{"id":23,"date":"2022-08-12T17:01:06","date_gmt":"2022-08-12T17:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/?page_id=23"},"modified":"2025-10-13T09:55:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:55:11","slug":"about-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/about-me\/","title":{"rendered":"About Me"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"We<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Hi!\u00a0 My name is Debbie Heller.\u00a0 Thank you for stopping by.\u00a0 I\u2019m a native Buckeye living in southwest Ohio.\u00a0 I am retired after a lucrative, 40-year career in the Information Technology (IT) field.\u00a0 Well, sort of retired\u2026today I consider myself a professional Grandma of 5 lovely grandchildren.\u00a0 I love all things related to scrapbooking.\u00a0 And I\u2019m very passionate about all forms of digital artwork.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s a scrapbook page, a greeting card, an invitation, an image to post or even just a piece of graphic art; I\u2019m happiest when being creative.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I have always been involved in creative things.  In school, I took every art class I could & dreamed of becoming a commercial artist someday.  That was until I participated in my first art exhibit.  Wow was that an eye-opener.  I did ok but I got a good taste of what the competition would be like.  I realized I was good but probably not good enough to make a respectable living in such a cut-throat profession.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I started college, I was majoring in early childhood education with a concentration in art therapy for \u201cchallenged\u201d students.  I thought it would be so fulfilling to use art to help children and enrich their lives.  Well, as time would tell\u2026that wouldn\u2019t be my eventual career path after all.  You know what they say about making plans\u2026\u201cWe plan, God laughs.\u201d  My first round in college ended with a surprise pregnancy & me returning home to my family and trying to make new plans for the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHERE TO NOW?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My son was born and life started anew for me.  Eventually, I ended up deciding to pursue a career in the computer technology field.  At the time, this was still a relatively new field with nothing but an upward path.  Short of doctors & lawyers, I figured this was one career field that would be around for a very long time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve never regretted the path I chose.  I started out as an entry level programmer and worked my way up from there.  And as it turns out, getting into the computer industry afforded me the opportunity to learn a lot about graphic arts and image editing.  So, both the programming & graphics work kept the creative side of my brain content.  Now back to scrapbooking\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MOVING ON<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I’ve been a scrapbooker since I was very young.  When I say \u201ca scrapbooker\u201d I mean the \u201ctraditional\u201d kind of scrapping that required using paper, photos, memorabilia, embellishments and lots of adhesive.  Like so many of my generation, my mother started one for me when I was born and I created some through my pre-teen years. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Most of my early scrapbooks were those old post-bound albums with grey pages in which we just taped\/glued photos & memorabilia.  As I got more involved in other art endeavors, the scrapbooking fell by the wayside.  After my son was born I had even less time, I tried to start a book for him but I didn’t get too far with it.  As I was a single, working mom there was a lot more important stuff consuming my time.  But that didn’t stop me from saving tons of stuff that I planned to include in a scrapbook later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I did just that but it wasn’t until the year he was about to turn 30.  I had this very na\u00efve notion that I could do a page for each year.  So, 30 years…30 pages (maybe a few more depending on what all I included).  In my mind this was going to be a piece of cake.  Again, more laughing \u201cupstairs.\u201d  I ended up with a whopping 210 very embellished pages that filled (more like over-filled) four (4) 12″ x 12″ albums.  The months I spent working on this massive project were like watching him grow up all over again.  I wouldn\u2019t trade that experience for anything.  And it definitely was a terrific example of \u201cignorance is bliss\u201d.  I had no clue just how involved it would get.  If I had known\u2026I likely would never have done it.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While working on that project I learned a lot and shared a lot with my friends who also scrapbooked.  I lost count of all the times people were amazed at what I could do.  Many asked me to teach them how to do some of what I did.  Once, after a particularly frustrating attempt to find a store-bought embellishment for one page I just gave up and created what I had in my head.  I\u2019ll never forget what a co-worker of mine said at the time: \u201cSee, that\u2019s what I love about you.  You run into a situation where you can\u2019t find the right embellishment and you just create one.  If it was me\u2026I\u2019d just give up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so it went\u2026people found out I could make things for them that they couldn\u2019t buy and I loved helping them.  Ultimately, a very close friend suggested that I should start my own business teaching & helping people find solutions to their scrapbooking needs.  I thought she was nuts & I laughed, telling her as much.  I knew there was no way I could make the same kind of living I already had doing scrapbooking.  She then \u201cthrew down the gauntlet\u201d by saying \u201cYou\u2019re just scared!\u201d  Challenge accepted!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEXT PHASE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After some intense thought, I decided I could at least try setting up a side business and see where it went.  The concept was unique; I came up with a \u201cmenu\u201d of services\/classes that people could come in and take anytime we were open (in the beginning Saturdays & two nights during the week).  Everything was kind of driven around a caf\u00e9 theme.  And I had a Keurig\u00ae & a variety of coffee\/tea choices that I offered for free.  I had no intention to sell product…I knew that was a losing proposition.  Instead, I wanted a place where people could \u201cexperience\u201d scrapbooking!  I wanted it to be about providing fun, inspiration, experimentation, education and sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Between the concept, the coffee & the \u201cmenu\u201d the name just kind of came to me.  And Your Scrapping Caf\u00e9 was born in 2008.  I started Your Scrapping Caf\u00e9 with the vision to offer a unique alternative to the classes & crops offered by \u201ctraditional\u201d retail scrapbook\/craft stores.  I used to tell people, \u201cCome join us for a fresh cup of inspiration!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether someone was a seasoned scrapbooker or just getting started, I believed people would enjoy the new and unique atmosphere to help make their paper crafting experience more rewarding.  They\u2019d have the flexibility to learn the technique they wanted, when they wanted and apply it to the project they wanted to create.  They\u2019d no longer be hog-tied by a fixed calendar of fixed classes that gave them a \u201ccanned\u201d, finished product.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it wasn\u2019t going to only be about scrapbooking.  I could cover a wide-range of paper crafting techniques\/projects.  In the beginning, a friend of mine helped me so I wasn\u2019t doing it alone.  Eventually, I had multiple friends helping me just so they could \u201cplay\u201d at the Caf\u00e9.  It was fun.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I had struggles in the beginning but things worked out and I ended up with a wonderful business and making a lot of terrific friends.  Admittedly, I didn\u2019t get to do hardly any scrapbooking of my own but I was so happy.  I could do all the things I loved and I still kept my day job.  I offered classes and we held weekend \u201ccrops\u201d.  I used to laugh because it reminded me of the old \u201cquilting bees\u201d from bygone days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did a lot of custom work for people; things like custom paper, digitizing photos & creating embellishments.  These custom solutions were what gave me the most satisfaction.  Seeing the pleasure on someone\u2019s face when I could give them something they had in their head but didn\u2019t know how to achieve on their own; that feeling is priceless.  And I even made a scrapbook or 2 along the way for people who couldn\u2019t (or didn\u2019t want to) make one themselves.  That\u2019s a lot harder than it sounds but it was so very rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAVORITE STORY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of my all-time favorite stories is the time a newly married girl was at the Caf\u00e9 working on her wedding album.  She asked if I could take a photo she had and turn it into a piece of paper.  It was a photo that was taken from the choir loft of the empty church before the wedding.  She wanted to use that paper as the background for the photos of when they made their vows to one another.  For me it was an easy task fulfilling her request.  Little did I know the impact my efforts would have.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When I presented her with what I thought might be the first draft\u2026she broke down in tears.  I was blown away by her reaction.  She hugged me and couldn\u2019t stop thanking me.  She just kept saying \u201cThis is so perfect!\u201d  It was such a small thing to me but it was a huge thing for her.  You have no idea how that one moment showed me that I was truly able to make an impact. I was so moved and I know I\u2019ll never forget the way that piece of paper made both of us feel that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admittedly, the Caf\u00e9 was more of a hobby than a business.  I never really turned a profit but I never truly lost money either.  Most of the money I brought in ended up being put back into the \u201cbusiness\u201d.  I bought a Cricut\u00ae machine (ultimately more than one) \u2013 at the time it was a cartridge driven die-cutting machine that would cut all manner of letters, words & images.  I was also always buying the latest gadgets so people could try things before they bought something for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Most often people were content to pay to use what I had at the Caf\u00e9 rather than buying something they may use only a few times.  And I tried to stay on top of all the latest & greatest, ever-changing techniques so I could teach people new things.  I really felt like I had the best of both worlds\u2026a successful, professional career that afforded me the luxury of having such a wonderful side-gig: a \u201csecond job\u201d that fulfilled my creative side & let me help people come up with more creative solutions to their crafting projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And my personal life was great\u2026I had a long-term relationship with a wonderful man who was more than supportive in so many ways.  My son had married and I had a lovely \u201cdaughter\u201d and an adorable little granddaughter.  Life was good.  Until it wasn\u2019t.  Again\u2026more laughing \u201cupstairs\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LIFE CHANGES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As I had gotten older, I was having trouble with my joints.  Long story short\u2026doctors kept telling me to lose weight.  But that didn\u2019t help.  One orthopedist told me I had osteoarthritis in my knees.  But that wasn\u2019t the only pain I had.  After countless years of dealing with it I had all but resigned myself to just living with it.  I marched on and most people had no idea how bad it was.  I grew up in a family where we just \u201cplayed hurt\u201d as it were.  For the most part, I didn\u2019t let much stop me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then one fateful day early in 2016 I finally received what I wanted\u2026a real diagnosis.  But it didn\u2019t go the way I\u2019d hoped.  I was told I have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and was put on the first of many drugs to try treating my symptoms, all to no avail.  There was some good news to follow that diagnosis.  I also learned another grandchild was on the way\u2026this time a boy!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Then, more tough news.  Through a series of circumstances (through no fault of mine) I lost the extremely reasonable lease on the space I used for the Caf\u00e9.  I knew I didn\u2019t have enough income to take on a lease at another location\u2026there just wasn\u2019t enough money coming in from the Caf\u00e9 to support that.  And truth be told\u2026I was getting tired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with the RA drugs, I wasn\u2019t finding much relief and it was just getting harder right along.  I faced the heartbreaking decision to close and then a lot more people were heartbroken.  It was one of the hardest things I\u2019ve ever had to do\u2026telling my customers that the Caf\u00e9 was closing.  Lots of tears.  But as they say\u2026when one door closes another one opens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All kidding aside\u2026I know God isn\u2019t laughing at us.  He\u2019s just in the habit of trying to help us make better choices in our lives.  I\u2019ve long believed that everything happens for a reason.  And this was no exception.  As hard as it was to close the Caf\u00e9, closing that door opened up a whole new world for me\u2026I discovered digital scrapbooking.  You can read more about my journey if you continue following along at the new \u201cYour Scrapping Caf\u00e9\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi!\u00a0 My name is Debbie Heller.\u00a0 Thank you for stopping by.\u00a0 I\u2019m a native Buckeye living in southwest Ohio.\u00a0 I am retired after a lucrative, 40-year career in the Information Technology (IT) field.\u00a0 Well, sort of retired\u2026today I consider myself a professional Grandma of 5 lovely grandchildren.\u00a0 I love all things related to scrapbooking.\u00a0 And I\u2019m very passionate about all forms of digital artwork.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s a scrapbook page, a greeting card, an invitation, an image to post or even…<\/p>\n

Read More Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"0","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-23","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}