Getting to Know You: Chris

Today I present you with the artist who posted all those lovely pages featuring her vintage Christmas ornament collection. Yes, Chris, aka Casbury, is in the interview spotlight. We’ll start with her bio and then go from there with my questions.

I’m a native Northern Californian, born, raised and still live in the Bay Area, married to a Bay Area man. Not too adventurous you might think, but wait! Factor in the seven moves my husband and I have made during our 23 year marriage and we beat the California average by moving every 3.29 years. We’ve been in our current home for over 8 years now but my husband keeps dropping hints about moving to SoCal at some point to be near the kids and grandkids…with the added benefit (he says) of golf in Palm Springs. Life in NorCal has not prepared me for desert life, only to drive through it as fast as I can until I see something green other than cactus.

We have a son in college, who decided a few months ago to take a break from school but now seems to be rethinking that decision (yeah!), two married daughters (technically my step-daughters, but who cares about a little technicality), two granddaughters and two dogs.

Scrapbooking was an easy decision for me. I posted an AAM page a few months about my journey into scrapbooking. It began on a sad note when my son’s high school sweetheart was killed in an accident in 2005. As I felt the need to document their school memories together, I also realized the benefit of scrap therapy. Although I started scrapping as a coping tool, it also became my passion.

I was one of my local scrapbook store’s best customers, amassed the essential stash of fun supplies and couldn’t bypass racks of beautifully displayed patterned papers lined up in color coordinated fashion. I devoured scrapbooking magazines and poured over featured layouts. The word ‘digital’ kept popping up in layout credits and I was intrigued. A wonderful book, Designing with Digital in the Autumn Leaves series (©2005), greatly influenced my decision to give digital a go, never realizing one of the book’s featured layout designers…wait for it…our own Anna Aspnes, would become one of my favorite designers at Designer Digitals.

Chris, your beautiful scrapbook pages reveal much about what you consider important in life…your family, of course, your heritage, decorating your home, birds and animals and self expression through art. All your pages have what I call an artistic, dreamy, nostalgic style. It’s a style I admire very much. How did this style develop for you? Was it there right from the beginning or did it evolve as you experimented with different styles?

Thanks, Merr, for that nice compliment. After discovering digi I toured a few sites but felt most welcome at DD where everyone is so helpful and encouraging. I studied other layouts and styles trying to gain a sense of how I would fit in and learn to work in this new medium. The works I was most fascinated with were created by members who had discovered their own unique style and were true to it. I had trouble committing to this new art form. I was torn between paper and digital; traditional art vs computerized art.

In my 9-5 life, before my son was born and prior to the wonderful world of digital art, I worked in the advertising field as a graphic artist…hands-on old fashioned layout and design and pen and ink drawings. (My old heavy metal T-square is still floating around the house somewhere). While deciding in which direction to go, I took a lengthy break from posting layouts in the gallery. I experimented with different styles and mediums until the ‘eureka’ realization that I didn’t have to choose one over the other. I could blend paper and digital in a hybrid style. I’ve embraced the fun of digital brushes and the excitement of blending modes with tons of creative satisfaction.

I‘ve made room for traditional art by creating hybrid album covers mixing elements such as ribbons, metals and textured papers. My stash of art, ephemera and scrapbooking supplies are a comfort to me, life a favorite childhood book or cozy old bathrobe.

About a year ago, I started posting again in the gallery, much more comfortable with my style and the techniques I’d gained through invaluable DD tutorials. The gallery itself has been an invaluable tool as I gained an appreciation for the pages of others that flow smoothly with the confidence of self-expression through their own personal style.

I’m not surprised to learn that there is graphic artist training in your background, Chris. I’ve noticed you not only cherish the past, but, you embrace new technologies, as well. Tell us how you use technology to help you preserve your memories.


Mix it all up and make it work…my general philosophy towards embracing old and new. We have a bunch of styles in our house (eclectic is a nice way of describing it, mish-mosh is more accurate)  and technology plays a huge role. Just like my old art supplies, I don’t have to give up one to enjoy the other. I use the Notes app on my iPad or iPhone to jot down ideas for journaling. I prefer the larger iPad screen for obvious reasons that most everyone over 40 understands ▪ When an idea pops into my head for a layout topic or when I remember an element I forgot to include on a page in progress, I’ll just email a note to myself. Snapping quick photos has never been easier with camera phones and I’ve been surprised with the decent quality ▪ The precious scanner has got to be one of the most valuable scrapbooking tools. I’m even thinking of purchasing a small travel scanner that I saw on the internet (need to email a note to myself as a reminder ) ▪ The large format printer is a must for 12x12 albums. I had an Epson R1800 for a few years, but after roller problems I switched to an HP Photosmart B8500, with brilliant, sharp color. I highly recommend it ▪ One of the most entertaining devices is our Apple TV which streams music and photos from a computer to a TV. I load my scrapbook pages and then play them on the TV screen while music is playing in the background…a fun way to show your pages and albums to family and friends.

One of your layouts featured photos of your very pretty scrapbook albums all lined up on a shelf. Many of us struggle with how to organize our photos and albums. What have you found works best for you?

D-ring binders, without a doubt! I struggled with managing post albums (as well as those itty-bitty pesky post screws!) and the lack of flexibility in moving pages around, especially because I don’t scrap chronologically. I love the convenience of D-rings with the ability to mix in paper elements and ephemera among spreads or individual pages with the fun of adding doodads to the covers, such as ribbons, tags and charms. For an album created specifically with spreads I’ll use a post album. I also try to restrict my albums to the same basic colors; blacks and neutrals, with a few reds and greens thrown in for a pop of color. I like the way the continuity of color looks on the shelf…not too busy or cluttered.

I already mentioned your December album of vintage Christmas decorations. Do you have new projects in mind for 2011?


My first projects of the New Year will be to complete projects from last year! Don’t we all have that same dilemma? In the interest of simplifying my life I don’t like to have too many ongoing projects at a time. My AAM and Art Journal albums are works-in-progress with albums started (in D-ring binders!) so I can add and reorganize pages as they’re completed. I’m also working on a 2010 Life Album featuring world events, such as Haiti’s earthquake and the BP Oil Spill and I’m just about finished with an album from a recent trip to Yosemite during the season’s first snow fall. I’m preparing that book for Shutterfly, since I had so much fun with my December Retro book, which I should receive any day now. I’m excited to see it in print!

Chris, you have great strength and resolve to successfully live with the challenges of two chronic illnesses. What has helped you develop the ability, not only to cope, but, to live life as fully as you do?


That’s an easy answer. I learned many years ago to live by the mantra “just deal with it” and not to dwell on things out of my control…a philosophy that can be applied to all aspects of life. Besides being blessed with the most supportive husband, I also have DD to thank for providing the perfect diversion. Scrap therapy has come to my rescue many times.

Your attitude is so very admirable. Your life and your art are inspirational. Before we close, one final question. What do you find yourself using again and again on your pages to achieve your signature artistic look.


I love the DD store, especially when a new product sparks a page idea and I’m excited to start a layout right away. Here are a few of my favorite go-to-supplies:

Abstract FotoBlendz No. 01 by Anna Aspnes
LoopDaLoop ArtStrokes No. 01 by Anna Aspnes
Collagables No. 01 by Katie Pertiet
Artfully Intense Paper Pack by Lynn Grieveson
Brad Bonanza by Pattie Knox

When I asked Chris to choose a favorite layout from her gallery to feature here, she chose this one called, Colorful and Eclectic Week. She said it represents an especially great time they had on vacation this past summer and was one of her first layouts experimenting with the creativity of layer blending modes. She definitely has mastered blending modes, don’t you think?

Thank you, Chris. You are one of the reasons the Designer Digitals gallery is a welcoming place and a place filled with inspirational art. I invite everyone to explore your wonderful gallery for more inspiration.
Chris’ Designer Digitals Gallery