Getting Caught Up & Staying That Way
The most overwhelming aspect of scrapbooking for many people is either trying to get caught up or trying to stay that way. Sometimes this burden becomes so heavy that one simply quits all together, or for a few they simply decide never to start. I have heard said many times, "There's no way I could do that scrapbooking, I have a too many old pictures." My goal in this article is to give you hope that you can do it and also to encourage those of you who are doing it to keep it up. There are several tips that I think will help you press on.
1) Get Organized: I have seen several people who spend so much time getting their supplies together every time they sit down to work on their scrapbook that they never get any pages done. There are several products on the market to help you organize your supplies: the Memory Mate Bag and Binder from Creative Memories, The Crop In Style Jr. and the entire Crop In Style line (click here to read some reviews from users), the Generations line of carry-alls, and the Cropper Hopper line of organization helper products.
2) Have Fun: You will find time for things that you love. Here are several fun ideas to help keep you motivated.
- Get together with other scrapbookers either at workshops and classes, or invite some people to your home. The ideas that you get from each other and the time you set aside to work together are sure to bring about success.
- Introduce someone new to scrapbooking. Their enthusiasm will infect you and you'll be amazed at your new progress as a result.
- And finally, try out a new tool or product that makes scrapbooking more efficient and fun. Some ideas are any of the brands of puzzle templates on the market, Creative Memories Short Cuts paper and Fast Formulas book, or some new punching or paper piecing techniques.
3) Start with the Present: This philosophy has become the mantra for many scrapbook experts, and I think, in general, that it holds true. Try not to get overwhelmed by your pile of photos from all the years in the past and focus instead on the roll you just picked up from the developer. As you have time, go back and do simple and quick pages with the pictures from the past. An exception to this rule is the need to work on an Heritage Album. If you have been entrusted with the precious photos of your family's history, these should become a priority. The knowledge that you or someone else in your family may have of your history needs to be preserved while it is available. An entire collection of articles to help you get started with Heritage Scrapbooking is available here on About Scrapbooking.
4) Remind Yourself of the Importance of Scrapbooking: Unlike some past times, scrapbooking is a craft that will preserve your family's history for the generations yet to come. The sheer joy of a completed album will inspire you to go on to yet another.
Hopefully, these tips will help you or someone you know get motivated to keep scrapbooking. Please join us on the Forum or in the Chat room to share ideas that you may have and tell everyone what inspires you to get caught up and stay that way.
