The One with the Day that Changed My Life

Once upon I time I turned 16 any my parents decided it was time for me to get a job. So one afternoon my mom and I hopped in the car and drove to Sammamish where I went to high school because it would be ideal to work so close to school. Our first stop was Bartell's drug store. I asked for an application and we left. Nothing else really seemed appealing on the "plateau" so we headed to downtown Redmond. We walked into Confetti Junction (a really cool party supply store) and I picked up another application. Then, just on a whim, we walked into the little store called Yesterday's Scrapbooking and Stuff. They didn't even have any applications, they just took down my name and phone number. Our last stop was Hallmark and I picked up another application.

I interviewed at Confetti Junction but since I couldn't work on Saturdays, they wouldn't offer me a job. Oh well, I guess it wasn't meant to be. Hallmark called to set up an interview but they never called me back even after I left several messages. Again, I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Finally, Yesterday's called and set up an interview. I remember going into the small office to interview with one of the owners named Judy. I noticed she was wearing a Choose The Right (CTR) ring and asked which ward she was in. I think that's what got me the job: she knew I was LDS and had good standards and morals. It was (finally) meant to be.
A few days later I started working at Yesterday's Scrapbooking & Stuff. I remember the very first purchase I made was a pack of glitter pens. I think I still have them somewhere even though they're all dried up and useless, but they're sentimental. It turns out that scrapbooking was more fun than I could have ever imagined. I love pictures, I love working with my hands, I love making things - put it all together and you've got the best hobby in the world. And I wasn't half bad at it!
After about a year working at Yesterday's I started making cards using the new Jolee's Boutique embellishments. They were just so cute the owners suggested I teach a class. So at the ripe, young age of 17 I taught "Paige's Perfect Cards" to about 15 women. It was thrilling! Later, when we were looking to hire more people, I referred my best friend Bri and she got the job. What could be more fun than working with your best friend all summer? These are pics of Bri sitting behind the Yesterday's counter.In that same summer of 2003, the owners sold the store to a hip, young mother of two and she decided to upgrade the computers. The company that came in to do the upgrades was actually doing the same thing to a scrapbooking store in Orem, UT called Pebbles In My Pocket. Since I was moving to Utah that fall to go to BYU the lady was able to set me up with an interview. I figured out then that it's not what you know, it's who you know. Once in Utah, I interviewed and got hired just in time to do inventory...

I worked at Pebbles In My Pocket for a year then I went on a study abroad to London. When I got back in the fall of 2005 I went in search of a job.

One day in October while I was eating my Taco Bell bean burrito in the Cougar Eat, I was skimming through the classifieds of the Daily Universe newspaper. I came across a listing that was something along the lines of "Editorial Staff position for a new scrapbooking magazine. Send resume to Tammy." Scrapbooking? I am so there. I ran home and emailed my resume and within minutes had an interview set up. About three weeks later I was hired at Northridge Media. Yay! I was so happy and excited that I went and bought myself a pair of zebra finches. They are still alive today (4.16.08).
Northridge Media publishes scrapbooking magazines. Currently they publish Scrapbook Trends, Cards, Paper Trends, Bead Trends and a bi-monthly idea book. I have had so many different responsibilities I can't remember. Right now I am the Copy Editor and edit all of the text, and I'm also on the Editorial Staff so I have a monthly column called One Amazing Album in Scrapbook Trends. Occasionally I write articles for idea books (like Mini Albums and Weddings) and make projects to fill holes. This job definitely has its perks. I get tons of scrapbooking product for absolutely free and I've gotten to know many amazing people.














During the summer of 2007 I applied to work at Archiver's Photo Memory store and got the job. I only worked on Saturdays hosting manias because I was student teaching. (Manias are when women come in and scrapbook from 5pm-11pm.) I decided I really wanted my Saturdays free and it was really hard for me to stay up until midnight (I am NOT a night person). It's too bad because I really miss the discount! That doesn't stop me from shopping there too much though....

While I was student teaching I was browsing through posts on twopeas and saw "American Crafts is hiring!" I knew that it was nearby scrapbooking company (not retail store) so I applied. I really wanted this job. During Christmas break I got an email of acceptance. Yay! I started working at American Crafts in January of 2008 and it's been a blast.

In February they flew me and a few others to Anaheim to go to winter CHA. It was a less than 48 hour trip but we made the most of it. After the first day we saw all we needed to see at the show and didn't know what we were going to do the next day. One of the owners suggested we go to Disneyland - on the company! Schweet! So the second day we spent all day riding rides and eating delicious food. On the way to the airport we stopped at In-N-Out - it was my very first time and it was as good as they say it is.
Then, when it was time to make new ads, they asked me and three other girls to go buy new clothes (on them) and get our pictures taken. So, if you're ever flipping through a scrapbooking magazine, look for me modeling the Spring & Summer scrapbooking line.

Basically, if it weren't for that fateful day when a lady at Yesterday's took down my name and number, I don't know what my life would be like now. Ever since then my work life has revolved around scrapbooking. I could be working at a grocery store. I could be at a party supply store. But here I am, In-House Scrapbooker/Product Designer/Copy Editor/Editorial Staff for scrapbooking companies. And I couldn't be happier.