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Post by LisaDV on Dec 27, 2019 3:39:49 GMT
With the pending move and a newly cleaned up space, I switched to digital in 2018. I've kept it up through 2019 and through the actual move. I approached my digital pages like I do my traditional. I print them individually and put them in the corresponding albums.
With the move I just put out album upon album upon album on the shelf. Over 25. With a home that needs lots of my attention. With the possibility of wanting to go back to work and having very little time. All this leads to me wondering if maybe I should revisit how and what I scrapbook.
If you ever changed how you memory keep (went from traditional pages to mini albums, TN, or PL), what made you change? Did you have any regrets? What did you find positive about the change?
What advice would you give someone who is trying to decide which route of memory keeping would be best for them?
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Post by Linda on Dec 27, 2019 3:51:25 GMT
no suggestions but I'm tussling with this as well. I have a LOT of albums (both finished and unfinished) - several bookcases worth. I enjoy the process, my family enjoys the albums but how many albums do I want to leave for them to deal with when I die?
I just inherited my mother's photos and the older family photos she inherited (as well as 100+ handwritten memories of hers plus innumerable slides and various other pieces of family memoribilia). I need to scan and organise all of that and figure out how to best keep it - do I scrapbook? do I make photobooks? do I find archival albums? Do I store in photo boxes? And how to share once they are all scanned - do I pay for cloud storage? put on flashdrives? put on external drives?
So yes - trying to figure out how to handle mum's photos and memories while keeping up on my own is my 2020 challenge.
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Post by lostwithout2peas on Dec 27, 2019 5:06:29 GMT
I too have struggled with this, especially when my style changed a bit and I went from using lots of photos on a page to 1 or 2. I've been scrapbooking for 22 years, have 3 kids and a large extended family. That's allot of albums. We moved twice in the last few years and it made me really think about my albums and how many I could end up with in my lifetime.
And then my kids recently went thru them. And then had some friends over and showed them the albums. And then my kids expressed how grateful they where for the albums and all the memories I had preserved.
That made me not care. Some people collect other things, I collect memories and so what if I leave allot of albums.
Good luck with deciding to do what works for you!!
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Post by carolynhasacat on Dec 27, 2019 5:15:54 GMT
I think at some point I will scan my layouts and make a few photo books which would take up less space, and just keep the originals that I really love. With that plan in mind, I don't think I'm at the point yet where I need to change what I'm doing for space reasons. However, I'm getting more interested in digital/hybrid scrapping because I can do it with my laptop anywhere. I think the flexibility is my driver toward more digital. I don't know about photo storage. I've heard that photos files will degenerate stored on any medium, so I don't think there's a real solution there other than printing.
Part of the fun of this hobby for me is trying new things, so I try lots of different sizes, styles, etc. Ultimately it is a hobby for me; I don't worry about or expect DS to treasure it all after I go.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Dec 27, 2019 5:38:13 GMT
Obviously this is such an individual issue. I personally enjoy scrapbooking for the process. The end result (albums) is just gravy. I'm not worried about leaving a bunch of albums behind when I die. Just like everything else I own, DS will either keep or toss. It's not like I am culling down everything I own because I'm worried that it will inconvenience him when I'm dead. I'm doing the things I enjoy while I'm alive. If I need a few more bookshelves, I'm good with that. I don't plan to stifle my enjoyment of this hobby because it takes up too much room. In the big scheme of things, it takes up less room that a lot of other stuff I'm holding onto that I could trash and never miss.
Only you know if the amount of albums you have are not bringing you joy. If you'll be happier either going digital or switching up your medium, go for it. I would hesitate to get rid of what I enjoy just to make it easier when I'm dead. Getting rid of 25 albums is not going to be that hard. Living the rest of your life not scrapbooking how you enjoy sounds worse.
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by camcas on Dec 27, 2019 7:35:06 GMT
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 27, 2019 8:02:20 GMT
I struggle with the sheer number of albums i have, both finished and in progress. There are 40-something so far, from almost 16 years of scrapping.
But it's my hobby, my outlet. It's something to bring me joy and i love touching all the papers and embellishments.
The joy i get from it now outweighs the burden of what to do with it once I'm gone.
That being said, I have modified how i scrap a little. I've let go of capturing every single moment. No one needs to know about my coffee that day. Or the little cluster of mushrooms and their shadows.
In reality, my own life is very boring and mundane, so i scrap myself very little. I focus on my kids birthdays, their school accomplishments, their school club competition trips, and holidays.
I use many photos per layout.
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Post by pas2 on Dec 27, 2019 9:41:14 GMT
Despite scrapping for nearly 20 years I have very few albums completed. Ive always jumped around only scrapping the pictures that spoke to me. My albums are a mishmash of completed pages along side of photo pages. Now I just focus on vacations, weddings and holidays since those are the pics everyone seems most interested in. I can save the others for later, I am not a big journaler so I don’t worry about remembering all the stories. Rather I will always remember how I felt when I look at those photos. That’s what I try to scrap.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 0:34:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2019 12:52:12 GMT
Lisa, my situation is different from yours and most of the replies here.
I have 12 grandchildren and we all love to take photos of everything. We also travel a little. After 20 years, I have over 150 D ring albums.
I couldn't honestly say I don't care if they discard them or feel burdened by them when I'm gone. But I feel a little ridiculous.
I wish I'd switched to shutterfly type albums when they became available.
Maybe you won't have as many grandchildren as me and end up with 150 albums (and counting). But since you already are doing digital, maybe you would want to use the shutterfly type albums instead of printing and putting them into traditional albums.
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 27, 2019 14:41:10 GMT
I really enjoy the creative outlet, but I am trying to do fewer pages than when I started. I dont need 10 pages of Easter, for example. In my defense, I was a new grandma when I started!
I have instructed DD if no one wants them when I am gone, throw them away, guilt free.
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Post by LisaDV on Dec 27, 2019 14:51:44 GMT
Glad to see I'm not alone. no suggestions but I'm tussling with this as well. I hope you find a solution that works for you this year. I know your kids love your albums so much! And then my kids recently went thru them. And then had some friends over and showed them the albums. And then my kids expressed how grateful they where for the albums and all the memories I had preserved. That made me not care. Some people collect other things, I collect memories and so what if I leave allot of albums.
Part of the fun of this hobby for me is trying new things, so I try lots of different sizes, styles, etc. Ultimately it is a hobby for me; I don't worry about or expect DS to treasure it all after I go.
I think this is my problem, I started the hobby as a creative outlet, the memory keeping was secondary for me. Now I'd like to get back into painting, quilting, and art journaling more for creativity but now I love the memory keeping aspect of the hobby too.
... I'm not worried about leaving a bunch of albums behind when I die. ...Only you know if the amount of albums you have are not bringing you joy. If you'll be happier either going digital or switching up your medium, go for it. I would hesitate to get rid of what I enjoy just to make it easier when I'm dead. Getting rid of 25 albums is not going to be that hard. Living the rest of your life not scrapbooking how you enjoy sounds worse.
It's not the leaving them behind when I die, it's the amount of space they're taking up now. Maybe because the were in our living space and now they're taking up valuable craft room space. The figuring out how to scrapbook where I will enjoy it at the moment is what I need to do.
LavenderLayoutLady , I've been scrapping 17 years. I did more everyday type moments for years and struggled with the big events (Christmas, Easter, birthdays) unless I do them digitally. So I've gotten better at capturing them now. I think since I have flat digital pages mixed with my traditional it makes for less albums.
pas2 , I always scrapped what spoke to me and then put them chronologically in the albums. Most of mine are not "complete" or they could be because I may have already scrapped everything that spoke to me from that year. Since I've been more prolific in the last few years, most of my photos from 2015-2019 are fairly well documented.
@elaynef , I bet you have lots of gorgeous scenery shots in those albums too. I'd love to come view. Maybe I should do shutterfly albums going forward. DH prefers them and in the smaller size of 10x10 too. He won't get a D-ring off the shelf, but he will the shutterfly albums we have.
Thanks everyone for helping me think this through and for sharing with me.
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by kitbop on Dec 27, 2019 16:08:44 GMT
*Warning* - meandering post-Christmas thought splurge ahead! it's the amount of space they're taking up now. Maybe because the were in our living space and now they're taking up valuable craft room space. The figuring out how to scrapbook where I will enjoy it at the moment is what I need to do. I'll jump in with a "me too" sentiment. Too many albums, too little space. I have thought about digital scrapbooking, but I don't enjoy looking at pages on a phone or tablet or computer. Much prefer the physical product, so would end up printing them out like you have LisaDV, which takes away from that space saving benefit. What about bound books? Like Cathy Zielske does. The binders/albums take up so much space. A bound book might take up less space. Would an 8x8 size be less cumbersome but still let you view the product? Just thinking out loud here... You'd have to be so organized with your scrapping though if you wanted a chronological album. Whenever I think about giving up my traditional scrapbooking for a more compact practical approach, (for example, the pocket page approach really does work for me when I do my December Daily and I create a compact but thorough memory of an entire month...) I realize that it is in the creating that I get most of my joy...ignoring the bulk...I just want to keep doing this right now. On the other hand, I am missing big chunks of memories because I don't scrap chronologically and don't even get my photos printed out in a timely fashion? I've been a real fan of Cathy Zielske's monthly digital spreads and want to start something like that. Then I feel like I can relax and just continue scrapping as my artistic fun, knowing that events that "should be" scrapped/recorded have been captured in my digital summary. There, my brain feels lighter  Thanks for letting me ramble! |
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,338
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Post by amom23 on Dec 27, 2019 16:20:20 GMT
I've really streamlined the way I scrapbook over the years. I limit the # of photos I scrap because often a 1 page layout tells the story just fine. My kids aren't little and no grandkids so that all makes a difference. I've already gotten my grandmother's photos and I dread the day my mom passes and I have all of hers to deal with. Yes I feel bad for dreading having to take all those albums. My sister makes Shutterfly albums. They are so easy to store. I just like playing with real photos and paper so I stay old school with some modifications.
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Post by cumber1137 on Dec 27, 2019 17:27:26 GMT
For me, scrapbooking comes in ebs and flow just like anything else. I'm 33. I am happily child free so I'm documenting my life. I have a scrapbook that I made to account for my high school years. I barely scrapbooked in college though I did make a book for my time studying abroad. I didn't get back into scrapbooking avidly til I moved to Los Angeles and started film-making full time. Sometimes you don't have stories to tell or the stories you are telling call for a non-traditional style. Don't put pressure on yourself to do anything you can't commit to. Finished is better than perfect.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,943
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Dec 27, 2019 19:01:40 GMT
I don't think I would like scrapping digitally, the process of cutting and gluing and touching things is what I like about scrapbooking...
I do think at some point, I will buy a 12 by 12 scanner and scan all my pages. I'm not sure what will happen to the originals. I have four kids, if I scan everything they can all have access to the collected volumes of our family history if they want and I can print multiple copies for multiple kids.
I make 2 12 by 12 D-ring albums per year, sometimes 3, eventually I'm going to run out of room...
I am considering (and am not very enthusiastic about it) when my current shelf space runs out (two years or so from now) of switching to a smaller size. 8 by 8 does not really seem like enough room, but again, storage/shelving issues...
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Post by LisaDV on Dec 27, 2019 19:35:13 GMT
*Warning* - meandering post-Christmas thought splurge ahead! it's the amount of space they're taking up now. Maybe because the were in our living space and now they're taking up valuable craft room space. The figuring out how to scrapbook where I will enjoy it at the moment is what I need to do. I'll jump in with a "me too" sentiment. Too many albums, too little space. I have thought about digital scrapbooking, but I don't enjoy looking at pages on a phone or tablet or computer. Much prefer the physical product, so would end up printing them out like you have LisaDV , which takes away from that space saving benefit. What about bound books? Like Cathy Zielske does. The binders/albums take up so much space. A bound book might take up less space. Would an 8x8 size be less cumbersome but still let you view the product? Just thinking out loud here... You'd have to be so organized with your scrapping though if you wanted a chronological album. Whenever I think about giving up my traditional scrapbooking for a more compact practical approach, (for example, the pocket page approach really does work for me when I do my December Daily and I create a compact but thorough memory of an entire month...) I realize that it is in the creating that I get most of my joy...ignoring the bulk...I just want to keep doing this right now. On the other hand, I am missing big chunks of memories because I don't scrap chronologically and don't even get my photos printed out in a timely fashion? I've been a real fan of Cathy Zielske's monthly digital spreads and want to start something like that. Then I feel like I can relax and just continue scrapping as my artistic fun, knowing that events that "should be" scrapped/recorded have been captured in my digital summary. There, my brain feels lighter  Thanks for letting me ramble!
Are her bound books like shutterfly books like @elaynef recommended? I really think this might suit me better for 2020. I really like the idea of a monthly digital spread like a project life style set up to capture those not so individual page moments. I'm okay with working chronological and current for 2020, or at least trying to, but know I would have certain photos that would get printed for real paper play or if digitally done for printing off separately. Plus I still have lots of photos already printed and in kits for when I want to play with paper.
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Post by LisaDV on Dec 27, 2019 19:43:00 GMT
I've really streamlined the way I scrapbook over the years. I limit the # of photos I scrap because often a 1 page layout tells the story just fine. I have learned to limit photos too and went from a majority of 2 page spreads to mainly 1 page layouts. Although some events still have many pages - birthdays, Easter, Christmas for sure. I still try to be picky about the photo choice though, sometimes it's tough though. I don't think I would like scrapping digitally, the process of cutting and gluing and touching things is what I like about scrapbooking.. I can understand that. I didn't think I would like it either, but I do. Of course, I still do some paper layouts, cards, and art journaling that use paper. But if it were all digital, I would get tired of it very quickly. 8 by 8 does not really seem like enough room, I agree completely, I'm worried a 10x10 (they have 10x10 I think?) would still be too small, but I could probably do 8.5x11 with no problems. Or at least, with little problems. |
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Post by refugeepea on Dec 27, 2019 22:49:59 GMT
I switched from 8.5x11 family albums to 12x12 albums with divided sheet protectors. My life is really random right now. There isn't the big milestones of younger kids. My older two kids have graduated from high school and there's less overall to scrap. My pages aren't always the most cohesive looking though. I personally have ALWAYS struggled with page design. I save lots of time by just inserting the photos and cards. The albums are bigger, but I don't take as many photos. I also realized when I had kids I am a slow scrapper. I decided once they were five, no more individual albums. It was all family albums from then on.
I do enjoy over embellishing and getting carried away with a themed page. I have separate 8.5x11 albums I'll put out at holidays and put them back in my bedroom on a bookshelf. I don't stress about being caught up on those because some photos from the family album are in there.
I love the PhotoSheet program I use on my laptop. I can get plenty of photos on one page when they are resized.
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Elsabelle on Dec 28, 2019 4:30:38 GMT
I stopped scrapping two separate albums for DDs for the most part. An occasional layout still goes into those 8.5x11 albums. I also stopped making mini albums. As in accordion or anything made out of cardstock. I'm doing almost all 12x12 layouts for my family albums with an occasion postbound 8x8 vacation album.
One last thing is that I've stopped being rigid about chronological scrapping and putting them in chronological order. I scrap current pictures and old pictures and put them next to each other.
I'm happy with these changes. I still love a cute little mini and they're fun to make but they're in a box and no one looks at them.
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Dec 28, 2019 5:00:14 GMT
I struggle with the sheer number of albums i have, both finished and in progress. There are 40-something so far, from almost 16 years of scrapping. But it's my hobby, my outlet. It's something to bring me joy and i love touching all the papers and embellishments. The joy i get from it now outweighs the burden of what to do with it once I'm gone. That being said, I have modified how i scrap a little. I've let go of capturing every single moment. No one needs to know about my coffee that day. Or the little cluster of mushrooms and their shadows. In reality, my own life is very boring and mundane, so i scrap myself very little. I focus on my kids birthdays, their school accomplishments, their school club competition trips, and holidays. I use many photos per layout. This in large part why I have adopted a rather loose style of PL. lots of photos. But I don’t do many filler cards. And I rarely embellish directly on a photo. For the last several years I try to have the photos and journaling in a way the photo can be pulled from the album (not damaged) and the journaling stuck to the back of it. |
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Dec 28, 2019 5:14:28 GMT
I have been a traditional (paper, stickers, embellishments, mixing patterns, matting photos, 8 1/2 x 11, three ring binders, chronological order, etc..) since I started in the fall of 1996, and I will never change that.
I love the everything about traditional way. Making the layouts, the products, my completed scrapbooks.
I think scrapbooking....the type of scrapbooking, the size(s) of one's scrapbooks, the style, the design, the look, the type of products used....is based on individual taste.
No one can decide for you. What one person likes, another may not.
You have to do what is best for you. Whatever you prefer, do that.
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artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,051
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Post by artbabe on Dec 28, 2019 15:19:07 GMT
I've been scrapping since 2001. I still scrap traditional 12x12". I tried to do a mixture of 12x12" and pocket scrapbooking in my scrapbook of my Mexico trip. It was a really nice way to use a lot of photos but I really want to take some of the pocket photos and make a traditional scrapbook page with them. I just think pocket scrapping isn't for me.
Digital doesn't really appeal to me. I'm a hands on crafter (and a middle school art teacher) and I'm not happy without scissors and glue.
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Post by hop2 on Dec 28, 2019 16:13:21 GMT
I used to be a 12x12 scrapper. I stopped scrapping years ago ( for reasons I won’t get into here ) but I missed it. I missed the actual paper crafting. The only store left in my state is mostly geared toward stamping & card making so I gently eased back in with that. I did a photo journal/planner for 2019 5.5” wide x8.5” tall. I had nearly 2x3 spaces for each day but now for 2020 they are 2x3. Anyway, I found many ways to craft and embellish in that. I really like it. I don’t care if my kids have to throw out my albums when I’m gone.
I’m just starting a loose 12x12 PL style book where I just do what ever event strike me as needing to be done. I do it for me, for the process, and again I do not care what happens to them later.
Some people have a lot of clothes, some people collect shoes. This is my thing, I do it for me for the creative outlet. What happens after I don’t really care.
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Post by cristelina on Dec 28, 2019 17:06:52 GMT
I'm not worried about leaving a bunch of albums behind when I die. Just like everything else I own, DS will either keep or toss.  I did not start scrapbooking until my kids were teenagers. They never got invested my books like all the young adults I know who's mom started scrapbooking when they were tiny tots. I have already told both my boys they are more than welcome to get rid of every single scrapbook I've made. It is my hobby and it brings me great joy. Once I am gone they do not need to keep any of it. No one needs to know about my coffee that day. Or the little cluster of mushrooms and their shadows. In reality, my own life is very boring and mundane, so i scrap myself very little. Oh no, your boring and mundane life is what your kids and grandkids will love to hear about. I worked with a woman whose mom kept a mundane journal for 30 years (OK, many many journals since she journaled everyday). She thought it was ridiculous because all her mom would write would be super boring things like "I ate potatoes for lunch. I went grocery shopping" etc. However, she also included prices, details on the weather, health, what she found beautiful. When my coworker read through them she was able to visualize not only what her mom's life was like, but also how the world changed through the decades. |
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Post by cristelina on Dec 28, 2019 18:28:54 GMT
LisaDV- I have always liked smaller albums. I started scrapbooking in an 8 1/2 x 11 Kolo scrapbook which I would still love to use if they weren't so darn expensive. I also love mini books. I switched to 12x12 for many years. But my love is still with an 8 1/2 x 11 or smaller. This year (2020) I want to try a hybrid between junk journals and scrapbooks with a bit of mixed medium thrown in here and there. I will also be making my own journals using a Cinch. This way I can switch sizes. I think you should think about what brings you joy. Is it having completed albums in chronological order? Then perhaps Shutterfly style books would be best. Is it adding lots of embellishments? Go no smaller than a 8 1/2 x 11. Are you more attracted to journaling than lots of photos? A TN with a small photo would work very nicely. Watching tons of junk journaling videos has taught me to loosen up on everything being matchy matchy and perfect. OK, it has taught my head. We'll see how I feel when I actually start creating these pages.
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Post by refugeepea on Dec 28, 2019 19:08:59 GMT
I did a photo journal/planner for 2019 5.5” wide x8.5” tall. I had nearly 2x3 spaces for each day but now for 2020 they are 2x3. Anyway, I found many ways to craft and embellish in that. I really like it. I don’t care if my kids have to throw out my albums when I’m gone. If I remember right, is this something you made on your own? Could you give me more details. I'd love to do something like this just for me. More like a personal journal.
ETA: I may have already asked you. I have a bad memory.  |
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Post by hop2 on Dec 28, 2019 19:17:13 GMT
I did a photo journal/planner for 2019 5.5” wide x8.5” tall. I had nearly 2x3 spaces for each day but now for 2020 they are 2x3. Anyway, I found many ways to craft and embellish in that. I really like it. I don’t care if my kids have to throw out my albums when I’m gone. If I remember right, is this something you made on your own? Could you give me more details. I'd love to do something like this just for me. More like a personal journal.
ETA: I may have already asked you. I have a bad memory. Yes I made a ‘table’ in word and printed it then cut the pages in half & punched it for the disks. I also did month pages for each month but those I cut the left side at 5 3/4” and put the other piece in my scrap pile. There are a few pictures in it Flickr and if there’s anything else you want to know I can take pics when I’m home on Monday. I did my new daily grid on pages in Apple because I couldn’t get the table depth to 2” in word it kept snapping to a point too small or too large. ( I’m sure that’s my user error but pages was easier for me. ) Pm me an email I can share what I have if you’d like. I have last year’s in word and all my month pages in word. It’s not super secret or anything |
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Post by hop2 on Dec 28, 2019 19:20:04 GMT
Ps last year’s were sized for the happy planner large punch which is like 1.8”x 2.9” but with my new printer the prints are 2x3 ( well 1 15/16” x 2 15/16” )
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Post by refugeepea on Dec 28, 2019 19:32:50 GMT
hop2 Thanks! I'll have to play around with it in google sheets. I just got a new laptop and I don't think I have word. I do have a WRMK planner punch that will probably work. What type of paper do you use? Anything special?
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Post by hop2 on Dec 28, 2019 19:53:18 GMT
hop2 Thanks! I'll have to play around with it in google sheets. I just got a new laptop and I don't think I have word. I do have a WRMK planner punch that will probably work. What type of paper do you use? Anything special? This past year I used a kraft cardstock but it didn’t take stamps well. For 2020 I’m using Neenah white cardstock. I just printed Jan -June Thursday night before I left. I also lied my planner isn’t on Flickr but I’ll do that later this afternoon as soon as I have WiFi I know I posted it here but I must have just attached it. |
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Thanks for letting me ramble!
Thanks for letting me ramble!
I did not start scrapbooking until my kids were teenagers. They never got invested my books like all the young adults I know who's mom started scrapbooking when they were tiny tots. I have already told both my boys they are more than welcome to get rid of every single scrapbook I've made. It is my hobby and it brings me great joy. Once I am gone they do not need to keep any of it. 