Photos appearing here are Copyrighted by Carol Heppner and they may not be reproduced or used without her written permission.

I am sure my Great Grandfather Lopetrone, his nephew Anthony, and niece Theresa never dreamed they would find themselves on the front cover of a book.

The above scrapbook page, from my INKING book taught readers how to remove the background from their photos and use the photo as the main collage element.

Hand-created miniature albums are a great way to remember a moment in time. This is one of the small albums from my book.

The plaid paper used on the scrapbook page above is one of the projects in my book. Polyester fiberfill is combined with masking tape for an easy way to create this attractive plaid paper.

This scrapbook page also shows readers how to use masking tape and polyester fiberfill to create Spanish tiles. The masking tape acts as the grout line.

The above miniature scrapbook is project in my INKING book that shows readers how to display their family tree. The background papers were made using the polyester fiberfill technique.

This interview first appeared in Issue #87 of the Clan Thompson Celiac Newsletter, dated August 21, 2006.

(Editor's Note: Carol Heppner is an artist, writer, and a design member of the Craft & Hobby Association. Her articles have appeared in many national craft magazines and her collages, photographs, and polymer clay masks have appeared in national art shows and galleries. Her new book is called "Scrapbooking Techniques: INKING" (Sterling Publications). Visit her online) .

CLAN THOMPSON:What is "Scrapbooking"?

CAROL: Whether it is the celebration of Camryn Rose's first birthday, Brian's championship soccer game, or your family history, scrapbooking is a great way to creatively display your photographs and memorabilia in order to tell a story. Decorative papers serve as the background on which photos are laid out and embellished with tags, stickers, and other scrapbooking supplies. Journaling is added to the pages to help tell the story.

CLAN THOMPSON:What are some of the popular techniques used for scrapbooking?

CAROL: There are countless techniques used in scrapbooking, as witnessed by the many scrapbooking magazines and books offered in today's market. Scrapbookers are shown various ways to layout their photos, create embellishments, and use different scrapbooking products. My favorite technique has always been to use inks and polyester fiberfill to create background papers and to age photograph copies. Yes, that same material that is stuffed into pillows and teddy bears is a wonderful tool to apply ink to any size paper.

The inking technique came about one day when I was tired of using foam scrapbooking sponges. I found that the sponges didn't last long and were quite expensive. I just happened to have polyester fiberfill sitting next to my desk, so I grabbed a piece and rubbed it over the top of the inkpad. The fiberfill allowed me to ink the paper in a way that no other tool could. I quickly wrote several articles for national craft magazines and readers loved the technique. So did Sterling Publications. They offered me a contract to write a book on this very technique.

CLAN THOMPSON:How did you get interested in scrapbooking and how long have you been doing it?

CAROL: I was writing paper arts articles for several years when I attended a Craft and Hobbies Association (CHA) convention. Scrapbooking product vendors dominated the halls of the convention. As a designer, it's my job to bring readers new craft projects. As a photographer, I take countless photos. Therefore, I combined my love of photography with the need to design and develop techniques for projects that are described in the scrapbooking magazines. I also have a passion for genealogy; so I knew scrapbooking is a great way to preserve the present and capture the past.

I have been writing paper-arts magazine articles for over 12 years, and I have been working in scrapbooking for the last five years.

CLAN THOMPSON:How many scrapbooks have you created?

CAROL: In addition to my professional work, I have created countless albums over the years and a number of those were gifts to family members. I have created contemporary scrapbooks for wedding showers, romantic wedding scrapbooks, and a number of heritage scrapbooks. My favorite scrapbooks are ones that I make by hand. One such book is in the shape of a house and each page has a photo of a family member, a quick story about that person, and their favorite recipe to make. If the person was too young to cook, it was a favorite recipe to eat.

CLAN THOMPSON:When did you discover that you had celiac disease?

CAROL: In March of 2005, I learned that I was going to be writing my first book. I was so excited, but also very sick. I was always nauseous, gaining weight, and very tired. Then, on a visit to my doctor's office, and after countless medical tests, he asked if I knew about Celiac Disease. Of course, I did, but never in my wildest of dreams did I think I had it. But then everything fit. It explained the symptoms that the previous medical tests could not pin down. The promise that I could feel better if I just avoided gluten was all I needed to hear. But, I had to learn how to remove all gluten from my life during the very stressful time of writing a book. Not only did I have to write my book, but I had to create all the artwork in the book. It was a struggle, but I met every deadline… while making sure my diet was gluten-free.

CLAN THOMPSON:Does having celiac disease affect how you scrapbook? When you scrapbook? What you scrapbook?

CAROL: Just like all celiacs I have to be aware of everything I eat, but I also have to be aware of the materials in the products I use in paper arts. I take nothing for granted and make sure my glues, papers, paints, and inks are all gluten free. I used to use a wheat-based product to make paste papers (decorative papers made with paint) - I no longer use that product. I have to make sure the clays that I use in my Italian-inspired masks are gluten-free.

Since I'm a multi-media artist, I am always working on an article for publication. I currently have a series of articles in Stamp and Scrap Arts (Scott Publications) called "ArtSmarts by Carol Heppner." The articles showcase a particular paper arts technique, demonstrated by three or more projects.

While I mostly create scrapbooking albums as gifts, I am working on a Heritage Album that traces my family history.

CLAN THOMPSON:Many celiacs feel fatigued. How do you find the energy you need to scrapbook and do other things?

CAROL: Chronic fatigue was always a medical issue prior to receiving my Celiac diagnosis. Afterward, the removal of all gluten from my diet has allowed me to have more energy than I ever had in my entire life. Now, I have the energy to create and live life, something that was difficult before. I consider myself blessed to have healed as fast as I have.

CLAN THOMPSON:How do you explain celiac disease to your family and friends? Do they understand how important it is for you to avoid gluten?

CAROL: Because most people are unaware of Celiac Disease, my family at first did not understand that gluten could cause such problems. Bread, pasta, and cakes are part of the typical diet, particularly an Italian-heritage family such as mine. Many people do not comprehend that these items need to be "turned off", or later on, "substituted", as I discovered by the many gluten-free flours and mixes on the market today. Larger grocery chains such as Whole Foods and Wegmans have been a huge help (with their 'gluten-free' sections) that people with Celiac need to shop for their own special list of foods and ingredients.

My brother's step-mother-in-law was diagnosed with CD several years before I knew I had it. My brother knew how important it was for her to live gluten free, so he was right on board when I broke the news to him. My husband took the initiative to make our house 99 percent gluten free. He has tossed out the regular flour and avoids baking with it. His wheat bread is sealed in a plastic bag and he goes through great pains to make sure there is no cross contamination. All our meals in our house are gluten free. My mom makes sure I have gluten-free choices when eating at her house. Family and friends know that gluten is a poison to me and they are very supportive. But, it took several months for this new way of life to settle in, and for family members to adjust accordingly.

CLAN THOMPSON:What's the biggest challenge you face - either with scrapbooking or with celiac disease?

CAROL: My biggest challenge is travel. I am not comfortable eating out in most restaurants for fear of cross-contamination or becoming "glutened." I am only comfortable in a few local places that I go on a regular basis where I know that I am 'safe.' Fortunately, more restaurant chains (e.g., Outback Steakhouse, PF Changs) are recognizing the prevalence of CD and are offering special menus to those who have the disease. But, when you travel, you don't know where and when you find a place you feel comfortable eating at; so, I normally take my food with me when I travel. That is fine by car, but it is more of a problem if I travel by air. I would like to see lower fat, lower sodium, and lower calorie foods packaged for travel. Sure, we do have more today than we did ten years ago, but many of today's products are too high in sugar and sodium, which causes its own set of health issues.

CLAN THOMPSON:What are your future plans?

CAROL: I enjoy creating, being innovative, and writing; so, I expect to continue my business relationships with the publications I am affiliated with, and also to explore additional possibilities to author more books. The printed media is a wonderful way to communicate techniques, concepts, and ideas.

CLAN THOMPSON:How can people buy your book?

CAROL: The easiest way to purchase my book Scrapbooking Techniques: Inking is to visit my website. The website has information about the book's contents, as well as information for purchase. The book is also available from major book retailers, such as Walmart.com and Amazon.com.

CLAN THOMPSON:Is there anything you'd like to add that we've neglected to ask?

CAROL: I very much appreciate the opportunity to share my story about diagnosing and learning to live with CD, particularly as it relates to working in an environment with crafts and scrapbooking products. Many people with CD are avid crafters, so they should be able to pursue arts & crafts while knowing they are safe (gluten-free). Just like reading food labels, the same scrutiny must also be undertaken when working with craft products.