Living with Scrapbooking Guilt... Freedom from the Negativity

Scrapbookers deal with a boatload of guilt around shopping, spending, organizing and using their stash.  In fact, guilt is such a big issue, that you can find a thread on just about every page of the scrapbooking message boards that addresses this issue in one way or another.

This is an indiscriminate snapshot of page 1 from 2peas MB, 2:30ish on 6/6/13.

I have definitely struggled with these issues for most scrapbooking life but I now have a strategy I use to dispel my guilt when it pokes its nasty, little, bitchy head into my creative mojo.

Created by Mariah at Giggles and Galore

I have accepted that shopping, owning, organizing, rediscovering, contemplating and reorganizing is a part of MY scrapbooking experience. (Notice I left out cleaning...while it is necessary, I consider it like finding a bathroom at the airport...you have to do it but wish you didn't, and you definitely don't write about it in your postcards.) I love all of those tasks (more so when I am in the mood and have the time.) So, when I start to feel unsure about my supply situation and production levels, I compare "frequent uninterrupted scrapbooking time" to "a 1 week vacation in Hawaii" in order to see how the experiences measure up. 

Regular, Concentrated Scrapbooking Time vs A Week in Hawaii. 

 (based on spending the same amount of $ on scrapbooking supplies, classes and craft space over the year vs. air, hotel, car, food, tourist activities in Hawaii)  

I compare the Shopping experience in craft, hardware and thrift stores vs. gift shops in Hawaii  

I compare Owning crafty tools and products vs. photos and memories of the trip (OK, this is a tough one but it could rain or I could get my period)  

I compare Organizing my craft supplies vs. organizing my trip (logistics, money, tours and meals)  

I compare Rediscovering my old supplies vs. rediscovering that my husband gets really sunburned, even with sunblock.  

I compare Contemplating how I can use my products vs. contemplating what my body would look like if I only ate pineapple during our vacation.   

I compare Reorganizing my supplies so I know where everything is vs. reorganizing our return flight plans because we are detained at airport security for bringing a couple counterfeit Kate Spade purses home for my next door neighbor.

For me, scrapbooking wins every time.  (We just take local trips for our family vacations and since we drive, I even get to bring scrapbooking supplies!) I let go of my guilt and as they say...scrap on.  It is one of my favorite things to do in the whole wide world.  I'd choose it over travel.  I'd choose it over going out to a fancy dinner. I'd choose it over designer clothes.  This is where I put my money, free time and the energy I have left over after all of my "get to's", "to do's" and "have to's" (ie, family - gym - cleaning house).  Other people buy state-of-the-art bikes, restore old cars or collect stamps - I just wonder if their Message Boards are filled with guilt and self condemnation?  (Now that I'm thinking about it, I really do wonder... add that to the to do's.)

Warning! Enabler Alert! Or maybe not. Maybe this is a wake up call. It all depends on how you answer the next 20 questions...

1. How often to you scrapbook, craft, do projects that utilize your stash?
2. Do you have enough room in your house to store your craft supplies?
3. Do you know what you actually own?
4. Are your supplies organized enough that if you needed something, you would be able to find it? ("Eventually" counts as a yes if you would actually be willing to look that long.)
5. Does your stash motivate you to get crafty or overwhelm you so you feel paralyzed.
6. Are you stingy with your supplies, even with yourself, or do you use and share what you have?
7. Do you ignore your project ideas or alter projects because you don't want to use some of your stash?
8. Do you retreat from trying a new idea or duplicating an exciting project because you don't want to waste product on your "learning curve"?
9. Is your craft area and/or storage bulging or disorganized with the bits, pieces and scraps leftover from this or that project?
10. Do you own crafting tools that you don't really know how to use because you don't want to dip into your supplies to find out what it can do?
11. Do you buy stuff just because you have a 40% off coupon?
12. Do you buy extra such-in-such's "just in case " every time you shop?
13. When you experience buyers remorse, do you actually return the item you no longer want?
14. Do you use colors, trends, and collections even after they are no longer in style?
15. Do you spend more time organizing (folding in) your new purchases than you do crafting/ creating?
16. Do you feel your craft abilities expanding over time because of your new purchases?
17. Do you shop in hopes that someday, "the moon and the sun will align" and you will learn the techniques, styles, become artistically adventurous?
18. Are you more excited about the possibilities than you are about what you do?
19. Are you afraid to craft because you won't measure up/"will discover you don't have talent" and then you will feel bad about yourself?
20. Do you learn about new techniques/ mediums/ styles, then buy everything an enthusiast would own before you even know if you like it or not?

These are hard questions to answer honestly, but keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers. Here are mine:

The truth is that only you can determine if your situation is or isn't working.  I will tell you this; the only reason I could write these questions is because I have experienced every one of those scenarios. 

As silly as it may seem to the non-crafter, going through the feelings attached to those questions can be agonizing.  The first 4 or 5 of my "hard-core" scrapbooking years, I struggled over my competency and shopped at my paralysis. I kept thinking, "if I buy this such-n-such, I'll finally start that project" or worse; "this such-n-such is so expensive, that I will HAVE to use it."  

Even after attending a couple CKU's I was steeping with self doubt.  I used to panic in classes when I fell behind or my project didn't look exactly like the teachers.  But the worst, was looking around and seeing other student's work.  Every creation seemed better than mine. Many participants veered from the lesson plan entirely and created incredible variations of the project (which was just like a punch in the gut.)  I'd only find peace when, after scanning the room, I discovered one project that I thought was "less good" than mine. At the end of every workshop I'd fretfully wait for someone to compliment my work.  More times than not, I heard crickets.  I'd rationalize the visionary talent by pointing out that they had a better assortment of supplies, and so I would buy more.

At one point I became so dependent on my stash to qualify me as an "artist", that I started taking pictures of my products.  How weird is that?

Eventually I got a blog and posted photos of the new things I bought rather than my work.  In retrospect, it is sad that I wasted all that time beating myself up and letting fear regulate my creativity.  Especially when I look at some of my older work and see that it was pretty darn cute... dare I say innovative?

I did this page in 2005 for a client. Some of the RSVP's came via email instead of with the RSVP cards and she wanted to save them.

It took years, commitment and lots of courage to plunge through that dark phase of my development as an artist (artist, crafter, scrapbooker - it is all the same in my mind.  The net, net is that you give of yourself through creating beauty.) Some of the products I purchased way back then have been sold on ebay but I still own a lot of them and guess what, I'm glad.  Here's why:

When I want to go outside of my comfort zone, I often start with something old.  Some of my favorite creations started with a vellum envelope, a charm I got from a charm swap, the remnants of an old rub on sheet, a deconstructed 3-D sticker and a paper towel I used years ago to clean up paint.

I also love that when I discover an "OMG" tutorial, 9 times out of 10, I have all of the supplies in my stash.  This takes a trip to the store out of the equation which means I'm doing that project NOW!  It won't end up in my "projects I want to do" box (this box is real and it is really, really big but not as big as my "to finish" box... that is another post entirely.)

Most of all, my scrapbook room and ALL the stuff inside is my little slice of heaven. My very own. I am so *GRATEFUL* that I have something in my life I am passionate about.  Some people go their whole lives without experiencing the joy of passion.  Others are passionate about things that are really, really bad for them. And still others have passion-schizophrenia because they get bored with the newest thing.  Not me. I flippin *LOVE* scrapbooking all the way to my core.  It gives me something nothing else can.  What that is, I cannot explain except that is makes my stomach feel whirly turly whenever I think about it.  So I feel fine that I spend money on my passion, spend time on my passion, get my passion all messy so I have to reorganize it, sometimes, just stare at my passion because I don't know what to do with it and I take pride in my hoarding. Squirrels save nuts, I save paper, because it could be a long cold winter and you NEVER, EVER want to run out of the goods.

And that is all I have to say about that...

Sn@p Album in progress

April was an adventurous month in my crafty world but I didn't manage to post many photos or project  updates.  Now that I have finally edited the photos I took along the way, I am going to bring you up to speed, starting with my Sn@p album by Simple Stories.

When the SN@P album was first revealed at summer CHA, I went coo- coo for coco puffs.  I didn't indulge in the Project Life craze because I just didn't need to fall behind on one more thing.  I played with the idea but I wasn't crazy about the color schemes and the 12 x 12" design was just too intimidating.  Sn@p was colorful, compact and I *loved* the mix and match pages.  Yes there were other lines offering similar album styles, but the whimsy of the color scheme "had me at hello."

When it Sn@p finally arrived at my LSS in October, 2012, I bought a nice stash of supplies which I immediately put on display, front and center, in my scraproom. Here they would sit for 6 months, literally gathering dust. Neither adhesive nor scissors touched my Sn@p supplies until April, 2013.

As you can see, my March calendar isn't very full.  I'm thinking of adding dates and pages containing headlines, trivia and activities from our family calendar. Page content and photos can come from Facebook, web searches and email.

My Selphy printer relieved my anxiety about all the trimming I would have to do to make the photos fit into the small photo sleeves. This is what got me started.

I just can't stand my handwriting.  No matter how slow I go; regardless of the writing instrument, it is a hot mess.  Unpredictable, unreliable and all around sloppy.  

To add insult to injury, I can't spell.  There- I said it out loud.  La-dee-da-dee-da! I am a lousy speller and I'm too lazy and/ or rebellious to look words up in a dictionary or via MS WORD spell check.  But I have made a pledge that I will write at least 77.63% of the words in my Sn@p with my own writing. It is unattractive and won't get my pages pinned on Pinterest , but it is honest and sort of the point to this kind of album. So not only is it a dandy of a little memory book, it is also an exercise in humility.  

Regardless of my penmanship, I will post my progress in hopes that it will inspire those of you who also have handwriting hyper-phobia. If i can do it, anyone can.

I'm in print!

Yay!  I received my copy of Cricut Mini Albums Idea Book in the mail today.  Butterflies flew around in my stomach as I slowly flipped through the pages and then BAM! on pages 94-97 there was my Enjoy the Seasons mini album.

I was invited to submit my work for publication by a representative from Northridge Publishing last October but I kept quiet about the opportunity because I did not want to jinx it.  I've been waiting for a little more than 5 months privately hoping that it would all work out.  I am so happy that it did!

It is just nice to get the validation that I have created a thing or two that look pretty to people other than me.

Enough of that - I wanted to let you cricut lovers know that I just started working on a comprehensive overview for Once upon a Time.  Stay tuned!

10 ways to scrapbook soothe without making a mess

I have been off the grid for the last week and I apologize for that.  Life has been a bit rocky these last few weeks which has kept me from actually sitting down and putting my thoughts together.  My husband is undergoing chemotherapy so most of the family life responsibilities are now on my to-do list. I have been feeling really overwhelmed and sad which has also put a damper on my writing enthusiasm.  I also have been avoiding making a mess.  The cleanliness of my living environment makes me feel more in control. Yet creativity really soothes me, so I decided to work on a bunch of projects that would not generate a huge mess.  Here are 10 creative activities that do not involve glue, ink or paint.

1. I went through my digi photo files from 2009 to present and ordered a bunch of the pictures I have not yet scrapbooked using my own stash as my guide.
2. I caught up on some journalling.  Just a few things here and there but enough that I knew the who, what, where, why on layouts that were previously unspecified.
3. I did a little shopping.  I picked up some of the Sn@p line by Simple Stories, replenished my stock of chipboard embellishments and ordered the Basic Gray warehouse mystery box.  The idea of having a box of unknown goodies delivered to my door gave me something to look forward to.
4. I got reacquainted with my supplies.  How easily I forget what I have to work with.  I have to look though my stash on  a regular basis our I forget all of the treasures I have on hand.
5. (Ok - here is one exception to the "no-glue" exercise, but it only involved a glue stick so that doesn't really count.) I pulled out some mini albums I had made in classes over the years and added photos.  I mean seriously; I have these adorable naked projects and tons of photos that have no place to live so I just decided to get over the need for a creative indoctrination, and glued the pictures to the pages.
6. I cut up the "cut apart" elements from several of my scrapbook paper collections. I realized I will never use them if they are hidden in my paper stash.
7. I put together page kits.  I pulled bits and pieces from here and there and made unexpected combination kits.  Sometimes it is the selection process that gets me stuck. With this system, I can approach a layout as a scrapbooking challenge the next time I get scrap-blocked. 
8. I searched for inspiration on my computer.  The 2peas gallery is such an amazing collection of talent! I was drawn to a bunch of Glitter Girl's projects (project above is from adventure 043: A Manly Model) so I went to You-Tube to watch her in action.  It was sooooooooo fun.
9. I tried to master my Cutterpillar.  I hate to say a single negative thing about this trimmer because the company was so kind to give me one for free, but I have had a heck of a time getting my paper to stay put without a paper holder.  I can't get a straight cut for the life of me. My paper tends to buckle from the pressure of the blade cutting through the paper.  I did some googling to find out what I was doing wrong and I learned that a couple magnets at either end of the paper edge near the cutting line holds the paper in place.  It worked!  I have to admit that I am still struggling with getting straight cuts buts the buckle problem is fixed.  Any suggestions?
10. I cropped photos (not with this trimmer!).  I have loads of photos that have empty space around the edges so I did some trimming.  Cropping is another one of those scrapbooking steps that can slow me down.  I get so caught up with keeping the photos uniform in size that I stop looking at everything else.  I thought that if I did my cropping ahead of time, it would force me to take chances and think outside of the box when putting together a layout.   I will admit, after doing this I had some regrets.  There is something to be said for uniform sized photos but what is done is done.

I will make every effort to post more often this week.  I have a few more things to share.  I hope you are enjoying the change of seasons that the passing of Halloween signifies. Let's face it, it is a whole new ball game until 2013.

Do you organize more than you scrap?

I scrapbooked for two hours this morning and then I organized for two.  Not because I am a tidy crafter, but because my table had developed scrappy wakes of cut paper, backs of glue dots, stray embellishments, a dried paint palette, a paper piercer, tweezers and other misc. tools.  It had been a couple projects since I had done a proper cleaning but not thaaaat long, yet my work area was shrinking and I was loosing more things than normal.  I have a system of storing things and if I don't return or refile things straight away my already limited space becomes a jungle of crafting materials.

First I sorted my scraps by color then filed them in my filing system. 

After, many, many experiments, I have found that having my scraps right next to me at waist level is best.  If they are out of reach, I won't bother pulling them out and if I can't look down into them, I won't bother looking thoroughly.

Next I put my embellishments back into their respective binders.  This is a new system I put into place a few weeks ago after many, many failed approaches.  So far it has been good and the return process is easy enough that I actually do it.

After that I gathered up the ribbon laying around here and there.  There were lots of loose strands and in random places too.  You'd think I'd grabbed a handful and threw it up in the air.  I organize my loose ribbon by color in zip lock bags while the cards and spools are stored together. All of it fits nicely in a drawer next to my work table. This makes clean-up easy and I can find things pretty quickly too.

Then I put away buttons and do dads in the storage drawers.  This piece of furniture seemed like a great idea at the time I bought it, but sometimes I think it is way too big for all of the actual storage it provides.

Here is where I keep my small Prima flowers, stamps, masks, bling, buttons, brads and metal embellishments. I also keep my acrylic paints, jewelry making supplies, mixed media materials, mediums, inks, drafting tools and cricut binders in this unit.  I have to be diligent about putting the right thing in the right drawer or I may never see it again.

On top of this unit I keep my papers and card stock organized by color.  The red box on top of the paper is my "to be filed" box.  When ever I pull out multiple sheets to match a certain color or look, I put the paper I didn't use in the box so that I can file it away. I hate filing but today I did it.

I organized my paper by color a couple months ago.  I had to implement a new system because the cardstock/ paper/ double sided paper organization was NOT working.  Do I like it?  It still a chore trying to find a specific paper amongst all of the others.  I think it would be a much more functional system if the paper was at waist level so I could look down onto the top of the paper holders rather than relying on the top edge for my searches.  Someday, if I have a bigger room, I'll give it a try.

This horrendous mess is actually a hub of activity. Here resides my borders, medium flowers, sewing machine, 8.5 x 11, 8 x 8, 6 x 6 and 4 x 6 paper, chipboard letters, adhesives, cricut accessories, xyron ephemera, and many other critical tools and supplies.  The big binders on the top of the bookcase are old invitation sample binders that I grabbed before they went into the trash.  Someday I am going to adhere all of the kid's artwork to the pages.  "Someday" being the operative word. It looks really disheveled in the photo and that is because it is, even after my best efforts this morning. sigh.

This is the view of my desk and peg board area if you are standing in the room's left corner.  My drafting table is large but my Imagine and Cutterpillar do take up some real estate.  I have one of those old-school monitor arms for my laptop or to store projects I have not finished.  The peg wall has all of my prisma color markers and tools/ supplies I need to keep handy like my crop-o-dile, brayer, wire cutters and T-square. Under my table I store my big shot, sizzix dies, punches, cricut cartridges and my "My Story" machine.  You can see the tip top of my drafting chair in  between the closet door and the table.  Lately I have been using it as another work surface if my desk is overpopulated.  In desperate times, I just it into the hallway and use the floor for my overflow crafting.

It is a lot to keep track of and a small space to house it all. If I don't clean up after a project, I develop layers of mess until I can't lay anything flat on the table.  So I organize and then I organize some more.  If I didn't like to organize, scrapbooking would be out of the question.  I just have to build organizing into my scrapbooking time.  If I plan to scrapbook all afternoon (12 - 4), what that really means is 30 minutes pulling supplies, 2 hours 30 minutes scrapbooking and 1 hour cleaning up.  If I put off cleaning up then the next scrapbook cleanup will beall that more time consuming.

It doesn't bother me really.  Scrapbooking isn't just about making pretty pages with your photos.  Scrapbooking is shopping, looking for inspiration, chatting on the message boards, taking cool classes, watching you tube videos, a little more shopping and yes, organizing.  That is the deal.

My List of the Top 10 Conditions When Scrapbooking

 

Everybody has there own way of doing things in life.  Some people watch TV while they eat their dinner, others sit at the dining room table with place mats and cloth napkins.  Some people take a bath before going to bed while others take a shower in the morning.  Some people eat a healthy well balanced diet of fresh foods while others eat when and what they can and take vitamin supplements to keep their body in check.  The same is true for scrapbookers.  Some scrapbook on a table while others prefer the floor.  Some people listen to music while they scrap, while others like the quiet.  I was thinking about my preferences this morning and and came up with a list of my top 10 preferences when scrapbooking.

1. Lets talk about my bed - I have a scrap room with a nice drafting table to work on but the space is too limited when I'm really getting down to business.  My California king bed is the best place to scrapbook because their is no clutter to distract me and I can spread everything out around me like a skirt of creativity. (This is NOT my bed)
2. Dark chocolate covered blueberries are the perfect crop snack.  They don't leave my fingers sticky, they taste delicious, the sugar puts a smile on my face, the caffeine keeps me focused AND they are anti-oxidants.
3. Real Housewives of anywhere are the perfect shows to watch (listen to) while scrapbooking.  Many people find these types of programs appalling and I get it, but for me, these drama driven, ridiculously shallow and dubious programs are a hoot.  Having  one on while I scrapbook is like getting hot fudge on my ice cream.  Yummy!
4. I prefer scrapbooking in the day rather than the night.  Oddly, I am a night person but I much rather work with natural light and in the waking hours while the rest of the world is doing their thing.  (This is NOT my home)
5. A comfortable climate is very important.  It shouldn't be hot nor cold.  I love a gentle breeze as long as none of my materials get blown around.  When I am hot, things stick to my fingers and when I am cold...well, I'm cold.
6. I have a dress code for scrapbooking.  I always were comfy clothing but no loose long sleeves or pant legs.  Leggings and t-shirts are ideal because small embellishments can't get lost in the folds, my skin doesn't get sweaty and stick together and I don't worry about paint, glitter or ink ruining my frock.
7. Hair must always be in a bun on top of my head.  Not tight so that I get a headache and not loose so that stray hairs fall in front of my face.  Just out of the way and non-intrusive. (This IS me and in proper dress code)
8. Accessible inspiration is a must.  Every so often I do a screen shot of the newest eye candy on my pin interest account and print it out. I tape the print out on the wall so I can get a creativity mojo boost anytime I get stuck . Below is my most recent copy (aren't these pages scrumptious?):
9. Minimal liquids.  I know we are supposed to drink lots of water, but I try to avoid bathroom breaks as much as possible.  Getting up to use the restroom means I have to move everything I have spread out on my left hand side so I can exit my bed.  Of course the accidental spill and cold beverage condensation are also concerns but more than anything, being settled in for the long haul trumps hydration in my book.
10. And one of the most important environment accessories is multiple trash cans.  One trash can is simply not enough.  Even if it is right in front of me, I guarantee you, I will lose sight of it.  I need several strategically placed waste baskets spread around my area so I can clear my work space without delay.  Everyone has that point in their scrappin routine when their space becomes too crazy to generate creativity.  All of the sudden you are losing adhesive, scissors, embellishments; you get left over paint on a photo; and then you knock over a tin of buttons.  These conditions can drive a girl to pack it up but by having multiple trash cans handy, you can bring order to your space before you get a chance to yell "argggggghhhhhhhh!"

 So that is my list - I suppose it reveals a lot of my idiosyncrasies. We all have a way of doing things in life.

Tomorrow I get to play

 

Jeez, Louise.  The past four days have been so busy because I just started another session of Create and Innovate.  I teach this enrichment class at my children's school and it is truly a beautiful thing.  I layout tables full of random things that I purchase at R.A.F.T. (Resource Area for Teachers - click here for a video tour of this crafty heaven) and let the kids pick out whatever they want to build a city. 

 

They build hotels, parking lots, movie theaters, homes, stores, even restaurants.  Its extraordinary to watch their untethered minds explode with possibilities.

This is a very labor intensive program but it is truly a labor of love. Both exhausting and fulfilling. I provide all of the construction services (i.e. - glue gun, sharp scissors / exacto knife cutting and piercing materials) which allows me to hear what they are envisioning.  I do as I am told and do not give my thoughts or opinions.  It is their city and they eventually figure out how gravity and weight distribution work without a bit of my help.  It is remarkable.  Magical really. There is nothing quite like watching a child submerge into his or her imagination and create something without any instruction from an adult.  I am a very lucky woman.

Tomorrow I have the day off and I intend to ignore the laundry and do some serious scrapbooking.  I just received Nate's ABC's from my Kash at HSN.  I have been flipping through the cartridge and planning all the cool layouts I want to do with photos of my son as a toddler.  Tonight, I realized that part of what makes scrapbooking so fulfilling is the heartfelt planning that goes into creating pages.  We meditate on a memory and use "cute" and "pretty" scrapbooking elements to bring it back to life.  Far too often I forget about the moments and focus on getting it done.  I depend on adrenaline to take me from one task to the next, when really I should be experiencing and savoring this time in my life.  I know, I know... nice words and great idea in theory but when you wake up in the morning and you have to make lunches and herd the kids into the car, savoring the moment isn't part of the equation.  At least scrapbooking allows me to savor it later.

Cutterpillar Pro

I am working on a new cartridge overview for Life is a Beach.  It is taking a while because in addition to the primary image, this cartridge has a font, a title, a border, 2 cards and a charm.  I am also working on the 2nd part of my 3 part series; "5 scrapbooking complication that chap my hide."

In the meantime, I thought you might be interested to hear that Cutterpillar Pro has said that once they have 500 "likes" on Facebook, they will offer a "GREAT facebook friends discount." As of 5:45 PST, 9/11/12 they have 365. I, myself, do not own one but I am thinking I need to after all the incredible Cutterpillar recommendations on the messege boards lately.

Shih Tzu Mommy says "It truly is a FANTASTIC cutter! Like away people-you will be THRILLED with this cutter!! Rocks over the Genesis!!"

Dig-it-al continues " I have to agree - - the Cutterpillar ROCKS! I also purchased mine when it was originally released. I had always been looking at the Genesis but between the cost and wait times, I never did purchase. I pounced on the Cutterpillar when it was first released and have not been disappointed. I wish I could do a comparison of the Genesis to the Cutterpillar but sadly I can't. I have not used/seen a Genesis in person. But the Cutterpillar has lived up to my Genesis expectation. I was not disappointed AND it was cheaper."

ccookwood agrees "Another lover of the cutter. Also like to mention that there customer service is excellent, I had an issue and they were fantastic and speedy!"

In another thread:

Ms.Snickerdoodle said "The Cutterpillar is amazing, it really is the only trimmer I have ever had that gives a straight cut every time. Cannot recommend this trimmer enough!"

littledaisyme insists "CutterPillar pro, best cutter on the market and they just came out with a new and improved one which is awesome. Lifetime guarantee on the blade which is self sharpening. I love mine"

 ...and there are plenty more where that came from.  I am excited to see the discount because I need a new trimmer soooooooo bad. If you would like to get in on the discount click here to "like" the Cutterpillar.

At 10 PM last night they posted the following on their Facebook page:

"to sweeten the deal a bit...not only will we be running a super sweet special when we hit 500 likes, but we will also give away a brand new Cutterpillar!"

Pick me, Pick me!

HSN is also having a clearance sale on some of their Cricut Cartridges for $19.99 plus free shipping.  I don't think you can even find these cartridges on ebay for that price!  I have Nate's ABC's sitting in my cart right now, but I keep thinking about HSN's Thursday- all day Scrapbooking Event and wonder if I should temper myself. 

5 scrapbook complications that chap my hide.

I don't know about you but sometimes when I scrapbooking I'll have an issue with a tool, product or situation and it occurs to me that this has happened before.  In fact, it occurs more often than not, yet I neglect to address it because, "Hey, I'm busy scrapbooking!" and then I forget about it until the next time it happens.  I decided that today I would take a look at my top 5 scrapbooking annoyances and some ideas on how I might avoid them.

1. ANNOYANCE: This drives me MAD! I will be working on a project and I need to run glue along the edges of a piece of paper or photo with a tape runner.  In my effort to get those edges glued, I leave a side trail of adhesive on my work surface.  Next thing I know, I've set my photo or an embellishment face down on top of the glue and now I've got a tragedy. I've either ruined the photo or torn off the top layer of the paper/ embellishment.  Man that drives me CRAZY!  And yet, I find myself in the same predicament time and time again.  SOLUTION:  Get yourself a little pile of old magazines and when you lay down adhesive, do it with the magazine underneath.  When you are done gluing, turn the page of the magazine and the mess is gone. 
2. ANNOYANCE: Oh, this one is so irritating!  Sometimes when I am inking the edges of paper, photos and everything else we scrapbookers ink, I get "ink rub" on the front of my card, layout or project.  Sometimes I call it a happy accident and roll with it, but when I am creating a clean, crisp layout and I get "ink rub" I just about lose my mind.  SOLUTION: Okay, so I 'll mention the obvious one; slow down.  And when that doesn't work because you only have 45 minutes before the kids get home from school, try dabbing the edges lightly rather than running the ink pad along the rim of the paper/ picture, etc.  If that doesn't work, you could try to cover up the messy spot with journalling or an embellishment and call it "whimsy." I welcome any other ideas on this one because I don't see myself slowing down or dabbing on a regular basis.
3. ANNOYANCE: This is a real stinker of a dilemma and it has a pretty simple solution.  "Infecting" a layout/ project with messy hands.  It is inevitable (and quite honestly, my right, as a crafter!) that my hands will get soiled with ink, paint, glitter, glue or some other creative medium.  I know I should stop what I'm doing and clean my mitts but sometimes its difficult to get to a sink or else, I am unaware that I rubbed the side of my palm with a cats eye.  SOLUTION: This one is easy peesy cotten cheesey - stash baby wipes everywhere.  In your scrap tote, paint storage cupboard, desk drawer, in your tool bin, everywhere.  Get 4 or 5 travel packs and scatter them where you do your work..  Then make a habit of wiping your hands regularly.  Also, this practice is a good habit for removing germs - sort of a win/ win..
4. ANNOYANCE: Maybe its old age, maybe its mommy brain, it doesn't really matter why.  The fact is that I seem to loose everything that I had in my hand 2 minutes earlier.  A photo, a button, my scissors, a sheet of paper - you name it, I've lost it right in front of my own eyes.  SOLUTION:  Make a "hot plate."  Grab a paper plate and put it to your direct right before you start scrapping.  Every time you set down photos, buttons and many of the other things that seem to vanish, place them on the hot plate.  Disclaimer: In my experience, this method works for most things but scissors seem to know how to crawl off of the hot plate and under scraps.  I usually pull out 2 or 3 pair when I'm scrapbooking and even then, I have to hunt them down.  Them scissors are tricky.
5. ANNOYANCE: This one doesn't effect everyone but it sure is a problem at my house.  I call it "cat crinkle."  No matter where I work, my cat seems to hone in on my projects and just when I least expect it...Bam!  He jumps on top of my paper and wrinkles it or leaves a wet paw print or scatters an un-adhered design all over the place.  I love you kitty, but this is unacceptable.  SOLUTION: I'm afraid there isn't one friends.  Unless you are willing to put kitty in a crate or lock yourself in a room, kitty will always go for your artwork.  It is how they are hardwired.  Its in their DNA.

Well that is all of the wisdom I can muster today, but I eagerly encourage you to share your own.  Please, if you know a solution to these 5 issues, leave a comment so we can benefit from your experience.

Who do you scrap for?

I have been trying to complete the mini album I started using the "Enjoy the Seasons" Cricut Imagine cartridge but it has been challenging with the family summer schedule.  Yesterday I had an hour to do some inking and gluing and I noticed that I was feeling anxious.  Some of the die cut edges didn't match up perfectly and I was having second thoughts about a paper choice that was already glued down and I felt stressed.  I thought to myself "Just who are you scrapbooking for?" and realized that my scrapbook page "audience" has a huge impact on my enjoyment factor and here is why:

• I scrapbook for clients as a job which means I don't explore the eclectic nor do I allow my creativity to land where it may. Most clients like clean, logical pages with that special something like a custom die cut to match the photo or an interactive element. It is risky to get too artistic because my own voice may show through. I work hard to know and express the client's voice so that the album is truly their memories. It isn't easy.  It beats working in an office everyday but sometimes it can be suffocating.

• I also do some scrapbooking projects for an internet audience -  I design scrapbook layouts and mini albums to post on my blog or for submission or to post in a gallery. When I do this kind of scrapbooking, I pick the photos that will work best with current products and I focus on the esthetic rather than the story. I hadn't realized it before, but it is stressful.

•  ...and then I scrapbook for my family. These pages are playful and silly and busy and full of my family's personality. They aren't meticulous like my client or web post work - the designs are carefree. I try to incorporate as many pictures as possible and to generate more pages rather than spending my time getting one layout just so. This is "fun" scrapbooking yet I don't spend much time doing it and when I do, I often put the journalling off for later.

I posted about my audience identity issue on 2Peas today and posed the question "Who do you scrap for?"  I was hoping someone would reply that they have been there, done that, and have found a way to create beautiful pages with all audiences in mind.  Instead, what I read was scrapper after scrcapper saying "I scrap for myself." 

At first I wondered if they really understood the question and then I realized it was me who wasn't getting the answer.  Keddypea wrote:

I scrap for me only. As I journal I do it like I'm talking to the people in the photos or I talk about my feelings of a place/event/object, but it's totally for me. I don't think I could scrap as a job because it would be too stifling for me.

That statement was like an epiphany.  I had been approaching scrapbooking as a product for so long that I had forgotten how to scrapbook like a journal.  By over thinking my audience, I lost sight of using the actual memory, the intimacy in recording it and the joy in translating it into a visual chronicle.   This (re)-discovery will undoubtedly ease my stress with all of my scrapbooking projects because I now have a corrected paradigm to work with.  The tricky part is applying it.  I let you know how it goes.

Over the next few days I will be adding more Cricut cartridge overviews starting with "My Community."  This will also include a fun challenge and a project.