Scrapbook philosophy

Did this layout a few weeks ago - was thinking at the time about how much my scrapbooking style has changed over the 5 years that I've been a scrapbooker.  I've changed with the trends somewhat - definitely jumped aboard the collage bandwagon (I've got 14 million sheets of brown 7 Gypsies script paper to prove it).  Never really got into the retro thing - but it did motivate me to add more color to my layouts.  Can't do the white space thing - believe me, I've tried.  Loving the whole new "funky" collage look - don't know how else to describe it - kinda "Elsie Flannigan-ish".

It's so much fun to try on a new style on for a change - make it your own - add your own twist to it.  I used to think that I had to pick a style and "stay true to it" - that I was a sell-out if I jumped on every new trend.  But I got wiser.  I'd have burned out on scrapbooking a long time ago if I hadn't been willing to experiment - get out of my (brown collage) comfort zone.  And I still think that all of my layouts look like "me", just a slightly different version of "me" - nothing wrong with that.

Used to think that every layout I did had to be a 2 page 12x12 layout (the more space to tell my story, the better).  Those layouts used to take me a minimum of 8 hours (I'm a very slow scrapbooker and I'm ok with that).  I remember Ali Edwards telling me once that if a layout took her more than 1- 1/2 hours that she started getting bored (and look at how cool her layouts are)- just floored me though (I can barely pick out my photos in that amount of time).  I remember the first 1 page 12x12 layout I did - it was liberating - did it in less than 4 hours.  Swore I'd never work within the tiny confines of 8.5x11 inches though (who can work with that little of space?)...now it's my favorite size - love, love, love 8.5x11.

Have never scrapbooked chronologically - I'm just not up for the stress of trying to stay "caught-up" on my photos.  I only scrapbook the photos that I want to scrapbook - if I'm not feeling particularly inspired by the Halloween photos of Ross dressed up like the white masked killer from the movie Scream, with fake blood via a hand-held pump (yes, he really dressed up like that one year), then I don't scrapbook them - those photos can take up permanent residence in a photo album or on my computer.  If a photo speaks to me on an emotional level (I always feel so funny saying that a photo "speaks" to me - but really, it was the most fitting word) then I scrapbook it; if it doesn't, I don't.  Easy decision.  If I felt like I had to scrapbook every photo or every event...I'd lose my mind - way too much stress for me - and then what fun would scrapbooking be?  I also think that part of the beauty of scrapbooking is the perspective you are scrapbooking from (and that perspective is very different today from what it will be 10, 20, 30 years from now).  I hope that when I'm 70, that I still have tons of photos of the kids that I haven't scrapbooked yet - will be so cool to create pages from such a different vantage point.  Not trying to bash scrapbooking chronologically, just trying to bash stressing yourself out about scrapbooking. 

I will bash perfection though.  Used to make myself crazy with it.  If I was scrapbooking and it wasn't turning out perfectly, I'd tear it up and start over.  I'd take out a ruler to make sure that my photos were spaced perfectly, I'd waste 5 sheets of patterned paper because the first 4 sheets weren't torn perfectly, I'd arrange and rearrange a layout for hours until it came together perfectly.  Not so much fun in retrospect.  Sounds crazy, but some of my best discoveries in scrapbooking have come from my biggest mistakes and some of my favorite layouts are some of my most imperfect layouts.  I enjoy scrapbooking a whole lot more now that I'm not shooting for perfection.

So this layout is a perfect example of me changing as a scrapbooker.  An 8.5x11 - took me about 2 hours (still can't make em' as quick as Ali), bits & pieces of my own handwriting (something I would have never added to a layout during my quest for perfection - because I hate my own handwriting - but what's important is that someday, Cole, Courtney, Annie and Ross will look at this and will love seeing my handwriting), the rub-ons didn't rub-on perfectly - but I don't care, the photo isn't stellar, but for me it sparks emotion. 

It isn't a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination...but I love it. 

Going to have to be a part II to this post...lots to say (and 3 kids who all need dressed and fed at some point today).

Comments

[Melissa]

Love this page and I totally understand what you are saying about changing but staying true to your style. Love the fun colors and little details of your page!

Melissa

[Kristina]

What a beautifully cool page, Karen! Love it! Loved reading your thoughts! I totally agree!

[Laura]

Thanks for that, Karen. I'm learning that perfection is for when I'm dead (in heaven, anyway). My body will never achieve the perfection I'm looking for, my children will never be perfectly well behaved, my husband will never react in that perfectly romantic way...why should my scrapbooking be any different? I love the pages I create and so does my family. That's what makes them perfect for us!

[Terri]

Karen,
First: Congratulations on the beautiful baby girl! I didn't even know you were expecting and was so happy when I happened upon your blog. She's beautiful!
Second: I so agree with what you are saying here. I came to this same realization about two months ago. I just let the pressure go and I enjoy the process so much more now. I still need to work on the amount of time I spend on them though. I just love working with paper and pictures! This layout is perfect, that sweet little face speaks volumes, and I'm so happy that you have found happiness and love in your life. Can't wait to see more picture of Annie in the future!

[Katy]

You are so right Karen, I'm coming around to the same way of thinking more and more, so of my best layouts are ones that are totally unplanned and were just put together quickly as I go along ... gorgeous LO, beautiful pic too.

[melissa deakin (momteacherwriter)]

you are amazing!
i love this layout so much!
i would like to change my style more,
but i tend to have more of graphicy
style and i can't get out of it.
i will continue to look to you for inspiration.

[Janine]

A beautiful layout Karen. Your creative journey reminds me so much of my own, creative evolution is for the better I say!

[joanna]

Good thoughts, Karen! And you're right about trying on different styles - it IS liberating!! So glad to know you're not a fast scrapper!! I was laughing out loud at the bit about not being able to pick your photos in that amount of time! : )

[Chasity]

thanks for keeping it real and reminding many of us that scrapbooking can still be fun even in the rabid quest for publication, design teams & major industry contests!

[Robyn]

I LOVE your comments today!! So so true! Struggling for perfection in everything we do....letting it go!! So close to my heart so many times! Love your layout - I love everything you do! And yes, it always looks like you!! Hope your doing well! Hugs!

[Elizabeth b]

The only ones who are going to care about your LO's are your kids/grandkids, etc. and they aren't going to care what your "style" was, if you used the "in" paper, or if your rub-on's didn't go on perfectly. They are just going to love that you did it. :)
That's motivating and liberating all at the same time, isn't it?

[Gillian Greding]

I have to say how awesome your page is. Simply beautiful! Thanks for sharing your thoughts...

[Ali]

Totally cool reading this...and you know what...I have been getting slower these days...

[Wendy]

Love this post. Love how real it is. Thank you. For sharing.