Scrapbooking: What Works for Me

I am a typical firstborn...I tend to be a perfectionist. Because of this, I tend to procrastinate on doing certain projects, because I am so afraid of making a mistake or messing up. For a few years, I gleaned scrapbooking magazines, which made my feable attempts at scrapbooking feel pathetic. My procrastination and quest for perfection wasn't helping me at all; my stash of family photos was growing larger all of the time. Reading Stacy Julian's book was so eye-opening that scrapbooking can be simple and can still be lovely. She insists that anytime you combine a picture with words, you are scrapbooking! It really is that simple!

Scrapbooking Myths

1. Scrapbooking has to be complicated and labor intensive, in order to produce a memorable album.
False. With a simple layout, you could create a 2 page scrapbook layout in about 20 minutes! I use one of Becky's sketches as a guide for laying out my photos and journaling. Less truly can be more when it comes to scrapbooking!

2. Your scrapbooks MUST be in chronological order.
False. This was a concept that was difficult for me to accept at first. I like order and chronological order seems to make sense for scrapbooking. Being enslaved to chronological order in your album, can burn you out. (Example- event, date, repeat ad nauseam). I like including a date on most pages that I scrapbook, when applicable, but I like to scrapbook whatever is on my heart at that time. Those pages tend to be a lot more meaningful. I highly recommend using a D-ring album (This is my favorite type that I have tried, so far.), which allows you to easily move your pages into any order you prefer.

*There are some albums that lend themselves to chronological order. I have a Christmas album, which I update yearly. This is my only chronological album. Do what works best for you.

3. My scrapbook page has to be perfect/magazine quality/stellar.
False. As with many things, less is more! Share the important stories from your heart, and you will create pages that you will treasure.

4. You have to own every scrapbooking tool before creating a decent page.
False. The scrapbooking industry is a billion dollar industry; there are gadgets and gizmos galore. They would love for you to think that you need to purchase every eyelet, paper trimmer, and stamp that they sell, but it simply isn't necessary. I had to realize that the goal was not to have an unbelievable page, which would look stellar in a magazine. Rather, I wanted to preserve and record my memories and tell the important stories to my children and future grandchildren. (God willing!) Keeping it simple has been so freeing to me, and I now have completed a few of my scrapbooking goals !

5. I'm not creative enough.
You... who are created in the image and likeness of God, are not creative enough? I beg to differ! Sometimes we need to find a way to tap into our creativity, but none of us lacks it! Sometimes we just need to be aware of inspiration, which is everywhere, in all of nature.

If you are afraid to get your feet wet with scrapbooking, here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Start small.
After reading Stacy Julian's two books (here and here), I made a mini, 8 x 8 album as a gift for my husband. My husband turned 28 this year, on the 28th of January, so the title of the album was "28 Things that I love about you".
This is a glimpse at the title page of the album. This album was so much fun and the perfect way to jump back into scrapbooking.

As you can tell, I am not a professional scrapbooker, by any means. But my dear husband truly loves this gift and it is so special to both of us.


2. Let your perfectionist tendencies go out the window.
Record memories from your heart, and you will be pleased with the results. I promise you this!

3. Have Fun!
Turn on some inspirational/ upbeat music and enjoy yourself. Grab your hidden stash of chocolates and enjoy! Give a couple of pictures to your children to scrap with you!

4. Focus on scrapbooking relationships and precious memories/moments.
Did you capture a precious picture of your little ones reading or playing together? Savor it! Preserve the memory and savor it!

Finding freedom to scrapbook without all of the pressure certainly works for me!