Gentle Blooms - Staples

About Me

Update January, 2022:
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I am, sadly, still out of commission with regards to designing with no sight of that changing anytime soon (I cannot afford a new computer that is robust enough for me to continue creating as I'd like); so I have made the decision to remove my designs from the commons here (sometime this year, I think) as, it doesn't feel good to me for this site to earn money from my efforts when
I have no way of recovering my own costs to move forward. I'm not yet sure if I'll continue to offer my designs elsewhere for free or fee so, please enjoy them here while you still are able.
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July, 2021: Still on a break, just more of life's surprises & troubles, compounded (cannot even scrapbook my personal stuff any longer). Though I am still breathing, it's not looking good for me to return to design anytime soon.Thank you to all who've taken the time to comment and "heart" my designs... its nice to be appreciated; each one makes me smile.
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November 3, 2019: Addendum to my note below, made two years earlier. I am now on a LENGTHY design and scrapbooking break, the length of which, I do not yet know. I am reassessing my life, in general, as I had never found a "new normal" for myself since acquiring physical limitations as a result of the CVA (Cerebral Vascular Accident) I endured in 2013. If I return to designing, I will most likely continue along with the plans I posted here previously:
November 4, 2017: With regards to my designs here at DigitalScrapbook.com, I've made a decision (though, it is possible that I could change my mind again - I'm good at that), to concentrate on updating (for quality) all of my older products to upload to the commons before starting any new designs (like blog trains, etc.)...hoping to instead catch up on my own scrapping needs when I get the urge to be creative.
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Married (to the best man in the world- I truly believe that!), mother of 2 boys, also a bereaved parent...my first child was born with a severe seizure disorder which profoundly stunted his development. He was fully disabled, both physically and cognitively, throughout his short life of 13 years. My second son is over twenty years and still lives at home with his father and I.

I've been designing digital scrapbook products since 2009 and although I was a designer at a store for 3 years starting in 2010, I didn't like having to work so hard for so little payback; I much prefer doing it for the joy it gives me and others; I was so very pleased when I found this site and read their manifesto...exactly what I have always felt. I grew-up in a "creative" home; my father was a professional artist and photography hobbyist; my mother was always doing crafty things, she taught me sewing, crocheting, knitting, etc. I worked with computers for years before they became household items, so, when I discovered digital scrapbooking in 2008; it was a natural fit for me.

In January, 2008 I discovered that I had only 3 months until my niece's wedding shower and since I wanted to create a genealogical scrapbook as my gift, I knew there would be no way I could meet that deadline using the traditional paper scrapping method... so off I went searching for a way to do it digitally...that's when I discovered the world of digital scrapbooking. Like so many others before me, I was immediately hooked on this past-time. By April 2013, I decided to give up selling my designs and return to giving them away freely. My original plans were to also create some tutorials on the subject as I also have a professional background in developing 'Computer Based Training' BUT as what often happens with PLANS, Life can get in the way...in July, 2013, I survived a CVA (aka stroke). Even after months in hospital acute rehabilitation and a rehabilitation nursing facility, I am now a left-sided hemiplegia (left side of my body is paralyzed - head to feet, everything left of center). Makes many daily activities quite frustrating but at least I have this creative activity to use as an outlet for those negative feelings. ;-)