motivation and suggestions?

[laura&fam]

I have scrapbooked for years but lately I'm not very motivated or on the rare occasion that I am I can't (three young kids).

I thought this was just something that would pass, but it's been several months and I keep finding excuses not to scrapbook. Then I have guilt because I am so far behind and I don't keep a journal so I am worried I'm going to forget things about my DS 18 months if I don't get in gear and get some of it in a scrapbook. And yes, I will forget some things. I already have looked in my scrapbooks and thought "oh yeah, I forgot about that".

Does anyone have any ideas on how to motivate myself when I do have time? I really don't want this to become something I dread when it is always something I have loved.

 

[rlovew]

I have found that comepleting a small project- maybe do a small mini book about this week in your life- a few pictures and some feelings about what is happening in your life now. This might get you motivated.

Try learning a new technique or finding someone to scrap with- both of those can be motivators.

The biggest thing is deciding what about it is making you not like it:
- do you feel so far behind that you will never get what you want done (if so give yourself permission to just do what you can)
- do you feel like you have to scrap in order and you are stuck- try scrapping what you want instead
- do you feel like you are stuck in a rut with everything looking the same - try doing something really out of your box or learn something new to try

you could try joining one group in a swap or something to get yourself doing something different.

Rebecca

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

If I'm having a motivation problem, I make myself sit at my scrap table and do ONE layout. Sometimes I do that one and then move on to more. Sometimes I do that layout and that's it but at least I got 1 layout done.

I will head upstairs later and make myself do 2 layouts if I do more than that's great, it's a bonus LOL. My goal for this month is 45, I've only done 9 and I haven't really been in the scrapping mood. I have been in the my trip is only 2 weeks away mood So I have to make myself do scrap or I'll never get my 45 pages done.

Hope that helps

 

[jacksmomma]

I have a young son and I watch a kid or two here and there for friends, I understand about not having time! I think the biggest thing for me has been having a space where the scrap stuff stays out (for the most part). I have a huge dining room table and I keep the scrap stuff on one end of it. I print pictures weekly and they lay on that end of the table until I am ready to scrap. I have found that using nap time really helps. If I work solid during nap time I can get 1-2 pages a day done. I also find that participating in challenges really keeps me motivated. Most of them feature a sketch of what that page should look like so I do not feel like I am starting from square one.

I agree with the PPs about scrapping what strikes you instead of trying to go in order and starting small.

 

[laura&fam]

Thanks for your ideas.

I've thought about it and I think the thing I don't like about scrapping is that my scrapbook room is such a mess. I think to myself "oh, I'll just go scrap a page or two" and when I get there I spend the whole time cleaning and the next time the same thing happens. The scrapbook room is also the computer room, craft project room and depository for all my kids cute pictures, momentos, etc.

I'm not quite sure what the solution to this is, maybe one area only for scrapbook stuff and another area for everything else. But I feel like I have an idea of what direction to go: small projects I want to do and figure out some way to keep the junk out of my scrapbook area.

Thanks!

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

Thanks for your ideas.

I've thought about it and I think the thing I don't like about scrapping is that my scrapbook room is such a mess. I think to myself "oh, I'll just go scrap a page or two" and when I get there I spend the whole time cleaning and the next time the same thing happens. The scrapbook room is also the computer room, craft project room and depository for all my kids cute pictures, momentos, etc.

I'm not quite sure what the solution to this is, maybe one area only for scrapbook stuff and another area for everything else. But I feel like I have an idea of what direction to go: small projects I want to do and figure out some way to keep the junk out of my scrapbook area.

Thanks!

I know exactly what you mean about the mess
below is what my scrapbook room looks sort of like ( I have been cleaning it) the very bottom the last 2 photos are of my table. As you can see I couldn't get anything done.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2283174

I would say get bins for the computer stuff, craft project stuff and the kids cute pictures, mementos and stuff LOL

When I bin fills up, go through it. Zach plays in my room sometimes and the new rule is you dirty it, you clean it, if not I THREW IT OUT LOL.

 

[laura&fam]

Good idea about the bin. I even have a space I could put a bin that nothing loose can go . . . it's hard to explain but it's where my DS 18 months can reach from the playroom. Nothing is safe beyond the "line of death".

 

[labdogs42]

That's why I started doing digital scrapping. No mess to clean up and no stuff to keep organized! I still have and occasionally use my traditional supplies, but I really love digital now. I could never scrap with my son (age 4.5 now) around!

 

[bigbabyblues]

I'm not motivated right now either. You've gotten some great advice, I really like Rebecca's suggestions about deciding what's making you not want to scrap. For me, it's that I pretty much go in order, and I have no inspiration for the pictures that are next. I have a couple of ideas for pages taht will be after these ones, though.

My scrap table is in our bedroom, and it's very hard for me to go in there and work unless the boys are asleep. What I've done about that in the past, is to go in and get only the things I need for whatever i'm working on at that time and bring them downstairs to the dining room table. It makes a slight mess elsewhere in the house, of course, but that way I don't have to clear a space and get distracted putting things away.

Hope this helps,

Steph

 

[LindaBabe]

Accidently got hold of this book - I thought it said JOURNAL and was about story telling - but read it anyway and found it very motivating because the author really made me think about WHY I am scrapping and what (other than finished albums) I get OUT of the process. Don't be scared off by the world 'spiritual' in the title - it's not overly religious although she does mention god occasionally.

The Scrapbooking Journey - a Hands-on Guide to Spiritual Discovery by Cory Richardson-Lauve

I was surprised by the way scrapbooking has changed the way I see the world.