Frances Sylvia, June Guest Designer

Meet our talented June Guest Designer, Francis Sylvia!



When & Why did you start scrapbooking?
I started scrapbooking when I graduated from high school. My parents bought me one of those pre-made memory books that you buy when you buy your class ring. You know, the one where you are basically told where to place your pictures. Well, in my own true way, I thought it was all a bit cheesy. I hid the book from my parents and made my own.

What do you LOVE?
As far as scrapbooking, I love that my hobby brings my family so much happiness. Everytime I finish a scrapbook page, I have to show it off like a new pair of shoes. Not only to my husband and my kids, but my in laws love it just as much. In my day to day life, I love how much I laugh on a daily basis. My family is the funniest. I have a husband who works daily to make me smile and my 4 kiddos...well, do I need to say anything. They are all under 7 years old and let me tell you, there is never a dull moment. At any given time I may have one crying over a 1 centimeter scratch, two fighting over who gets the red crayon first, and another shoving a foreign object in a DVD player...I just have to laugh.

Two things you want very badly at this moment?
At this moment I want an IPOD...I know it is 2009 and who does not have an IPOD? Me and I don't really know why. I guess with 4 kids there is always something else I need. I also am dying to get my hands on the 2 new Basic Grey lines Lemonade and June Bug. WOW they're fabulous!

3 items that are in your purse right now...
My 5th baby...my Nikon Coolpix, Lola Lipgloss (you paint it on your lips...it's wonderful), and two pairs of sunglasses (black and brown...I must have the right color to match my outfit).

How would you describe your scrapbooking style?
Huh...Can someone please take a look at my stuff and just tell me what my style is? I really don't know. I usually begin a layout by being inspired by something in my pictures. Once, I have that, I rummage through the 5 cropper hoppers of paper that I hoard. Then I truly just create! I try not to make any of my scrapbook pages follow a certain style...really, I love it ALL!


When do you feel most creative?
I feel the most creative at about 10 pm when my children are in bed and my husband and I have spent a little time together. Once they are taken care of, I usually settle down in my comfy scrapbook chair with a cup of coffee and my best friend on speaker phone.

Do you snack while you scrapbook?
Nope. I just drink coffee and diet coke.

Do you have a scrapbook confession?
This is a recent occurrance. I am trying to learn all of the message board lingo, but the learning process has just been that...a process. I came across a few of the abbreviations at a couple of message boards that I follow, such as...dd, dh, TFL, TFS, etc. I really thought that I knew what they all meant...dd--dear daughter, dh--dear husband, TFL--Totally Fun Layout, TFS--Totally Fun Stuff! My friend saw that I was leaving TFL and TFS everywhere and clued me in on the fact that I was not making any sense because TFL means Thanks for Looking and TFS means Thanks for Sharing. Needless to say, I do not put abbreviations in my messages anymore.

What's your all-time favorite movie?
Steel Magnolias...it is funny all the way through and you get to let out a good cry in the end. Not to mention, I live in the town it was filmed...TFS! (hehe)

Name one thing that you can’t scrap without...
I can not scrap without my DYMO...it is perfect for journaling.

What kind of music do you like to listen to when you scrap?
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...truly, a little bit of everything. Old...Van Morrison, New...Black-eyed Peas, Borrowed...Jack Johnson (stole it from my sister), and Blue...Etta James. I love it all!