Is all this scrapping ever going to be appreciated??

[pjlla]

I was laying there last night thinking about my scrapping and such and wondering.... is this really a "gift" for my children? I figure by the time each child is 20 (assuming I am caught up), I will have about 30 albums to give to each of them. Is that truly a gift or a burden?? Will they want to keep them/store them?? Or will they leave them at my house because they don't have the room or whatever??

I think I will do some serious thinking going forward about the AMOUNT of pictures I scrap. I've tried to be pretty selective over the past few years in an effort to move my scrapping forward a bit faster... but I think I need to be a bit more ruthless. For example.... does a 3 day visit to my mom for DD's "Grammy Camp" time REALLY warrant 10 pages in her scrapbook?? Cause that is where I'm at right now. I just finished 2 trip albums and up next are these Grammy Camp pictures. I divided them by events (fishing, tea party, swimming, etc) and I figured that I will have 5 2-page layouts for these three days. They are all planned and sketched and papers picked, so I WILL do these as planned, but I need to start thinking harder about these things. I want to include the everyday things, as well as special occasions, but I think I need to start cutting back on the quantity of pictures I scrap.

I still LOVE scrapping and I am happy that my kids will have all of these great memories of their childhoods preserved for THEIR kids (and grandkids) to hopefully enjoy... but perhaps it is time to start streamlining things a bit.

Anyone else have these thoughts??? .........................P

 

[Belle0101]

Have you been reading my mind?

I've had similar thoughts since I first started scrapping. That was around 15 years ago. I haven't been a consistent scrapper though. I get burned out, I feel guilty for spending the money, guilty for the time I'm away at scraps or scrapbook shopping or even just in my scrap room.

Anyhow, I've wondered too if my family really cares. I've my DH and 2 sons. They never, and I do mean never, look at the scrapbooks of their own accord. If I show them a pageor want to remind them of a time we did something or went somewhere, then they'll look over my shoulder but they soon wander off.

I've wondered, if they don't care now, will they care in 5 years, 10 years, after I'm gone?

 

[wdwmickey]

My DH and my girls love our scrapbooks

We have a special tradition in our house. When it is your birthday I sit with you and look through your scrapbooks. For the girls we always start with their baby book then move on to the books of their choice. For DH he cooses an album. On our anniversary we look through the wedding album, then watch the wedding video. Then look through a couple family albums.

I also have a stand where I keep an open scrapbook. Each day I turn to the next page. DH and the girls almost always make time to look at the "page for the day". I like seeing my work on display too.

 

[pink_fins]

I am sorta on the same track..... My goal when I started a few years ago, was to make just one book for my 30 year old daughter(not maried-no grand kids in the future). I am just about done.

Then I got into mini books for friends. I am almost done with doing that project too.

I am also into card making. I am creative and can punp out 11 cards in two days. But why? If I go to some of the min-conventions/ stores etc. I can make the cards for the season (make and takes). And don't have to purchase stuff to do them.


I don't know if it is the winter blues or just a fact that..... I should start looking for a new hobby?

We want to sell our house (retirement)(in two yers) and move to a warmer climate. So my craft room will be gone

gail

 

[maslex]

I have thought about this over the years.

I have made each of my boys a baby/toddler/younger year album (all in one) plus a separate album for each of them from pre-school through 12th grade. Right now they are in 8th and 9th grade. But what I did was use the same school papers from Reminisce and I made the SAME layout for each kid and for each grade. So their album is all done, all I need is their school pictures when I order them. Easy peasy. I also scrap their birthday parties.

Other than that, I basically scrap our vacations (we always take one or two each year).

I figure when they are old enough to move out, I'll give them their baby/school/birthday albums. I will keep our vacation albums at my house.

My DH and both boys enjoy looking at the albums. Actually, DH said to me one day...."I really like looking through the scrapbook albums. It's better than just a regular album. It's like a scrapbook album tells a story instead of just looking at pictures."

 

[jacksmomma]

DH loves my scrapbooks. He is always making time so that I can have some free time to scrap. He loves looking through the books.

I was an only child for 13 years so there are tons of pictures of me as a kid. DH is the baby of his family, so we have literally a handful of pictures. I hate that I cannot compare him and DS at the same ages. Therefore I will comtinue to take bunches of pictures of DS, just so that he has them as he grows older.

As far as books go, right now I am not doing them for him. They are for me and my enjoyment. When I am ready I will offer them to him, but really they are mine. I am telling his story in an album of mine that will eventually become his if he chooses.

 

[JandJ]

I've had the same thoughts. DH and I don't have kids and I can't see anyone in his family wanting them. Our nieces and nephew on my side will get their books, but our yearly books and books of our vacations, and even our wedding albums (I've made three) will not likely be wanted by anyone after I'm gone. But, when I really think about it, I'm o.k. with that. I mean, it's my hobby and I make my books for me more than anyone. Granted, it's an expensive hobby and it would be nice if someone would want them someday, but I'm o.k. with it if no one does. When family and friends look at my books they appreciate them, the work and the art that went into them, and that makes me happy. I also really enjoy making gift albums because I know someone will keep it and enjoy it for a long time to come.

 

[FergieTCat]

I'm doing it so I'll have something nice to look at in the nursing home.

Seriously, though, I'm not married and I don't have children. I hope someday when my nephew is clearing out my things, he will look through the scrapbook and see what I was all about.

Other than that, I did offer to make a scrapbook for his wife for our first great-grand baby. At least I know Erin will appreciate it!

 

[wbh1964]

I look at it this way...
I would LOVE to have had my mom do scrapbooks of my life!!!! I would love to have all her photos organized and documented....so, even though people may not appreciate what I do at the moment, I know in my heart that one day they will and by then I many not be able to do what I can do now ...
Happy Scrappin!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Yes it is appreciated.
I didn't think the kids would be all that into it, especially the boys, but the albums are in the living room and they love to pull them out and go through. My Project 365 is actually the most popular album.

I'm currently doing a Disney ABC album for each kid which is a collection of photos from all of our trips, they have been perusing them as I do them although the kids don't really know the albums are specifically for them. They love coming in and seeing what I'm working on.

 

[Dorisk3]

My 2 girls do like to look at the scrapbook albums, but unless they specifically asked, I would never burden them with the scrapbooks I made. To be honest, they are more for me, because I like to have a creative outlet, and even if no one else looks at them, I enjoy looking at them and knowing that I created them.

 

[disney-akj]

I look at it this way...
I would LOVE to have had my mom do scrapbooks of my life!!!! I would love to have all her photos organized and documented....so, even though people may not appreciate what I do at the moment, I know in my heart that one day they will and by then I many not be able to do what I can do now ...
Happy Scrappin!

Agreed!!!


My girls love going through the scrapbooks, especially vacations. When I get home from a crop they always want to see what I make.

 

[lovingthemouse]

You know, I have wondered this too! I have quite a few daughters and 2 grandchildren now. My dear mother is 99, and I have 4 siblings with wonderful families.
With the death of my dh 2 yrs ago, the scrapbooks are the special moments we shared, they are a lifeline I treasure because I can go back and remember special events, vacations, trips with my students, times with the girls, even moments that would not be special to anyone else but me!
I truly love creating the pages, put time and thought into each one,and love going back over them. Our girls will treasure them too - maybe not right now -but in time.
They hold my rainbow of emotions, and all those who are dear to me. They are my life in pictures!

 

[Lisa]

Each time my DD looks at one of my albums, I know it is worth every moment. She often uses the books as a communication tool (she is non verbal) which is great.

I know when I am gone, my DD will have her books to remember her family and her childhood.

 

[beaucoup]

I asked myself that a long time ago since we don't have children and won't. Really, who is going to care about any of our photos of vacations and cats? No one. Its probably why I have unfinished albums.

Now I just put pictures in albums and add a little info about the trip to remember it later on.

Having an explosion of photos since going to digital camera doesn't help either. I'm thinking of starting just collage 12x12s for any event instead of a 2 page layout. Quicker & cuts down on space.

I'm more into card making now and its a way to use up supplies I've already bought without buying anything more.

 

[mommy2mrb]

You know, I have wondered this too! I have quite a few daughters and 2 grandchildren now. My dear mother is 99, and I have 4 siblings with wonderful families.
With the death of my dh 2 yrs ago, the scrapbooks are the special moments we shared, they are a lifeline I treasure because I can go back and remember special events, vacations, trips with my students, times with the girls, even moments that would not be special to anyone else but me!
I truly love creating the pages, put time and thought into each one,and love going back over them. Our girls will treasure them too - maybe not right now -but in time.
They hold my rainbow of emotions, and all those who are dear to me. They are my life in pictures!

Caroline, I completely agree.....I am so grateful that I have scrapped our lives...Megan and I can, and do look at our scrapbooks quiet often...for her to have the photos of our memories with Jim is priceless...

I have done a yearly book for each year of Megan's life, xmas books, dance, bday and off course special trips and Disney...whether or not she will take them will be seen, but I know she appreciates them and they will be her's if she wants them.

my mom has photos of us growing up, and she gave us each a book she put together for each kid when we moved out.

even if you think no one will want them years from now, they are your memories of special times and people....which I think is something that can never be replaced.

Cheryl I love your idea of looking at them on those special days!

 

[Pixieflip]

I have two boys and two girls. The younger three love to scrapbook, but my DS16 really only enjoyed the Disney books. We always look at those, especially as we are approaching another trip.

But recently, he's been going through some tough times. Just teenage growing pains, nothing tragic, but having to be more in the disciplinarian category lately has been uncomfortable and unpleasant for all of us. Then one day I mentioned DH's Scottie Pippen flat top hair of the early 90's and had to pull out a scrapbook to show him. Then we looked at the rest of the book. Then he wanted to see more. We looked at all of his life, and for the first time, he really enjoyed it! I think it was important for him to see how much we have ALWAYS loved him. To see how he fits in our family, and how important he is to us, from the beginning. And he felt loved. I can't really explain it, it's not like he didn't know it before. But the visual reminders of HOW MUCH he is loved...well that's an intangible thing that scrapbooks are wonderful at conveying.

 

[pjlla]

DH loves my scrapbooks. He is always making time so that I can have some free time to scrap. He loves looking through the books.

That's nice. My DH doesn't really care at all about my scrapping (although he doesn't complain about the time or money spent either). But he never actually ASKS to look through a book ... and even when I offer up a newly finished one, he seems to just breeze through it to be polite. oh well.

Yes it is appreciated.
I didn't think the kids would be all that into it, especially the boys, but the albums are in the living room and they love to pull them out and go through. My Project 365 is actually the most popular album.

I'm currently doing a Disney ABC album for each kid which is a collection of photos from all of our trips, they have been perusing them as I do them although the kids don't really know the albums are specifically for them. They love coming in and seeing what I'm working on.

I love the P365 book I did in 2009. So much REAL everyday life!

My 2 girls do like to look at the scrapbook albums, but unless they specifically asked, I would never burden them with the scrapbooks I made. To be honest, they are more for me, because I like to have a creative outlet, and even if no one else looks at them, I enjoy looking at them and knowing that I created them.

I guess that is the way I need to think about it... that they are for me... and if/when the kids want them, they can have them. I do separate ongoing yearly life albums for each kid and then when I do a big vacation album, I do separate ones for each of them too. I started out doing this for them... truly. But I LOVE doing it and I suppose I will enjoy them in my old age, even if no one else does!!

I have two boys and two girls. The younger three love to scrapbook, but my DS16 really only enjoyed the Disney books. We always look at those, especially as we are approaching another trip.

But recently, he's been going through some tough times. Just teenage growing pains, nothing tragic, but having to be more in the disciplinarian category lately has been uncomfortable and unpleasant for all of us. Then one day I mentioned DH's Scottie Pippen flat top hair of the early 90's and had to pull out a scrapbook to show him. Then we looked at the rest of the book. Then he wanted to see more. We looked at all of his life, and for the first time, he really enjoyed it! I think it was important for him to see how much we have ALWAYS loved him. To see how he fits in our family, and how important he is to us, from the beginning. And he felt loved. I can't really explain it, it's not like he didn't know it before. But the visual reminders of HOW MUCH he is loved...well that's an intangible thing that scrapbooks are wonderful at conveying.

Oh... that is sweet.

Well... sorry to be a "debbie downer" ladies! I guess I was just thinking about all of this. I want SO MUCH for these to be appreciated by the kids at SOME point in time. I cannot IMAGINE what it would be like to have a scrapbook of everyday events (and special events) of my childhood, my mother's childhood, or even my grandmother's childhood! How special that would be! I'm just starting to think that the actual physical BULK of all of these albums might be a burden. I'm not ready to go digital, but maybe I should consider streamlining my layout a bit more. Just something to think about I suppose. Thanks for sharing and chatting with me about this........P

 

[MazdaUK]

I look at it that I'm doing it as much for the next generation as my two DS's (I think boys are a bit less into looking back....) DH always says "when you're gone I'm getting rid of all this c**pand going minimalist - like I chose all the antiques I got landed with I just put them to good use by storing sracp books and scrap supplies DS(17) is not really interested, DS(11) will sometimes look through a scrapbook of his baby years or vacations. When friends come round I often get out my latest year/vacation book (especially if they are in it somewhre) but mostly its for me - so I don't forget everything.

I've just started doing a book for my mum from the pics from her parents and my dad's parents, and it was hard sometims to work out who people were r what the year was, so my kids and grandkids won't have to do that. And I figure it will help their wives and children to look back and see "daddy's life", to help them understand what made the men from the boys.

As long as I enjoy doing it and looking at it though, that's enough for me. At least while I'm scrapping I'm not eating

 

[pjlla]

As long as I enjoy doing it and looking at it though, that's enough for me. At least while I'm scrapping I'm not eating

..................P