Guest Scrapper 001: Nicole Jones

Welcome to my first "Guest Scrapper" post. A weekly series where a fabulous scrapper is featured on the blog!

Oh my goodness I am so excited about today's post!

Anyone who has been around the YouTube scrapbooking scene for the last few months you will be very familiar with Nicole Jones or nicolejones911. She has shared over 40 process videos in a very short amount of time and she is crazy talented! 

When I decided to begin this weekly guest post series on the blog featuring fabulous scrappers I knew immediately who I wanted my first guest to be, and I was thrilled when she agreed to take the time to share with us.  

So without further ado...the incredibly talented Mrs. Nicole Jones!

Why do you Scrapbook?

 Over the years I've had so many people ask me that question. In short I love papers, embellishments and all the toys related to Scrapbooking. Finally, "Toys for Big Girls"!!!   I started Scrapbooking because I wanted to have a few "cute" albums for my family, but this has turned into a passion that I cannot go one day without at least thinking about.

A little background about me...  I started Scrapbooking 15 years ago when I found out I was pregnant with my third child and because of this my 10 rolls of film per year turned into over 100 rolls per year (of course now totally digital so even more photos per year) and I totally fell in love with photography and keeping track of my families growth. 

 I've been married for 21 years and have 3 children and 1 grandson (which by the way I am way too young to be a grandma LOL but totally loving it).  I work at a 9-1-1 center and it can be stressful and exhausting. This is where Scrapbooking is an outlet, I walk into my Scrapbook room which is my little haven and everything is right with the world and I just have fun.

What is my process?

I love Scrapbooking with kits. I grab my Studio Calico kit and start having fun.  I  have a video uploaded on You Tube which is "My process when I start with a new kit" and it outlines how my brain thinks when I get started with a fresh kit.  My first step is pairing up the papers and this really helps the "mojo". Then I put together a "page kit". I gather all the materials I might need for my layout (stamps, inks, embellies, masks, stickers etc...) and that usually decides what photo should go with that kit ... I know I am kinda backwards I don't start with the photo but with papers. I usually don't plan my layouts but just pick up my scissors and my cutter and start cutting papers, if I don't like a layout I just keep adding layers and embellishments until I do. One of my favorite things about scrapbooking is the journaling. I feel like I am leaving little letters to my kids which they can appreciate later. My journaling is rarely about the event taking place but more about the story behind the photo if that makes any sense...

When do I Scrapbook?

Four words " I do shift work" so I never scrapbook at the same time, I've seen myself after a night shift scrapbook for one hour before going to bed as a way to relax.  

For over 10 years I taught classes at a local scrapbook store and also as a representative for a stamp company. I recently started doing process videos on You Tube and I am having a blast. 

Hobbies have come and gone but scrapbooking is here to stay, and besides my hubby would probably strangle me if I said I was done scrapbooking with all the "stuff" I have accumulated over the years. LOL

My name is Nicole Jones and I am a scrap-a-holic!

PS: Now I totally need to do a Scrapbook page about Why I Scrapbook!

Thank you Nicole!
I find it completely inspiring that she creates such beautiful papers while having such an inconsistent schedule. I would struggle with that big time!
You can find Nicole's YouTube channel here and I am sure she would love for you to subscribe and leave her lots of lovely comments!

I hope you have enjoyed this guest posts as much I have! It's so important that we encourage and support other scrapbookers. I definitely don't scrap to please the masses but with each kind word and comment that I get, it encourages me to try something new and keep pushing on!

Happy Thursday everyone!