10 Questions with Andrea Steed, Co-founder of Scrapjazz.com

Andrea Steed is the co-founder of the learning resources of Scrapjazz.com and the Scrap Tutor CD-ROM series. Her writing can be found on the Scrapjazz.com website as well as on the Scrap Tutor CD-ROM series, of which she is the executive editor.

I had the joy of working under Andrea during my two-year stint on the Scrapjazz Blue Crew. A lot has happened since I retired; Andrea welcomed her first baby and Scrapjazz.com was bought by Scrapbook.com. Let's see what is going on with Andrea today.

1. As the founder of Scrapjazz, what was your original intent?
   Our main objective was to create a place online that scrapbookers could come to learn all about their craft, whether that be in learning new techniques, getting ideas for journaling, or being introduced to new products. We wanted it to be user-friendly and infectious.
   
   
2. Has SJ become all that you had hoped for?
   It really has. I love to meet people in real life and tell them what I do, only to find out that they already knew about Scrapjazz because they found it while looking for information about scrapbooking. We always wanted it to be easy-to-find, easy-to-use, and full of tons of information. It's very rewarding to know that other scrapbookers have benefited from our articles, learned from the community of scrapbookers, or gleaned ideas from our gallery.
   
   
3. Has anyone recognized your name or face away from home?
   My name doesn't mean much outside of the Scrapjazz web site, but I have had a few encounters with people who "knew" me, when I didn't know them. It's always been in a scrapbook store or at an industry convention though, so I don't need bodyguards following me around town or anything crazy like that! I'm no Heidi Swapp!
   
   
4. What is your role at Scrapjazz now that Scrapbook.com has bought it?
   When Ben and I sold Scrapjazz to Scrapbook.com, I definitely wanted to remain involved. I loved being a part of the Blue Crew and working with all the SJ Contributors, so I continue to participate in both groups. I'm still a member of the Blue Crew and continue to design layouts for the Scrapjazz gallery. My main role though, is as an editor and publisher. I work with all the writers and make sure all of the articles are uploaded and edited (with the help of a very talented copy editor) each month. I also write articles myself occasionally.
   
   
5. With two Scrap Tutor CDs under your belt, are there any plans for a new release?
   I'm not involved with any plans for a new Scrap Tutor, although I'm definitely still interested in writing and teaching about scrapbooking. It's my passion and I love to share any information I can with others!
   
   
6. Do you regularly visit the Scrapjazz message boards? What's your favorite forum?
   I'm not as into the message board forums since I started reading blogs, but I do always come back to the Scrapjazz Photography Forum. Improving my photography skills is something I'm always striving to do, and I get so much information and inspiration from the girls who post in that forum. Such talent...it's amazing.
   
   
7. Since having a child, has your approach to scrapbooking changed? What, if anything, do you do differently now?
   My approach has definitely changed, although my love for the hobby certainly hasn't. Instead of scrapbooking *everything* just because I want to have something to scrapbook, I'm much choosier now about what I will create a layout about. I have WAY too many photographs to scrapbook everything.
   
   
8. Are you ever overwhelmed with scrapbooking? How do you cope?
   I get overwhelmed with the industry "hype" sometimes. I stopped trying to keep up with new products, the latest techniques, and the magazine-publishing craze that many of us get stuck in when we first find out about the scrapbooking world. Instead, I just have found my own style (that is always evolving) and I use whatever products I have on hand. I actually very rarely buy new products. So you'll always see papers and products from five years ago on pages that I make now. They're still just as good!
   
   
9. Who are your favorite industry-known scrapbookers?
   I've noticed that the designers I'm most attracted to are more than just artists who create beautiful layouts. They have a very down-to-earth and "real" outlook and attitude towards life that I admire. So, while they love to create art and have unbelievable talents with paper crafts (and more), I'm usually most impressed with the emotional value of the albums and layouts they've created. It actually doesn't matter to me what their projects look like (although I suppose I wouldn't know about them if they didn't always create spectacular pieces of art), but to me it's more important and impressive that they've preserved an important memory in a special way to them and their family.
   
   
10. Do you scrapbook in your studio, or at the kitchen table? How is it organized?
    I have a custom-made (by my husband) desk that has all of my materials right at my fingertips, so it's highly unlikely you'll find me doing anything "crafty" anywhere but in my office. Once or twice a year, I go through everything and get rid of stuff I don't like, am tired of, or don't want anymore. I try not to just hoard stuff forever, because it gets way too cluttered, so I clean out my office about twice a year. Those are good days for my friends who scrapbook!

Andrea's Blog: http://www.andreasteed.com

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