msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Aug 23, 2022 4:19:07 GMT
I checked off "not enough time," but the truth is I actually do have little brief windows of time in my days. I'm just not organized enough to take advantage of them. And my brain is too stressed out to even think about organizing my space or planning even a simple project.
I have a house full of adult kids, there's job stuff, medical stuff, house project stuff, vacation stuff. Too much stuff, and too many voices in my ear (and I'm grateful for each and every one of them,) but just no place in my life for scrapbooking at the moment. But I know it won't be like this forever. Waves roll in, and waves roll out. I'll scrapbook when winter comes.
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 23, 2022 11:17:10 GMT
I've been trying to get some time in my scrapbook area. My problem is lack of focus. I am 6 months out from losing my DH of 42 years. I am still strugglng with being able to focus on reading or crafting.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,459 
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 23, 2022 13:26:33 GMT
I marked that I can’t get motivated, but it’s a combination of factors. Even when we were renovating and packing up to move (after living in our home for 33 years), I still managed to scrapbook, but I met with friends at least once a month at the LSS, later the public library, and last, at one another’s homes for scrapbooking. We were a group of longtime friends who scrapbooked.
We moved halfway across the country in 2016. Even before I had unpacked more than a few boxes, we had a family emergency. It was an ongoing challenge. It took me a year before I got my scrapbook things unpacked and my scrapbook room set up, long after all the other rooms were presentable.
I got pneumonia. I had to have a hysterectomy. I couldn’t even go upstairs to my craft room for awhile, and when I finally could, I had lost what little motivation remained. I started making cards. They were easier. I started a card making class, for free, to get to know other crafters, and hopefully some other scrapbookers. The card classes took a ton of time. And somewhere along the way, I realized that not only had I lost my motivation to scrapbook, but I felt overwhelmed by everything. So I just kept making cards. And mixed in with all that, we had a Disney trip, and our youngest got married, which resulted in lots more photos.
COVID hit right after I got a new grandbaby. Our last unmarried son got married that summer, and the only reception was in our back yard. I started writing my mom’s story. My DH’s health took a nosedive, and he had to have back surgery. 3 months later, he had a heart attack that nearly took his life. I became a full time caregiver. That was about a year and a half ago.
He’s permanently disabled, but he’s doing well enough that I should be able to get back to scrapbooking again, but now DH and I are planning a Disney trip. It’s exciting, but it also seems a bit scary for the two of us to go off by ourselves on a major road trip with him disabled. This is his reward for working hard to exercise to help his recovery, and his cardiologist thinks he can do it. If all goes well, I’ll have some fun, new photos and happy memories to scrapbook. I’m hoping that will get me going again.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,459
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 23, 2022 13:32:01 GMT
I've been trying to get some time in my scrapbook area. My problem is lack of focus. I am 6 months out from losing my DH of 42 years. I am still strugglng with being able to focus on reading or crafting. I am so sorry for your loss. |
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Post by grammadee on Aug 23, 2022 14:33:28 GMT
I've been trying to get some time in my scrapbook area. My problem is lack of focus. I am 6 months out from losing my DH of 42 years. I am still strugglng with being able to focus on reading or crafting. I have been going through the responses and clicking "like" for each of them, not because I like their situation, but kinda to say "I hear you". But i couldn't just click and run for this one. ((((HUGS)))) as you find your way through this time in your life. I hope that at some point scrapbooking will help you deal with your loss--remembering the happy times, or requiring enough concentration to blot out some of the worst.
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Post by wordyphotogbabe on Aug 23, 2022 15:00:17 GMT
I've only learned in the last year that scrapping was one of my coping mechanisms for dealing with the stress and chaos and anxiety in my life (I've also just discovered that I probably have ADD as now that I'm not constantly anxious, the anxiety is no longer masking all my symptoms). I spent my entire 20s and 30s in two terrible toxic/abusive relationships + faced a lot of job and financial insecurity so besides emotional eating and codependence, I relied on scrapping to cope. Focusing intentionally on the good parts of my life/my children via scrapping helped to keep me from spiraling.
After I split with my kids' dad, bought my own house, secured a good job where all of my bills get paid with some left over, and bought a reliable vehicle... I found that I was no longer motivated to scrap daily. Granted, some of that is more recent medical conditions and being fatigued a lot more often than I'd like to be, but more of it has to do with finally being happy and content and at peace and no longer needing to remind myself that I can do hard things. The proof is all around me!
Finding my partner and finally being loved the way I've always wanted and deserved has made me even less scrappy. I'm not avoiding spending time or interacting with my partner by being on the computer, like I did in my previous two relationships, and I'm actually leaving the house and living life with him.
I do miss scrapping as much as I used to (I'm usually creating 1-2 pages a week when I used to create 1-2 pages a day) but it's a good reason to miss it.
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Post by sarahbee on Aug 23, 2022 15:38:09 GMT
I chose not enough time and not motivated, but if I’m honest with myself, it’s anxiety. My five-year-old just started kindergarten yesterday, and I also found out the same day that my beloved chihuahua is sick with a relapse of a severe autoimmune disease that I thought we’d beat. Aaaaand we might be moving again 🙄. Add in a healthy dash of working full time while trying to wrangle a young toddler and sprinkle of a million other things - and by the time I have a tiny bit of time to myself, my brain is fried and I just need to dissociate for a while.
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Post by sarahbee on Aug 23, 2022 15:38:58 GMT
I've been trying to get some time in my scrapbook area. My problem is lack of focus. I am 6 months out from losing my DH of 42 years. I am still strugglng with being able to focus on reading or crafting. I am so sorry for your loss. I had no idea. I hope your memories can bring some comfort in time. 💙 |
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,437
Location: New York, NY
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Post by christinec68 on Aug 23, 2022 16:22:00 GMT
I've been trying to get some time in my scrapbook area. My problem is lack of focus. I am 6 months out from losing my DH of 42 years. I am still strugglng with being able to focus on reading or crafting. I am so very sorry for your loss. |
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Post by grammadee on Aug 23, 2022 17:23:14 GMT
I chose not enough time and not motivated, but if I’m honest with myself, it’s anxiety. My five-year-old just started kindergarten yesterday, and I also found out the same day that my beloved chihuahua is sick with a relapse of a severe autoimmune disease that I thought we’d beat. Aaaaand we might be moving again 🙄. Add in a healthy dash of working full time while trying to wrangle a young toddler and sprinkle of a million other things - and by the time I have a tiny bit of time to myself, my brain is fried and I just need to dissociate for a while. That's alot on your plate. I have to say I did not scrap AT ALL until after my youngest went off to university. I cannot imagine how you moms get any crafting done at all--unless you are like my mother who "magically" could meet me in the morning with a dress she had made overnight. That woman got no sleep at all... |
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,641
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Aug 23, 2022 22:23:56 GMT
I've been trying to get some time in my scrapbook area. My problem is lack of focus. I am 6 months out from losing my DH of 42 years. I am still strugglng with being able to focus on reading or crafting. ((HUGS)) |
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Post by ExpatBackHome on Aug 24, 2022 0:26:03 GMT
I hadn’t scrapped since April until a few days ago because I’ve been working on my first English Paper Piecing quilt top. It’s a block of the month so I was trying to stay “caught up”. But I started my project life again last week.
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Post by grammadee on Aug 24, 2022 14:12:53 GMT
I hadn’t scrapped since April until a few days ago because I’ve been working on my first English Paper Piecing quilt top. It’s a block of the month so I was trying to stay “caught up”. But I started my project life again last week. That sounds like a fun project. I hadn't included other crafting activities as a reason for not scrapbooking. Several people mentioned staying with paper crafts just moving over to card making or art journaling. But I know there are several Peas who are into needlecrafts as well. It's good to hear about people still enjoying their creativity. |
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 24, 2022 14:21:31 GMT
Like mikklynn I am struggling with grief too. I chose not motivated but that doesn't quite seem to fit. I have the desire to scrapbook, I'm just not sure how to resume my project life again. I'm right up to the part where my child died. And I'm kind of blocked because I'm not sure how to move forward. I thought about just skipping April May and June and scrapbooking a few fun things we did in July. And just going with that. I've thought about just making pocket pages on certain topics like us relandscaping our front lawn. Basically I'm trying to figure out how to scrapbook things that are pleasant but not in keeping with my normal monthly format.
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Post by grammadee on Aug 24, 2022 15:44:53 GMT
Like mikklynn I am struggling with grief too. I chose not motivated but that doesn't quite seem to fit. I have the desire to scrapbook, I'm just not sure how to resume my project life again. I'm right up to the part where my child died. And I'm kind of blocked because I'm not sure how to move forward. I thought about just skipping April May and June and scrapbooking a few fun things we did in July. And just going with that. I've thought about just making pocket pages on certain topics like us relandscaping our front lawn. Basically I'm trying to figure out how to scrapbook things that are pleasant but not in keeping with my normal monthly format. (((((HUGS))))) to you, too. Looks like you have some good ideas for ways you could get back into scrapbooking. I don't think you need to have a whole plan. Just something you could scrap right now. Once you get a page or two under your belt, I hope it will feel more natural to be scrapping, and maybe you can let the time in between go to be documented later?
If you do a mini book on the landscaping, or your one little dress journey--or actually on any topic--maybe that would help? Or do something like a shadow box or scrapbooked canvas or something else for your decor? Anything to stop you from feeling guilty about leaving out--for now--those horrible months.
I think one of the reasons I have never felt the urge to do PL albums is that they seem to be almost like a job sometimes; something that MUST be done. Missing weeks or months might seem to jump out. I tried a project 52 one year and got into week three when I ended up in the hospital. Never got back into it because "catching up" seemed like such a huge task.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 24, 2022 16:19:27 GMT
grammadee all good suggestions. Thank you for the encouragement. I like the project life. I usually do monthly. And some months I'll have 2 pages and some months I'll have 4 pages. And it never felt like pressure to me because I just do what I do and document what I want. But I didn't ever consider the impact a loss might have on me. Maybe I'll pull out some stuff this weekend. See how it goes.
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Post by queenbeeof3 on Aug 24, 2022 17:17:36 GMT
Scrapbooking has taken a back seat to sewing and I have been into bag making thanks to a great person on YouTube and her designs and instructions.
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Post by needtime2scrap on Aug 25, 2022 14:06:21 GMT
I feel like there are a combination of issues for me.
- It's summer and we actually have nice weather so I'm out in the pool while I have a chance.
- I'm finding photoprinting expensive so I either wait to get a whole bunch printed out.
- I'm a project finisher so when I have something hanging over my head like WITL I don't want to start anything until it's done.
- my health, I'm exhausted all the time and don't have the energy to scrap or exercise and sometimes just reading or watching TV is just easier
- I have been feeling just blah lately and it's hard to scrap when I'm like that
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Post by OntarioScrapper on Aug 25, 2022 16:03:09 GMT
Oh it's been awhile for me. Then this year was my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Their pictures were mostly wrecked in a basement flood. My Mom had given me pictures of hers when my parent moved away for 10 years (they came back 3 years ago). In those pictures I found pictures from my Grandma (Mom's mom) and I found wedding pictures! So I made them a scrapbook. I'm going to add the 50th celebration when I got those pages scrapped. So my older sister after seeing this scrapbook requested requested one for her 50th Birthday. She loved it! We moved in April and I found the wedding scrapbook I started for my younger sister and thought I lost in the last move. I have 11 pages done and will finish that. Next year is my 25th Wedding Anniversary so guess I'm staying with the wedding theme for a bit longer.  I was in such a rut for a long time because I started when my youngest was born then had another kid and well got behind. I realized this year how much I missed scrapbooking. I've been making my own cards though but this is so different. I also finally have my own scrapbook room (also my video gaming area!) so I'm all organized. I'm hoping this will help me because I won't be hunting things down! |
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Post by grammadee on Aug 25, 2022 16:24:58 GMT
Sorry to hear you are feeling so exhausted, needtime2scrap. Are you heading back to work this fall, or will you have some time then when the weather cools down? I am a project STARTER. The finishing is not the fun part for me. If I find a project is dragging me down, I make a decision to just let it go for now so I can start something new. I actually DO get back to some of them at a later date. (Used a ScrapHappy mini LOAD to wrap up my Gratitude book) Don't ask me how many unfinished projects are still hanging around... Glad you are finding your mojo, OntarioScrapper, and are having fun making your gift albums. Working within one theme does keep things going for me (until I get tired of that theme, in which case see my note to needtime2scrap above LOL. Hopefully your mojo will stay with you and you are able to enjoy this crafty activity again, no matter WHAT the theme. |
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Aug 27, 2022 16:56:32 GMT
I voted "no space" -- but that only means that I can't keep all my scrap in the place I HAVE and don't want to spread out into the rest of the house. So I've been making an even bigger mess of the space I have by making cards.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 28, 2024 6:33:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2022 19:40:20 GMT
Not enough time for sure. I switched to making cards hoping that would keep me creative and be a bit easier, but still...time. We are getting ready to be empty nesters and DH is wanting to put more on our plates which has been a whole conversation. I WANT a break to do things I enjoy.
Luckily I have a great friend who makes cards daily who stays on me to be creative if that is what I love.
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Post by chaosisapony on Aug 28, 2022 16:55:34 GMT
I feel overwhelmed. Not with being "behind" one scrapping, (I've never really understood that concept honestly. It's a hobby, I scrap when I want to, I don't have a deadline) but with life in general. I'm single, I work full time and I've gone back to school. I get less than six hours of sleep per night. Between all of that there's also taking care of the yardwork and pets. I feel guilty that I don't spend enough time with my horse. My house is a disaster because I'm tired all the time and I just am rarely in a space where I feel like I could sit down to make a layout without spending hours organizing my supplies and clearing off a work surface. I had a nice little spurt of productivity in July when my college classes were out for the summer but that's over now. I have photos pre-printed for when I get the mojo again but for right now I'm barely making it through the day.
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,134
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Aug 28, 2022 17:08:22 GMT
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,134
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Aug 28, 2022 17:23:27 GMT
For me... now that school is back in session and I am no longer watching the grandsons on my days off... I am back into it... but I feel like I must have all new things... and I know I don't need them... I just want them... lol..
I am doing easy pages for now.. .I am not a chrono scrapper.. just whatever pics I want... I wish I had a knack for titles... I saw a past thread about it... I am not great... blahhh
Oh I also diamond dot paint.. thats an easy no brain needed kinda thing.. just put the dots down on the grid... pretty picture at the end.. lmao
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Aug 28, 2022 19:43:35 GMT
1) Not enough space. .......... (edited to shorten my long winded whine...) lol my DD photos from 2021 were part of this massive photo order (shamefully alot if I'm being honest.) I had a left over 6X8 DD album from several years ago that I'd planned to use... But I also bought each of the 8X10's last season. I've been wavering which album I want to use. For whatever weird version of mental gymnastics in my head, I can't seem to allow myself to just make a dang decision and go with it. I liked the 8X10 size. I have two to choose from. I have more than enough photos that I'd likely end up (AGAIN) with two 6X8's, and I don't want to... But, normally my DD is put together rather quickly the next fall when the hype for the next product release begins. It's quick and enjoyable because I've been doing so long, and I keep all the notes etc together. But with the thought of 8X10, I feel like I'm going to be trapped in the project too long and never finish Not-December 2021. Yay! I got over the block and decided to go with the 10X8 Night Before Christmas album. I just started cutting up photos and papers and using embellishments, and just building the album last night. I feel so much better! Today I am printing journaling that I'd written up during Dec- and I'll hand write the rest. Review- It is the least inspired DD album I have done, in over a decade of doing them. I printed the photos as if they were going into a 6X8, so there is a little of that awkwardness- but it did help me to use up some patterned papers extending the layouts. It also gave me room to play with some embellishments and also to fit in my journaling nicely. I bought the KP Twinkle, Magic (?) and City one (?) last year, sorry, can't recall the names at the moment, and they all played together nicely. I had also purchased a "leftovers" Ali kit in a FB swap group. I used ALOT of it. I decided that I wouldn't dig in my stash for anything and slow me down. Just use what I had bought leading up to the season. And it all fit in one album that doesn't feel overstuffed. It's amazing how much more room 10X8 is, than 6X8! Thank you ladies for the motivation to just get it rolling!! All that to say, it's back to 6X8 this year for me! Decision made!! |
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longhornmom
Shy Member
Posts: 39
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Post by longhornmom on Aug 28, 2022 20:13:10 GMT
I feel SO behind. I haven't printed out photos in years unless it's for a specific project (usually for a kid). I'm a saver of little things (programs, tickets, etc.) and started sorting those last year in hopes to get started finding digital photos to print for pages. It's not even easy to throw them in photo albums in page protectors because you have to plan out orientation and sizes!
And don't get me started on the need to make my workspace/flow more conducive to just sitting down here and there to get stuff down. We moved almost 5 years ago and I STILL haven't opened some of the storage bins to sort/purge items.
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Post by grammadee on Aug 29, 2022 0:58:50 GMT
(((((hugs))))) longhornmom. I hope you can find a way to approach your scrapping from a different angle. Are there some recent photos you have taken? You could print and scrap those with the tools and supplies you have on hand. Maybe that would free up your creativity and make this hobby fun again. |
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Post by cmpeter on Aug 29, 2022 2:08:55 GMT
I go thru cycles…scrap all the time or make cards. I’m in a card phase now.
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longhornmom
Shy Member
Posts: 39
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Post by longhornmom on Aug 30, 2022 16:38:09 GMT
(((((hugs))))) longhornmom . I hope you can find a way to approach your scrapping from a different angle. Are there some recent photos you have taken? You could print and scrap those with the tools and supplies you have on hand. Maybe that would free up your creativity and make this hobby fun again. Thank you! I think that's probably a much better perspective - to scrap what's happening today instead of having all of that guilt over the past! We just got back from a family vacation, so maybe I'll start there and print out some pictures.  |
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