As promised, here is Part 2 of the Q&A with Cut Loose author Crystal Jeffrey Rieger.

After reading the Q&A, stop by the messageboard to ask your own questions of Crystal. And don't forget to enter the Cut Loose giveaway before Monday, July 9. Click here for entry details.

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What’s on your scrapping desk right now?
What isn't on my desk?  Mostly scrappy supplies, a couple half started mini albums, some kidlet craft supplies and other miscellaneous debris that seems to collect around the edge.   Okay, and some dark chocolate M&Ms.  But shh….that is a secret!

How would you describe your scrapping style?
I guess overtime a style must have developed but I have a hard time seeing it.  I know that there are certain things I am drawn to like vivid colors and embellishment groupings but when I look at my pages there seems to be such a variety from crazy busy to clean and simple.  All I know is that my pages are me.  Created with my heart and totally enjoyed.

What do you most want readers to get out of the book?
Freedom.  Encouragement.  A sense that what they make and want to make is OK.  I mean, there are no scrapbooking police.  I did research for the book and checked.  No.  Scrapbooking.  Police.  My favorite saying is “take chances.”  You might surprise yourself.  I completely believe this.  If you experiment and learn to trust yourself you will be happier with your creative self.  Shut off the inner critic and try something.  See if it works.  If it doesn't, that is OK.  Learn from that and move on.

What’s your favorite layout in the book?
This is a killer question! I love so many for so many reasons.  I love Pure Bliss because the photos are out of focus and less than perfect but to me they capture the moment so perfectly.  I love You & Me because it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me work with white and cream together.  I love Enjoying Nature because the page makeover shows the concept of the book so perfectly--a really simple page that goes from OK to fabulous with one simple rule breaking twist. 

Tell us something we don’t know about you.
Umm….  I hate my food to touch and I think divided plates are a dream come true.  My husband likes to pile all my food together on my plate to mess with me.  I am a night owl.  3am is pure bliss.  My night self often messes over my morning self.  I am the mom who lets their kids pick their noses in the car.  Disgusting I know but they are their noses and there has to be somewhere it is allowed.  I don't fit in with the other moms at school.  This might be because of the last fact.  I love to laugh.  I mean, deep, down belly laugh.  My husband taught me this and I married him because of it.  I rarely watch TV.  This is because I have other things to do (see next fact).  I love to scrapbook.  Maybe you already knew this.