Design team

I live in Seaforth NSW, Australia. I am married to a wonderful husband one of the rare ones that actually scrapbooks, as well as both my daughter (17) and my son (13). I am 39 years old and have been scrapping since 1999, when i first was introduced to the art at a girlfriend's Craft Party. Little did i know at the time, that this was going to have such a huge impact on my life. Going from oh that's not a me type of hobby, to finding it a way of life - the be all and end all of my life. From owning, "that purple place" bricks and mortar store in Dee Why for 3 years. To this our Online Store, and Studio.

M y family are my favourite subjects - my daughter tends to be my muse - as she has more patients (either that or the ability of the teenager to ignore me whilst i snap with the my camera).

I am mainly self taught – have done a few conventions but just seem to have the knack to turn my hand to anything crafty (well I am willing to give it a go) I like to look at all things in life with the philosophy that “there are no mistakes, just my twist on how it turns out”. - my creative input into a new style perhaps?

My proud moments include being published in Scrapbooking Memories & ForKeeps, online in the BasicGrey Gallery, and being a friend of PageMaps and having my work in their Newsletters. Being the winner in the Scrapbooking Memories/Kodak competition where the entry was based on photography and the ability to portray those photos on a scrapbook layout. I was also as Honorable Mention in Scrapbook Memories Masters in 2004

Hi !!! My name is Kylene Hickey, mostly known as Kye. I am married to my best friend Scott and we have been blessed with three beautiful children - 2 boys and 1 princess (Regan 5 1/2, Kaleah 4 1/2, Beau 3mths).

I was first introduced to scrapboooking 4 years ago after attending a friend's CM party. I instantly fell in love with the concept and realised the value in recording and preserving our families memories, hopes and dreams in such a creative way, but felt there was more than the oval shapes and stickers they offered. That's when I stumbled across a gorgeous purple store, "Forever Always", met Sonia, and my addiction began.

My style is ever developing and changing, as I love the challenge of trying different products, colours and techniques. I will try anything at least once. The majority of my layouts will feature, handstitching, ribbons, flowers (or all three) and handwritten journaling, the more personal of which I tend to hide, with my children being my main subjects.

My family are very supportive of my addiction, and I love to see their delight in my completed layouts. I also love that I can share this craft with my children, although generally when they are scrapping I don't get much done myself, so I tend to scrap after they go to bed at night.

I am honored to be a part of this amazing family here at Forever Always, and I hope that through sharing our ideas we can inspire you to create and preserve your own history. Happy Scrapping

Hi ! My name is Michelle W, and I've been scrapping, on and off for the past 6 years. Like some of the other girls, I was introduced to scrapbooking through a CM party, although I didn't take it up straight away. As an avid genealogist, it wasn't until my mum gave me a box of old family photos that I saw the potential scrapbooking had for preserving my family tree. Of course, that then led to preserving all of my family memories !!! I live on the Northern Beaches with my husband Brett and son Jacob. When I am not scrapping...I'm a school teacher ! I am fortunate to be a published scrapbooker, with my greatest claims to fame being: two honorable mentions in the 2006 Scrapbooking memories Masters and winning the title of the Ultimate Scrapvivor, in the States ! I am honoured to be on the Forever Always Design Team, and for the opportunities and friendships it has given to me !!!

"History has taught me that memories, even the good ones, can fade and be forgotten."

I have been married for 16 years and have three gorgeous children. I was introduced to scrapbooking in 2003 through my sister-in-law, Cindy, at her CM home demo. I was instantly attracted to it as I have always loved photos and with three children, was realising how important it was to get facts on paper! I was lucky in those early days as Cindy was generous enough to let me borrow all her CM tool kit. I proceeded to complete a couple of albums within a short time. It was not till about 6 months later that I ventured out to view other areas of the scrapbooking industry and that's when I discovered a gorgeous little shop in Dee Why and met Sonia. I am very grateful for that day, as Sonia has taught me to believe in my own creativity and that there are no rules! My passion for this craft has grown immensely - I love that I can record the story of my children's lives for them to remember even after I am gone. History has taught me that memories, even the good ones, can fade and be forgotten. Even now my kids love to go through the family albums.

"probably one of the hardest things about scrapbooking, it's very hard to scrap that less than perfect photo, but it's all about preserving the memories. "

I am a SAHM & live in Nyngan, NSW and I have been married for just over 5 years, together we have 2 of the most adorable littles girls Mia (3) & Brie (1).

I started scrapbooking in Jan 2005, I am glad to say that I still love my first page that I created... unlike most scrapbooker's I know who started with CM. I had seen a few LO's that some of my friends had done so I knew what I liked and disliked. I was pretty much addicted straight away and have enjoyed every minute of it since. The thing I love about scrapbooking is that anything goes.... there are so many styles out there and each and everyone's style differs from the next. Scrapbooking is always changing and it's very easy to go with the change. That's the best part of being on the design team is that you get to play with lots of new and scrummy products. I love looking through magazines and blogs for new ideas & trying them out in my own scrapbooking.

I also love that scrapbooking makes you become a better photographer, I just have to look through Mia's album, I scrapped nearly every photo I took of her...... Whereas Brie's album has a lot less layouts but the photos are much better photos - things like no washing basket in the background.... I am sure you can all relate! and that is probably one of the hardest things about scrapbooking, it's very hard to scrap that less than perfect photo, but it's all about preserving the memories.

My name is Sharryn and I’m a happily married SAHM with 6 gorgeous children. We have 1 daughter and 5 sons, aged 20, 18, 14, 13, 12 and 10. As you can imagine, we live quite a hectic life but I prefer to call it ‘organised chaos’.

I started scrapbooking just over 3 years ago. My daughter was involved in the Duke of Edinburgh award and a component of that was to learn a new hobby over three months, however when the three months was up we were left with most of what we’d started with.

So one night I sat and played and created my very first page and as they say, the rest is history, I’ve been passionately scrapping ever since!

Over the years I’ve dabbled in quite a few different crafts such as knitting, cross stitch and embroidery but none of them has quite had the impact on my life that scrapbooking has. I refuse to call scrapping a hobby now, I refer to it as a lifestyle.

Every single day I do something scrapbooking related and if you don’t find me at my desk creating, I’m either reading a magazine, browsing online galleries or out and about with my family taking photos.

I am absolutely thrilled to bits to become a part of the Forever Always Design Team and can’t wait to see where this journey will lead me. Wherever it does, I will be hanging on with both hands loving the ride!

Hi my name is Gabriella (Gab) and I am married with three children age 5, 3 and 1. I was a scrapbooker long before I knew what it was...! I became involved in scrapbooking after the birth of my first child but really became serious with it after being accepted onto the design team. I am grateful to my mum who gave me a love of all things creative and also to my sister who has, by overcoming serious illness, inspired me to challenge myself to achieve more. I love the process of scrapbooking which is physically an integration of photography, art, craft, design and writing and mentally refreshing, reflective, contemplative, focusing and even (if you are so inclined) spiritual. Then there's the delight on the subject's face when they see a piece about or for them, then there's the social side with the opportunity to form so many friendships and have so much fun along the way - I could go on! It's a great privilege to be on the team and enjoy the opportunity to have fun, meet people, inspire and be inspired through our great store and forum.

We are about to launch into spotlighting one lucky Guest Designer once a month, anyone is eligible, just be sure to be an active part of our Forum and Gallery, especially the CyberCrops.....so be sure to keep an eye here for our next one. The next Guest Designers work will be featured in the September 2008

When my girlfriend invited me to a midnight crop in October 2004 – I remember saying something like “I’m not doing THAT! Noni Hazelhurst does THAT!!” How wrong I was. I finished 3 layouts that night and the love affair began. My husband calls scrapbooking his “mistress” because it soaks up a lot of time and money, but boy; she’s a lot of fun!!

It has become a wonderful outlet for many reasons. To do the art that I’ve loved since FOREVER – paints, inks, the smell of industrial-strength glues, getting messy and making glorious mistakes. To make special the ‘normal’ moments in an otherwise busy existence. To work through a lot of issues following Post Natal Depression. To document the successes and struggles we face as a family with my youngest boy’s Autism Spectrum Disorder. To articulate what it means to give up a rewarding career to look after your family. To meet some very talented and caring people along the way. So journaling is a very important part of each layout, and my off the page projects are always practical and purposeful.

Do you ever feel like a “one trick pony” when you get a kit of awesome papers? Well, that’s me sometimes. I am hoping that this Guest spot will push me beyond my complacency and predictability when it comes to working with supplies. Let’s see if it changes and I can inspire others to do the same.

I am grateful for scrapbooking for all these and to Sonia for inviting me to share this with the Forever Always family.

I'm Dee Heath, AKA scrappy_dee, and I am really excited and honored to be a guest designer for Forever Always. I live in Melbourne, Victoria wit my gorgeous DH and 2 delicious kids.
I have been scrapping for almost 3 years now, and have found it invaluable in my fight against post natal depression. I am awed by the communities I have come across, the support and friendship offered. I have made some really good friends through scrapping!
I am a bit of a simple scrapper. My layouts generally have one clustered area to draw the eye, but then the details also catch the eye.
I am fortunate enough to have been published in 2 of the Aussie mags and also a US publication. I love my design team work, as it makes me scrap and explore through my scrapping....I am always pushing myself to try new things.

Hi, I'm Debbie (aka debbieb) and I admit, I'm an addict...scrapbooking pervades my life in soooo many ways, there's always a camera nearby, scrapping mags scattered thru the house, the car, and when I run out of working room on my scrap desk, then I head to the floor, and keep going...! I'm lucky my wonderful family are so tolerant.

I started scrapping way back in 1990, on an 8 month trip through Europe and the US, I was always the one keeping the train tickets, museum brochures, entry stubs to Disneyland etc - you get the idea, and they all went into the album beside the photos and stories.

Meeting Sonia and her wonderful team on a retreat has been a life changing experience for me, I instantly knew I had found "home" and I have been drawn to really step out of my comfort zone thru the FA challenges, and the inspiration and support from the girls on the forum. Being a guest designer for Sonia is such an honour, and I am loving every minute of it. Since that weekend I am amazed at how my style has changed and developed, from following along blindly at a classes to actually creating my own sketches and designs and really finding my way, I am truly excited to see where this new part of my journey will lead me.

Last modified: November 02, 2007