I was talking to a friend who’s just finding her way in crafting, and it got me thinking about my own craft journey.
You see there was a time I was convinced I needed to make layouts more like Cathy Z. A time when I thought I had to ink or sand everything. A time when I was convinced I didn’t have a single good idea.
There was a time when I was lost.
Funny enough, this darkest period of mine was only about 5-7 years ago – and nearly 20 years after I made my first scrapbook. I was doing whatever I wanted craft wise and I had no idea that there were styles or rules or anything else when it came to paper crafting or scrapbooking. In 2002 I found my first scrapbook store and not only did I fall in love with all the new possibilities (and a new size of album ’12 x 12′) and that’s when I started my modern scrapbooking journey. I got pulled into a world of paper and themed stickers that I thought was the “right” way to do things. I matted every photo. I journaled almost exclusively with the computer since my handwriting was far from perfect. I did stuff like the magazines said.
Now I’m not down on the magazines, or gathering inspiration from outside sources, or anything like that! I’m just giving you an intro. You see, when I discovered all this product available to me – I had been making due with Mrs. Grossman Stickers + cardstock – I found myself lost in possibility. Sometimes in a good way, often not. This was a time when a single layout would take me from 4-7hours. (you’d never know it by looking at them)
I’ve decided over the next few weeks to share some of my old layouts, talk about my journey from there to here, and well, just share!
I figure it’s my blog so I can, right?!
Stay tuned…
I can’t wait to see the rest! I also found that discovering the “big” scrapbook world outside of CM was a double edged sword–I was so excited, but so overwhelmed with possibilities. Same thing with discovering the industry/online/pub side of scrapbooking. Takes time to find the right way, and I can’t wait to read more about your journey!
isn’t it amazing how far the scrapbooking world has come? so much possibility! and, I think so many have said, “to heck with what the magazine says, I am gonna do it the way that is most fun for me.” well, that is what I say anyways! *wink*
I am so looking forward to following your craft journey. We all have a journey and sometimes its good and sometimes it not so good. I also get overwhelmed by “product” and often things sit untouched because of that.
Hey – pretty much all my layouts still take me 4-7 hours to complete, LOL! My journey started with a specific scrapbook which I did to keep my DD company while she scrapped. Figured I’d scrap all the photos of a particular group of friends; a finite project – so if I didn’t like scrapping I could walk away after that project. How little did I know…
May it is so funny that you write this… because when the industry started to offer us so much more than cardstock and Mrs. G’s stickers I became so overwhelmed and put all this pressure on myself to do “it” the way all the magazines and manufacturer websites were doing it. I was taking a hobby that used to be a source of joy and stress relief and one of my relaxing pleasures and turning it into something ugly. I finally got a grip on myself and stopped spending countless hours stressing if I was doing it the right way and started to just embrace doing it my way! I am looking forward to your upcoming blogs and sharing on this idea!
Can’t wait to hear more. And I think it’s amazing that even you thought you had to scrapbook a certain way … now I don’t feel so bad!!
Can’t wait May – I want to the hear the evolution stories too
Ohhhh so glad you are going to share those!! Can’t wait to see them!!
I can’t wait!! I remember those days. lol
ps. i have some OLD pics from memory trends vegas of us with Cathy Z 😀 you want???
email me
xo
My layouts take wayyyyy tooooo long to finish!
And so, my scrapbooking goals are not working.
I made a self-imposed ban on buying any more stuff for the next 6 months in an effort to use what I have creatively and stop thinking that I “need” the next thing.
Looking forward to hearing about your journey May.
I look forward to hearing your story. Funny how so many of us were so influenced by CZ (I was too, and am forever grateful, even if I don’t scrap too much like that anymore.)