I barely have room for just that 12 by 12 canvas sometimes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah. me, the visual aspect of the 12 by 12 is just appealing to my eye.

Jennifer Wilson: Uhhuh.

Cassie Wiscarson: Done the two page spreads. But like things are then like spaced out kind of weird and.

Jennifer Wilson: True.

Cassie Wiscarson: And honestly, like my daughter's now, oh my gosh, she turns 19 this year. I don't have a lot of pictures of like one day.

Jennifer Wilson: True. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I barely get her in pictures as it is.

So, and nobody wants to see a two page spread of like 30 pictures of my cute puppy. I mean, he's cute, but we'll just do one picture on a page.[00:11:00]

Jennifer Wilson: I get it. I get it. I have cats, so they are, uh, much more prominent in my phone than photos of anything else nowadays, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: It doesn't help that the whole family sends me pictures of our three dogs sleeping throughout the day.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Jealous while I'm at work. But really all we have is cute dog sleeping pictures.

Jennifer Wilson: All right, so you're doing the six by eight kind of recaps. You're doing 12 by 12 layouts. Are there any, like other projects or activities that you're focused on or that you'll know you'll, you'll jump into when that time comes around?

Cassie Wiscarson: Those are kind of my main focus. I, I keep thinking maybe doing like a, um, another, almost like December Daily. But I focus more on the stories because I don't do something every day in December. So it's more like.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: My Top 25 things for December. It hasn't like, felt right the last few years. So I plan am on doing it at some point now that my daughter's like grown and things are changing, but maybe this year, maybe not.

We'll [00:12:00] see.

Jennifer Wilson: One of the thing I've been doing it like in terms of top 25 for a long time, and.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, I've always done it that way, but I'm.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I can't do that every day.

Jennifer Wilson: I like it because then I can really start in November with, you know, here's my wrapping paper and, you know, here's the things that we're planning. And I feel like I can really get a head start.

Cassie Wiscarson: Mm-hmm.

Jennifer Wilson: Before things get too crazy in December when then all of a sudden I don't have time anymore.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh, yeah. And I, I, I've had a fake tree now. Gosh, my whole marriage, um

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Due to moving. Um, and I'm like, I put that thing up sometimes in November, depending on my mood. Um, so like my daughter really loves to help with that. And this year, based upon timing, uh, 'cause she is living with my mom as a caregiver. I'm like, we don't know when we're gonna have time to actually like all get together. That thing was up like the beginning of November.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: So I'm like, I need it to be flexible.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, no, that's, that's for sure. Yeah. And, and really in [00:13:00] general, there's. Uh, there's not always a huge place for rigidity in my opinion anymore. We have the flexibility to make these decisions. We have all the creative options. Um, we can do things the way that we want to do them.

Um, and there's really, like, there's no that, I think like there's so much less of the pressure to scrapbook at a certain way.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. Like there's no right way. There's no wrong way. And I feel like all of the old style like rules have kind of gone out the window. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: You can just do whatever makes you happy with it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, and, and embrace that. And whenever you doubt yourself, just, you know, let someone else remind you, accept that permission to, you know, if you think you're breaking a rule, it's just make your own new rule. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. It's always like, and if something doesn't go right, just pivot and change your plan. And that's what I do kind of with my monthly album. Some months are super busy, like if we have a vacation, I will do whole six, eight by eight, like collage of photos just.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Extra, extra add-ins because that month was busy. If [00:14:00] a month is slow or really depressing, there might not be as much. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Just kind of be flexible.

Jennifer Wilson: Certainly. So for someone who hasn't seen your work yet, how would you describe your style in three words? Um, because you already mentioned cut files, you mentioned stitching, so I'm thinking we have a lot of details here.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, I would definitely say like graphic, like I use big shapes. So that's either like my cut files or big pieces of pattern paper. But I definitely call it kind of graphic, colorful. I love those bright, colorful collections. And also kind of photo focused. I feel like my photos like jump off the page even if it's an everyday moment. I like them to be the star of my layouts.

Jennifer Wilson: These days, are you taking most of your photos with your phone or are you still using a big camera or another camera?

Cassie Wiscarson: I pretty much exclusively use my phone and I have, and I have a big camera. I all of the bells and whistles. I have determined the best camera is whichever [00:15:00] one you have with you.

Jennifer Wilson: Certainly, yes. Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: And I am much more of an everyday moment, scrapbooker lately. So I'm like, I need to focus on those little moments. That means I have my phone with me, not, I don't plan to take my big camera. Even on vacation lately, I haven't even taken it. I just use my phone.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, I always, I'm thinking about like the logistics of do I wanna really be carrying this with me? And it's, yeah, it's usually on the, the slowest least interesting type of things where we're driving there. So that I don't have to worry about the, the space or carrying it or anything like that. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, yeah, and I feel like by the time I order a new camera, it's already outdated with how.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Great our cell phone cameras are. 'Cause

Jennifer Wilson: Very true.

Cassie Wiscarson: I tend to have one a, like a latest, a newest phone just for the camera. And I'm like, this, this, you know, DSLR with the extra battery pack and all fancy stuff is like super heavy.

So. I use my big camera more for like, I did it [00:16:00] for my daughter's senior pictures and like more for like events like that. Than just like if we go to the zoo. I'm just gonna use my phone.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. So are there some products, tools, or techniques that you use most often? If we were to flip through your pages, what are some of the things that we're gonna see?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, you would definitely see cut files. Um, a lot of stitching, either hand stitching or machine stitching. And really that just depends on how much time and effort I'm willing to put into it. Because let's be honest, hand stitching takes a while, but it looks amazing. So like, do I have the time to sit here and do this? Over the last year I did a lot more hybrid scrapping. So that would be purchasing like digital collections and printing them out. And so I then have a paper collection to scrap with. Which really stretches your supplies way farther because I can just print on demand and cut on demand. And then also quite a bit of like mixed media, but like simple mixed media. So like some ink blending [00:17:00] or a little bit of texture paste through stencils. So it's not like super messy.

Jennifer Wilson: Just, just a little bit. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: like I still have Control control over it a little bit.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Dipping my to in, have to have control.

Jennifer Wilson: I understand that. You were, when you were talking about hybrid, I'm curious what led you to doing more of that?

Cassie Wiscarson: So, I mean, I've done it. I've done digital scrapbooking over the years as different on parts of different design teams and been asked to do hybrid. And then, um, oh gosh, a year ago, last October, so October, 2024, I joined the Traci Reed design team.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Cassie Wiscarson: She just designed digital kits.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: So that kind of, instead of dipping my toe in, I just full out jump.

So I have a 12 by 12 printer and was printing on card stock and like, I just loved having so many options of so many different collections. And then, um, since she also ends up like designing for like Echo Park and I think another [00:18:00] company. I end up now seeing her collections in traditional print anyways. And I'm like, I just still love them.

Like I just loved her designs and that's actually who I'm using for my six by eight album this year. She has a whole story foundations kit of all the cards. And so I can just print my cards and change 'em up however often I want.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you find that you scrapbook differently at all when you're printing hybrid supplies versus, you know, using some a physical supply? Like, are you using more of something because previously you would only have one of them.

Cassie Wiscarson: Not necessarily more. I feel like I'm more intentional when I print my hybrid supplies than when I'm buying my traditional supplies.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, so you don't have as many extras.

Cassie Wiscarson: In theory, I have more extra die cuts because, um, hers are like on sheets. So I literally just print them and cut them like a whole sheet of dye cuts on my Silhouette at one time.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I can do 'em individually, but honestly, like she makes it super easy that I can just pull it up in my [00:19:00] software print and cut. And I'm like, I'd rather have extras than spend the time to like, no, I just want this one flower or this one phrase. Like, whatever. I'll just have those extras. But paper, I feel like I'm more intentional on, yes, those are my favorite. Versus when I'm buying a collection, I'm like, Ooh, I like enough of that whole collection. I'm just gonna buy the whole collection.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Like, here's the whole paper pack. Ooh, I need some embellishments.

Here's two or three packs of embellishments. And so I feel like I have less on hand of hybrid supplies just because I know I can go back in and print if I decide, I wanna now a full sheet of this paper instead of maybe a smaller piece.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that and I love that you also can scale the patterns down to whatever scale you need too. That makes it extra fun, I think.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, yeah, and I love that you can scale. Um, also with Traci Reed she makes 'em in different sizes in her, like when she releases them. So that, honestly, I love the simplicity of it. Like I'm all for Photoshop and adjusting things, and other times I'm like, [00:20:00] can I just not have to think about it and print them all? And so.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Almost all of her papers also come on, like the smaller pieces and cards come on PDFs. So you can just open that up and print it and so it doesn't like require any Photoshop or trying to adjust it and make it bigger or smaller. I'm like, I can just print these and have them and cut them apart.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that. I love that how she's made it so accessible for, for every type of scrapbooker. Even those who, who don't have a lot of digital experience. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah. Or tech, like, let's be honest.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Some of us are not great at tech. I mean, I am. But I, I know a lot of people in, in the world that are not. So I'm like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Let's just keep it simple and make it easy for everyone.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there any trends that are peaking your interest right now?

Cassie Wiscarson: Definitely I'm diving more into adding mixed media to my pages. I kind of went out of it for a little bit just because I hated the mess on my desk. But I, again, splurged. Um, apparently I'm in my splurging era of I [00:21:00] want stuff that makes me happy. So I have a magnetic glass mat from Glass Board Studio. And so I find the cleanup on that is just so much easier. I had like a smaller, like the Tim Holtz mixed media mat.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: But then it didn't like sit comfortably on my desk, so it didn't cover up enough of my workspace, and so I didn't feel like I could always leave it on my desk. And then the thought of pulling that out and then if I wanted to use stencils, I had to pull out my magnetic, uh, 12 by 12 pad to hold the stencil in place.

I'm like, this is just too much work. It's just easier to skip it. And now with my gin ginormous, like this thing is 35 inches by 24 inches. Like I got one, like almost the biggest size. It can just sit on my desk all the time. And so now I'm finding myself reaching for that mixed media because it's just now so easy to clean up. And

Jennifer Wilson: hold

Cassie Wiscarson: stencils in place and hold different papers down while I'm doing the mixed media.

Jennifer Wilson: So I feel like I'm, I like missed a class somewhere. I don't know that I'd ever, I've ever used a magnet to hold [00:22:00] down a stencil. I've always annoyingly used my hand and prayed that I was gonna keep it in place. Um, I.

Cassie Wiscarson: Uh, uh, so, uh, a few years ago when I was on the Paper Issues team, they got these like 12 by 12 magnetic mats, and I forget who made them. Um, and I was like, oh, yes, definitely. So holding it down with magnets was like a game changer in the sense that, especially if you're trying to blend different colors through a stencil. Like now you're not having to worry about moving it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: But the mat was the same size as the 12 by 12 paper. So if you're trying to like go off the edge, you're literally having to move your paper and the stencil and like, now is it sitting right? Is there gonna be a crease? And honestly like I was like, okay, great, like a glass mat. Perfect. Like I, now I don't have to worry about cleanup. Like how do I hold the stencil down if I'm not wanting to just rely on using my hands?

Like am I taping it down like that's, I can't tape it on top of paper, then it's gonna rip the paper. 'cause that's just my luck.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah, of course.

Cassie Wiscarson: This magnetic glass thing is [00:23:00] literally a game changer if you're in the mixed media.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that. Yes. 'cause there's, I feel like I love mixed media, but there's so many barriers between me and a satisfying result, so I just don't do it.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, yeah. And so I was like, okay, I wanna play for a while. And then I was like, okay, this is too much. Like I just need to kind of keep it simple. And then I was like, okay. I really want to play more with it. Because I have it, so I'm like, let's use it more. Like I have all of the Tim Holtz, Distress Oxides, like I want to use them. But I'm like, how can I make it so I'm not pulling stuff out?

Because clearing off the space for to pull out a glass mat is just like, I don't wanna have to clean my desk in the middle of a project just to pull out a glass mat.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, certainly. Yeah. Uh, I love that. We will definitely link that up. It sounds like something I might need to put on my next Christmas list, so.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. And they come in different patterns and, and yeah, it's, dangerous. So look at your own caution. Because [00:24:00] I quickly fell in love and would not stop thinking about it I ordered it.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Nice. So this next question is one that the answer is usually mixed media. So is there something in scrapbooking that you've decided is just not for you? I would say at least 80% of the answers I receive is mixed media. So what is the thing that is not for you?

Cassie Wiscarson: So like the old style, like vintage type stuff. And I wanna say it's like Studio 45, like that sort of like graphic background. Like that style is just not for me. And even like vintage lines, as much as I love sometimes the look of them. I know I don't reach for them in my stash. I am much more bright, colorful, even if they're like more earthy tones of like Simple Stories, have some that are not vintage, but you know, not super bright. And I'm just like, those are what I reach for, not vintage at all. And also.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Don't really do a lot of like smaller, uh, mini albums. [00:25:00] Even if I'm doing a vacation, those are just gonna be 12 by 12 layouts. I don't find myself like creating a whole little mini album.

Jennifer Wilson: What led you to doing six by eight for your monthly recaps?

Cassie Wiscarson: So I tried, um, back when I was on the Paper Issues team, they have like a 52 favorites, so it would be like a way to document each week. And I've tried many different formats, so I've done like a Rolodex. So that one was kind of fun. But I didn't end up loving it just because like displaying, it's kind of hard. Um, I've tried.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Four by four and that just felt too small. And then I was like, well, I have some, like six by eight stuff, let's try it. And the ease of being able to slip in pockets, because I've done like the Elle's Studio, monthly kits before too, where they have all those cards. I love the ease and like I can add my journaling. And so I can either keep it as simple or embellished as I want. And that can change on each month.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: So maybe some months I want to spend longer. If I feel behind, I can literally just slide in pictures and cards. [00:26:00] Well I glue them together 'cause I don't like them, I like them to line up. Um.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: it's not as simple as just sliding it in. I'm like, oh no, everything has to be lined up. Um. it's just easy and it's a great way to be able to look back since I've been doing it now, since like 2019.

It's a great way to look back at like previous years. And it forces me to focus on everyday moments that maybe sometimes you don't think about. And like maybe that wouldn't necessarily always rank taking a picture of. And now I find myself being more intentional with that.

Jennifer Wilson: So if you started that in 2019, that means you started in the, uh, square corner era. Because when we were doing rounded corners for pocket pages, not only were we adhering them back to back, we had to rero all the corners so they would match up. Um, so you didn't see weird corners peeking out?

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh, oh no. My original, like I did a year of Project Life, like.

Jennifer Wilson: Okay.

Cassie Wiscarson: Traditional product, product, Project, Life rounded corners, it all, um.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I did that [00:27:00] photo a day, like legit, took a photo a day, one year when my husband was deployed, when my daughter was small. And oh my God, the pressure of that, like if I was sick and my daughter was sick, to find something to take a picture of, like it was intense.

Like.

Jennifer Wilson: I bet. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Have to be find something and it was all the rounded corners and no corner rounder, like completely matched.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: The corners. And that would irritate me.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: So I'm

Jennifer Wilson: So, so you have been there.

Cassie Wiscarson: Now I'm like, I'm doing square corners. Everything lines up. I glue the card and the picture together front to back, and then trim if there's anything sticking out.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. I do appreciate that. That's where we've, we've landed.

So where and when can we typically find you scrapbooking? And has that changed over time? You know, as your daughter's grown, things have evolved in your own life.

Cassie Wiscarson: I used to scrapbook when she was little, like a lot more like nap time, bedtime. I would then be scrapbooking. Um, now I get I scrapbook Saturdays. And [00:28:00] maybe an evening or two a week. Um, so. That's only changed, that's more of a recent development. I used to do it still a lot more when even she was in high school.

But, um, my mom is having some health issues. So like those are, I have Saturday at home, that's my only full day at home each week. So Saturdays are a hundred percent my scrapbooking time. And then if I'm have energy one or two nights a week, um, I come home for dinner. And then would scrapbook then.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice. Yeah. I mean, this hobby isn't just about the memories. It's not just about the craftiness. It's about, you know, what we need to do to feed ourselves as we are existing in the world. And taking care of the things that we need to take care of. It's the, you know, put your own oxygen mask on first. And I think for many of us, that's scrapbooking is the oxygen mask.

Cassie Wiscarson: Very much so. Like I have, I took, um, like last September, things were really crazy and so I didn't scrapbook very much found myself really missing it.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: For my own mental health, I need to make [00:29:00] that a priority. The creativity really just brings me peace and joy and I enjoy it. So I'm like I, that is kind of like the, I need to wear the oxygen mask first.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: I've been very intentional in 2026 of making that a priority.

Jennifer Wilson: Did you, has it been harder, like, like. You know, I hear a lot from scrapbookers that, uh, putting themselves first is sometimes a challenge. Because they feel like they have all these other obligations and they're just, they're not a priority. So I'm curious, kind of, has that been a challenge for you or have you evolved past that?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, I think this year I've, um, kind of evolved past it, but

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Like I put scrapbooking on kind of more of the back burner and I had like stepped down from some design teams. Um, another one had like given me the flexibility while I was kind of adjusting with, um, my mom's stuff, to, to create as I had [00:30:00] time or energy. And so I really appreciated that. Because it did take me a couple months to like really get things kind of squared in over at her house. And feel like we're in a nice routine now where I can take the time for myself. Um, with some help for my therapist who's like, no, you have to take time for yourself. And I was like I did have to put some like limits on how much time I was over there helping my daughter and care for my mom. And like, no, I do have to have time at home. And the crafting part of that is what keeps my sanity for work and the stuff over there and everything else that I needed it for my own mental health. And so it like it has to be a priority.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, yeah. I love that you've, that you've figured that out for yourself. And I think that's something that's so important these days. Um, that we pay attention to what it is that we really need before it gets to a place where, uh, our own, our own, you know, physical and mental health is deteriorating because of it.[00:31:00]

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. And I think as, as moms like, it's.

Jennifer Wilson: Hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: Easy to put everything else to that front of that list.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'm notorious for too. Like work comes first and then it's like my daughter and my husband and the kid and the dogs and my mom. And it's so hard to be like, no, I need to do this for myself. That, I'm still, it's still a work in progress, but that's why I'm like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah,

Cassie Wiscarson: One day, one day a week. I can just be like, it's my day.

Jennifer Wilson: That's wonderful. Um, tell me about organization and you, are you best friends with the organization or not so much?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, very much so. I am, I like to joke that I'm maybe a little bit OCD and very much like a type A personality of everything has its home. Everything needs to be in its home. And I literally have a clean desk after every project. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: If I finish a layout, everything gets put away. Everything's organized.

My collections are together in like these cute little like plastic folders, they are [00:32:00] labeled. Me and my label maker are also best friends. Um, embellishments are organized, like everything has its home. And having a clean and organized scrap space literally brings me joy.

Jennifer Wilson: Are there any particular like strategies or solutions that have worked really well for you over the years?

Cassie Wiscarson: Definitely labeling everything. And like I am one who likes to reach for a collection, but once I'm done with that collection, I break it apart and keep it by color.

So some things in my scrap room are organized, like literally by color, like all my, like labels and little embellishments are organized by color once I'm done with them as like part of a collection. And so, it's really a learning curve of what works for you. And honestly, like I think creating my scrapbooking space and organizing it is a whole nother hobby to scrapbooking. I am constantly changing things up and deciding something needs to work differently or moving things around based upon how I'm currently creating. Having that flexibility, but also like [00:33:00] admitting like, okay, this is not working. Let's just change it up.

Jennifer Wilson: Do you ever need to kind of hold yourself back to say like, Hey, I'm organizing more than I'm scrapbooking?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, no, I kind of feel like it's seasonal for me.

Jennifer Wilson: Or is that not a problem.

Cassie Wiscarson: It's not really a problem. So like I do usually like around spring, kind of like that spring cleaning. I am not spring cleaning in the house. I am spring cleaning my scrap room. Because that brings me more joy. And then usually sometime over the summer, so I work in a school, so like as soon as summer break hits, I'm like, Nope.

It's time to kind of clean, reorganize, give it like a fresh new start. 'Cause that always makes me more excited to create again.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. I love that you figured out that about yourself too and how you look for things. So all of my little pieces are organized by shape. So rectangle circles, stars, you know, flags, tags.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, not how my brain works. I'm like, I want something teal. I'm gonna go to my teal area. I'm, you know, if it's not like with a collection or.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I want a stencil. They, [00:34:00] they are in binders and they are alphabetical by brand and have little, um, like dividers on the end. So I am, I, I guess working in a school is perfect for me. I love school supplies and new supplies.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: So I'm like, the organized person. And I'm just like, that's, that's what I do. Everything in here is organized.

Jennifer Wilson: Do people come to you for organization help?

Cassie Wiscarson: Um, a little bit. Like I do like to share my scrap room and when I come up with something new on, um, definitely my social media. So it's definitely like all on my Instagram. uh, I belong to a lot of like online scrapbooking groups. So if they have a question of like, Hey, how are you organizing this? I have no problem stopping what I'm doing, taking a picture.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Because I think it really helps to kind of see some other people's perspectives of like what has worked for them. And it kind of then gets my brain going to like, okay, well what else could I do that could work for me? Because let's be honest, my, my storage is mostly on a budget. 'cause rather buy new [00:35:00] supplies than the latest and greatest storage item.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. And I, I have found over the years that I like more closed storage. I don't wanna see it. So to me it doesn't matter that much what's in the basket because, or how the basket looks on the inside. Because I just wanna see the pretty basket on the outside. 'Cause I don't wanna see my stuff at all.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well yeah and I like to see my stuff, but I like it to be organized. So like I have huge shelves, so those are open. But I'm like all of my, gosh, um, label making stuff is in one big bin and you can't see what's in there. I just know where that bin is. So.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Kind of more hidden, but then also like I can, I'm literally turning around, like I have all of my, um, ink blending brushes are in one cube, and so if you can see those.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: But those are in rainbow order, so it's fine that they're visible.

Jennifer Wilson: I have to say I do have all of my Distress Ink also in rainbow order. So that is one thing I do organize by color. So, um, otherwise I'd never be able to find anything.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yep. [00:36:00] I have the Oxides in rainbow color, and then I have a few of just the regular inks and like my favorite colors. Those are also in rainbow order.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'm a rainbow order girl. I'll be honest.

Jennifer Wilson: I did that with my washi tape a long time ago, and I had it stacked on the shelf behind me, and I thought it looked so cute, especially in videos and photos and all that. But I found that I would never unstack it. I would never use it anymore because it was just, it became decoration, I guess. So I had to put it all in a basket instead.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, and I've went from like certain things, color coded like that. Honestly, I don't even use my washi anymore.

Jennifer Wilson: I know.

Cassie Wiscarson: I keep it so my daughter can raid it for her diamond painting.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: It makes her feel like she's getting away with something and it's, it was kind of fun.

Jennifer Wilson: They'll always, yeah, they'll always have that, uh, little girl sneakiness in them. Right. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh, 100%. And honestly, I love that she's crafty like I am and it's taken her a while to like figure out what she really likes, but i

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Love that she just keeps trying until like something hits.

Jennifer Wilson: I love that for sure. I love, [00:37:00] um, I guess as a parent, like giving your kid the freedom to explore and experiment like that with creative things. That's something that I had and I'm so glad I'm able to do that for my, my daughter too. So.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, she's always in here like, like, she's like, I'm bored. So then she's like grabbing my alcohol markers to color or my colored pencils and like just finding something random that I can just toss her and be like, here, you can do this. I'm busy.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Just gonna talk my ear off constantly. But honestly, now that she's not here every day, I kind of miss it.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh, I bet, I bet I used to have a lot of Posca paint pens. I don't have very many anymore because they went to school one day and they were used for all kinds of things and, and now they, they're, they never returned.

Cassie Wiscarson: Shocker. I, my alcohol markers have done the same thing except for they're over at my mom's 'cause she wanted to use them over there. I'm like, okay.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I'll sacrifice.

Jennifer Wilson: You will. Yep, yep. So our last two questions are a little bit more big picture. [00:38:00] Where would you like your scrapbooking to be 10 years from now?

Cassie Wiscarson: I definitely think I'll still be creating. I think it, it always changes. I'm, I can't imagine myself not doing 12 by 12 layouts. 'Cause I've been doing them since the beginning. But I definitely think it's gonna be focused more on maybe travel or still everyday moments. I'm not a huge like holiday scrapbooker. And so like you won't find like, oh, look at this big birthday layout every year.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Nope. I wanna see the everyday moments. Probably a lot more albums. 'Cause let's be honest, I scrapbook a lot. Um, just want to keep it like doing it however it brings me joy. So if I do end up changing and maybe wanting to do more mini albums, then, that will be a surprise, but it could happen.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. Well, we never know, like what products are gonna come out that will pique our interest and get us to try something new.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. 'Cause 10 years ago I never thought I would like mixed media. Like it just [00:39:00] felt too unpredictable and too messy and like, I'm like, that's not me. When like my daughter was like a toddler, I'm like, there's enough mess in my life. I don't need it in my scrapbooking.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes.

Cassie Wiscarson: Now I'm like, bring on the mess. So I think our, our styles change as we get older and like as products change and inspiration changes. Because I've learned so much now than when I started because of of social media. So like Instagram and Reels.

Jennifer Wilson: Oh.

Cassie Wiscarson: And YouTube. Like there's so many more ways to learn than when I started, which was just like Creating Keepsakes conventions.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. No, that's, it's very, very true. Um, at just the speed at which we can pick up new things. And it's not even watching a tutorial anymore. It's like literally saying, I need five seconds of somebody doing this to know, oh, well that's what you do, and then you can, you can try to do it yourself.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah. And, and the fact that like with the internet and like there are online crops now [00:40:00] and you can like.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: Watch somebody teach you how to do something without leaving your home in your own space. Honestly I love that. 'Cause I am much more like a, let's stay at home and scrapbook with all of my stuff around me than try to figure out what I want to pack and go to a crop because then I never have what I actually want.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah, no, it can, it can be stressful to figure out what it is you're actually gonna use and

Cassie Wiscarson: And then where you put it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. For sure. Now, my last question for you is, what has being a, a scrapbooker taught you?

Cassie Wiscarson: Really it has forced me to look at everyday moments of my life and focus on the little moments. Like, yes, the vacations are great and those are memorable, but sometimes it's just the little things that bring you joy. So lately it's the, like the napping pictures of my dog.

Jennifer Wilson: Mm-hmm.

Cassie Wiscarson: Because he is only two, like, he's not gonna look that way forever. And just, looks so peaceful. I'm like, I need more of that in my life. So those pictures bring me joy. That's what I wanna scrapbook. Like, um, [00:41:00] oh look, my boss bought donuts. Those are cute. My friend brought me a new little crocheted animal for my desk at work. That needs to be photographed. Like it's those little moments that I think add up to our lives actually being rich and enjoyable. And those are what I want to focus on. Versus sometimes the big stuff or the sad stuff. Which still make it into my scrapbook, but I think finding joy in those little moments is what makes my life more full and brings me more joy.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes. Yes, a hundred percent. Uh, I think it's easy to feel torn between, doing that and the value that we get from it and then, oh, but I've forgotten all these other stories and I feel like I need to do that. So I think there, there can be a little bit of a tension for, for memory keepers and how am I gonna choose what I'm gonna spend my time on? 'Cause I can't possibly do everything.

Cassie Wiscarson: No. And it's been interesting as my daughter's gotten older and like she looks back through the scrapbooks and there will be certain things she only remembers from the [00:42:00] scrapbooks.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: There will be things that like had a huge, was a huge moment for her and a huge memory. And I'm like, even remember that.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: I've took, taken my memory keeping to be what's important to me. Because I will never know what was important to her. Like for her 18th birthday, she wanted a stuffed animal toy thing that she remembered from when she was an infant. That wast Was one of her first memories. And I had to find it and it was considered vintage, which kind of traumatized me. Um, but I'm like, was that like, like, that's just a really clear memory for me. And I never would've thought of that. So I'm like, I just pick what's important to me and if when I pass she doesn't want the scrapbooks or she just wants to pick her favorites. Okay. Like I do it not for like having all of these memories for future generations. I just do it because it brings me joy now.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: If nobody looked at them again and they just go into a dumpster, I literally [00:43:00] won't care because creating them is what brings me joy.

Jennifer Wilson: Well, and it keeps you connected to yourself, to your family, to being able to have those conversations, to find out what was important to the others in your life too. Um, because you're thinking about that we are able to kind of share that, that sense of gratitude and thoughtfulness with, with the people around us too.

Cassie Wiscarson: Well, yeah. And because I now brought this stuffed animal of hers that she had as an infant, rebought it.

Jennifer Wilson: Yeah.

Cassie Wiscarson: It made a great scrapbooking page when my 18-year-old daughter, I literally bought an infant toy stuffed, I think it's like a porcupine or something that rattles. Like.

Jennifer Wilson: Nice.

Cassie Wiscarson: Or maybe it's a hedgehog or something, whatever it is.

It's like literally bright colors for like an infant, and I literally had to document that because I'm like, this is hilarious that you wanted an infant for your 18 for Christmas, for your 18th birthday.

Jennifer Wilson: I love it. I love it. We, uh, we had flat bunny. And we actually have an extra flat bunny in case Flat Bunny was ever lost. So there is a [00:44:00] brand new one in a package somewhere in a closet.

Cassie Wiscarson: Oh yeah, We had, we had Baby Elmos. Um, a certain Baby Elmo also went on deployment with my husband so that they each had one.

Jennifer Wilson: That's a, I love that.

Cassie Wiscarson: Blankets, which we had to get a replacement of. Like, so there are those, but I was just, I knew those were the attachments. That's why those random hedgehog thing was a surprise.

Jennifer Wilson: Yes, yes. But I love that story so much. Thank you for sharing. This has been just such a delightful conversation. Cassie, can you share where our listeners can find you online? Anything else you have new coming up this year, 2026.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, of course. So I am of course on my Instagram all the time, and that's just @CassieWiscarson. And I share my, all my layouts there every single month. Um, I currently, you can find me with Peartree Cut files. So they're a UK company, but they have a Facebook group and, um, release new cut files each month. Um, I also create for Scrapbook Generation with, um, Allison Davis for [00:45:00] their, um, printables and also their sketches. So you'll find me there. And then this is brand new hot off the press and will be announced in like an hour. I am part of the Crafty Maven Getaway, um, mixed media kits. And, uh, you can find me on their Facebook group doing all of their challenges and posting there. And that starts literally today.

Jennifer Wilson: Very cool. Congratulations.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yeah, so hot off the press. Brand new news.

Jennifer Wilson: We will, we will incorporate all of the news, um, in, in the show notes for this episode.

Cassie Wiscarson: Perfect.

Jennifer Wilson: Thanks for spending time with me, Cassie.

Cassie Wiscarson: Yep. It's been a pleasure.

Jennifer Wilson: And to all of our listeners, please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way.