More from Cathy Zielske

During a recent interview with Cathy Zielske – Scrapbooking Directions was able to ask many of the questions scrapbookers just like YOU want to know…and Cathy’s answers were plenty!

This particular article serves as a resource reference to that intereview.  Why?  Because Cathy is cearly one resourceful scrapbooker! In our 45 minute tell all chat about Scrapbooking, Cathy shared some of her best tips and tricks as well as some fantastic words of wisdom to new and aspiring to be professional scrapbookers.  We wanted to share them with you on the site as well.

So here it goes…

First: Cathy mentioned two Big Picture Scrapbooking Workshops that in our opinion are MUST ATTENDS for every scrapbooker.  We’d like to spread the word about them for Cathy as a little thank you for her time.

Workshop #1 is: “Me The Abridged Version” ; she will be running this again in the Spring of 2010.  It’s a classic of hers that encourages scrapbookers to tap into their inner selves and bring forward all that is great about who they really are.

I (Cijaye DePradine, owner of ScrapbookingDirections.com) believe that every scrapbooker should tell their story!  After all – creating keepsakes is WHY you got into scrapbooking in the first place and if you are doing it right, you are creating TIMELESS keepsakes that can be passed down from Generation to Generation.  Your story should be passed down as well.

WorkShop #2: (Coming in December) is the “Design Your Life Course”.  This course is going to share a lot of design knowledge with scrapbookers who really are searching for that structured and professional approach to Scrapbooking.  Since Cathy’s background is in DESIGN – this will no doubt be an eye opener for many!

Next, I’d like to share a few of the fantastic suggestions Cahty had for those who aspire to be more savvy scrapbookers.  Perhaps you want to land a career in the Publishing world within the Scrapbooking Industry, or maybe you would like to design digital pages and elements for sites like Designer Digitals.  Whatever your reason, Cathy offered some GEM’s up for the taking if you are REALLY SERIOUS!

Here they are:

1. Photoshop and Photoshop Elements software (primarily for digital design)
2. Lynda.com (this is a fantastic reference of Photoshop Tutorials; for all skill levels with the programs)
3. Typography (learn this and you will understand words, spacing and scrapbooking layouts like never before)
4. Before and After: How to Design Cool Stuff Magazine (one of her Design Favorites!)
5. She also suggested that once you get where you want to as far as skills go, then you can start looking for CALLS from MAGAZINES to submit your work.  *She did caution that it’s not always easy – but if you are dedicated, consistent and you can prove yourself to offer value and something new and fun to those who want it, you might get lucky!

Honorable mentions through the call for many different reasons, were the other amazing Talents in the Scrapbooking Industry that Cathy has either learned from or worked with herself.

These Scrapbooking Experts are:

1. Jessica Sprague
2. Renee Pearson
3. Stacey Julian

Just to name a few.

Hope these references inspire you as much as Cathy has inspired us!  Thank you again Cathy.