Design Team

Rachel Kaufman, Founder, Scrapbooking from the Inside Out™

I have been scrapbooking in some form or another for as long as I can remember. As a small child, I made books about movie stars, poster collages of my dreams and wishes for my future, and magnetic albums with family and friends' photos, embellished with stickers and handwritten journaling written on construction paper. I graduated to a wedding 'storybook' album made for close friends in 2000. Soon after, I was introduced to the 'new' world of scrapbooking...

I have been teaching at three local scrapbook stores in the Los Angeles area since 2007. I have really enjoyed the chance to watch others take my vision and transform it into something that speaks directly to their hearts. The publication of my album called "Sedona Moments', about moments of clarity in my life, in the Write from the Heart section of Simple Scrapbooks in Nov/Dec 2007 ( Click here and here ) played an important role in helping me develop my teaching business, and for that I am so grateful.

When I first started scrapbooking, I covered events, trips and the like. I came to realize that the things I loved to scrapbook about were about my heart and soul. I'm a firm believer in the value of psychotherapy - and found that while other people were journaling as part of their therapy to get their feelings out and expressed, my best and most complete way to do that as part of my therapy was by scrapbooking and then studying and discussing it - so I created a unique tool for helping process my life. I am so thrilled and so motivated to share my 'way' of scrapbooking with others as it has helped me so much, and continues to, even to this day. It is my passion and my dream to help others understand themselves, deal with life's difficulties and celebrate their inner and most private victories through our craft.

I live with my family in beautiful Santa Monica, California, just 10 blocks from the beach. Seriously, you gotta come out here-it's amazing!

Rachels Blog: Inside Out

Layle Koncar - November 2008 Guest Designer

Hi! I'm Layle. I'm the Marketing Director for Scenic Route. I began scrapbooking 11 years ago with the birth of my first son and jumped at the chance 2 years ago to take on scrapbooking as a ‘real job’ at Scenic Route after leaving my job running a software company. I've been teaching for the last 4 years and truly enjoy connecting one on one with other scrapbookers and sharing the passion for this crazy hobby!! My work has been published in Creating Keepsakes, Better Homes and Gardens Scrapbooks Etc., Memory Makers, Paper Crafts, Legacy, Scrapbook Trends, Paper Trends and Pinecone Press. I authored and contributed to the book Memory Art and am a regular contributor to Paper Crafts books and special issues. In addition to scrapbooking, I LOVE interior decorating, skiing, reading, traveling, shopping, going to flea markets and spending time with my hubby Nick and my 2 rambunctious boys Jack and Sam.  

Layle's Blog:  Six Degrees

Amanda Berens

I live in Florida with my husband of eight years. Florida is just one stop on our cross-country sight-seeing tour of America. We have also lived in South Carolina, Missouri, Wisconsin, and California. I have been scrapbooking for 5 years. I started scrapbooking out of frustration resulting from a box of mis-matched photos and boredom with my current craft endeavors. In addition to being an artist, I am a professional civil engineer and professional geologist. In my free time I enjoy spending as much time outside as possible and, when not possible, I devour books. I am always up for a down and dirty philosophical discussion (or a video game). Obviously, like most women, I live a full and busy (and crazy) life. I began art journaling (scrapbooking emotions) about a year ago in an effort to deal with the ins and outs, and the ups and downs, of my crazy life.

Amanda's Blog: Technique Speak

Nancy Doren - Design Team Coordinator

Hi! I'm Nancy and I've been scrapping for about four years. I started with a honeymoon album right after I got married, and got burned out pretty quickly because I was consumed with getting every little detail just right. A little over a year ago I decided to treat my scrapbooks like my journals and put my heart into what I did...I fell in love again with scrapping and now I'm having a blast!

My scrapbooking style is colorful, organic, and personable... at least that's what I'm going for! I love bright colors mixed together, sewing, altering items with paint, telling stories, hand-cutting, and doodling. I'm inspired by magazines (I'm a little obsessed with them), other scrappers, illustration websites, and children's books. I love to get all my emotions out on a page... it's a very satisfying feeling to name a feeling and turn it into art. I love watching sci-fi with my husband, walks to the grocery store, reading in bed, and blogging.

I'm passionate about scrapbooking as therapy... I've learned so much about myself and the world through this amazing hobby. I can't wait to get to know everyone at Inside Out... bring on the group therapy!

Nancy's Blog: My Paperview

Bjay Jaminal

Hi! I am from the Philippines where scrapbooking is a thriving community and is fast becoming a way of life! I started this passion pretty early in my teens but got hooked really bad about 5 years ago. I work full-time in a multinational company but on weekends, I moonlight as a facepainter and sometimes as a party emcee as well. I love listening to 80's music, having a date with my hubby in the tools and hardware store and hanging out with my girlfriends. But in every fleeting moment between all these activities, I think about scrapping. It's crazy!

My husband loves me too much - he lets me scrap during weekends while he tends to the kitchen so we can have lunch or dinner. He'll give me 'the look' if I'm not packed-up before twelve midnight. Hey, I usually comply.

My current style leans towards an edgier mix of colors, while constant are some cutting action, layering, catchy titles and a strong journaling. Nothing compensates an aching back better than a finished layout and a heartfelt message for the subject.

Scrapbooking has enabled me to creatively deal with the joys and pains brought about by life. And Inside Out's debut couldn't have any more perfect timing than now. This is our life as it unfolds - I say scrapbook it.

Bjay's Blog: Pigmentations

Paige Ramos - Creative Coordinator

Hi! I'm Paige. I live in Peoria, AZ but I was born and raised in NY. I've been married to my hunky husband since 7/2/94 and we have 1 fabulous son and 2 beautiful daughters who have been the benefactors of my scrapbooking thus far. By day I am the Director of Collections for an internet travel consortium; I'm a devoted soccer mom and in my quest to lose 100 lbs, I go to the gym 5 times a week. I organize a monthly crop in my area AND when time allows I throw in a load or 19 of laundry and clean my house. When time doesn't allow, I watch Dancing with the Stars, Boston Legal & General Hospital on my DVR.

When I grow up I want to be a writer. So look for me in a magazine, bookstore, TV or theater near you, sometime in the next 10 years. I'm currently practicing my craft on my blog "The Bumpy Ride." Although my life might sound like that of the average girl next door - trust me, IT'S NOT. The most bizarre (usually comical) things seem to happen to me and I love to write about them and share my insane experiences and observations. PLEASE take a peak...

So why Scrapbooking From The Inside Out? Very simply, I want my children to REALLY know and understand me. I also think it will be a great gift for them to use to learn more about themselves and who they are as a part of our family and as individuals. By Scrapbooking From The Inside Out I will be giving them art and information about their heritage and their history while at the same time sharing with them how very much they are loved and why.

Scrapbooking in general allows me to satisfy the artist in my heart, and the writer in my soul. Endeavoring to do so from the Inside Out will be a challenge and experience that I will treasure and I'm sure you will too.

Paige's Blog: The Bumpy Ride