Ep 04 Layout a Day – The Podcast: Too Cool for School?

by Lain on June 22, 2011

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It’s time for another episode of Layout the Day – The Podcast! Today, we’re talking about topics such as:

  • When is scrapbooking-related learning and education TOO MUCH learning and education?
  • What’s happening next week that you just HAVE to hear about?
  • What happens when your son gets out of school? (Listen closely in the background for singing!)

The links you’ll find mentioned in this episode:

-The MotherLOAD Scrapbook Marathon

-The blog post about using your crimper.

-This to That foam adhesive from American Crafts:

Take a listen — then head over to iTunes and subscribe!

ETA: I just saw that the daily deal TODAY at Scrapbook Steals is a This to That value pack, including these adhesive dots! Check it out here.

  • Rebecca L.

    Too much learning???  Is there really any such thing?  I LOVE taking classes!  I learn so much!  I am a perpetual learner, and when someone is willing to teach me something new, I love to learn from them! 

  • Anonymous

    I agree with you! I wasn’t sure if I was way off base though… glad to see I’m not the only one!

  • Anonymous

    I agree with you! I wasn’t sure if I was way off base though… glad to see I’m not the only one!

  • Amy

    I love finding new inspiration for my scrapbooking and though I have traditionally not taken a lot of classes on scrapbooking I feel there are a lot of ways one can still learn. I think you made a great point in your podcast about how you need to use the things you learn or it becomes overwhelming and you end up being supersaturated with information. I will be the first to admit I understand how that feels. I have a toddler and a baby on the way so I don’t get the actual scrapbooking time that I would like. When I can’t actually scrapbook I still enjoy scrapbooking magazines, blogs, websites, podcasts, etc. But sometimes when I finally get to sit down and create I’m left feeling overwhelmed with info I’ve “learned” and I dong know where to start. that is one of the reasons I signed up for the MotherLOAD class. It will almost force me to apply the knowledge from the class when I get it! I just never really thought that my overwhelmed feeling could be from information overload…so I’m so glad you mentioned it in your podcast. I think it makes perfect sense. It doesn’t mean information us bad, it just means we all need to find OUR appropriate balance if it. :)

  • Anonymous

    That is such a great point — sometimes we cannot actually scrapbook, so it’s great to be able to still enjoy our hobby through reading, learning, “eye candy” online, etc. Can’t wait to see ya in the MotherLOAD!!!

  • http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com CraftyLissa

    Totally disagree – too much learning?? Never! Sounds like someone was a little grumpy and took it out on you… :) I love online classes to help me express and develop my craft. This is my creative outlet and how I show my family my love. Classes, conferences, even shopping all help me relax and be a better mom. Keep teaching! Also love your podcast – keep them coming! I’m signed up for your MotherLOAD class and can’t wait to get started!!

  • Norma

    Found this topic particularly interesting, given that I’ve been meaning to email you for a while now with a rather opposite question/problem.  I don’t think you can ever have too much learning, and different teachers have different teaching styles and methods which is wonderful since different students have different learning styles and needs.  And I’m curious- even if one thinks they don’t need any more inspiration or learning, why is it a problem that it is there?  Just don’t look at or for it or sign up for it or whatever the case may be.  Now about the overwhelm…this is kind of a 2-part question/problem: first, I LOVE learning new techniques and I enjoy just playing around with a technique to learn how to do it, but when I actually do a scrapbook page (which happens far, far, far too infrequently) I am at a loss how to actually incorporate these cool techniques.  I like to use lots of pictures on a page and while I love all the beautiful layouts with just 1 or 2 photos and lots of products and techniques, I never seem to be able to do it.  Any advice for learning how to actually USE what I’ve learned?  Also, I love learning and am constantly signing up for classes because they sound like something I would really enjoy, but due to time constraints usually can’t even complete the class.  I find myself thinking, I’ll go back and catch up when I have time, but then I sign up for another (or more likely, 3 or 4 or 5 more) classes and I know I’ll be lucky to be able to do them all in the next 10 years, but I can’t seem to stop myself!  Sorry I’m rambling so long…maybe I just need therapy!  But any tips or ideas you have would be appreciated!
    By the way, love the podcast!

  • http://twitter.com/spinstertales Diane Curry

    I love to take classes. I suffer from that eyes bigger than stomach syndrome in that I sign up for way too many classes and don’t have time to get the most out of them. It’s the same with shopping. But I love the inspiration and products. They make me happy. It’s all a part of the hobby I enjoy and I really enjoy the social aspect of the classes. I feel more a part of the community. And honestly there aren’t that many people around here who are as nuts about scrapbooking as I am, but I can find fellow lunatics on line. 

    But, I also get to a point where I turn it off and start scrapping and catching up on old classes and using up my stash.  I think the reason I came to Layoutaday was because it actually got me scrapbooking. Layouts done. Products used. For that month I don’t even think I follow your prompts because I have so much ‘inspiration’ left over from other classes. But I scrap and scrap like a maniac. Everyone has there own entry into inspiration. 

  • http://www.picpoetprose.wordpress.com Picpoetprose

    I think it makes perfect sense to want to take a break and use what you’ve learned, otherwise all that great information feels wasted. I don’t want to stop learning, though. There are so many amazing techniques out there and I will never master them all, I won’t even try! The fun part is learning about them all and being able to choose which will work for me and which ones I enjoy. There is a middle ground, I guess, we all have so many things going on day to day and only so much space in the brain ;)

  • http://twitter.com/daniellevekris danielle van ekris

    For me, taking an online class is a way to really get me started again. I did some layouts in the past months but it took me a lot of time to make them. Taking a class is not just about learning new techniques or styles, it is also about motivation. Together with the other people taking the class, I can challenge myself and share the experiences.
    When I’m taking a class, I know I have to make time to scrapbook. otherwise I have so many other things to day, that there isn’t much time left to scrapbook.

  • http://www.scrappyjedi.com/ scrappyJedi (Melissa)

    I’m so glad you started this podcast again! I listened to it during my run the other night, and it helped me breeze through it. :)

    I will admit to being an information junkie- I love taking online classes, especially ones that have content that I can download to my iPad and read/watch later. I use this as “edutainment” at times when I may be away from both an internet connection and scrapbooking supplies- when I’m at the gym on the elliptical or on a flight I can just pull out the iPad, scroll through the stored content, and choose what sounds good at the time.

    I try not to take scrapbook learning too seriously and I don’t put any pressure on myself to finish all the projects or try every little thing- sometimes just reading and watching the material is good enough for me. We don’t have TV in our house (we do have Hulu and Netflix), so there’s no random channel-flipping in the evening. Instead, I’ll often pull up a scrapbooking video or podcast to entertain myself.

    To me it’s all just fun!

  • http://www.scrapworthylives.com Stephanie Medley-Rath

    Great question! I think you can never stop learning, but I can see how you could get so wrapped up in classes that you never actually scrapbook. I think one of the biggest reasons to take classes is to meet other scrappy people. I live in the middle of nowhere and have only a couple of local friends who scrapbook at all and none are nearly as into it as I am. I can go online or sign up for a class and meet other scrappy folks who are as into the hobby as me. That sense of community, is one of my primary purposes in taking online classes.

  • Iceteeeeee

    I’m like you, Lain; I love to learn! I don’t think there can ever be enough options, because we all have different needs at certain times. It also helps me with motivation and inspiration. To me, it is all part of this great scrapping lifestyle!
    Trisha

  • Anonymous

    That is for sure! That’s what I love about the internet — all the inspiration you could ever want, at your fingertips. :)

  • Karen

    my only problem with “learning” is that i learn more than i actually do!!

  • karen

    whoops, i should listen to whole podcast before i comment!

  • Anonymous

    That’s a common problem! :)

  • Anonymous

    I’m getting a tad nervous about the MotherLOAD tomorrow — butterflies are good, right? ;)

  • Anonymous

    Listen to Episode 5 for my thoughts on this — great question! Thank you!

  • Anonymous

    …and my brain is nearly full. Haha!

  • Anonymous

    That motivation point is such a good one! Thanks!

  • Anonymous

    Melissa, I have to learn how to download goodies to my iPad. I can’t seem to find a way to find the videos once I sync them up – any tips?

  • Anonymous

    Stephanie, what are some of your favorite online classes?

  • http://www.scrapworthylives.com Stephanie Medley-Rath

    Even though I like the community aspect, honestly, I like self-paced or what I call self-paced plus classes. By self-paced plus, there is still a community of sorts via a flickr group or even through using blog badges to show you took a class. I really cannot fit in classes that give me stuff on a daily basis or have a discussion forum with 150 students and dozens of threads. I’ve tried those recently and find them overwhelming. They just do not fit in my life right now. I would pay more money for smaller class size. I work and have a toddler and shockingly interests outside of scrapbooking. :) I’ve actually got a post scheduled for Thursday about my recent adventures in online scrapbook classes with my likes/dislikes based on what I’ve taken so far.

  • Anonymous

    I think it’s to each her own. Some people get NOTHING done without the community, other people get overwhelmed. When I have time, I like to get into the community. But most of the time I don’t have the time!

  • http://www.scrappyjedi.com/ scrappyJedi (Melissa)

    I’ve found syncing through iTunes to by flaky (not to mention clunky). Are the videos not showing up under the “Video” app or the “iPod” app? Sometimes I have to sync twice to get it to take.

    I’ve actually started using an app called Goodreader (I think it’s 99 cents or $1.99) to put all my class materials including video and audio files on my iPad. It’s advertised as a PDF reader, but its real hidden talent is that it’s an AWESOME file system for the iPad. It shows up on the Apps tab of iTunes after you install it and when you connect your iPad, and you can just drag and drop files into it without having to import them into iTunes first (which means you’re not tied to one computer to add files any more- great for someone like me who’s on one computer at home and then travels with a laptop). Once they’re there, you can organize them into folders (I keep a folder for each class), and when you open video or audio files it’ll automatically call up the correct app on your iPad to play them. It’s wonderful. :)

    Of course, if you’re getting videos through a podcast feed in iTunes, then using iTunes is the best way to go (just really annoying). I tend to use Goodreader for things I download outside of iTunes.

    One last thought- are the videos you’re trying to put on your iPad compatible with it? I know for a fact the ones from Summer Card Camp are because I watched one at the gym yesterday. I don’t know all the formats iPad supports off the top of my head, but I know it’s a narrow set. Anything ending in .mp4 should work.

  • Anonymous

    I’m going to check out this GoodReader! Very cool! There just is no link under the iPod app that says ‘videos.’ There’s podcasts, music, etc. but no video choice. ???

  • Anonymous

    Another question – how do you save something like the Summer Card Camp videos to your iPad?

  • http://www.scrappyjedi.com/ scrappyJedi (Melissa)

    Okay, I started to type out how to do it, but realized it was best told with pictures involved. I wrote a little tutorial on my blog this morning that may help- http://www.scrappyjedi.com/2011/07/summer-card-camp-loading-videos-to-your.html .

    I hope it helps!!

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