I’m so excited to be welcoming Sara to The Digi Files this month! Sara had been on my list for a long time to invite to contribute and when circumstances lined up to have her join me on The Digi Show, I jumped at asking her to join us here as well. Sara has a passion for seeing people tell their stories and always includes room for journaling on her templates. Here’s a look at all that is included in this month’s Digi Files from Sara:
Wow! Can you believe all of that goodness!?!? Sooo much fun! This is just ONE of the collections out of seven included in The Digi Files this month! When you become a member you get even more fun goodies and bonuses! Here are some layouts created by our team using Sara’s goodies:
Layout by Jenn, additional supplies: Serenity by Happy Scrap Girl, Beautiful on the Inside by Stolen Moments, Grunge Kit and Word Art by Sahlin Studio, CK Ali’s Hand Official font
Layout by Karen, additional supplies: The Daily Digi The Good Life kit; Font is Steinem
Layout by Anne, additional supplies: Papers and elements are from the 9th&B’s contibution to the April files
Layout by Katie, additional supplies: Weeds and Wildflowers Sweet and Simple Kit #6, Font is Century Gothic
Layout by Amelia, additional supplies: 9th and Bloom contribution to The Digi Files
You can see more inspirational layouts using this collection on the Team Inspiration page.
My name is Sara Gleason (zinnias & swallotails). If you know me through the digital scrapbooking community or anywhere online, you probably know me as “scarletsierra”.
Hometown: Home is where the military plants us and right now that’s in the beautiful desert of SW Arizona.
Family: I am a mom to a preschooler.
nouns: military spouse. mom. scrapbooker. gardener. pizza snob. reader. loather of folding laundry. Cubs fan. optimist. encourager. storyteller.
adjectives: blessed. grateful. goofy. geeky. family-centered. soft-hearted. hopeful. sometimes insecure. prayerful. creative. imperfect.
verbs: writing. learning. growing. creating. planting. remembering. singing. documenting.
STORE
BLOG
If you ever find yourself struggling to journal on your layouts or wrestling with how to incorporate your words on the page, as though your words don’t have a “place” in your scrapbooking design, try playing with the formatting of your journaling so that the words themselves become part of your page design. Scatter your journaling around the photos, or journal a list, or in speech bubbles. Try journaling in blocks or in shapes or in borders. Don’t be afraid to tuck journaling under elements and papers or even use them as a mat. This is a technique I was apprehensive to use in my scrapping because I didn’t want the words of the story be lost when I printed my pages. And then I decided to create an accompanying “journal” to my printed pages…that contains only the words of each page. Almost like a diary or journal. Now all the words in my scrapping, even the pages that have “hidden” journaling, are preserved in a special “book” of my writings. And while this may seem an extra task, I can’t tell you how special it has become to me.
I’ve always had a love for storytelling and I was first drawn to scrapbooking as a paper scrapper (and still have the HUGE closet full of scrapping supplies to show for it). I paper scrapped for several years, though never very well, before I finally delved into digital scrapbooking in May 2008. And I haven’t looked back since. I was smitten from the very first click. The digital medium has given me the confidence to really explore and grow in my own creativity in ways I hadn’t been able to with other crafty projects.
I love love love capturing the everyday moments of my family and sharing our stories through my scrapping. I have also always loved writing, and scrapbooking has been another avenue for me to write in my journaling. In May 2010 I was encouraged by friends and loved ones to explore template design. In some ways designing templates and writing prompts seemed like a new evolution for me and my creativity. But ultimately, it comes down to this: if I can be a part of, and encourage others to scrap their memories, share their stories, or create their art in any small way…I would love that. Because to me, the creation and the remembering–it’s one of the most beautiful expressions of ourselves for those we love.
I find inspiration in a hundred little moments, in the every day moments. The time my family spends together, the quotes, the conversations, and the details. The story. I also feel inspired by nature and music and color.
I *just* ordered my very first Mac laptop and so I am still familiarizing myself with it. For a long time I have been creating on a desktop PC that my Brilliant Geek stepfather built for me. It has a mirrored RAID hard-drive with an Intel Quad Core 2 Processor with 4GB of RAM. I also have two EHDs (one 500MB and one 2TB). I still run Windows XP.
I create in Photoshop CS4. My camera is a Canon 40d. I currently shoot with a Canon 60mm 2.8 lens and a Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 lens. I just recently started playing around with a Wacom Bamboo Craft tablet.
My prompt-driven series of collaborations with Crystal Livesay called Grow With Love have been a labor of love and they remain those of which I feel most proud. The Marriage Edition in particular is very special to me.
But I also really love Birchwood
Here are some of my favorite products by Sara:
Here’s some inspirational layouts using Sara’s products. All of the layouts are linked to the originals with credits.
Go have a look in Sara’s Store! We will randomly select a winner from the comments to win $10 in product from her store! (Comments must be posted before midnight EST to qualify)!
As a thank you to our readers, Sara has created this coupon to share with all of us!
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i LOVE Sarah’s templates! they make scrapping so much faster and easier! so good since i always seem to have a fried mommy brain! =)
I love Sara’s templates!
I discovered them just before Christmas and fell in love!
I like using templates as they help guide my layout and especially Sara’s (she my new fave template designer) as there is always a good amount of journaling space.
Since finding Sara’s templates I have made many pages using her templates and have LOVED how every one them has turned out
Love the templates! maybe I should download my files this month…
As a new scrapbooker, I am seeking templates like a bad addiction. I feel like they are a must in my arsenal at this point. So I am anxious to start using the templates that Sara included in the digi files for this month!
I like the Birchwood (clipped and story seeds) templates. They are all really nice designs. Thanks for the chance to win.
I can’t wait to try these templates!!! I really like the birchwood set too, will have to go pick those up!
I love sara’s templates, and her ideas for journaling. Thanks for the chance!
I love the story enabled templates! Birchwood speaks to me.
Wow, I really love Sara’s templates. The Grow with Love series is very cool. I also love amarylis and daffodil sets.
I so love Sara’s templates! I own so many of them! Thanks for the feature on her!
Great templates! Love them all!
Ohhhh noooo now I have to fight the urge to buy more of your fab templates!
They are so fun to use, more addictive than jelly babies!!
Oh goodness, Thank you so very much for all the warm words!!! I feel so uplifted and honored!!
Also, to anyone who has had trouble with the coupon 4dailydigi4, I so sincerely apologize!! It should be working properly now. Please forgive the inconvenience. ?
And thank you again to everyone!!
All of Sara’s templates are so fabulous!! And she is an absolute sweetheart too!!
What a fun introduction with a very unique style! I enjoyed browsing her shop and especially like Life Documented volume 2 and clippables, Balsam. Thanks for the chance to shop for free.
I have been a fan of Sara’s for a while now and have already started my collection of awesome templates! I would LOVE to spend s’more in her store so puhlease pick me??? Thanks for the opportunity to win and thank YOU Sara for contributing to TDD!
I find Sara’s templates and designs cheerful and full of fun. They just make me want to take some time out and ‘play’.
Sara Gleason’s discount code: 4dailydigi4 is not working.
I love templates when I have scrapper’s block, and these are wonderful templates. I love the Grow With Love: Letters Edition {january} and since I have been good so far this month I think I will give myself a treat
I’ve always loved Sara’s pages & adore her templates! They are super easy to use & I’m always happy with how my pages turn out with these!!!
Oooohh … I knew the name but hadn’t realised the association with Zinnias & Swallowtails … how lame does that make me? D’oh! But Wow, now that you’ve kindly put 2+2 together for me, I’m a convert to Sara’s templates. GORGEOUS!!!!
Love the daffodil {clipped} – among so many others – so cute. Thanks for the opportunity.
I absolutely LOOOOVE Sara’s templates! Thanks so much for the chance to win a GC to her shop!! Now I’m off to use that fabulous coupon! Thanks!!
I adore the Dandelion templates… I’ve just started scrapbooking so templates are my new best friend! Love them
I just love Sara, she’s an amazing scrapper and template designer, and even more amazing person.
I so love your items in this kit and store!
I love Sara’s templates! I use them all the time!
Just as other comments said, I love just about everything she has. I especially like the Froggers and Buggers set.
Sara is the best template designer out there! You can tell she lays her heart in each and every template she makes!
I love all her templates, but the Grow With Love: Letters Edition ones are a must-have
Oh my, I <3 Sara!!
Woohoo, Sara! LOVE your templates!
Love templates – I especially love the first sample layout which gave me a whole other idea of how to use these templates. Plan to try one tonight like that!
Very cute templates… I love Sara’s work.
My son will be starting preschool, so the Learning Garden templates look fun. She has such beautiful templates!
Alright … I admit it. I’m a template junkie! Boy would I like to add some of Sara’s nifty ones to my stash. Thanks for a chance to win and for the coupon.
I love love LOVE Sara’s templates! Loved getting to know her a little bit too
Thanks for the coupon!
I agree. What’s NOT to like in her store?
Gorgeous goodies. Thanks for the chance!
I love Summer Garden!!!
I love the {clipped} masks…really fun way to add some interest to a layout! Thanks for the chance & coupon!
Sara’s store is so awesome! I would love to win!!! Thanks for the chance
I am such a big fan of Sara, even if she is a Bears fan!
Her work is amazing, and she is super sweet!
As a template maniac, I always love when templates are contained in the digi files – these are probably my favorite yet!
It’s also very nice that Sara doesn’t make them crazy distracting colors. Thank you so much!
LOOOOOVE her templates! sara rocks my world!
My goodness, these are gorgeous templates ! I must check out her store.
Journalling has always been hard for me. Thanks for the tips!
Sara’s layouts and templates are amazing! I love Grow With Love: Letters Edition {january}
VERY cool! Love Birchwood and Daffodil, too!
Off to check out the collab with Crystal Livesay that she mentioned… I am sure it is awesome! 
I finally got around to unzipping my files last night and Sara’s contribution is fantastic! Plus, after reading her interview, I love that she has a scrapper’s heart. The fact that she really loves to support all of us in our story telling is very endearing. I love everything in her store but I especially loved the Happy Noodle Stamps and the Paper Garden series! Thanks for the coupon and chance to win. Great way to start Monday.
Love templates! These are so nicely layered and designed.
I am a template freak!!!! THanks for introducing me to this designer!
I’d say that 98% of the time, I start my digi layouts with a template (and my paper ones with a sketch
) so I’m always happy when templates are included in the Digi Files. When I looked at Sara’s store, I didn’t see any I *didn’t* like! lol! I especially liked Grow With Love: Letters Edition and Crocus.