Saturday, April 24, 2010

Hello, My name is LeAnn . . .


     I go by sillyleann just about everywhere I go on the internet whether crafting related or not.  I am married to the absolute love of my life.  We are celebrating our 10th Anniversary the sixth of May.  I am a SAHM with 2 delightful children.  I have a 6 year old boy and a 3 year old daughter.  They seriously light up my life and are so precious.  I think I could write a book about the conversations we have and the crazy concocted things they say.  I have a 7 year old boxer.  She is a great dog, but at times we have a love/hate relationship (it's the snoring, whining, . . . )  I am a huge Survivor fan.  It is the only must-see show for us - although I thoroughly enjoy Dancing with the Stars, the Bachelor, Biggest Loser, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution . . . can you say reality junkie!  I am a Mac fan.  I am a snob about it.  I do not like Windows anything and don't want to discuss it.  My husband says it is an obsession and I should seek counseling.  I am willing but, I am afraid it would bring up all my neurotic tendencies and that is a scary place to go.  :)  Speaking of neurotic, I am a self diagnosed obsessive compulsive.  Again, my husband says I should seek counseling but read above.  I think I have a somewhat twisted sense of humor and that is okay as long as you laugh with me and not at me.

     I have been crafting most of my life.  I started "scrapbooking", so-to-speak, since I was around 7.  My dad bought me a camera one day around my 7th birthday (I don't even remember why).  It was a 110 (not a 35mm) and took that funny long skinny film thing (it sounds like I was born in the 20's, but I really am 32).  I began taking pictures and putting them in photo albums.  I would find magazine pictures, make construction paper titles, create overlays, etc to put in the photo sleeves and around the photos.  I didn't know about real scrapbooking, so this is what I dreamed up.  When I first learned that scrapbooking was a thing, I fell instantly in love.   Years later, I got a digital camera for college graduation and realized that it seemed silly to print the pictures and then scrap.  So, I thought I was clever to make these collage things - the predecessor to digiscrap.  Oh, looking back they were horrible.  I thought everyone should be doing this and thought I had invented something.  Well, about 4 years later a google search turned up a whole new world - digital scrapbooking.  Oh, technically I had been digiscraping, but nothing like my new discovery.  That was 6 years ago and I haven't gone back.  Although I knew I would never scrapbook again, I was having paper crafting withdrawals.  I made a few digital cards (before hybrid was a word).  But I never really got the same satisfaction from it as I did digital scrapbooking.  So, I pulled out my dusty scrapbook stuff and went to work.  I was hooked!  I bought my first stamp (does anyone remember when stamps came on wooden blocks?) and haven't looked back.  After exhausting my local Hobby Lobby of anything cute, I went looking in other places.  Viola - PTI!

     I am super excited to be a part of the Papertrey Chicks.  I love, love, LOVE making cards.  My dream is to someday get published.  But, I enjoy it and find it extremely rewarding.  My husband and I started a letters ministry.  It sounds fancier than it really is.  We just go through the church directory and/or our personal contacts and send real, handwritten letters inside the cards that I make.  It has been so interesting to see the response.  I am blown away how such a simple act can be so significant to others.  I do sell my cards at a local store.  Trust me when I say - don't quit your day job.  I put all my earnings back into PTI (and a few small places here and there).  While I currently wouldn't be able to support my family on it, it does support my hobby (cough . . . addiction).

7 comments:

Leigh Ann Baird on April 24, 2010 at 8:49 PM said...

Hi LeAnn! PTI is an addiction but it's brought me so many new friends! So glad to meet you and I'm happy to get to know you!

Liz Metcalf on April 25, 2010 at 1:14 PM said...

LeAnn, I think we are soul sisters! I too am a Survivor uber fan (never missed an episode from the beginning) and also a super Biggest Loser fan! I listen to Jillian podcasts every day and am in the middle of doing Master Your Metabolism.

It's nice to have you along, roostin' with the chicks!

Beth

Craft Crazy Carrie on April 26, 2010 at 7:18 AM said...

SillyLeAnn--love your name! Thanks for being you--open, honest and happy with who you are! Looking forward to hearing more from you! I used to work at a One-Hour Photo Place as my first job when I was 14 thru 17. I remember the transition out of 110 to 35 mm! So funny to read about 110 film!

Gayatri on April 30, 2010 at 5:59 AM said...

Hi Lee Ann,
Glad to meet you and hoping to chat with you more in the group. Warm welcome.

Jennifer K on April 30, 2010 at 11:27 PM said...

I loved getting to know more about you Leann. What a neat thing you and your DH do sending cards and letters to folks!

Mariana on May 2, 2010 at 4:34 PM said...

It is really nice to meet you!! I love the idea of the letters ministry, it's so kind of you!! Looking forward to see all your creations!!

Susan on May 4, 2010 at 10:57 AM said...

I am a huge reality junkie fan also! It's my only guilty pleasure. Well, besides PTI. ;) I loved reading all about you. Your blog is full of gorgeous cards and I can't wait to see more!!

 

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