California Scrappin' Diva says Hello Ladies :)

Hello Everyone :)

My name is Cathe James, I am a happily married mother of 6 (26, 25, 18, 16 and 2 stepkids: 13 and 9), 4 grandkids 2 boys and 2 girls and 1 due any minute! So, as you can imagine I have alot of scrappin' to do :)

I am an avid photog, writer, poet and lover of God, Family and Life :) I am currently a domestic diva/mommy taxi for my brood (laid off 2 yrs ago), going to school to become a nurse (job security! :)

I love to travel and have been all over the USA and 5 countries in Europe. I love photographing my life, family and travels. I am pretty active: love salsa dancing, kayaking, swimming, snowboarding, cycling (did a 100 mile century at 38!), softball, surfing, rollerblading. Enjoy movies, music, museums, galleries and art of all kinds.

I learned about scrapbooking from my Aunt Becky(born in 1911) while visiting her back East. She showed me her thick, old brown, carved leather scrapbook, with it's black pages and photo corners. She told me to keep a journal and a scrapbook of my life and my families life. That it would be a wonderful history of my life and family, with a personal touch preserved like a beautiful history book, long after I am gone. So, at the age of 12 in 1977, I began. There were no Scrapbook stores, magazines, or internet stores. I went to the Hallmark store to convert pretty photo albums to scrapbooks, seek out stickers and anything cute I could find to add to my pages. I scoured stationary stores for colored pens, markers, stencils and used glue sticks & paste for my adhesive. There was no such thing as "Archival Safe" or sprays to preserve anything! I cut pictures and articles out of newspapers and magazines. It was a different time, and I have come a long, long way! I am still learning.. I go to CKU and take classes, gleefully visit Scrapbook stores (those that have survived this recession that is!) and stores online. I have been on cruises and crop hops. I love learning new techniques and I buy as much as I can and peruse any stores for discounted SB items: Tuesday Mornings, Big Lots, Michaels, JoAnn's etc.

I love to Bling or girly out my layouts, but also like the antique masculine style of Tim Holtz.
I am looking forward to sharing my layouts and learning from others about new techniques, stores, cruises, crops, groups, blogs, and making new friends :)

Thanks for taking the time to get to know me :)
God Bless,
Cathe James
Scrappin' Diva

Cathe!...you sound like you have a busy full happy life! My sister & I are going on on a another cruise with Tim Holtz this coming week!..it's 9 days to New England & Canada...we can't wait!!!

Thanks for the great intro Cathe! It's nice to meet you &
I live about 20 minutes down the 405 from you. :D

p.s.
you don't look at all like you have kids as old as 26!!!!!!!!!!!