Meet Abbie Nichols, 14-year-old scrapbooker extraordinaire and winner of the Creating Keepsakes 2011 Teen Talent Contest.
Abbie’s mad scrapping skillz, as evidenced in the layout below, won her the top spot in CK’s search for up-and-coming scrapbookers.
We pulled Abbie aside for a little one-on-one to get the inside scoop on her crafty life, and we asked her to create another layout to show our readers. Stay tuned till the end, when we tell you about a SUPER giveaway for National Scrapbooking Day (find out more about our countdown to National Scrapbooking Day—the festivities begin this Monday, April 30).
CK: How long have you been scrapbooking? How did you get started?
Abbie: Well, I have always been into everything crafty, collecting everything from our family closet and storing it in my room for later use. I was first introduced to the hobby by my aunt Heidi Sonboul when she would clean out her closets and give me boxes of stamps, stickers, paper, etc., to feed my addiction. I would go completely insane with the stuff, stuck in my room for hours.
CK: Do you find that you create more layouts, or cards, or mini albums, or other projects? What’s your fave?
Abbie: I am more into doing layouts than anything, but I love doing it all. Just the feeling of having scissors and adhesive in hand makes me happy.
CK: Now let’s play fill in the blank. I’ll start a sentence and you finish it.
I spend most of my time… in my room decorating, scrapbooking, doing homework, reading, watching movies, and riding my bike to the beach for a fun day in the sun!
I’d describe my family as… the best people on earth. I love each one of them and it makes me so happy to spend time with them.
When I get home from school, the first thing I do is… head straight to the computer for my daily blog checks and Pinterest scroll.
If I were stuck on a desert island with the scrapping basics (adhesive, cardstock, pens, photos, scissors, trimmer) and could only choose three extras, I’d choose… definitely my Cricut Expression, baker’s twine, and my handy dandy wood carver so I could make a well-decorated, pretty boat and sail home! 
CK: You seem to have a good eye for what’s in style. Where do you get your fashion sense? What inspires you?
Abbie: I rely on Pinterest for lots of ideas, and I look through my stash of magazines whenever possible, helping me get into the mood. I love lots of happy, fun, springtime colors with that vintage touch.
CK: Did you have any favorites from your Teen Talent prize? What are they?
Abbie: Oh my goodness. When I opened that box, it was like early Christmas! I have to say that baker’s twine is delicious though. I have used it in one way or another on every single thing I have made since I got it.
CK: Now that you’re a Teen Talent winner, have you been approached by anyone to join their design teams or anything? Do you have any plans to get more involved in the scrapbooking industry in the future?
Abbie: I am currently on the GCD Studios design team as their teen sponsor. It is so fun working with them! I went to the CHA Winter show for the past two years (my mom even let me skip school to go), and it is amazing! I am definitely planning on doing more in the future.
CK: Anything else you’d like to add?
Abbie: I love the CK magazines and I have been reading them for years. When I was just looking through one of my issues before school and came across the ad for the Teen Talent search, I freaked out! I am so honored that I had the opportunity to work with everybody I have and I can’t wait to do more! Thank you so much!
CK: Thank you, Abbie, for letting us get to know you a little better. We’ll definitely keep an eye on you as a rising scrapbook star!
And now, as promised, here are the details on our National Scrapbooking Day giveaway (stay tuned next week for oodles more opportunities to win). One lucky reader will receive a 6′ fold-in-half table and four contoured folding chairs from Lifetime Products.
The table’s lightweight, fold-in-half design and carry handle make it easy for croppers to set up, take down, transport, and store. The table and chair surfaces wash off easily to prep for your next scrapbooking or craft project. The table is lightweight and portable—perfect for National Scrapbooking Day crops at your home or on the go!
You can earn up to three entries in this giveaway:
- Leave a comment on this blog post telling us the farthest you’ve ever traveled to a crop.
- “Like” Lifetime Products on Facebook; then come back and leave another comment on this post telling us you did it.
- Follow @Lifetime365 on Twitter and RT I just entered the @creatingkeepsakes giveaway to win a Lifetime Scrapbooking Table & Chair Package from @Lifetime365, then leave a comment here telling us you did it.
Entries must be received by Monday, May 7, at 9:00 am (MDT). Please note that the prize can only be shipped to an address inside the US. Good luck, and happy scrappin’!
Congratulations to our winner! To claim your prize, watch for an email in your inbox.
Joyce Jackson: Every July I take my Scrapbooking group to Shipshewana & Stay in Middlebury IN. We stay at (That Pretty Place bed & Breakfast)We rent the whole Cabin now called Serenity Suites. It is a wonderful place & each of us enjoy it so much. It is about 100 miles from us.one other embellishment on my page.
I just “liked” Lifetime Products on FB…. I don’t think I have ever traveled to a crop, but people have traveld to my house to crop… I am a collector of everything crafty, so I wouldn’t know where to start to pack up stuff to take, so people come to me and show me how to use all the tools that I have collected….. I NEED TABLES AND CHAIRS FOR MY FRIENDS! Thank you Lifetime and Creating Keepsakes!
I liked Lifetime products on FB, I traveled from Colorado to Mesa Az last month for CKC and did two night of crops. It went by toooo fast!!!
I’ve only been to one crop, and I think I actually walked to it. It was only about 4 blocks from my house, and I was brand-new to scrapbooking so I didn’t have many supplies to take with me!
I “liked” Lifetime Products on Facebook! Yay!
And I’m now following @Lifetime365 on Twitter.
But why does the retweet include @creatingkeepsakes, and then come up “This user does not exist,” when I click on it?
Thank you for such great durable lifetime products. I liked on FB and I live my magazine!
I would LOVE to win this table. Thanks for the opportunity.
The farthest I’ve traveled was Chicago – I live in Cincinnati.
I “liked” Lifetime Products on FB!! Yeah!!!
I just “liked” Lifetime Products on FB…. I’ve only gone about 12 miles to a crop at Archievers. I have so many scrapbook/craft items that I could probably open an in home store. It takes me so long to figure out what to take to work on, so mostly I scrapbook at home with my daughter. We have discussed the possibility of having a crop night once or twice a month at our home so all our friends could get together. If I would win the table and chairs that would help this happen. Thank you Lifetime and Creating Keepsakes
Only traveled 11 miles in town to a crop.
Love Lifetime products! In fact, I was just recommending your folding table to a new caterer!
I have been using your tables for many years and they great quality.
I also Liked your FB page and now follow you on Twitter – both of which I would do without any chance to win.
Good luck to everyone!
I live in Warren, OH and traveled to Cincinnati, OH.
The furthest I traveled to crop was from Dallas to Austin
I liked Lifetime Products on FB
I retweeted. My twitter name is “artistsyl”
The furthest I’ve gone was a weekend in Big Besr California!
I tweeted @marthayvette
So far have only stayed “local” but I’m in Socal – that includes a 70 mile drive. Someday would love to do a retreat or a cruise. How do you take all your supplies, though?
I’ve driven 2 hr. to Naples for one crop and 3 hr. to Orlando for another. Got to stay with my dad for the first and my sister for the second.
I like Lifetime Products on Facebook.
I really LOVE their products.
I like Lifetime Products on Facebook.
orchidlady01
I follow Lifetime Products on Twitter.
@orchidlady01
I follow on Twitter and tweeted- https://twitter.com/#!/cowladydeland/status/198583046654529536
I have driven 5 hours to crop. I drove to Miami and had a fabulous week-end cropping!
I retweeted about the giveaway.
https://twitter.com/#!/orchidlady01/status/198583248450891777
FB fan / like Lifetime Products. My FB profile:
http://www.facebook.com/janice.wei.39
I would love to win a lifetime table! The farthest I have traveled to craft is Salt Lake City, Utah. It isn’t that far, but it was a lot of fun! This table would be so great for all of my sewing projects and card making!
I like Lifetime in Facebook— I love all of their products and the easy use hey provide.
There not too many people who scrapbooks so I have travel to Houston, Texas to see my son and his family and my daughter-in-law also scraps.I live in Pa. So maybe I have traveled 1700 miles to craft.
kat_emerick@yahoo.com
Already “Like” Lifetime Products on Facebook. (Kathy Emerick)
kat_emerick@yahoo.com
I liked Lifetime on FB!
The farthest I have traveled to crop is my moms house…. only about 10 minutes away.
I like Lifetime Products on Facebook as Janel Myers.
I have never traveled to a crop !
I am sad to say that I have never been to a crop:( I am a young mom of two beautiful girls, so I have my hands full! I love scrap booking and doing crafts and so I can’t wait until I have a little more time to do all of those things! Wait…I will always be busy! I need to just set time aside for me! Hopefully soon!
I already “like” lifetime products….that’s how I learned about this fantastic give away! Yay for FB!
a few years ago I lived in Des Moines Ia and traveled to the far side of NE in a state park for a 2 day crop, it was worth it!
following and tweeted:
https://twitter.com/#!/cappytweet/status/198893528758226944
I am new to papercrafting so have not gone too far yet
Just down the road to the local craft and scrapbooking stores – although I can say that is fairly frequent!
Liked on FB – MaryBeth Isaac
https://twitter.com/#!/misaacmom/status/198918189776781312
tweet!
liked them!
The farthest I’ve travelled is 3 hrs driving…
The farthest I’ve traveled is a mere 45 minutes.
I like them on FB.
Follow them and tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/dezroute/status/199158877344903168
I love Lifetime products!!!!
Love this gift!! happy nsd and week to everyone from texas. i traveled from dfw to franklin, tn for a 4 day crop with some of the most amazing ladies!!
The furthest I have gone for a crop is Manchester , NH about 3 hours from home.
I “liked” Lifetime Products on Facebook.