Ztampfilicious

In the previous post we have learned a bit more about Tracy and Lynn – the fabulous Z!Girls. Today, they will talk about their scrapping time and share with you some of their favorite techniques! Starting in March, you can hear more from them as they will post here at Ztampfilicious Blog themselves!

Q: How/where did you learn digital scrapbooking? Best way/place to hone in your digi-skills?
Tracy: Trial and Error has been a huge part of my learning Digital Scrapbooking. When I first started Doin It Digi, I purchased a scrapbook program from our local computer store, it was fun and easy to use, but it was too restricting. A friend of mine then sent me Photoshop CS, I struggled with it at first but then started doing tutorials and ended up buying Scrapbook Secrets Revealed at Scrap Girls. Over the years I have become a bit of a course junkie and have done quiet a few classes at Jessica Sprague, Renee Pearson and Lynda.com. I love to learn and when it comes to this art it continuously evolves so there is more and more to learn.
Lynn: I read and tried a lot of tutorials at Scrapbook-bytes when I first started, but they were mostly for making your own elements. I pretty much just played around until I liked what I saw.

Q: What program do you use to scrap with? Is there any certain scrapping tools that you found yourself using again and again?
Tracy: When I first started Doin It Digi, I used a HP Laptop with Adobe PSCS, I ended up purchasing Adobe Photoshop CS2 and have since upgraded to CS4. I also loved ACDSee for organising my Digital Supplies and Photographs. I had a 500GB EHD to house my supplies and photos. In September 2009 I purchased an 27 inch iMac – Adobe thankfully did a platform swap of my Photoshop CS4 but unfortunately ACDSee is still in BETA format for Macs so I am using Finder for sorting my digital supplies and photographs.
Lynn: I started scrapping with PSPX, but I later bought PSE5 so that I could run actions. The clipping masks on PSE5 make scrapping with templates a breeze, and I use Atomic Cupcake actions on my alphas again and again.

Q: What is your ideal scrapping time/space would be? Any certain gadgets/programs you are coveting right now?
Tracy: When I was using the laptop to create my art, I could do it anywhere, it was awesome and portable and is the only drawback of buying an iMac. Now I have a large “L” shaped desk set up in the back of our lounge. The desk houses all my gadgets for creating – my latest toy is my Wacom Touch Tablet, I also have a Scanner, Printer, and 2 EHDS. My Camera is normally sitting on my desk somewhere. I don’t have a particular time set aside for creating, I just go with the flow.
Lynn: I like to scrap while my DDs are at school. I can actually get some things done.  :) I’m not fond of change, so I’ve stuck with my programs for years now. I really should put a printer on my wish list because I can longer print in color on mine. There are so many hybrid projects that I would love to try, but I just can’t print any of them at home.

Q: What is the single most useful scrapping technique you found so far?
Tracy: Extraction.

Spider by Tracy

Water Boy by Tracy

Rugby by Tracy

Lynn: I have found clustering to be my most useful technique. My elements were scattered all over my pages when I first started scrapping until I saw layouts in the galleries that had everything clustered around the photos. It gave the layouts such a beautiful look and really drew the eye to the photo.

Asia @ Disney by Lynn

Sledding by Lynn

Tigers by Lynn

Q: What do you love most about Ztampf! products?
Tracy: ARTiStitches & ARTiStrokes – Both are practical and can be used over and over again.
Phrench Phoebe – One of my absolute favourite kits, as I love the colours and elements.
Compilation One – I tend to reach for this all the time as it has a great selection.
Soaring – I adore the gold and the accents are multifunctional.
Whimzy Overlays – I just can’t resist using these to make more magical art.

Phrench Phoebe

Compilation One

Soaring

Whimzy Overlays

Lynn : The unique designs and classic elegance of Ztampf! products kept me coming back again and again.  They layouts that I did three years ago with Ztampf! products do not look dated to me (except that maybe my scrapping has improved), and the designs work well with almost any scrapping subject from wedding to heritage to everyday life. Two products that I’ve used repeatedly are the staples in Soul Searching and the Alphas in Phrench Phoebe.  I just adore those and can’t stop using them.

Soul Searching

Phrench Phoebe Alpha 1

Phrench Phoebe Alpha 2

Phrench Phoebe

I hope you enjoy reading this post! If you have any questions you want to ask Tracy and Lynn or me, please do not hesitate! Just submit them to the comment field below!

And don’t forget that the Second Part of Ztampfever #53 is coming up this Sunday, Feb. 28th when I will reveal all about the exciting brand new “Adventouriste Collection“! Until then!

It’s been quite a while since we featured the talented Z!Girls. Now is the time to re-introduce you all to the 2nd generation of Z!Girls! There are two fabulous girls now – with a third one coming very soon. Let’s have a chat with Tracy and Lynn – both are avid scrappers with great personality; they are always helpful and friendly. Those who frequent digiscrap forums would agree with me :). Their works continue to delight me, their creative and imaginative ways in using Ztampf! stuff are truly inspiring. I am very grateful to have them with Ztampf! Tracy has been with the team since June 2008, while Lynn joined us in October 2009.

Tracy

Lynn

Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself!
Tracy: I am Tracy, married to Walter and together we have 5 children – Michael, Daniel, Joshua, Christopher and Alexandria. We live in New Zealand.
Lynn: I have lived in Ohio all of my life. I worked full-time as an administrative assistant for 15 years while earning a Bachelors degree in Management, but I am now a SAHM to two wonderful girls and really love being married to my DH.

Q: What is your mostest favorite thing to do?
Tracy: I love those “Last Minute” decisions – Decisions where we end up having the times of our lives together as a family, doing something completely unplanned – which we do often!
Lynn: My favorite thing to do is have fun with my family. We like to go to fairs, amusement parks, water parks, and city festivals. We took our first family vacation to Disney World, and we all really enjoyed the trip.

Q: Any favorite food/drinks you can’t live without?
Tracy: On a daily basis, I drink Twinings Lemon Scented Tea. In the summer I love an Ice Cold Bundaberg Ginger Beer, or a Fresh Banana Smoothie. In the winter Hot Chocolates all the way :) I am passionate about my food, I have loads of favourites including a good home cooked basic no frills meal, but then I adore Japanese food, and cook a lot of Fijian Dishes as my husband is Fijian. I bake on a regular basis and share my recipes on my blog.
Lynn: I drink Pepsi everyday. I love the sugar and need the caffeine because I’ve never drank coffee.

Q: How about music/songs or books – what are you into these days?
Tracy: I have a wide and varied taste in music – at the moment I am loving Lady Antebellum.
Lynn: I love almost all kinds of music; however, my favorite is heavy metal. The first album that I enjoyed playing on the record player (Anyone remember those things?) when I was five years old was Black Sabbath which belonged to my brother. As far as books go, I grew up reading horror novels from authors like Dean R. Koontz and John Saul, but now I like a good suspense thriller.

Q: What is your favorite subject to scrap about?
Tracy: My children are the reason I scrap so therefore my favourite subjects.
Lynn: My favorite subjects to scrap are my daughters. Along with my husband, they are the loves of my life. I also really like to do heritage pages. I love the old look and warm colors.

Tracy

Lynn

Q: How did you first find out about digital scrapbooking? Did you paper-scrapbook before?
Tracy: I was first introduced to Doin It Digi in 2006 when a member on a “Mummy Forum” I belonged to who was a Digital Scrapkit Designer tried to get members involved in Digital Art, anyhow it was short lived but I liked what I saw so googled “Digital Scrapbooking” and found DST. I have never paper scrapped although now I am finding myself more and more drawn to Hybrid projects.
Lynn :I’ve never been a paper scrapper. I discovered digital scrapbooking while searching the internet to add to my collection of frames and tubes for Paint Shop Pro. I’ve loved it ever since.

Q: What do you love most about digital scrapbooking?
Tracy: No Mess!
Lynn: What I love most about digital scrapbooking is the undo button. It’s great being able to change things over and over again, and if a layout just isn’t working out, I can discard it or never print it without wasting supplies or money.

Q: Why do you want to be in a creative team? What do you love most about it? Any tips for being a good CTM?
Tracy: I wanted to be a Z!Girl because I believed in Ztampfs’ Products, I loved there uniqueness and that they were original! I think if you believe in the Designer and her products it is easy to be passionate about them and create art with them. It also isn’t a chore to promote the products because you are truly promoting something that you adore. I have been on the Z!Girl now since June 2008 and still adore the products Fhung creates.
Lynn: Quitting my job to become a SHAM wasn’t the easiest transition. I enjoyed my job and the feeling of accomplishment. Being on a creative team helps fill the void that was left when I quit my job. I not only have projects to complete, but it also fills the social aspect that my job provided. I have made many wonderful friends through being on a creative team. A good creative member should have fun and enjoy what they are doing. Work with products that inspire you and that you truly love and would have bought anyway. Creating pages that you will cherish is a very rewarding experience.

Q: How do you manage your time between being your own person, a mother, a wife, a scrapper and a Z!Girl – among tons of other things?
Tracy: I like to think I am a super organised person, everything has its place and there is a place for everything. Time management falls into the same category. I have a diary on my desk, when a member of the family has something on – it is written in the diary, so I know what is going on and when. I am also a Go With The Flow person, if it cannot be done today do it tomorrow or the next day or the following week….
Lynn: Time management has always come easy to me. I can prioritize things and work efficiently to get things done. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have my days where I goof off a lot; however, I allow for that in my management. I usually get the things that need to be done first out of the way like cleaning, laundry, shopping, helping the kids with schoolwork, yard work, etc. With those tasks finished, I can focus on creating layouts when I have some spare time and not have unfinished chores hanging around in the back of my mind nagging me to do them.

Q: How/when did you first find out about Ztampf! – if you remember it? What first attracted you to Ztampf!?
Tracy: It would have been more than likely through DST and what has always and still attracts me to Ztampf! is the original products.
Lynn: I first discovered Ztampf! at Scrabook-Bytes back in 2006. I usually shopped in the bargain bin because I was unsure what I liked/disliked as a new scrapper. Then I saw Ztampf!‘s Quiet Joy Kit. I was drawn to the wonderful colors and just had to have it. I downloaded it and was so impressed with the quality and beautiful details. I even made stationary from one of the papers. I’ve been hooked ever since, and I am truly giddy to be a Z!Girl.

So there! I hope you enjoy getting to know Tracy and Lynn more here! Visit their Ztampfest Galleries to see more of their beautiful works. And don’t forget: Come back here on Thursday, Feb. 25th when they will talk about digi-scrapping techniques and stuff! Who knows, you might learn a useful thing or two :). Until then!

This is Part 1 of Ztampfever No.53. Part 2 will be released next weekend (either Sat, 27 Feb.. or Sun. 28 Feb.). Enjoy!

Wishing you all the best in the year of Tiger!

Quickly whipped this card out with Ztampf! Tiger Rising QuickCards Set :). The jeweled heart is from the Sparkling Hearts Set.

To celebrate Chinese New Year & Valentine’s Day this year, Ztampf! is having a SPECIALS for a week starting on Thursday, Feb. 4th through Thursday, Feb. 11th! Come and see the many Chinese/Oriental and Valentine’s themed products that are being marked down on the SPECIALS Section! ENJOY!

It’s red. It’s shiny. It’s delicious. It’s here…
By request by you know who you are ;). I hope you will like it and find it useful:

This lusciously high gloss alphabet kit is versatile for various themes from modern Valentine’s projects to food, summer, teenagers, boys and even Christmas themed projects.

Included in this set:
Upper Case A-Z, Lower Case a-z, Number 0-9, plus Punctuation and Symbols: & * { } ( ) [ ] <> ? ! @ # % $ , . ; and Foreign Characters for Spanish and European languages is also included in both Upper Case and Lower Case: à, á, â, ä, å, ã, ç, è, é, ê, ë, ì, í, ï, î, ¡, ñ, ò, ó, ô, ö, õ, ø, ù, ú, û, ü. Six Extra Shapes are also included: Heart, Star, Curved Arrow, Straight Arrow, Fleur-de-Lis and Pointer.

Individual PNG files, all created at 300dpi for optimum print out quality. Questions? Email me!

Available from Ztampf!Shop and Studio Ztampf!@SBG.

Yes! The mega collab charity kit ‘Port Au Prince‘ is now available at Songbird Avenue :). Look at how gorgeous the kit is… such a great deal at only $8 – and it’s for a very good cause too! So hurry up and do something good for yourself that benefits others as well! I  know you’ll enjoy using the kit for many of your projects :).