Hello everyone and Happy New Year to you all!! It’s my turn for an introduction so here it goes.

I’m Trista! Waving and saying howdy from Texas. I am wife to one DH, SAHM to two littles, a southpaw, a list maker, a photo taker, and a digi scrap addict.

Here are a few more things about me:
Paper or digital?
Both!! I have actually always been a memory keeper in some form or fashion. I was a paper scrapper even before scrapbooking was an official hobby. In 2009, while at a paper scrapbooking retreat I was introduced to digital scrapbooking. From there my digi journey began. I do still scrap the traditional way on occasion, but digital scrapbooking works the best for me.

Camera(s)
I have a few! I have a Nikon D5100 with a couple of lenses and use it just about daily. I also have a Nikon Coolpix point and shoot camera that is slim enough for my pocket, super easy access on the go. Another camera that I use daily is the iPhone.

Why do you scrap?
For me it is all about preserving the memories. I

How would you describe your scrapbook style?
Oh wow! I am kind of all over the place in the style department. I like to try new things, so in my gallery you will see many different styles. I go through phases when a trend or technique comes along that I really like. This is also true in going through my traditional scrapbooks. I will add that I am a patterned paper junkie. The bolder the pattern the better! Blocking is another style that I use time and time again.

Where do you create, and when?
I scrap everywhere! That is one thing that I really love about digital scrapbooking. I can grab the laptop and an EHD loaded with digital goodies and scrap from anywhere! While I enjoy being mobile when using the laptop to scrap, I have to admit that the ideal location is at my desk where a large monitor makes things easy on my old eyes and of course my custom built PC is an added bonus! I scrap during the day week when the kids are in school and at night when the house is quiet – usually late at night.

What program do you use?
I use Photoshop CS5 for scrapbooking and I use Lightroom for photo editing.

What’s your favorite technique or trick?
Well I have two favorite tricks actually. These tricks played an important roll in making digital scrapbooking work for me. It’s Ctrl + Z (undo) and Ctrl + J (duplicate). Oh how I wish I could use either of these handy little tricks in paper scrapbooking, but that is not the case. When scrapping traditionally once something is glued to the page it stays there. I do not have the option of moving it around and rearranging it. Oh and the magic of that little duplicate shortcut – Oh my word! Have you been to the paper craft section in your local hobby store lately? Those flowers are not cheap!! Paper supplies in general are not cheap, especially if you want to use multiple embellishments. I can use a digital flower or other embellishment over and over and over again. I can resize it and/or recolor it as well.

What’s your favorite color combination?
This changes for me about as often as trends change. I love color and don’t really have a favorite! I will say that I am drawn to fall colors no matter what time of year. I really like oranges and deep yellows and browns. While I am not a theme scrapper, I really enjoy patriotic and school related kits. When I see them I must have them.

Do you prefer movies or books?
I would say that I was an avid reader, but that was many moons ago – before a husband, and kids, before the internet, iphone, and reality tv. I also remember a time when I was the first in line to nab tickets fora movie premier – again a thing of the past. Since digital scrapbooking I spend my free time trying to preserve our family memories while they are fresh.

Sweet or salty?
Sweet and salty! I like an even mix of both!

Coffee or tea?
Tea! Sweetened with real sugar please!

Beach or mountains?
Homebody works for me. I am not one that likes to rough it too much. I mean visiting my dad in the country is a real treat except for the lack of internet service which makes my eye twitch thinking of it. EEK! The horror! I am to fair skinned for the beach and not a fan of salt water or hurricanes.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
This has actually been coming up in talking with my husband lately. We would really like to move a little more north than where we are right now. We would like to see four actual seasons, unlike what we are both used to here in Texas. Cold, Cool, Warm, and Hot. Hee! Hee!

Pick one of your favorite layouts and tell us why it’s one of your favorites?
It was hard to pick just one. So I’ll show a couple of my faves.

I chose this one b/c of the blocking. BLocking can be as simple or as intricate as you feel like when creating.

This one turned out just as I had planned and I was pleasantly surprised considering my newness to using brushes.

I just had to include my son in the list of favorites. This one is school related. :Swooning: If you could see the school kits in my digi stash you would have a field day. I really like the paper feel to this page – lots of layers!

Okay, enough about me. Thanks for taking the time to read all of this.