Showing posts with label Stamping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stamping. Show all posts

Good Ol' Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee!



Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee
Rocky Top Tennessee

Don't you just love the catchy lyrics from the song Good Ol' Rocky Top, the state song of Tennessee.  While on vacation in Tennessee, we heard these lyrics often.




We've now returned home from our 1st official Family Vacation that involved all three of us, Caleb, Mike and me. We've enjoyed a great visit o the Smoky Mountains staying in Gatlinburg, TN at the Westgate Resort. The resort was gorgeous with stunning views. Even better are the memories that we've created as a family. Now, I know Caleb will not remember this trip but he will have a scrapbook telling the story of our adventures along with the memories we've created such as:


  • Mommy seeing a Bear Cub
  • Auto tour of Cades Cove were we saw another bear, lots of deer, and wild turkey
  • Hiking with the sole purpose of seeing waterfalls
  • enjoying the Dixie Stampede show

These are just a few memories and adventures from our first family vacation.  With all the fun we had on this vacation, we already know that we will return in the future.



Good Old Mountain Top Tennessee! We will miss you but look forward to preserving the memories through scrapbooking along with inspiration for a card or two!  To preserve these memories, I have several options available.  I could use the digital software from Stampin' Up! called "My Digital Studio," or use a photo album then create "mini-journal vignette's" in the photo slots then I also have the option to use traditional scrapbook methods which is my personal favorite.

Do you have any family vacations or fun activities from this past summer that need to be preserved?  What are you doing to organize, print and share these memories?

I would love to hear from my readers about your favorite vacation memory along with how you are preserving those memories!  Better yet, tell me if they are still on the computer or in a box... 

Sunny Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Pam Staples

The Many Benefits of Scrapbooking!



Do you Scrapbook?

Scrapbooking has so many benefits.  It is much more than "just" a bunch of individuals sitting around and chatting while creating "crafty" pages with photos on them!  It is about sharing the past with futures generations, preserving memories, sharing a story, expressing yourself and getting away from a hectic life as well as enjoying some great friendships with others that also scrapbook! 

Now, What about stamping?  Stamping isn't that much different and fits right into scrapbooking!  You can stamp in a scrapbook or create handmade cards or gifts that tell a story and share a piece of yourself.  Stamping can be great for relieving stress, creating memories and sharing your love for those around you. 

If you would like more information about Scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking using Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio or Stamping, please feel free to contact me at sunnygirlscraps@gmail.com or signing up for my newsletter by clicking HERE.

Now, here is an article by Carole DeJarnatt, that I found that is a great piece about Scrapbooking and could be just as easily applied to Stamping!



The Many Benefits of Scrapbooking!

by Carole DeJarnatt

The scrapbooking hobby has been around for a long time and people do it for a variety of reasons. If you are an outsider to the world of scrapbooking, then you will not understand until you experience the craft the many reasons a person invests so much time and energy into a scrapbook page.

When I was first introduced to scrapbooking via my church family, I told them I had neither time nor energy to invest in creating pages of photos matched up with paper and cute little embellishments. I thought those people were crazy staying up all hours of the evening, dragging around tons of supplies, just to sit and create scrapbook pages. One evening I was invited to a scrapbook night and I agreed to come with the intent of visiting and watching. No scrapbooking for me. I was a business professional who could not imagine investing time or energy into something I felt was for stay-at-home moms or those who had nothing better to do.

Little did I know I was about to change my mind and attitude…during the evening of socializing and viewing all the pages of creation, something changed in me. One person in particular needed help with color coordinating and matting her photos. I started working with her and ended up finishing her page for her. The scrapbooking bug bit me and it bit hard! The very next day I was out buying all the essential tools to create my very own pages of photos.

What is it about scrapbooking that captures so many people's devotion and attention?
  1. Focus--You lose your focus on everything except for the scrapbook page you are working on. You forget the world exist for a few moments and you focus on nothing but what is in front of you.
  2. Creativity--All it takes is a sheet of paper and a few ideas to get your creative juices going. Whether the ideas are from a magazine, your surroundings, or the scrapbook paper held in your hand; the end result is pure enjoyment.
  3. History--When I think of a scrapbook, to me it is the history of the day, moment, or event. The page was created for future generations to learn of their family.
  4. Expressing myself--The scrapbook is made by someone and that in itself is a source of pride and joy. The feeling you get from completing, giving, or sharing your scrapbooks is indescribable.
  5. Giving--When working on a scrapbook layout, you are giving your thoughts, feelings, and memories to an event to share with others. The joy you feel when others express pleasure and enjoyment from your work is worth all the time and energy.
Scrapbooking has become so sophisticated you do not even need to leave the comfort of your home to get started. If you are experienced with computer programs such as Photoshop Elements, your tools are at the tips of your hands. If you prefer traditional scrapbooking, you still have the ability to order supplies and tools at the comfort of your home and within days you will be completing your own scrapbook.

People today have a variety of reasons for making their own scrapbooks and/or creating creations of beauty with their supplies. The majority of my experience has been to create something to share with future generations. People want to be remembered and through a scrapbook their lives are shared.


About the Author

Carole DeJarnatt began her love with paper but now also designs digitally for the future generations of her family. Visit Bestscrapbookingresources.com for ideas, supplies, and learning guides. From beginner to expert, traditional scrapbooker to digital, the resources are available at http://www.bestscrapbookingresources.com to find what you need to create your own scrapbook or gifts for your friends and family.

About Me - Update


Pamela Staples
Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Phone: (919) 300-0128
Email: sunnygirlscraps@gmail.com


My name is Pam Staples, Stampin’ Up! Independent Demonstrator. I am a Scuba Diving, Scrapbook Stamping addict toting a Canon EOS D40 married to the love of my life, Mike!

Welcome to my blog, SunnyGirlScraps!

My primary hobby and crafting passion is scrapbooking followed by rubber stamping. I have over 18 years of scrapbooking and 10 years of stamping experience. My first scrapbook project was to document a 1 ½ month college seminar traveling throughout Western Europe. It was a trip of a lifetime so it was important that I preserve my photos and memorabilia which led me to create my first scrapbook. As you can imagine, I was quickly hooked on scrapbooking and have created many masterpieces since my first scrapbook!

The first Stampin’ Up! Workshop I attended was over 10 years ago and was immediately hooked on rubber stamping. I love making handmade cards and gifts. Rubber stamping is also a natural fit with my love of scrapbooking leading me to quickly incorporate stamping into my scrapbook designs. When it came time to plan my wedding, it was an easy decision to make my own invitations and wedding favors using Stampin’ Up! products.

On March 23, 2009, I joined Stampin’ Up! as an Independent Demonstrator which has brought my love of scrapbooking and rubber stamping to a new level. I absolutely LOVE what I DO creating beautiful handmade cards, scrapbook pages and 3D projects such as custom journals. On both a personal and business level, I thoroughly enjoy sharing my passion for scrapbooking and stamping by teaching others how to get started in a new craft , by bringing their hobby to a new level as a scrapbooker and stamper or by joining my team as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

I was originally nervous about becoming a Stampin’ Up! Independent Demonstrator because I didn’t think I could meet the quarterly minimum of $300.00 but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is an attainable goal. Since I first discovered Stampin' Up! I had thought it would be a great business opportunity but I didn't think I could be successful as a demonstrator. It took a very talented friend to convince me that I had the abilities and potential to be a demonstrator. I've also discovered that to be a successful demonstrator all you really need is to have a passion and love for crafting - you don't have to be a Monet or Van Gogh! I'll be honest, being a demonstrator is a wonderful business opportunity and if you've ever thought of becoming a demonstrator I would LOVE to have you join my team by clicking HERE!

To date, I continue to enjoy scrapbooking and stamping whenever possible. I have a wonderful craft studio setup in my home located in Smithfield, North Carolina. As a Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator, I host crops and classes in my home on a regular basis. To learn more about these events, I encourage you to check out my Calendar of Events by clicking HERE! I am also available and would love to help you earn free Stampin' Up! products by teaching a workshop in your home. If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please call (919) 300-0128 or email me at sunnygirlscraps@gmail.com.


On a personal note, I am originally from Bloomington, MN.  I attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and graduated with a Major in English and Minors in Business and Art. After college, I moved to Denver, CO to attend a post-graduate Paralegal Program which led to a successful 15 year career as a Corporate Securities Paralegal. Since 2006, I’ve been a Stay-At-Home-Wife as  I focused on my health while hoping to have children as we dealt with infertility, a miscarriage and cancer. Then, in early 2008, my husband was offered a wonderful position at Talecris Biotheraputics leading us to move from Minnesota to Smithfield, NC with our pets. Once we were settled into our new home in North Carolina, Mike and I decided to pursue domestic adoption of a newborn infant and we've been approved to adopt since January 9, 2009.  In September 2009, we were matched with a Birthmom and we brought our son home on September 23, 2009.


Over the past year, we've lost a couple of pets.  Both Ashbey and Gabriel passed away.  Ashbey passed away in October 2009 from liver failure and Gabriel passed away on May 19, 2010 from cancer.  They are both greatly missed!  We then added another furry family member to our household on June 5, 2010 with the addition of our Golden Retriever puppy, Cooper.


Here are the newest family additions:

Our son, Caleb (his adoption was finalized in April 2010!) and Cooper!

Stampin' Up! Specials


Stampin' Up! has some wonderful specials this month as we start thinking about the holidays.  Check out the Holiday Gift Guide for ideas or call me so we can talk about different gift giving ideas that you can create.  Also, I'm always available to help you with ideas and creating those special gifts.

Happy Holidays!