Do you wanna hear something really sad?

I have not scrapbooked for over two weeks.  I'm past the withdrawal stage and now I'm just numb.  I still dream of patterned paper, satin ribbons, and piles of buttons.  But my fingertips no longer contain the remnants of glue dots and the floor beneath my feet no longer has scraps of paper upon it.

Why haven't I scrapbooked for over two weeks?

I'm not really sure... I think scrapbooking was filling a void over the past several months.  That void was not feeling satisfied with my job, not feeling like I had a "creative" outlet at work.  Now?  I create all day long every day.  My brain is overflowing with thoughts, challenges, and ideas.  It's a bittersweet feeling.  I love scrapbooking.... but I love my job, too.  And it's very satisfying to know that this brain (big brain) is tapped out at the end of the day now.  Joy and sorrow, all wrapped up in one.

But.... a glimmer of light....

My patterned paper will wait for me.  My Fiskars paper trimmer will stay sharp.  My button collection will remain abundant.  And my love for all things scrapbooking will NEVER go away.  Maybe my scrapbook brain is just taking a nap for a little while.... sleep tight Kreate by KeKe brain.... WAKE up Ebsi Websites KeKe.

Here are a few favorites of the past year.

Sometimes they're demanding.... Picking and choosing your scrapbook subjects.

People you love belong on the pages of your scrapbook.  But sometimes they get demanding... very demanding.  A few weeks ago, I sent my sister a text message and told her that her dog Jax was going to be the next featured "person" in my scrapbook.  I thought she'd be delighted... I thought she'd be flattered... I thought she'd be the proudest mommy of the ugliest chihuahua there ever was.

I was wrong.

The text message I got in return went something like this: Why does my dog get his very own page before I do?!

Point taken.

And so, without further ado, here is Caitlin's very own page.  Oh yeah, she's kinda gorgeous, isn't she?

My beautiful baby sister... loves to sit on benches with monkeys.

My beautiful baby sister... is the most artistic person I know.

My beautiful baby sister... looks amazing perched atop paper flowers!

Love you CK!

A blog post featuring... drum roll please.... ME!

Here's a little snippet from my "day job"... doesn't it just sound miserable?

 

If you don't drink coffee, can you still eat it? Random questions and RELEVANT suggestions regarding blogging communities.

 

Friends, throughout my long history at ebsi, this question has plagued the good people of this company.  But do we really want to talk about coffee today?  I don't.  What do I want to talk about?  I'm SO glad you asked!

Today I want to discuss blogging communities.  There are literally thousands of these.  When I started blogging awhile back, I asked my friend Kalyn (who writes a south-beach friendly foodie blog called Kalyn's Kitchen) how to tap into relevant sectors of the blogosphere.  Her advice (which I avidly followed... she has over 15,000 feedburner subscribers) was to tap into blogging communities that relate to you blog's niche.

Here's an example.  I write a scrapbooking blog called Kreate by KeKe.  There is a blogging community that is exclusively dedicated to arts and crafts called Creating the Hive. 

"The Hive" (as it's called by it's fabulous members) is a place where professionals and hobbyists alike can import their blogs, share content, and build relationships with others who share their interests.  Simply.an.amazing.idea!

Here is your homework for the day:

1. Hop on over to Google

2. Enter "{your blog niche here} blogging communities"

3. Browse away!

4. Look for communities that have a lot of activity and users... but not such high numbers that you'll get lost in the mix.  The key is to build relationships so that you can share blogging tips with others who love your niche just as much as you do. 

Sorta reminds me of the phrase: Birds of a feather flock together!

Happy blogging!

Where's KeKe?

What could be better than blogging? 
What could be better than scrapbooking?
What could be better than blogging about scrapbooking?

I'll give you four choices:
a) Endless chips and salsa
b) 75 and sunny every.single.day
c) Getting a job where you get paid to blog, binge on social media, and teach people
d) All of the above

I will save you from the suspense.  The answer is D.  The reality is C.

What the "h" "e" double-hockey stick does that mean?

Friends, I have gotten my dream job with a website/blog-design/graphic-guru/social-media company.  The good news: KeKe might just be the happiest camper in the western blogosphere.  The bad news: blogging posts will be much less frequent. 

...to be continued...