Who is Jen?

(click on link to view entry.)

Gosh, where do I even start?

 

I’ll keep it brief.

 

Personally: I was born in 1979 and after a lot of moving around, we settled in Montana when I was 4.  I moved to Nashville, Tennessee a week after high school graduation, for Belmont Univeristy.  I loved college and got a degree in Piano Pedagogy (that’s fancy talk for piano teaching.)  I realized I didn’t like teaching piano full-time, but also that I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I got a job at my university.  I am a secretary (I totally rock at that, btw) and I teach a few piano lessons a week. 

My wonderful, sweet, strong-willed son Jacob (Jake) was born September 12^th, 2002.  My parents moved here in Oct. ’03 and my mom is a huge help with Jake. 

I love photography and writing and music and reading and laundry and the color purple and chocolate and all sorts of random things . . .  Online I go by "strangejen" and "jenstrange" and "Jen_Jake'smom."

 

 

 

 

Scrap-ually: I’ve always been crafty and enjoyed art projects.  My mom is a VERY crafty person and I loved watching her and learning from her.  I used to do cross-stitch, but it’s SO painfully slow, I’ve all but stopped. 

My mom was scrapbooking before it was cool, so it’s always been on my radar.  I’ve dabbled a little in scrapbooking and collages (but not very well) for several years now, but after Jake was born I really started getting into it.  Of course, then it was silhouetting pictures and sticker-sneezing on to stationary paper – but whatever. It was progress. 

I started reading scrapbook magazines and visiting online galleries in the spring of 2004, and that literally changed my life (and my scrapping.) I love paper scrapping and I love the journey I’ve been on with it.  I got Photoshop in February of 2005 and made my first digital layout in April of 2005.  What made me really want to start digital scrapbooking is seeing Shabby Princess' papers and elements.  She is my absolutely favorite designer and I use her stuff as examples a lot.

I stubbornly taught myself how to use Photoshop, then got annoyed that no one online (at the time) was explaining it easily so people could just jump in and digi-scrap.  And then I started this blog.  :)

I'm not an expert by any means, but I'll tell you what I know.  :)

If you need to talk to me, email to jenstrange AT gmail DOT com

Comments

[Sue]

Indeed ... why not you! It is lookin' GREAT so far! Well done!!!

[Andrea]

Hey Jen!! This is awesome!! You never cease to amaze me!! I'm very excited about this! It may be a while before I actually start digi-scrappin' (I still need to get the paper scrappin' down first), but it's good to know that I definitely have somewhere to go for tons of info!! You rock!!

[Anita Stergiou { PeaNutta }]

Jen - what i've seen so far here is totally awesome. it's patently obvious that you've invested a huge amount of time thinking, planning, researching, writing, organising and publishing this site. your work here is fantastic - congratualtions and well done on a massive effort.

[yezenia]

YOU ROCK! Thank you! I love your blog already and I haven't even gotten into the "meat and potatoes" of it yet.

[felicity]

Hi Jen, Happy Wednesday. Here I am again. Will try to stop back often.

[Felicity]

The song playing in my head as I continue to click on your amazing Digiscrap blog/how-to site: Hey I come, to save the day! Remember, from Mighty Mouse? SOmetime I sing it to Cameron: Here I come to spank your butt! Of course I don't spank him, I say it as a joke.

[TaniaJPS]

JEN! This is awesome! Over 14,000 - that's over double from when I first checked out your site! Like, a month ago maybe? Tops. I think this rocks!

Are you bouncing off the walls yet? Your site rocks! I am so happy for you!

[Luke's mom]

Hi! I just happened upon your site from Katie the Scrapbooking Lady's newsletter and have spent the last hour browsing it. I think digi-scrapping is for me. Thinking...Christmas gift from hubby. So...if I have a computer and regular printer...what else do I need? I was thinking Adobe Elements 4.0 (didn't see photoshop 7.0 on their website). Would I also need a special printer and/or scanner to print out 12x12 pages?

[Dianne]

Jen,
I think your site is amazing. Yuu are a great link to everything digital and I am using your site to learn so much.Thankoyu.

[Norah t]

I googled digiscrapping and up you came, top of the list!!! I so want to learn digiscrapping but have been unable to find anything that I could understand!! I am hands on and have to try it myself to "get" it!! I have photoshop Elements4.0 and I have the feeling you are just what I need! Thank you so much for your help in advance!!!