Scrapbooking outside your comfort zone

Recently, I was challenged to scrapbook outside my "comfort zone".  Instead of choosing my own papers, I my boss gave me the task of creating a lay-out using specific school-themed papers, including a paper that was a 12x12 photographic image of the school.  I have to admit, I have never enjoyed scrapbooking with papers that are large photographic images.  I've always struggled with where I will place my own photos in a way that still works with the photo image already on the paper.  Plus, as the papers are specific to each school's colors, I feel limited by color choice as well.  But I gave it my best effort, and came up with a lay-out that worked with my photo.  I decided to cut out the sillhouette of the photo of the school building, and mount it on coordinating patterned paper.  This highlighted the architectural features of the building.  I added borders using the school's team name paper, as well as coordinating stripes.  Then I also added a decorative tag with embellishments.  Now, this project was starting to feel more "scrapbook-like" to me, and I no longer was letting myself be held back by the paper.  I chose to use a Homecoming photo, so glammed up the paper with metallic fibers, letters, glitter paper, and flowers.  And ended up with a lay-out that I was pleased with.  Much to my delight, it was also popular at the store I work at, and many people chose to purchase kits to make the same lay-out.  And so I learned that it is beneficial to step outside my comfort zone and to try a different style.  Stretching out creatively is an important experience for any type of art media.  Give it a try - I bet you'll discover something new to enhance your art form!!

Rediscovering the love of hands-on Scrapbooking

These days, the availability of so many varied digital options have directed people away from the "traditional" method of scrapbooking.  While I understand that time restraints and busy schedules make it hard to fit in the time for what I refer to as "hands-on" scrapbooking, I think that some of the joy of creating may be lost when digital is used as the only option.  Recently my family and I moved.  At our previous home, I had the luxury of having an entire room for my scrapbooking and other creative pursuits - with a place for everything!  At our new home, I do not have this, and for several months, had all of my supplies sitting in moving boxes, overwhelmed and unsure as to where to put them, and how to organize them in this new atmosphere.  So I turned to digital scrapbooking.  And I did find it to be enjoyable, and certainly convenient, but I missed the experience of having paper and inks and embellishments in hand.  I finally unpacked my supplies the other day, and was thrilled to get back to my first love - scrapbooking by hand.  Yes, it was time-consuming, and there was the mess to clean up afterward.  And I most likely will remain perennially behind - but I'm not going to worry about that.  For me, I realized it's not about the convenience, or keeping up - it's about creating in the way that I love.  And this will be different for everyone - but the important thing is to stay true to yourself, and what you enjoy doing.  There is already way too much hustle and bustle in life.  When you take the time for YOU - be sure to do things your way.  You will find it to be so much more rewarding, and time well spent.