I see mothers all over the internet feeling guilty about how they’re always behind with their kids’ scrapbooks.
A large part of that reason is that all our expectations are too high.
If you are a scrapbooker, why do you do scrap? (is that the correct word?)
Is it to preserve a memory?
If that’s true, then relax your standards somewhat and just get the memories down.
If it’s to foster your creativity, then by all means get fancy but remember the reason you got into it in the first place.
I am not a scrapbooker by any means (I lack patience and “fiddliness”) but I do want to preserve some memories.
One of the things on my 37 things list is to do two crafty/creative projects a month.
I’ve done a couple of projects and thought I’d show you my first attempt – a pseudo-scrapbook :
For those of you who are TRULY crafty, don’t laugh – this is HUGE for me.
- I bought a brag book.
- I used some of the party printables for the front and back covers.
- Printed TONS of pics from the party.
- Arranged them in an order that made me happy.
- Put in some of the leftover cupcake toppers and tented food tags.
- Realised I still had space for about 6 pics.
- Went back to the photo shop to print additional pics.
- Rearranged a little bit more.
- Called it a day.
Am VERY happy with the results.
I showed the people at work and (just goes to show what kind of people I work with) they were all SO enthusiastic and encouraging about my efforts that 3 of them want me to do their kids’ party.
Um, no thanks š
If you’re stuck in scrapbooking guilt, just go get some brag book, put your pics in, journal on the opposite side of the book and call it a day.
I guarantee you’ll feel so much better.
What do you think of my little project?
PS would you like me to show you some more of my very low-maintenance attempts at making cute things?
Oh Marcia, I love it!! I’ve never felt “scrapbooking guilt” (maybe because I don’t have kids yet!) but so many of my scrapfriends have! I scrap for the pleasure of doing something creative (and geeky too, since I’m a digital scrapbooker) and to preserve those memories. Sometimes I also practice “scrap-therapy”, especially about our infertility. The most important thing is to make what makes you happy, and I’m so glad you could do that with this brag book! And your kids will LOVE it, trust my experience, all kids love pictures and memories!
Oh, I almost forgot… YES! I’d love to see more of your creative projects!!
Your scrapping attempt is just fantastic! I am going to attempt scrapping in the next couple of weeks – just as a once-off project.
Your project is cute. I like to see lower-key projects sometimes – less intimidating than some uber scrapbooking/craft efforts.
I scrapbooked, very slowly, for seven years. Stopped when my second child was born. I creata photobooks now (two or three each year, with copies for relatives) and am much faster and happier with that!