SYW127 – My Way with Neftali Zambrano

Neftali Zambrano 0:00

12 by 12 layouts has probably been one of the type of projects and styles that has really stuck. I think part of it has to do with the fact that I start with a clean slate in front of me and I can just add to it as I wish each and every time. It's unique. It's different. And I just love that thrill of starting fresh, and ending with something completely new.

Jennifer Wilson 0:25

Welcome to Scrapbook Your Way, the show that explores the breadth of ways to be a Memory Keeper today. I'm your host, Jennifer Wilson, owner of Simple Scrapper and author of The New Rules of Scrapbooking. This is Episode 127. In this episode, I'm interviewing Neftali Zambrano for the My Way series. My Way is all about celebrating the unique ways Memory Keepers get things done. We're excited to have Neftali as the August featured artist at Simple Scrapper. A selection of her pages served as inspiration for our current member challenge featured in the latest issue of Spark magazine.

Jennifer Wilson 1:04

Hey, welcome to the podcast.

Neftali Zambrano 1:06

Hi, thank you so much for having me. This is really exciting.

Jennifer Wilson 1:10

Yes, this is going to be a great conversation. This is a My Way episode where we get to peek behind the curtain of your creative process. So can you just share a little bit about yourself to introduce you to the audience?

Neftali Zambrano 1:24

Yes, so my name is Neftali Zambrano. Online, I go by alltheneffyness. I and I am a mom of two and a half. I have one little one coming in October. And I, we, my husband and I and our kids live in Southern California. And we love it out here. You know, we just love the location. And basically, I'm just that stay at home crafty mom. And you know, we love, I love to document my kids and my family. And that's really what I'm all about.

Jennifer Wilson 2:03

So fun. Well, congratulations on your new little one. Maybe an eventful fall for you.

Neftali Zambrano 2:09

Yes. It's been a long year. Let me tell you.

Jennifer Wilson 2:12

Oh, I bet Yeah, now is a hot summer. But at least you're in California, you get a little bit milder weather. But still. Being pregnant in the summer is always an adventure.

Neftali Zambrano 2:21

Yeah. So this is my first time being so pregnant in the summer. So I'm just excited to get through the summer and fall time couldn't get here any sooner.

Jennifer Wilson 2:32

For sure. All right, so let's jump in. What is exciting you in scrapbooking right now? It could be one or two things. And this is really anything at all product, an app, a class, a person, or even an idea.

Neftali Zambrano 2:44

Well, I'm actually working on some finishing touches on my second course at Big Picture classes. Earlier this year, I did have a course for a mini album. And I will be having a new course to debuting next month in August. All about scrapbook layouts. So that's really exciting for me, I'm excited to share that with all my crafty friends online and share a little bit of my own take on 12 by 12 scrapbooking.

Jennifer Wilson 3:14

Oh, how fun. Okay, congrats. Congratulations on that. I can't wait to see that one.

Neftali Zambrano 3:18

Thank you.

Jennifer Wilson 3:20

You know, the flip side of the the creative parts that we love is the storytelling. So what is one story that's on your Bucket List. This is the the list of stories that are a little bit harder, a little bit deeper, but they feel really, really important to capture.

Neftali Zambrano 3:37

I think it's honestly I think the most important ones and I know it's out of season but Christmas. And I think last year I didn't do a December Daily. I didn't really document but I took pictures every day. So it's definitely on my Bucket List to finish that album. I and because I have finished one previously. And I just remember, you know, every year I like to go through that book and looking back to it. I'm just like, oh my goodness, if I just finished that next one. I know that you know, I'll have those awesome memories. So that's number one on my Bucket List. And Christmas in July is a good time for me to get back to it. So I'm hoping to get to that mini album first in my Bucket List.

Jennifer Wilson 4:25

Yeah, so we are recording this about mid June in the episode. You should be listening to it in early August. But you know, scrappy Christmas in July is always like a fun little treat and a revisit to our December Daily projects. And that's something that Tracy, of Scrappy Like a Fox hosts.

Neftali Zambrano 4:43

Yes, it's the best.

Jennifer Wilson 4:46

All right, let's dig in to your way. Can you take us back to how you started scrapbooking?

Neftali Zambrano 4:53

So I was initially introduced to scrapbooking when I was a teenager. I think I was about 16 and a church friend took me to a scrapbook shop that used to be a lot more local at the time. And I remember walking in and the smell of paper, just my god, it struck me and I fell in love immediately. For those first few years, I really didn't know how to scrapbook. So I did a lot of process, video watching on YouTube. And then eventually, a few years later, in 2015, when my son was born, that's when I really dug in to trying to document. I started off with a Heidi Swapp memory planner. And for a few months, I added pictures and journaling. And then from then on, I started jumping into 12 by 12, scrapbooking. And the rest is history. I'm addicted.

Jennifer Wilson 5:55

How do you think your hobby has evolved since that time? Are you still, you know, playing with Heidi Swapp products? Or you know, what, what types of formats are you using now that maybe you didn't use at the beginning, or your style, how has that changed?

Neftali Zambrano 6:08

I think, really, there's been a transformation. Because at first it was all about trying new things, you know, finding inspiration through others to try new projects, you know, I tried to do Project Life. And I don't think that stuck very well. For me. I've always enjoyed creating mini albums, I still do that. And 12 by 12 layouts has probably been one of the type of projects and styles that has really stuck. And, you know, I think part of it has to do with the fact that I start with a clean slate in front of me. And I can just add to it as I wish each and every time. It's unique. It's different. And I just love that thrill of starting fresh, and ending with something completely new.

Jennifer Wilson 6:58

I love it. It's so fascinating, because I think there's some scrapbookers that are maybe intimidated by that blank page, but it sounds like you're super energized by it. And you just yeah, you love all the possibilities.

Neftali Zambrano 7:08

Yes. And and I tried to use different materials every time. And really that's I think that's the most inspiring part for me is is the materials. And like I said that clean slate each and every time. I have a harder time coming back to a mini album over and over again to add more versus, you know, just starting fresh.

Jennifer Wilson 7:31

So you like to keep things new. So I'm curious, though, and I asked you this question, because this is a personal problem that I have. And that my husband always says that I never like to cook a recipe twice. And I'm curious if you're the same way, because you like like trying new things?

Neftali Zambrano 7:48

You know what, in a way, no, because I do come back to certain things in the same kind of style, but with a different approach, if that makes sense. So I can come back to the same style of layout. One of my favorites would be florals, right? So I can always come back with different florally type of projects and layouts. But each one is different in its own way. So I guess I'm using the same ingredients, but just mixing them up in a different way to say.

Jennifer Wilson 8:20

Sure, sure. So can you talk more about your specific style? Is there like, what are the color palettes that you use? Do you use a lot of white or a lot of not a lot of white? How can we visually imagine what your pages look like?

Neftali Zambrano 8:36

So I think my style is very feminine, for sure. I have scrapbooked a lot of my own son's pictures full of pinks, and you know those fun, bright girly colors. And I would say that my favorite colors at color palettes would be well, I should start off by saying that my 12 by 12 layouts always start for the most part 90% of the time on a white cardstock so I always like to start with my white cardstock and then my color palettes usually include colors like pinks, different shades of pink, some strong like graphic blacks, and then yellows, teals, and mints. Very feminine, very light, and kind of spring themed. Those are just the colors that kind of make me feel happy you know when I'm crafting. And yeah, I do like over embellishing. I don't think there's such thing as over embellishing but for some there might be. I do like to fill my page with stickers and you know, whatever materials I have on hand, sometimes with washes of watercolors in the backgrounds. Splatters. Yeah I don't know, I would say my style is very feminine and creative.

Jennifer Wilson 10:04

Oh, for sure. Now, I'm curious, if you did you have to get to the point where you could know when you're looking at a product like, Oh, that is my style? Or did you have some dabbling in the beginning where maybe you bought some things that ended up not being your style? And you kind of didn't like how it turned out? Because you just didn't? You didn't know better? You didn't really have that sense of identity around it yet?

Neftali Zambrano 10:28

Yeah, I think so. And I think part of that exploring came with design teams that I was on. Tere was a design team I was on that would have focus on certain brands, and materials. So certain brands, I just knew they kind of weren't my style. And even though I would work with them and try my best to execute, you know, for the certain assignment, I just kind of knew it wasn't for me. Muted colors and dark. Kind of like dark browns and stuff. I usually stay away from that. But simply not because there's anything wrong with it. It's just not the type of style or color that kind of inspires me to go back to, or that goes with my photos.

Jennifer Wilson 11:20

Oh, sure. 100%. Yeah. I'm curious if you have any advice for others who are trying to find their own style, or even more broadly, their own their own path in scrapbooking?

Neftali Zambrano 11:32

Honestly, I think the best way to find your style, because I wouldn't say that I've always known what my style is, I think I look back at all my projects and layouts. And then that helps me kind of define my style. So yeah, yeah. So I think for a lot of people who are trying to figure it out, really, it's more about what do you always go back to, you know, what's that favorite thing you do? That helps you stay creative and stay motivated to keep crafting because there's certain patterns in the way you craft that you keep coming back to, like, you know, myself with the flowers. You know, some people like certain materials, or certain types of graphic design on their pages, certain styles of how they placed their picture. So I think it's just kind of looking at what you always go back to what really inspires you every time. What's repeated almost every time. And I figured that can help you sort of define your style.

Jennifer Wilson 12:38

Oh, yes. 100% I think that's so true. I didn't really kind of go in knowing that I had more of a feminine style myself. But then I realized, firstly, you know, a few years ago, I was really grabbing doilies all the time and flowers, I was trying to soften all the harsh edges by adding these embellishments to it. And that that over time, I said, Okay, now this is what I like to use. And I started buying more of that. And then my stash really better represented me. And so I think the other side of that is that when you are getting started, you can learn so much about your style by not just what you are grabbing, but what you aren't grabbing, what are those things that you keep passing over? Because there's something it's not quite jiving to think about the shape, the texture, the color, some sort of some sort of thing. That's really not you. And you can learn a lot about yourself that way, too.

Neftali Zambrano 13:31

Yeah, exactly. It's usually the thing that you you've been collecting because you know, you like it, but then you just don't really use it on your, on your pages.

Jennifer Wilson 13:43

So how do you stay motivated to create? Are you someone who has kind of an ebb and flow? Are you just whole hog always super eager.

Neftali Zambrano 13:51

I think it's definitely an ebb and flow. A lot of it has to do just I think the seasons too. Sometimes I think the change of seasons is what really gets me motivated. You know, when you go from summer to fall time, I'm really motivated to get crafting on those fall themed projects and scrapbook layouts, Christmas time as well. And then, you know, I think this is the shift and seasons that kind of inspire me at the beginning and then I kind of just, you know, level out a little bit. I also find that I get motivated just by seeing other people's creativity. Sometimes you know, you you can find yourself in a rut, and just by watching other people craft, I really enjoy watching process videos on YouTube. And, you know, watching other people's inspiration and creativity kind of helps me think like, Wow, that's so nice. Like, you know, I have certain materials that I know I can recreate something similar. You know, I think that's what kind of keeps me motivated, is the inspiration from the outside. And the inspiration with my surroundings.

Jennifer Wilson 15:09

Yeah, I think it's kind of it's very contagious. Like if you are surround yourself with people who feel inspired, you're more likely to feel inspired yourself.

Neftali Zambrano 15:18

Correct.

Jennifer Wilson 15:19

Yeah. So right now we are in our Photos Journey at Simple Scrapper. This is a two month period, we were diving into all different aspects of a particular kind of broad theme of scrapbooking. And so it's photography, photo editing, photo management, all things photos. And so what is one of your favorite tips related to any aspect of photos.

Neftali Zambrano 15:42

So one of my favorite things about photos is to document those photos that have some meaning to you. And I'm not, I don't craft a whole lot of my photos have because I'm you know, I'm working on just kind of like single layouts at a time unless I'm using mini albums. But most of the time, my 12 by 12 layouts will just have one photo on it. And I think the biggest thing for me is to just use photographs that have a lot of meaning to me. And also the the best photos, I think the ones that have the right angle, the right lighting, the right editing. Those are the kind of the photos that I like to use in my scrapbooking. And they really do create a type of feeling and just kind of thoughtful moment on your page. And as far as editing, I think it's important to edit your photos, you don't have to go crazy with it. But you know, just adding a little bit of extra lighting can make a big difference. Before you print off your photo, I like to use Lightroom for that. And just a quick, simple, add a little bit of extra shine and light to your to your photo can really help it pop off your page once it's on there.

Jennifer Wilson 17:05

Awesome. Thank you. Okay, diving more into the things that you are loving right now. So you mentioned how much you love 12 by 12. Are there any other sizes that you're consistently working in right now?

Neftali Zambrano 17:17

So yeah, I also want to do 8.5 by 11, layouts, those that kind of go back and forth. Sometimes it depends on the size of the photo that I have. If it says four by six photo, I'll go for a bigger layout. If I have smaller photos, then I go 8.5 by 11. And then I love to create mini albums. And these are not like mini albums in a binder, more like mini albums that I kind of cut up in my own size and use little ring binders to connect all the pages. Those are those are my favorite kind of projects.

Jennifer Wilson 17:51

Now, when you're creating layouts, are you doing mostly single pages or double page spreads?

Neftali Zambrano 17:56

Majority of the time, I would say that I just do single pages. I have done a couple of double page projects. But most of the time, it's just the one, the one page I'm working on, I throw in all my creativity into it and I move on to the next one. I wouldn't say that I have a whole lot of double page.

Jennifer Wilson 18:17

I used to do almost exclusively single and I think the only way that I've been able to do more double is that the second page is like let's call it like a filler card page. It's if a photo or a pattern paper with a really striking embellishment. It's like an accessory that kind, that makes the whole thing two pages. But yeah, really not two layouts, or one layout that really spans a whole but because those can be so complicated sometimes.

Neftali Zambrano 18:44

Yes. The only times I found myself doing a double page layout was if I have like, I guess a large amount of photos that I want it to spread through the two pages and then like work on it all together. But I think I've only done like one or two of those. Not very many.

Jennifer Wilson 19:06

So tell us a little bit about your process when you start a new page. What's usually the kind of trigger point for the direction you're going and then how do you you know, how do you make the choices with photos, stories and products, what comes first and then after that, and after that.

Neftali Zambrano 19:21

So I think it just depends. I do work in a design team. So sometimes the project has to start with the material I have to work with. Most of the time when that's happening, I will choose my supplies and then pick a photo that kind of goes with the supplies. I like to pick my photos that kind of match in this color scheme or match with the title match with the theme. I'm working with the you know if it's a it's a seasonal type of picture. Other times though, I know that I have captured a moment that I want to document and I'll start with photo, print that off first, and then go back into my stash, and dig in for or dig for the products that I want to use. So I guess it would depend, those are just the two main kinds of ways that I, that I start my projects. And I do like to stick to kind of themes, if that makes kind of sense. So so you know, if I have a photo of my son playing outside on a bike, I like to keep the embellishments I'm using kind of match with what the photo is saying. And you know, little words and phrases that kind of tell the story. Because I'm not really big on journaling on my layouts, I don't think I ever really add journaling. So the the materials that I use, I like them to tell the story for me in a way that I'm not writing it out, but you kind of get the whole theme once you're looking at the page. At least, at least I think that's at least I think that's what's working for me when I you know, exclude the journaling.

Jennifer Wilson 21:09

Well, I think that every every choice we make is all in contribution of the story, whether or not they're actually words as part of the story to like, no, we're telling visual stories with our scrapbook pages. And sometimes those have a lot of words, and sometimes they have few or even none at all. There's no there's no rules here.

Neftali Zambrano 21:26

Yeah. And that's just kind of how I go. I like to pick phrases, you know, in little sticker phrases, or the title that goes with the photo. And it just, you know, that helps me tell my story in a way.

Jennifer Wilson 21:41

Sure thing. So what products do you love? Can you maybe tell us first what design teams that you're on? And then what are the types of products that you like you're working with?

Neftali Zambrano 21:50

Yes. So at the moment, I am in the Cardstock Warehouse Design Team. And I'm also working with Paige Evans in her silhouette, and Silhouette Design Team, I should say. And that's it for now. I have been in quite a whole lot. But I've been cutting down little by little. And those are the two that I'm on. And I think my favorite supplies have to be embellishments. I'm just obsessed with the stickers, the ephemera, the the puffy stickers, the puffy titles, all that good stuff. I just like to kind of bring it all out. Mix it all together on my page and that stuff. That stuff gives me gives me life.

Jennifer Wilson 22:40

So I'm curious when you were younger, like were you into stickers? Were you into school supplies? Like was all that always your jam?

Neftali Zambrano 22:48

Oh, yeah. Oh my god. I think it's so funny when I hear other people say that because I used to think that I was the only one who was obsessed with pens and notebooks and, and stickers and journals. I still have a little notebook that I started when I was like 11, I think?

Jennifer Wilson 23:06

That's awesome.

Neftali Zambrano 23:06

I started off with like, my poetry writing. And then I have stickers in their different drawings and stuff. And yeah, I was that girl who would skip the toy aisle when I'd get allowance and I'd go straight to the crafty kids aisle. And I I tried so many things from from those, those times, like, you know, beads and all that good stuff. Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson 23:33

My daughter and I were in Walmart the other day, we're actually buying a new toilet seat. But we were walking past the, you know, the school, office supply and craft supply area. And I was just like, I wonder like, I wonder what she's gonna say. And then we kind of rounded the corner to the one that had like the markers and colored pencils. And she's like, Oh, Mom, this is the best aisle in the whole store. And I'm like, she's my daughter, I love it.

Neftali Zambrano 24:01

It's still the best aisle. I still always go through there. My daughter is two and she she's obsessed with pens now. My walls are suffering. There's, her scribbles are everywhere. But I'm just like, wow, you're my little creative girl. All right, I'll give you a pen. Here's your here's your pen. Here's your notebook. Ggo at it girl. I'll have a crafty partner soon enough.

Jennifer Wilson 24:27

I love it. I love it. Before we got on I was I ran downstairs to get a drink. And I noticed that, you know, it's probably time to start like painting our walls because we've got like, the paint on the wall and the handprint from paint and things that don't easily wash off. And I'm like, I wonder how old she needs to be before we start repainting.

Neftali Zambrano 24:47

Right? That's a good question. I didn't think about that. I should probably wait. Maybe a little bit longer. I was thinking of maybe creating like a chalkboard wall. You know that could be a good place for them to, t spend their time scribbling on walls dedicated to it.

Jennifer Wilson 25:06

Yeah, I thought about doing that too, but I keep chickening out, so. Mostly because I don't like chalk. Like I like the idea of a chalkboard wall. But they do not like, like, I don't like to touch chalk type of person. But...

Neftali Zambrano 25:18

Oh, okay.

Jennifer Wilson 25:19

This doesn't need to be Jennifer's theapy. So...

Neftali Zambrano 25:23

Yeah, and it's a scary black wall to you kind of have to be ready for that.

Jennifer Wilson 25:28

Yeah, for sure. So how do you stay organized? Are you a super organized person, a not so organized person?

Neftali Zambrano 25:37

My goodness, I think the organization has to probably be the hardest part about being such a addictive crafty person. I have managed to make space in our home for all my crafty stuff. And through the years, things just add up. You know, there's so many supplies that you get that you buy, and there's stuff that you just don't want to miss out on. But I have managed to keep all my stuff organized. Even if it's not so neatly, everything has its place. I like to keep baskets for my embellishments, divided by brands. And so I do it like that. I have a lot of cardstock that I also keep separated by color. So yeah, it's it's a challenge. It's constantly, the organization is constantly evolving, and changing and shifting. But I try my best because the more stuff you have, the more organized you have to be, you know?

Jennifer Wilson 26:38

for sure.

Neftali Zambrano 26:39

Yeah.

Jennifer Wilson 26:40

Let's maybe like drill down a little bit, you mentioned that you use Lightroom for your photos. So do you have a process there?

Neftali Zambrano 26:47

Yes. So it's, it's not very complicated. I, I don't think I'm as organized as I would like to be with my photographs. But most of the time, when I go into my Lightroom app, it's to edit a photo. Oh, um, so basically, what I do is all increase the lighting. And the the contrast, and I just like my photos to be bright and vivid. I don't like to change, you know, the tones and stuff like that too much. So most of the time, it's just me increasing the lighting, the contrast, the white, the decreasing the shadows, I feel like if you decrease the shadows a little bit, that really helps brighten up your photos. And I don't add filters or anything, but just those little shifts in the editing really help brighten up your photographs, especially, you know, if you're just taking photos on your phone, most of the time they come out all right, but a little shift in that lighting. I feel like it makes such a big difference in your photo. They make them just look so bright and pretty. Yeah, not too complicated.

Jennifer Wilson 28:01

No, I think the more you practice, the easier it gets and also creates a certain amount of consistency, because our photos can often look very different if we're using multiple cameras, but if you have, you know simple edits that you always do that can kind of create a little bit more co, cohesion across, across your pages too.

Neftali Zambrano 28:26

Yes, and it just helps that photo stand out on your page because you know some photos when you just print them straight off like that. They look fine. I mean, it's a it's a great way to print your photos. But taking the little bit of extra time to add a little bit of spice to them. You know, I'd love it just a little bit extra lighting can really make a difference on how they pop on your page and go with the rest of the supplies that you're using.

Jennifer Wilson 28:55

Sure thing. So in terms of your supplies, you know, you found you found a place for everything in your home. Are there any specific organizing solutions that have worked really well for you or maybe some that just don't work well for you?

Neftali Zambrano 29:10

Yes, so definitely keeping things in their original wrapping. So um, I'm not a big like divider of by theme, I guess you would say or by material. So most of the time I just like to sort my stuff through like by their brand, by the designer, and keeping them in cubby shelves so most of my supplies are in little square cubicle shelves. And they're just the 11 inch ones because that's, they're a little bit more smaller for my space and just organizing them that way. I also organized my stamps separately. All of my punches are separated. My tools, like my heat gun and my sewing bits and pieces are separated as well. Most of them are just in little plastic containers or baskets. And I stuffed them into my cubbies and they're ready for me to pull out whenever, whenever I am ready to use them. So yeah, definitely organizing and separating things, helps to just mentally keep a note, you know, have you know where everything is. And if you need it, you can easily go and grab it.

Jennifer Wilson 30:29

I think there's an important point here of it, we've talked a lot on the podcast with this idea of Decide Once. This is from the Lazy Genius Way, Kendra Adachi's book that came out earlier this year. But if you can make a decision about any aspect of your life and know kind of it's almost an identity, whether it's like, yeah, you know, the day you do your laundry, or whatever. But in terms of that packaging that you just mentioned, because I'm a get rid of as much packaging as possible.

Neftali Zambrano 30:57

Oh, okay.

Jennifer Wilson 30:58

And so I think, you know, there's no, there's no right or wrong way to do it. But to make that mental note to yourself. So there's no question that you are, I keep all the packaging, or, you know, I don't keep the packaging, and then you always know, what is the next step?

Neftali Zambrano 31:13

Yes, I think at the beginning, I was, I did start off by dividing everything from its packaging. And I found that that just wasn't working with my space, because I didn't have the right kind of storage system for that. So I guess it just depends what works for you, you know, the space you have, what you can reach to quickly. For me, it's just keeping everything as it is, if I run out of you know, whatever's in there, then I'll get rid of the packaging. I also like to have the knowledge of what materials I'm using. And you know what collection they're from it just, it just works with my brain.

Jennifer Wilson 31:57

Yeah, certainly. And if you know, if you are, you know, and if you I'm talking specifically to you, but to also to our listeners, if you are like wanting to submit a layout for Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine, they're gonna want to know the supplies that you use, right? So from that perspective, it can be helpful to have the packaging, or you might be doing some Googling to figure it out.

Neftali Zambrano 32:19

Right. And that that was the reason why I started keeping the packaging was because when I was working for the Emma's Paperie Shop, there used to be a lot of product focus projects I would have to do every month. And so I had to really know exactly what I was using, what collection I was using. And before I ordered stuff for my design team package, I would kind of know if I had some items in my stash already. So that's really the reason why I kept to sticking to keeping those packagings.

Jennifer Wilson 32:52

Sure, I think it's it's gonna be a personal decision on the way you are a scrapbooker in how you show up and the types of things that you're involved in, and also the organizing solutions you're using. So a lot of factors go into that that one decision.

Neftali Zambrano 33:07

Yes. And like you said, it's unique to everyone. So whatever works for you is what's gonna work for you. It's your crafting space.

Jennifer Wilson 33:16

Yeah, for sure. So what about ideas? Do you do anything to keep track of pages that you want to make? Or do you just make them and there's no tracking?

Neftali Zambrano 33:27

I do like to keep notebooks with different ideas. So I have certain just random notebooks and journals that I keep that I will create a list of like yearly projects that I want to try. You know, I just list them in a kind of like a to do list type of way. And as I go through the year, I'll look back and see, especially during the times where I'm not feeling so inspired, I'll go back and see exactly what I want to or what I could use as a new idea. So I'm not big on like creating detailed sketches per project, I just wing it. I go with what goes with the flow in the moment that I'm creating. But you know, creating different ideas like you know, in the spring, I'd like to create some floral layouts or mini album of certain style, you know, in the fall, or in the summer, I stick to my seasons for the most part. And that's kind of how my ideas flow into that little notebook I have where I list everything.

Jennifer Wilson 34:37

Awesome. I love that you have that little notebook that's working so well for you. I think it doesn't matter what solution you're using. It just matters that you are using the solution that you've chosen. I think sometimes we get caught up in trying to find the best right thing. And especially as people who love notebooks, wanting to find that even better notebook or even better planner, or even better digital tool. But all that matters is that you have a place to put it and you know what that place is and that you put your, put your ideas there so that you can reference them later.

Neftali Zambrano 35:08

Right? And it just keeps growing, you know, and it's also fun to check them off. Once you finish do something you mark that off. Such a good feeling.

Jennifer Wilson 35:19

So what would you say is your biggest lesson learned from your memory keeping experience so far?

Neftali Zambrano 35:25

I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned is that it's okay to just learn your way through this. When I first, first started, I was so scared because I couldn't do what I was seeing other people do. And that limited me in my own initiative to start, once I got rid of that idea, I realized that I could just craft my own way. And it was fine. You know, it's, it's a creativity that comes from inside of me that I can express express in any which way I want. So, you know, definitely being confident in my own ability to create has been a lesson that has helped me continue and to continue to share and you know, hope that my sharing inspires other people not to directly do exactly what I'm doing even though if they wish to do so that's fine with me. But you know, too, I just hope to inspire others that they can get as crafty as they wish and be free with it in their own way.

Jennifer Wilson 36:43

What a lovely thought to end on. Thank you so much.

Neftali Zambrano 36:46

Oh, thank you, Jennifer, this has been really great talking to you.

Jennifer Wilson 36:50

Can you share where we can find you online and anything else fun that you have coming up?

Neftali Zambrano 36:54

Yes, so if you guys would like to follow me online. I am alltheneffyness. I you can find me on Instagram, alltheneffyness on Facebook. I also have a blog, alltheneffybness.wordpress.com you can follow me on. And I have a YouTube channel where I share some process videos. It's called Neffi Crafts and Scaps. And I love sharing all my creativity and love you know, talking to other fellow crafters, so I would love to have you guys there as well.

Jennifer Wilson 37:28

Awesome, thank you. I hope you have a great day. And to all of our listeners I hope you do as well. Please remember that you have permission to Scrapbook Your Way. If you like the podcast, you'll love being a member. When you join, you'll get access to weekly Zoom crops, bimonthly retreats, and a huge content library. You can head over to simplescrapper.com/membership to learn more and join our creative community.