2020: Share your lessons learnt in scrapbooking + crafting

I've learned I did not prioritize myself enough this year. I need to schedule scrappy time for myself every week (actually put it on the calendar) or I won't do it. I need to figure out the best workflow for me as well, when I actually get to my scheduled time I want it to be productive and fun, not just me searching through my photos or scrappy stuff trying to figure out what I want to do. These are my two main battles I've finally figured out, now I just need to put them into action!

This is a great thing to think about. I’ve learned a lot about a variety of things related to this hobby - some good and some disappointing. I believe my biggest takeaway in 2020 is I have too much. I love a lot of it, but I need to get rid of what I don’t. This applies to scrapbooking and life in general.

I cleaned my desk off yesterday. I do that regularly but shifted things around more than usual. Suddenly, I have white space on my desk! It’s like I can breathe again in there. While I have the supplies for my next big organizational task, I think cleaning out my closet might be the best thing to do. I need to turn it into storage for my supplies. Think of it as my own little scrapbook store. I can get what I want and then shut the door so I can preserve that white space that I love.

I have more to share but want to gather my thoughts and type it out on my computer. 12 yo daughter is currently taking advantage of mom’s YouTube set up to work on a project for school.

Scrapping is my number one hobby. I would scrap every day if I could. But I cannot do it at home. I do everything but scrap at home. When I lost my monthly crops I tried to keep up with getting photos printed and product organized. But without scrapping every month I have fallen behind. I can't keep up with projects I want to work on.

In 2021 I want to catch up with my DGD's books. She will have a new sibling in the summer so my work will double scrapping 2 kids. I will have to step up my organizational efforts in the next 6 months. I will have to take opportunities to scrap at home if I can. Now right now I just don't see that happening without major organization.

So my lesson learned from 2020 is organization is everything, and without it I am just moving piles. Now putting a plan in place by myself is too overwhelming. I have to figure out how to do it by myself.

Just recently(in the last few weeks), I have learned I enjoy the messy, not perfect, not matching,.... mixed media style of scrapbooking/art.
I am working a mixed media style journal.


It's definitely a step (or two or ten) out of my comfort zone.

I learned I was right to not get rid of all my supplies when I didn’t scrap for years and years and years. Lol. I started memory planning this year and it is turning out to be just the right amount for me right now. I’m liking it because each week I can choose to be as simple or elaborate as I want and it all works. It doesn’t feel like pressure.

So much great stuff in this thread. Thanks for starting it sleepingbooty!

Scrapbooking saved me this year. I don't know what I would have done without it. It kept me sane during months of being stuck at home, and reminiscing about past trips whilst unable to travel brought me a level of comfort.

One thing I learnt this year is that I am not an 'outside the pocket' gal. I see all these albums online with 'stuff' outside of pockets but that isn't for me. I tried it and I discovered it didn't suit me. I love mixing in different sized page protectors though. That is definitely more my jam. It keeps it exciting and varied but neat and tidy.

I have also used my Fuse tool quite a bit this year and I've really enjoyed creating custom sized pockets.

I’ve ducked in and out of scrapbooking for years, but maintained good consistency starting late fall of 2019. In hindsight this was such good timing to return to this hobby because it was new again, I had a lot of energy and interest, peek motivation. This, I think, is what helped me to keep plugging along through the 2020 upheaval. There were weeks I went through filling the pockets with robotic detachment, and weeks I threw all my love into creating spreads that filled me back up. My emotions were all over the place, stress would peak and subside, and scrapbooking was a consistent thread through it all. Until we hit the election. Lol. 🤣 #CNN24/7 That was just beyond my ability to cope at that point, but now I’m getting back into the groove and planning for what projects to take on in 2021.

I've learned how much this hobby means to me. It has been a lifesaver this year. While living in a rental house for the past year, I haven't scrapped nearly as much as I usually do but I made a point to do it when I was at my lowest this year. I am excited to set up my new scrap room in a few months and really dig in!

I was actually thinking about starting a thread like this, so I'm glad someone else did!

So I started off with scrapbooking and Project Life, then transitioned into cardmaking about 5-6 years ago. Of course, the biggest supplies for any cardmaker are stamps and dies, plus I'm a sucker for a good phrase/beautiful typography, so I have a lot of stamps. However, this year, I suddenly realized: I don't like stamping! I like the results of stamping, but I hate having to clean stamps, I hate how my fingers get inky and I get inky splotches on my paper and I hate the mess that embossing makes. With that realization, I decided that I will be super picky about any stamps I buy from now on, as I'd much rather do a print and cut than stamp an intricate layered image, for example. I'll still do some stamping when it's required (embossing or small sentiments), but it definitely won't be the focus of my creative efforts most of the time. Instead, I'll do more die cutting, foiling and printables.

I love this thread, and love all of your answers, ladies!

This year I've discovered a few things, though I don't know if I can explain them eloquently enough.

One, scrapbooking is important to me. Very important. It's more than just something I do, but it's part of my identity. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but it just is. I've been doing it for more than half of my life now, and even before then, as a teen and child, I was a keeper, or saver. I had my student of the month awards, and good behavior awards. My high school id. Little bits & bobs from long ago.

For my scrapping itself, I realized that different layouts have different purposes. Pandemic Album and Election pages are information heavy. Not gorgeous, and not with flourish, but they include a lot.

And some pages are made to highlight one pretty photo, or just to play with supplies that I want to play with.

I've also learned that I will always be more critical of my layouts than other's. I love the look of mists and drops on peas' layouts. On mine? It always looks like I made a messy mistake.

I've learned that if I want to be in my albums, I have to take pics of myself. Literally no one else has taken my photo in years (except for one pic that I asked to be taken, was taken grudgingly, and did not make me look my best). Yes, I'm fat. No, I'm not traditionally attractive. So what? I don't want to be invisible.

And then there are: The Supplies! The Stash!

I get a creative boost with new goodies.

I miss die cutting and should dust my ZipeMate off again.

I like theme heavy embellishments to add to more neutral paper.

There are so many years I wasn’t in the pictures either. It took learning to make myself stop, use s timer to get in. I’m so thankful I did and now DH is better about taking pictures with me in them too

I’m primarily a card maker & have done bookbinding, but that’s evolving pretty quickly. During the spring lockdown when most of my stuff was in storage for a move I went down a rabbit hole of learning how to make albums (thanks G45), although they’re still decorative objects to me, they’re fun to make and I love the papers along with Stamperia. Half way through the year we finally moved and I got my own space. For the first time I can find everything and I’m not working on the dining room table. It’s wonderful. Over 300 cards to Smiles for Seniors, more albums & books, exploring mixed media through Wonderlust and a couple other challenges. And a Scan-n-Cut coming for Christmas. 😏

For a lousy year, creatively it’s been good, and I’ve learned a lot of new techniques. Making something, anything, is good for your mental health, and it’s going to get us through all this. And if all else fails go knit.

I’ve learned that stamps and dies are reusable. And that I’m very proud of my willpower. I’m not feeling deprived and yet I didn’t buy even one rainbow stamp or die this year! 😲😊😲