Sunday, November 1, 2009

Now That I've Got All This, What The Hell Am I Supposed To Do With It?

I'm probably making a huge mistake, but I decided to do the NaBloPoMo *thing* this month, just to see if I can actually stick with something for an entire thirty days. It should be interesting to see if I really can keep up with this challenge. In the back of my often blurry mind I keep questioning whether or not anyone would want to even read my blog every day for 30 days. I guess we'll soon find out, won't we? Well, here goes nothing!




Ever since my daughter graduated high school and then college, I've been collecting scrapbook items that I like. I've bought several kits that included scrapbooks, tons of paper and embellishments, a number of different types of cutting scissors, inks, and stamps. I've bought so much that it could literally fill up the trunk of most cars. Still, nothing I've purchased has inspired me to begin this undertaking. I mean, where does one begin when one's children are grown, gone from home and your memory of time frames eludes you?






So, I decided to start by writing about it in hopes of finding some grand formula and/or solution to go by. So far, I'm still right where I began so many years ago. I am a creative person, so where is all that creativity? Has it left me for greener pastures? Hopefully not. I've looked at dozens of blogs about scrapbooking in search of the perfect ideas, all to no avail. Trust me when I say you can waste a lot of time looking at those web sites without ever fully understanding the technique. I've become quite frustrated about this and am truly on the verge of taking it all to a professional, but then it wouldn't be done by me. I suppose that's out then.





I've accumulated at least a dozen large boxes of pictures over the years, which should be enough to keep me busy cutting, pasting, writing, and embellishing for the next several years. Still, my dilemma lies in the fact that I just need a good jump start but cannot seem to find it.





So, I'm going to ask my readers for a bit of help. Where is a good place to begin? Do you just throw a couple of pictures on a page and throw down some embellishments? Do you put those inside the plastic jackets or not? Do you frame every picture? Do you write about every picture? Do you frame invitations? I know. I have a lot of questions. However, I have no desire to take one of those classes at Michael's Arts & Crafts. I want need to be inspired, but so far it's been like an empty well. Nothing. I need suggestions!

14 comments:

That Janie Girl said...

I wish I could help you...I love that stuff, but have never done it because I'm just not gifted that way.

You've got some gorgeous pictures, though! So you ought to have lots of scrapbook "fodder"!!

aurbie said...

My head is spinning. I have always wanted to do that but I don't even time to keep up with my blogging friends. One day.

I Am Woody said...

Go and pay a visit with imom at Delusions of ...Everything. She is a scrapbooking instructor:)

That Janie Girl said...

Lunch, tomorrow (that would be Monday)??? Call me 5573165

Unknown said...

LOL! I started that...now at a loss for inspriration also!
Let's drink a toast for inspiration....7pm tonight! LOL!

Leave a Legacy said...

Good luck with 30 days of blogging. I know I couldn't keep up with it.
I also collect and take pictures all the time, but scrapbooking is a very time consuming hobby that my OCD tells me not to start.

Staci said...

I can't wait to read all the suggestions/comments, as I've collected a couple of storage bins full of this stuff too...... Good intentions, ya know?

Daryl said...

I joined NaBloPoMo a long time ago .. I post every day, I cant remember when I missed a post .. I have no idea if belonging to NaBloPoMo brought me traffic or not .. good luck with the scrapbooking!

Heather Kerrigan said...

Posting everyday and scrapbooking--are you trying to make me feel inferior? LOL

Just thinking about both of those things stresses me out, especially since I haven't back up my blog in months. Today's the day. Scapbooking will have to CONTINUE to wait.

Connie said...

Snooty, sometimes I feel as if everyone is pressuring me to do the 'in' thing. Scrapbooking is one of these 'things' to me. Seems everyone around me is 'doing it' in one way or another but I've got no gumption to 'do it' myself - and I;m okay with that. When my Mom & Grandmother passed away this past year I was left with 2 generations of photos. The nice things is my Mom had started to seperate all the photos into boxes for my siblings and I as well as relatives. Honestly, that was the nicest gift she could have given me seen as how she was as terrible as I am about writing a note or even a name & year on the back. You know where they are? In the box, on a shelf in the basement. Sure I looked at them at the time with my siblings and we enjoyed them in the moment but that's all. I'm not telling you not to 'do it' nor am I telling you, you must 'do it'; I'm just telling you it's okay not to feel as if you have to 'do it' because everyone else seems to 'do it' around you. Stay strong with me ~ let's not 'do it' together! ;) (((HUGS)))

Snooty Primadona said...

Maybe I'll just buy a big, air-tight container and throw it all in there until the future, when I might have time, LOL!

Roan said...

Chronologically...start with your kid's baby pictures and tell the story of the day they were born. And go forward. Let me tell you...it's a great way to get rid of all those kid papers, etc. Scrap them and give them to the kids. Gone, done, a corner cleaned out. It's a great project for cold weather, too.

imom said...

I can help you! I've completed 30 scrapbooks in a relativly short amount of time.

The key is getting organized first. I know it sounds horrible, but seriously it helps so much. Get yourself a few photo safe boxes. The ones I used held 2,400 photos. In the end I filled 3.

Then you need to decide what kind of albums you'd like to do? Each of the kids? Or family albums? Vacation ones? Christmas ones? Or just do it chronologically? This will really help in the sorting process.

I find it's easiest to get started with a themed album... One of your kids baby book, or an incredible vacation you took, or your wedding album, or your backyard foxes! Something that you will love putting together. Or you could look through all your embellishments and see what you have most of and go from there!

Sort your pictures accordingly. I took 3 months of weekends (and times in front of the tv) sorting all my photos. It's well worth it. If you can find boxes with compartments get them, it makes it easier. Also get a photo safe pencil so you can write on the backs or use post it notes to label piles.

Use albums you can add pages to, just in case you come across a box of pictures you missed in your sorting.

I know it seems daunting, but you can do it!

Just drop me an email if you have any questions!

Snooty Primadona said...

imom: You are awesome with your suggestions! I've just been so overwhelmed by all of it. My daughter has always been the picture taker in the family so she's my inspiration. She made me be better at taking pictures, so I want to honor her with a chronicle of her growing up years.

Still, it's not the pictures I'm overwhelmed by. It's how to do an attractive page with all the elements I have saved up, that perplexes me. I know what I want but just haven't seen it yet...

 

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