Hi to all of you in ScrapWorld! Here's to hoping your summer is as great as it can be thus far! I am looking forward (weird I know) to Summer School starting again next week, I miss my kiddos and will be glad to see some of them for a few weeks. I decided this blog entry would have a prize for you all at the end. I have been thinking about scrapbooking for a while (although I do much more collecting these days than scrapping!). And I starting thinking about why I started to scrap and what it means to me and does for me. And I challenge you to read this, think about it for yourself and leave us a comment. We will pick a winner at random to win a fabulous prize!
So anyway, here is my story...........
I have never had a creative outlet at all. Im not artistic, I don't like to sew, or paint or draw. But at the time I didn't do anything that could be considered creative ( besides sing in the car). Well I decided with much pushing from a friend of mine to try it out. When I started I honestly thought it would be a phase, I would like it, do it for a while, then give it up. So I went into this new world really only to make some new friends and be somewhat creative. This was a new path for me, finding papers to match photos, deciding which one was the best to tell the story I had in mind, making all of these elements work with one another all the while while cutting my photos into crazy shapes!
Well it blossomed faster than I could have imagined. I had always heard with art you are never wrong, and I never got it, because I felt I wasn't good at art. That I didn't have the skill it took to create a masterpiece. This all changes when I started sticking paper and photos together. FINALLY I felt like I was good at something creative! I made cards to give to friends and family and was so happy to hear the praise of how it meant something to them to have a hand made piece. I found new techniques I wanted to try, new ideas I had to look into. And I found myself finding something I didn't know I was missing, a creative outlet. Scrapbooking became so much more than a hobby to me, it became a part of me. It is something that I feel confident that I will do for the rest of my life in one way or another. Not just recording memories, but remembering everyday life. John Lennon says "Life is what happens while your busy making other plans." ( that's for you Lisa) Its true, I scrapbook the everyday as well as the special occasion. Like when my beloved Starbucks on Hwy 58 closed. I went in that morning with my camera, took photos and made a page about the last time my coffee would be handed to me without me having to place my order. Cheesy? Probably, but it is my memory and my everyday life that I want to remember. So scrapbooking has become more of a way of life for me. I look at things differently, take photos differently. I would say it has made me more observant of the world around me.
My challenge to you is to think about what scrapbooking means to you, glue and paper? Artwork? Memory? Family Treasures? There are as many reasons to scrapbook as there are scrapbookers. Tell us your story!
written by Stephanie Wheeler , June 12, 2009
I scrapbook not only because it is an extreme pleasure and honestly, therapy for me, but I love that my kids (when I have them) will know who I was and what life was like for me growing up.
Scrapping has led me to meet so many amazing people, I don't know what I'd do without it!
written by Linda Pittman , June 12, 2009
I was at a point in my life where my job overtook everything else and I had dropped all of the hobbies that I had begun (I have dabbled in something ever since I was little--sewing, cross stitch, fabric painting--I made my kids all kinds of really neat sweatshirts that I painted, applique, smocking (just to name a few). I was working at a local church at the time, and as I was leaving one Thursday afternoon, I heard someone laughing in a room and went to see what they were doing. They were a group of three ladies called Caring Cards, which made cards for our church ministries. I started stopping by every Thursday to see what they were doing, and they eventually got me literally addicted to rubber stamps and cardmaking. This led to my becoming involved in scrapping, because I could use the same supplies. I also joined a group of women who meet once a month to Crop at church., and another group that meets at Playworld Down Under once a month during the school year to crop. Their friendships have meant a great deal to me. Sometimes we do more talking than scrapping, but that is OK. I find myself more aware of what is happening around me, and try to journal those events and take pictures so that I will have a record of them when I get to scrap! I have done several albums that I have given to my mom, which is a wonderful reward in itself--giving her memories of things we have done together as a family! My children are both grown, but they both seem to like it when I scrap something about them--kind of like getting their artwork on the refrigerator or something! To me, it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I'm retired now, and plan to devote more time to my hobby and preserving memories!
written by Sabrina Wikle , June 12, 2009
As most of us in this wonderful world of Scrapbooking we all start with a big event, mine was my wedding photo's over 15 years ago and yes it was Creative Memories all the way. I soon found out you can actually scrapbook out of order and just have fun... Eventually I discovered Quickutz at Scrapbook Heaven and I have a very large collection as many other's do also. I love all the creative ways to use the dies and share with fellow scrapper's. I think most of us enjoy scrapbooking because we are not judged on the way we do our pages or cards. Family & friends just enjoy our work weather it takes us 1 hour or 1 day to complete a page.... What a way to spent a Friday night with new & old friends. Let's keep us this wonderful experience at Scrapbook Heaven.
written by Janice Simpson , June 13, 2009
I started scrapbooking with my mom with my mom so that we would have something to do together. I am a dad's girl and spent time doing many different activities with him. But my mom was always left out. Well, thanks to scrapbooking I have realized how important my bond with my mother is. I live 700 miles away from her now for the past 5 years and so I don't get to scrap with her much anymore, but my mom is now one of closest friends thanks to scrapbooking. It makes me cherish the times I do get rejoin her in scrapbooking, becuase it all started with her!!!
written by Terri Cox , June 13, 2009
Scrapbooking is something that is part of me and I HAVE to do it. Yes, it is theraputic. Getting together with friends and scrapping is something I love to do. I also love the anticipation of getting new products and organizing them in my scraproom. But, for me, it really comes down to the feeling I get when I am creating with color, texture, printed papers and photos. It feels like part of me is pouring out on the page. It is a need.
written by Lisa Burns , June 14, 2009
I obtained my love for crafting from my grandmother. I remember when I was a child laying on the floor under the quilting frame as all of the ladies of the church quilted for the next bride of the church. Even though I was just a child I can still remember the excitement on the brides face when they were given their quilt. I have cross stiched, painted ceramics, made jewelry, but nothing is more satifying to me than to create a scrapbook for someone special to me for that special occasion. Just recently my neice graduated from nursing school and she was thrilled with her book of photographs taken with the special loving touches I add thanks to Quickutz. Our DC trip is my husbands favorite album... I am in the process of recreating both of my sons baby books...but it is the special touches thanks to all of the scrapbook companies that are constantly coming up with new and more exciting items to purchase to make every albumn more special and personal. I have given up all of my other crafts but scrapbooking will be one that I will never be able to give up!
written by tabitha r , June 14, 2009
I scrapbook because I LOVE all of the supplies!! I always have!! When I was little and would go to get my school supplies I would be so excited I could never make my mind up on what kind of crayon box or color of pencils I wanted! I absolutely love going into a scrapbook store and the feeling I get just from being in a room filled with paper, pens, stamps, ect. I also love the fact that my life memories are being preserved and that when I am old and gray I can look back at my scrapbooks and see all of my pretty supplies!
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