I've decided to start using my public Facebook page to ask a few questions here and there as it relates to none other than scrapbooking. It's interesting to me to see how other scrapbookers think about things like, how often they actually manage to print digital photos, or how often they sit down to document their lives with paper, glue or pixels (or all three.)
I've been spending time with older layouts, flipping through albums, looking at scans, trying to decided how I want to spend the year documenting life without going overboard and without missing too much. In other words, I'm looking for my scrap balance.
I love coming across pages that remind me of when the paint was still fresh on this little hobby of mine. Of when the idea of a trip to Archiver's was better than inhaling a bag of Lay's potato chips. I remember making this page in 2002 and thinking, "I am SERIOUSLY good!"
There was something about scrapbooking that made me feel uber-creative and smart. It was as if I'd found the golden ticket to the crafting world that finally had a seat at the table for me.
What made me love it was the chance to showcase my photos and tell stories. I never really did get caught up in products or experimentation. Little art journal ventures always made me feel like I was wearing a dress that was about two decades out of style. Me and UTEE always made for strange bedfellows if you catch my drift.
Sometimes, when you work in the scrapbooking world, you get hung up on thinking you need to always think of a new angle, or a new idea, or a new product. I know I've taken a dip in that pool from time to time, only to emerge a bit more stressed out and a lot less inspired.
But the thing that made me love it always returns me to the basics. Telling stories to go with my pictures in a way that feels right to me.
What about you? What made you love it, and what keeps you coming back for more?
Tambur says
Every page I make I re-live the moment. I savor it again. The memory captured just in my mind is now down on paper to share with my family and friends for as long as the pages last. I love that my husband and children always want to see the pages I make. And as they look at what ever I have created they travel down their personal memory lane.
Tammy M. says
I’ve been scrapbooking for 12+ years now and though like you I’ve tried the new things, some I’ve liked, others not so much, but it all comes down to the connection…telling the stories, giving photos a soul so to speak. The thought of someone finding me and my family’s pictures in a shoebox with nothing else saddens me…did we really exist, what were we like? With scrapbooking there is no question…someday when someone opens the plethora of scrapbooks I’ve done they will know all that. Ok getting off my soapbox now. Have a great day Cathy!
Baggsy says
I’ve always taken photos my whole life. When my children were born I had an over whelming urge to tell the stories together with the photos but for a long time I couldn’t bring myself to scrapbook. The pages I saw were too cutesy/fussy and it seemed more about how many bunny rabbit stickers you could get on a baby layout than about telling an authentic story. It did not have a cool modern image.
Then I picked up a copy of Simple Scrapbooks. It had the word “Simple” in the title so I figured it might be what I was looking for. I was hooked. I saw your pages and I sighed in relief. This was the kind of stuff I wanted to make. Cool pages with sleek design which told a real story with words, photos and often just cardstock and a cool font or two. I was then lucky enough to attend an event where Stacy Julian was teaching. Her class was totally inspirational and I still treasure the class notes I fervently made that day. From there I discovered Ali Edwards and then there was no stopping me.
Clean and Simple, Life Artist and The Big Picture are three of my most treasured books and are well thumbed and loved. In fact I was reading Clean and Simple in the bath only last night and it made me think that I have stuck with this hobby for a long time seeing how young your children look in the layouts now!
I know this sounds like I’m sucking up big time but scrapbooking has taken my life in directions i could never have dreamed of a few years ago. After taking your DYL class i was inspired to go back to college last year to do a full time design course and it was one of the best things I have ever done and now I’m trying to get a fledgling design career of the ground. So thank you!
So what’s kept me coming back for more? Seeing how my children enjoy and value the pages I’ve made but mainly I need to do something creative for myself. Plus, the women who inspired me in the first place are still inspiring me today. What an amazing hobby we share.
Crystal says
I love the remembering of our life, of the people & animals in our life, the places we’ve been, the things we’ve done, and even just seeing the glimpses of our everyday existence. I love talking to my young daughters of their Daddy & I before we were parents. We laugh & giggle at pictures of them as babies & their stories.
dawn says
I love this post Cathy, it’s what’s been on my mind lately. These layouts are so wonderful, they were before I scrapped. It’s funny my sister went to a Creative Memories party and liked it so she had one and made me come. We had just been to Disney and she said I could make a Disney album. So I went to her party saying no I’m just coming not buying not scrapping, whatever that means. Well I fell instantly in love with the idea. The Disney album was my first and then I went to Joann’s and bought tons of stuff and had my own CM party. Those first few years was all about buying the cutest, newest items. Fast forward and scrapbooking is a must in my daily life. I have to do some form of it almost daily if I can. Now the last two years I’ve come to realize how important it is for me to leave these memories for my family so they will remember the little things and the big things. It’s thru seeing your blog and Ali’s that’s completly changed my way of thinking. I love the clean and simple photo and story pages. Still love seeing all the pretty pages but they stress me sometimes so it’s all about keeping it simple. What keeps me going is knowing how much I wish that my mom could have done this for me and my childhood. So I scrap and love the newest projects from 2010 “week in a life” and December Daily and 3rd year of Project Life they make me so happy and makes it so easy to record these memories. Thanks Cathy for this post, sorry so long but your post really moved me since it’s been on my mind this week.
cookingmylife.blogspot.com says
It was the chance to be creative in some way. I knew we were all creative but I only felt that way when cooking. Messin’ with the recipe, if you know what I mean. I kind of fell into scrapbooking when I decided to try and do something with the thousands of photos new dh and I were accumulating – at home, during our house renovation,and in travels. I found digital and eh voila!
I was waylaid by the stuff of it all, muddled through PSE4 which was all that Adobe had for Macs, and slowly found Ali and you. Ah, my kind of scrapping. I still play with the ahem…overly decorated pages…and enjoy that as much as a little girl enjoys playing dress up and crossing a certain line of ‘taste’. But in my heart of creative hearts, what I most want to do is document my life. At 66, I presume I don’t have 40 plus years ahead, and in reality I know I have only today, this moment. So where are my priorities? Some days, it’s just to have fun. Most days I have fun but in a bit cleaner style. And I must have a touch of red.
dawn says
Hello Baggsy,
I liked your comment and feel pretty much the same way. I’d forgotten about the magazines that I bought. So many of them full of too much stuff on their pages and then there was Simple Scrapbooks and I was hooked on them. Have finally made some binders and put all my favorite layouts divided by scrap artists in them instead of buying magazines I just reread my binders. I also keep loving this hobby because of the great people who are still inspiring us.
Sarah M. says
For me, it started as a way to document life’s memories. Then over time it became more about the creating and less about the story telling. Now I’m somewhere in between. I love both aspects of scrapbooking. There’s nothing quite like the sense of accomplishment that comes over me when people look at my albums. My kids and husband seem to be the only ones that read the journaling. Everyone else just looks at the pics, paper, and embellishments. But both responses give me a sense of satisfaction that I’ve done something worthwhile.
Jan B says
All of my adult life, I’d been doing “crafty” things. Sewing, embroidery, stenciling, paper-cutting (sherenschniter sp?), stamping, decoupage, needlework… Someone had shown me the whole Creative Memories party thing and I thought it looked so cheesy (sorry). But then one day I was watching – of all things – QVC and someone was showing these beatiful pages with photos and frames and most especially these gorgeous patterned papers. I ordered my first kit and I was hooked – for life.
For me it has evolved to being both purposeful and an artistic expression. I’m a “moments” scrapper and lean more towards scrapping being a means of Journaling life rather than an event/documenter type of scrapper (though there’s nothing wrong with that and I’ve done plenty of that – that’s what mini-books are for!).
I’ve never had that struggle with inspiration or motivation that some have had. I’m always wishing I was in my scrap room working on one of the seemingly endless projects I have constantly swimming around in my head. And I’m really longing to delve more deeply into the art journaling/mixed media world.
I don’t get in my scrap room nearly as often as I want – or as I used to. This year I’m going back to setting aside one day a week to be in my scrap room. I did that when I was working part-time and it worked out great. I even had time to be on a design team and be part of a vital online scrap community. Since I retired, my days became less structured and busier and I seem to have lost focus (but not desire!). So I’m back to setting aside a day again.
I love – really love – your pages, Cathy. Love that graphic, minimalist style. And I love to try different “styles”. At the end of the day, I’m just telling my stories in the way that expresses “me”. And I’m totally good with that – as we all should be.
So – what was the question? 😉
helena says
My story is like Baggsy and Dawn – interested in the idea but put off by so much of what I saw and then one day in the library I discovered Simple Scrapbooks and then Stacy J and Ali E and I was hooked. I loved it then an now because I can combine my long held practice of journalling with photos and beign creative
heidig says
The look on my family’s faces when they reminisce over the mini books or pages I’ve made throughout the years. It’s priceless! Of course, the fresh, new products lure me every winter and summer too!
C says
I’ve been taking photos most of my life (I’m your age) and have always noted the who, when, where, and why (if necessary). So I guess I’ve been scrapping forever. I love the ease of digital but really love playing with paper. I love the simple, clean look. Although most of my stuff (photos and supplies) is pretty organized it will be years before I ever feel caught-up. Having a little trouble getting motivated this past year. I don’t think I’ve scrapped a single page but have lots of ideas about what I want to do – just can’t find my mojo to do it. Right now concentrating on Moving More Eating Right – next, taking time to enjoy the craft I love so much.
Maureen says
‘scrapbook balance’ Can’t tell you how much I love that term, I am currently in that process as well. For me it is the gift album, it is where I started and where I do my best work. I love pulling together the story of someone’s life and matching it with a few key photos. I will never forget my Dad’s 70th, he opened a book that I made him (70 Things One Should Know About Paul), and he turned to my mother with a huge smile on his face and said, “This is going to be good” for a guy who is often gruff, and has trouble receiving gifts, it was awesome to know I made him happy.
Colleen says
When I was a kid, I kept some sort of scrapbook of stuff: cut out photos of John Schneider, Luke Skywalker, ticket stubs from Fun Forest. You know: important stuff. 🙂 And I always took photos; I had a Brownie when I was seven. In high school I was a yearbook editor: I loved me some good layouts and stories. So, when I discovered the SB world in the late 1990s, it was like I found the glass slipper.
These days, I don’t get to SB much. I brought most of my basics with me when I moved abroad, but I left a lot of the extra stuff – the giant, ancient binders full of stickers and die cuts and tags – and a lot of embellishments at home. I think what keeps me interested, though, are two things:
1) Having learned to tell the simple story. I don’t focus on events so much; now it’s more about everyday stories or moments. An excellent photo on a simple layout with a meaningful story keeps me from feeling overwhelmed, while still satisfying my desire to document life.
2) Having an online community to be connected to. I haven’t found much of a SB community here, and I am okay with that because reading your and other people’s blogs keeps me excited about telling the story, rather than about the stuff. Thanks for all the inspiration.
chrissy says
What made me love it? Being a third child, my stories were never told. It went something like, “Remember the time she…oh wait, that was your sister. Remember when…oh no, that was your brother.” I love telling the stories. That is when I’m most inspired, not when I have a new product.
What keeps me coming back? I can’t not tell the rest of the story. I’ve been scrapping since my oldest was born 8 years ago. How can I scrap the first five years and not the rest? It would feel incomplete. When I see people dropping off the scrapwagon, it makes me sad. A friend was thinking about jumping on and was told, “The scrapbooking fad is over.”
Is it?
amanda says
A. I love the documentation.
B. I love how my family loves to look my scrapbooks.
C. I love being crafty and scrapping with my friends.
D. It makes me feel like a good mom.
cathy says
Amazing. I too cannot believe how being in scrapbooking has taken my life places I would have never imagined. : ) Loved reading this. Thank you.
cathy says
Loved reading this, Dawn.
dawn says
Hi again Cathy and readers, I just put a post on my blog the other day summing up why I scrapbook and how it makes me feel. It’s on my blog that’s mostly my Project Life pictures with some little things thrown in but stop over and visit and read my post and the pictures for it, you have to scroll down a little bit (don’t know how to do the exact link but just scroll a little) my blog is at http://everydaymemorieswithprojectlife.blogspot.com scroll down till you see the title “Why I take pictures and scrapbook” told you Cathy it’s been on my mind alot this week. Thanks
Dar says
What keeps me coming back? It’s those photos that catch my heart. They may be a bit out of focus, at times, or occasionally so crystal-clear and perfectly lit, I catch my breath. And I’m suddenly in that moment again.
And it’s the stories that go with those photos. Filling in details that bring others from my memory.
And it’s the looks on my family members’ faces when they sit down with an album and begin to browse, and they remember, too, and laugh and smile and say, “Hey, remember this? I loved it when …” and we’re all back together again in that moment and it’s not yesterday anymore, but it’s now. Right now.
Thank you for all I learned from you along the way, and all I am still learning.
cathy says
Love this. : )
cathy says
what a great gift! : )
cathy says
it TOTALLY is a glass slipper for me too. It just fits. Great analogy!
cathy says
Awww. You should try and sit down and brainstorm as much stuff as you can from when you were a kid, and make your own document. : ) I think this is a really great statement too, about the importance of preserving stories!
Debra says
Hi Cathy,
Why do I keep coming back for more?
~ I love the sense of having it all in order – chronologically – cause it makes sense to me.
~ I love re-living moments when I scrapbook them. I’ve come to really enjoy that.
~ I love the pretty paper, but I limit what I buy so I have no guilt. I buy paper because I know I’ll use it.
~ I think it’s good time spent – making the memories in the first place and then scrapping them. It’s a quality activity to do – better than watching endless hours of telly. I do watch and scrap though, gotta admit!
~ I enjoy taking photos, so I do something with them rather than leave them on the computer.
~ I am a recordy/documenty type person, so it all makes sense to me.
~ I’m a crafty/paper person too, so again, all makes sense.
~ I just enjoy it and it’s fab.
And to the lady who asked if scrapbooking has died…no, it hasn’t, but I do think it’s changed and changing and only the die-hards are really hanging on with it. What do you think? I just don’t think a lot of new people are taking it up right now…
Okay, bye now!
Debra in Australia
Lee Currie says
Love this recent movement toward getting back to “authenticity”. The rediscovery of why this craft is so appealing. I’ve always loved that scrapbooking is the perfect blend of photos + words + paper + fonts my most favourite things in the world. I think, after 8 years, I’ve finally found my creative voice. As always, thank you for your inspiration, Cathy!
Melissa R. says
I think this post much have been timely for a lot of people. It is for me too. I haven’t made a 12×12 page in probably a year and I keep saying that I need to get back to it. But then I realize that I have made 4 mini books that have are packed with photos and memories of our travels, experiences, family photos and I missed Project 365 so much that I bought the Project Life in June last year and started it again. So I do document life through photos and words. And I need to take the pressure off myself of creating the 12×12 pages because that is what is in my head and what I should be doing. I love to go back and look at my completed albums though. Since I am between books, I will give it a go. But my love are the books. The last one was 6×8 roughly based on the Dec Daily but used it over our holiday break so I don’t really consider them minis.
Thanks for this post. It just reminds me that whatever we do to document our memories is important in whatever form it takes. Thanks for keeping it real!
Nicole C. says
For me, it was an opportunity to bond with my mom. My friend had a scrapbook and my mom agreed to go to a Creative Memories party with me. It was very fun and I was hooked from that moment on. I think it’s sad when you see photos in an album and have no idea who is in them, what the occasion or date was and what was happening. The stories that go with our photos are imperative to tell – for our own benefit and growth and for the future too.
And did I mention I get to cut and paste like in kindergarten? Yeah, that’s fun too. Love my new digi skills, but the paper is something special to work with. I miss my tactile skills these days. You don’t use those at work.
Karen G says
For me it is my kids reactions to a layout/story of them. I was a stamper first and didn’t want to venture into scrapping, but I did a little mini book of their pictures with ABC’s to help them learn and they loved it. Their expressions while looking at that book was a pure “drug” for me. Still at almost 15 and 12, they still enjoy looking at the layouts that “star” their very own selves. Even my husband gets a certain “look” when I do a layout about him. It is my fix.
JennieB says
I loved scrapbooking from the moment I tried it; 1998.
I keep coming back because it tells “my story”; I lived and my life had meaning. I’ve also passed the love of scrapbooking on to my granddaughters, who are now 15 and 18.
cathy says
You know it, Lee!
Karen M. says
I made my first scrapbook in 1971 – high school. I had no idea what I was doing – and it’s mostly falling apart now. But I knew I wanted to remember that time.
I lost my Mom at 10 years old. What I wouldn’t give to have some of her thoughts on paper. Makes me very aware of telling my stories for my kids and grandkids. When I discovered you and Ali lots of years ago, my heart did a happy dance as I knew that finally, here were my people!!!! Clean design – focus on stories and pictures. Thank you!
Judy Webb says
It is all about the journaling. Leaving a story so those that follow will know who they are. If no one appreciates my work, then I have done it for myself. I love the creating, the fondling of paper, scissors and embellishments, then adding the story.
ElisabethB says
I have stopped worrying about the products, the papers, the must haves etc. Since it is my HOBBY and not my job, I just focus on keeping the memories. If it turns out creative, innovative etc, that’s great. But the best part about scrapbooking is my little girl waking up in the morning asking: Did you cut again last night? And then going through the albums and let her retell the moments we enjoyed together.
{vicki} says
I starte scrapbooking when my son was about 6 months old. I have always put photos into albums but I really liked the idea of decorating it up a bit. and i still love it !
Now it’s more about the story telling!
Jenny says
I love looking back at the pages and remembering the stories and remembering the actual making of the page. it’s a release to normal life–to stand still in the moment of the page I;m creating.
My boys absolutely love their books and i’m extremely thankful that they survived the house fire we had 3 weeks ago and makes me be more careful about how to store my pictures and scan my pages so that I don’t loose them.
Janet White says
What made me love it?
Finding the reason WHY I took/take so many photos. I simply love to record life. Scrapbooking made it seem normal and accepted to take photos and write.
What keeps me coming back?
Photos and stories…oh, and lots and lots of page protectors with little ‘cubbyholes’ to put those stories and photos.
Courtney Walsh says
For me, scrapbooking always started with the story. The journaling always came first. But I do think that getting caught up in the new angle and the new product is why I burned out so hard core a couple years ago. I’ve never really looked back. But lately, it’s the sense of belonging that I miss. The community. The friends. Maybe because there was just a CHA. maybe because we just moved to a new state. I’m not sure, but when scrapbooking was good and people were uplifting and positive, it was a beautiful place to be.
I think one day I’ll get back to it. To the basics, this time. I’ve always loved the clean no-nonsense style you use. Why mess up a good thing with UTEE? lol
Kate says
i love pictures and stories. i was one of the first uk scrapbookers and worked in a craft shop when it first came out. People were forcing me to try stamping on my pages or use The Melting Pot for weird fridge magnets – goddammit leave me alone people I just want to write stories and stick in my pictures! I still detest stamping!!!
cathy says
I love hearing the flexibility of this… that there are lots of ways youre saving memories.
cathy says
A total fix! : )
pam says
I started out 11 years ago as a way of putting photos with words to get them out of the envelopes. It’s taken me awhile to find my true love here – telling stories so they don’t get lost, leaving something for my children and their children so they will know about me and about their early lives after I’m gone, being creative, playing, friendships, keeping the old brain cells active. I’ve tried all the techniques and products – I still love just the photos and the stories with a bit of color and design.
shelby says
when I started scrapbooking, I didnt have any kids and so it was just a fun release and a way to connect with others. 13 years after I started scrapbooking, I had my first daughter and now I love scrapbooking as something I can give them to show them what their lives were like when they were little…who they knew, what they did, etc and it has become so much more meaningful to me 🙂
cathy says
: ) Thanks for sharing this, Karen.
cathy says
Wow. So glad to hear youre okay. : )
cathy says
I forgot about the community and the friends Ive made. Oh man, some of the best friends of my life, truly.
cathy says
Love this!
Aliza says
Mmm, this is going to get wordy. See, I have always felt like I was artistic and creative, but I never had a craft…I never learned to do art. And when I first started working with paper and paper tools, it was huge for me. I felt like I finally found a way to release this creative urge that had been stuck inside. At first, I mostly just made cards, because 12×12, and photos was too big and overwhelming. then one day I made a 6×6 album, just paper (I don’t even think I had any patterned paper, just colored cardstock), pictures, and words, and from there I was able to move on.
Then, like others here, I didn’t really like most of what I saw. Too frilly, cutesy, and busy. When I discovered Clean and Simple and Simple Scrapbooks–I was thrilled. And now, about 5 years later, and my kids are no longer preschoolers, and I see how much we still love those scrapbook pages. They really do help us remember moments and stories that we would have forgotten. So, I feel even more motivated to get it all down in pictures and words (and a swatch or 2 of patterned paper, maybe a brad or a button). I like products, but very sparsely. So, it’s the art and the stories that keep me coming back for more.
katetitcombe@hotmail.com says
Hi Cathy,
I’ve been scrapbooking for 7 and a half years and in the past six months I’ve moved over to Blurb photobooks and love them. I’ve done one page using PSE7 with a few embellishments and loved it! Everything else has been using Blurb templates and they are clean, linear and simple. Love it. It’s all about the story and photos for me and this comes in a compact 8 x 10 book. But you know what? I always wonder how YOU’D do it and if you’re going to ever give it (photobooks) a try? Looking forward to hearing what you think…
Tammy B says
First, it was all about doing something with all those pictures of my six-month old baby boy (he’s now almost 16). Then it was about all that great paper and the scissors and the stickers. After I started reading Simple Scrapbooks, I let a lot of that go and just thought about the pictures and the story. That magazine made me re-think the whole process of scrapbooking and that it doesn’t have to be about all the bling, etc. (I use most of that stuff on cards now.) I’m with you on the UTEE comment you made – I could never get into all that extra stuff although I have been trying to step out of the box a little (thanks Stacy J and Ali E). But I also love your books and saved all your make-a-page-monday sketches because, when it comes right down to it, I’m just a simple scrapbooker! Thanks Cathy! As always, you are awesome!!
Christine H says
I have been scrapbooking for about 12 years. But 2010….not a single page! I went to a couple of crops but did card kits, page kits that never got photos put onto them. Two weekends ago I went to a weekend crop. Decided it was time to get my mojo back. Figured I needed to stop staring at all these supplies, hauling half a house with me and just stick to the basics. Paper, adhesive, trimmer/scissors, black pen, a few alphabet stickers and the pics. And I took your books with me. What a wonderful weekend. I got so much done and felt so connected to my favorite hobby again. I think I knew this all along but felt I should evolve. Nope, back to being a Neanderthal for me! Thanks for the inspiration.
Kim Woods says
Scrapping and crafting is the very best stress relief! I’ve been scrapping since High School, 25 years now. I long for it when I’m too busy and feel guilty when I take the time but feel guilty for not doing it. I just love it so much and when I get the chance for a guilt free scrap trip with my besties I pretty much don’t eat or sleep the entire time. When I do sleep I dream about scrapbooking. I am taking the Brave Girls Soul Restoration class and am getting back to the very basics of re-purposing things I have around the house. Now I can’t look at something that needs to go in the trash without thinking how I might be able to craft with it. Well most things anyway…I love that it is an ever-evolving hobby.
lynne moore says
art and pictures have always been important to my family. i grew up with a whole hallway wall of interesting family pictures and adventures. family stories have been important. we tell the same ones over and over. scrapbooking is a freedom to express whatever and however i want. most of the time the medium is paper and pix and glue and some ribbons or buttons, but it’s the possibility to go in any direction and tell any story i want that i love.
cathy says
You know, Ive done a few, in fact… one of my most favorite things ever, this one: (it uses a template set from Designer Digitals):
http://community.shutterfly.com/gallery/post/start.sfly?postId=/gallery/1/post/GMGDBg2YN3DlsybAIr5kWg
cathy says
Amen!
Wendy Z says
I had to chuckle because this is the subject of my next blog post….my love of scrapbooking, or rather my frustration with scrapbooking. Wanting every page to look perfect and realizing how I really missed the point. Lately most of my pages have consisted of putting the pictures on the page, adding a title and writing down my thoughts. If I focus on these three things I’m a lot happier!
Kathy Jo Camacho says
I love it because it makes my photos talk. And I get to play with them. And when I create something with my photos I get to re-live it all again. And I get to be creative. And I get to play and it gives my brain the exercise it needs to just take in the color, or the paper, or the ribbon. It completes me some how. And I love it.
Jennifer Larson says
What everyone before me said. Plus, I hope everyone copies what they wrote and use it on a page about themselves and their love of the craft.
pip says
My mother was a journalist, my father worked in television with a passion for photography, and my grandmother was a talented crafts person – I was doomed! I grew up with a love of words, photography and craft! And I feel so sad looking at photos of people whose names and lives have been lost to time. If moments or people were important enough for me to take a photo of them, then it seems so futile and stupid to then keep the prints in a shoe box under my bed, where they are never seen, remembered or appreciated. Scrapbooking ties all of these things together, with the added bonus of that creative buzz!
Barb says
I haven’t really scrapbooked for about a month and a half now (gasp!), and I really do miss it. For me, it’s all about the stories. I discovered my passion for telling stories with photos, words and pretty papers when I read your first book, Cathy… your approach to telling stories and your simple designs showed me it wasn’t all about fancy products and artsy techniques. From there, I discovered Simple. And the rest, as they say, is history. 🙂
And yes, as Courtney mentioned, I found some of my best friends through the scrapbooking world… at the LSS and online. <3
cathy says
oh good idea!
Michelle Evans says
I just did my first page last week on why I scrapbook. The page started as a tribute to my son(17) and his artistic abilities when he was small. I am working on his “senior” book for graduation. I am pretty much caught up with the “school of life” part, but wanted to add some personality pages. So I went to his bin where I store “stuff” from his life and pulled a couple things out including a drawing he made when he was 5. I knew there was a photo that depicted the same scene as his drawing (his and his brother’s Halloween costumes!) I put them together on the page. The connection was priceless and my families reaction was even better! The journalling on the page included the story about Matt and his reaction to the page and how that made me feel.(He has looked at it multiple times and says AWWWWWW! and HE has shown it to other people!)
The feeling the whole experience invoked made the title of the page “this is why I scrapbook”! It doesn’t get any better than that!
Rebecca J. says
I love to tell my story. I love to take picture. I love combining the two. I want my kids to always know what our wonderful ordinary life was like. That’s why I do it!
Michelle910 says
Scrapbooking makes me feel like a better mom, wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, aunt and friend. It’s proof (if only to me) that I do listen to my kids, observe every change, take part in their highs and lows, and love them with every fiber of my being. For my family and friends, I am reminded of all of the fun we’ve had, how we’re connected and the blessings they have each given me just by being in my life. I try to capture these things…and love to go back and be reminded of the little things I may have forgotten if it hadn’t been documented in my albums.
Sara Mangan says
I love this book! Your words to your daughter are amazing. I need to put this on my to-do list for my 9 yr old daughter.
Erika says
Three things:
1. I love photography. I’ve never excelled at taking photos, but I love the idea of doing so.
2. I love paper. Both scrapbook paper and wrapping paper make me unexplainably happy.
3. My husband: He has almost no photos of himself or his family as he was growing up. His parents just didn’t take or keep many pictures. I, however, have quite a few. I want our kids to have memories. My husband wants to have memories of his kids, of us.
kimberly says
god how i used to love to scrapbook. while i always appreciate the beauty of simple scrapping i have always been more of a grungy, edgy, painty, raw scrapper. i say i more art journal than scrap. but anyway…. i haven’t scrapped in 5 years i think. i miss it. i’ve been thinking a lot about being invisible lately. how i feel invisible because the one person that everything i am matters to is no longer here. i will, and am, and am not, both at the same time, looking forward to it…..scrap the many many many photos of james. for the boys. they will each have their own albums, or set…whatever….because each picture will have a different meaning, or story for each child…. it is something i feel that i must do. how else will they know their father? and he was definitely, absolutely without a doubt the most amazing man i have ever met. ever. and they should know that. just sitting here, typting this, makes me cry. the fact that my children are only going to know their father from my view makes me very, very sad. they were so little when he died, they are having a hard time retaining what memories they DO have. they are fading. so scrapping for me, was an outlet. a creative outlet. it led to art journaling. since i am a painter i like a way to be creative in a different venue. scrapping and art journaling did that for me. but now, it seems, scrapping is taking a slightly different turn….. when/if i actually do this, it will be both hard and, i am sure, cathartic, at the same time…..i know it will take SO much energy. emotions always do. and why i am writing you a novel i am not sure. now you know more than you ever watned to! 😉
quinna says
As a cancer survivor…I descovered that writing the stories and sharing photos is the most incredible thing I can do for my family. I only wish I had started sooner!
AmySorensen says
What made me love it, and what continues to encourage me in loving it, is the fact that scrapbooking demands writing. If there wasn’t such a thing as journaling on layouts I would either invent it or not be a scrapbooker. 😉 I love the process of writing and I love even more that the stories and the pictures are together.
Jenny B. says
It’s something that’s just for me. I try to justify the amount of time I spend on it by saying that it’s “for the kids,” but it’s really more for me (both the process and the end result). 🙂
Julie says
Let me just tell you…..you have an absolutely adorable family. I am new here and loving your blog….you have inspired me to move more and eat less. And really, what have you done to raise such a fun, funky, cool, independent teen who thinks her family is cool. Tell me. Tell me what you have done. I have a four year old daughter (and a four year old son) and I want my daughter to grow into a young adult just like your young adult. Really, she seems like a character out of a movie. Darling. Love your blog.
Melissa Thigpen says
I think the idea of recording the stories and preserving the photographs was what drew me to scrapbooking but the creative part of playing with paper, glue, pictures, color, text and other stuff keeps me coming back. Learning about design has been a joy in these last several years. It keeps my brain happy and it keeps my hands happy and often colored with paint or ink. It makes me look at the world in a different way and I love it.
carol says
I consider myself a loner. I haven’t worked for years, therefore, I have few friends and a small family. I scrap because it’s important to me that even though I don’t have many people in my life, I want them to know how important each of them is to me and that I love them all. It’s easier to give them a piece of my heart and art than it is to say it. This shows them I am genuine in my feelings, friendship, and love.
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Raylene says
After reading all the above posts, I realised my first scrapbook was the Sticky Album I put together in Nurses Training. All the bed races and skits, candle lighting ceremonies, tubbing, memories are all in there! I hadn’t realised it was a scrapbook until now.
I love storytelling with pictures and loved learning Photoshop to do it. I have about 17 Photobooks now. . . the one of my son from birth to age 30 was fun “Mom, the chicks love this!” the one of Dad’s 75th Birthday was really fun, I had 5 copies made (one for each of the kids plus Dad), the list goes on.
It combines all the things about creating that I love. And did I mention, it has gotten me to be a better photographer?
cathy says
Thats so cool! : ) I too have always saved stuff in one form or another. Scrapbooking just fits!
katie t says
I scrapbook to document life, I want to celebrate my life, my children, and others whom have pasted. I want to be able to reminisce with a smile, and I find that scrap booking in any way will aid me in doing just that-reminiscing with a smile. I scrap the good, the bad, and the ugly. Life can be hard, yet, I want to celebrate over coming all the hard crap in life and telling my survivor story. Currently, I am working on my father’s side of the family tree and I am gathering some amazing stories and facts about our family. I want my children to be able to know about the hardships and the great times they went through in the 1800’s in Japan.For me, telling their stories is celebrating their life from them. This is what motivates me to scrap book. I love it, and I can’t stop.
Cathy, you inspire me with clean and simple design principles that will last generations. I look at your blog everyday, I especially love your templates that make it sooooo much easier for me. I wish you could have a class that would last a year and have a new template every week. Thanks Cathy for inspiring me, generations will thank you.
Heidi says
To be honest, you made me love this. I remember buying your books, and thinking “I wanna do this!” 🙂
cathy says
Thanks for the comment, Katie! : )
elisa says
I have taken quite a bit of time off from this hobby I loved so dear when my first two kids were little.
Then blogging came along and it seemed once I started that, well that’s all I had.
Recently I decided that I miss it. I mean not the over the top who can have the best page deal that it used to be- but I miss the stories. And I feel like I have let a lot of stories slip through the cracks.
I still have the photography. And thankfully a blog that can hopefully help me fill in the gaps.
Thanks for keeping it real- I will be visiting your blog more often these days as I try to figure out my scrap balance.
Thanks girlie- you rock.
cathy says
Hey lady! Nice to hear from you. You know, blogging pulled a lot away from my scrapbooking. I never thought that it would, but over the years, it really has. I kind of want to get back to more regular documenting too!
Louise D says
Wow, I have just read this post and it is yelling out loud to me! I Love and adore scrapbooking and late last year stopped teaching because I felt that it was draining my natural flow – I felt that I was creating with specifics in mind all the time instead of telling my story. So consequently without demands I slowed down in my creating. So right now there seems to be NO story telling… I guess it is all about finding that scrapping balance as you were talking about. I will try to write down more of my families stories and then the creativeness might come?? Thanks for the constant inspiration and laughs!
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