HELP!! Scraping block

[ilovebelle]

You ladies are all so clever and creative, so I'm begging for your help. Lately, when I sit down to scrap, I've noticed I get very little (if anything) done. I stare at my supplies, look through my pictures, and wish I could figure out what I want to scrap. I think, partially, I'm overwhelmed by my amount of pictures, etc needing to be scrapbooked and by how good I want my pages to be.

Do you guys have any suggestions? I can't seem to figure out why I sit with all my stuff, and not get anything done.

Thanks,
Kristin

 

[DiznEeyore]

There are two things that I do when this happens:

1 - Go through my homemade idea binder and see if a particular layout or element catches my eye, and go from there

2 - Sit down, choose some photos and *force* myself to work on them. Once I do that, the creative juices seem to start flowing.

Don't know if this will help at all, but I hope so!

 

[Spinning]

For me I really organized my pictures first. It is so overwhelming when you see stacks and stacks of pictures. So I made 2 boxes. Those I would like to scrap some day and the ones I want to and had the best memory. So I always start with my most recent stuff.
Maybe get those small picture holders that keep a couple of rolls each. I know when I look at the packets and envelope they prints came in makes it seem even more! LOL

Then again sometimes we just need a break! Step back and look at something else or even do a different craft! Don't worry it will come back!

 

[MICKEY M0USE]

When I have "scrappers block," which I have frequently, I look through my magazines for a layout that looks fun and easy. Then I start to copy the layout exactly. It doesn't take long until I start to alter the layout and get creative. Sometimes I do copy the layout, but most times it just gets me started on tweaking the layout to my own style. Hope that helps.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I just love to look at Becky Higgins Creative Companion book. It is full of layouts, embellishments, etc. The idea is to take your photos and look for something that strikes a chord, then create your own masterpiece. It's just a jumping-off place. I love it. Never fails to give me a jump start.

 

[Wiggle]

I like to refer to CM's "Fast Formulas" idea book. I find that just getting the photos IN can get me to some "good" photos, and then I'm back on track.

Also, when this phenomenon happens to me, I consiously remind myself that EVERY page doesn't have to be magazine-worthy. (In fact, the weaker layouts help make the stronger layouts that much more appreciated! )

Good luck!

 

[GrammieMame]

I have a file holder with individual manila files marked "Summer", "Sports", "Christmas", etc. Whenever I see a layout I really like in a magazine I tear out that page and file it in the appropriate folder. When I buy stickers, die-cuts, etc., I also file them in the appropriate folder. When I'm ready to do a new event, I take out the folder and go from there. I used to feel bad about copying ideas, but find that I always end up altering the original to suite myself. It does get me off to a good start, though.

 

[SplshMtn99]

When it no longer becomes fun & it becomes a chore - I say ENOUGH. That's when I take the envelopes of pictures & just put them in photo albums (not scrap albums). If I have a little time, then I will go as far as journaling (sometimes ALOT) using Word and printing on cardstock (cut to 4x6) & inserting that into the album into one of the photo slots. You can even throw a clipart / border / sticker in there too if you really feel you NEED to. LOL. That way I've accomplished the IMPORTANT part -- they are organized; people get to see the pictures in a timely manner & the story behind the picture is preserved! The heck with the fancy stuff. I can do that later if I EVER get caught up.

I found by doing this, it helps get the stress off & it starts to become enjoyable again.

That's when I feel like starting to scrap creatively again.

Flame me if you want, BUT IT WORKS FOR ME. And ya know what, non-scrappers are just as impressed with the EXTRAS (that journalling) in my book that their books don't have. They really enjoy looking at them.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I have to agree that sometimes you just have to walk away. I (almost) always start by putting pics into a simple sleeve pocket album immediately. They are in some sort of chronological order, and folks get to see them without adding fingerprints. My duplicates I simply set aside.

The only exception to this (so far) is my son's football pics from this year. I have an organizer for those and have inserted card stock in each section noting the game date/opponent/etc. High school ball is a little different. Also that is the next book I plan to work on.

Also I don't expect every page to be worthy of a magazine as some have said. Most of mine don't seem to be to me at least. Many times when I have multiple pictures I want to include the first page - say Kilamanjaro Safari will be strongly themed and the following pages will just have some trim along the edge, maybe some paper and/or cardstock backing the photo so it stands out a bit more.

If it isn't fun though don't do it!

Deb

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by SplshMtn99
Flame me if you want, BUT IT WORKS FOR ME.

Why would anyone flame you for that? It's a great idea, and if it works for you, who could ever criticize that?

 

[ilovebelle]

Thanks, ladies! You have helped a lot! I started sketching some layouts just to see what I came up with. I came up with some good ones, so I think I'm ready to try again!

Wiggle- good suggestion about doing simple layouts to emphasize the more compex layouts. I find myself always wanting to have complex embelishments on each page, but that gets tiring (and time consuming) after a while.

I think I will be able to get some stuff done tomorrow! Thank you so much!

Kristin

 

[BevS97]

have you seen the sketches in CK - there are some on their website too. i find if I am really stuck, then it helps to have a sketch to work from

CK 1 sketch, 3 layouts

I won't submit my ideas, but I've printed out the sketches and stuck them in my album so I can try them out when I get stuck.

bev

 

[chessie]

I love these sketches.

I keep a notebook with me all the time and when I see a well balanced layout on the web or in a magazine, I sketch the components. Sometime while I'm driving I see a house with some really cool window placements or an advertisement that has a great design to it. I try to remember it and sketch those things too. At this point I have a pretty good idea book going.