today i decided to clean out my scrapbook magazines. usually i keep 2 or 3 issues of each magazine … and then i’ll go through them after a while and tear out anything that catches my eye. articles, layouts by favorite designers, album ideas, techniques, etc. i went through 5 magazines today … 2 issues of creating keepsakes, 2 issues of simple scrapbooks, and 1 issue of memory makers. i realized that in these 3 magazines … i don’t read a lot of the articles anymore. i tend to "ohhh" and "ahhh" over layouts. i’m always looking to see who designed what. but i don’t read the articles like i used to.
but as i was tearing things out … one article caught my eye. it was in the january/february issue of simple scrapbooks. i admit that none of the layouts really caught my eye (and i don’t mean that in any bad way towards those designers. lol!) … so i’m actually not sure why i stopped to actually read the article. it was called "simple truths … five important reminders that will keep you scrapbooking … and loving it" (by angie lucas). here’s the scoop and a few of my thoughts … random as they may be. lol!
- "it isn’t about the photos … it’s about the memories." basically you should scrapbook your most meaningful memories first … and then store the rest of your photos in regular photo albums. that way they can still be looked at and enjoyed. not every photo needs to be scrapped. it’s more about a memory you want to get down … a story you want to tell … things you want to remember. and having a few photos that go with that is great. but you certainly don’t need to scrap every photo you have just because you have them. i’ve been starting this process … going through pics and putting lots of them away in regular albums … the ones that i just don’t think i’ll scrap or am not feeling inspired to scrap. i can always dig them back out if i want.
- "it isn’t how you scrapbook that matters, it’s why". i definately get caught up in using the newest and greatest products … i love product. i love having layouts that are fun and cute and eye-candy to look at. but not every layout needs to be a work of art. i have a few layouts i’ve done that have been super simple … and i love them. one layout that stands out in my mind is the one i did of alyssa and her favorite tv shows. there was really nothing fancy on that layout … but i love what i got down on that layout … important stuff that she’ll love to look back on. it’s not always about spending hours on every layout.
- "it isn’t about catching up … it’s about continuing on". i don’t think i’ve ever felt like i was behind on my scrapbooks. i don’t scrap chronologically (spl?). i scrap whatever i’m inspired to scrap … and never in any particular order. that’s not to say i don’t get overwhelmed. but my thing is more about having too many ideas that i never seem to get to. so in that way i guess i feel behind sometimes. but i have years to get to all the things i’d like to do i guess.
- "it isn’t about comparison and competition … it’s about acceptance and awareness". this is one thing i do get caught up in. i’ve had moments where i’ve been way to obsessed with contests and competitions … hall of fame, design team contests, submitting. i’ve really let go of most of that. i’m definately still up on submitting … i submit about 90% off what i create and keep track of who’s looking for what and when it has to be submitted by. but i really don’t enter contests anymore … with the exception of the making memories idol contest. lol! i’ve done way to many design team entries … and not made it … and then compared myself to those that did get picked. so not worth it. the few opportunities that have come my way just came to me … i didn’t go looking for them. all the ones i did go looking for have never worked out.
- "above all, it’s about having fun". when you get down to it … it’s really just getting in and creating. playing with paper and embellishments. thinking too hard about what i’m doing does nothing for my creativity. i do think i’ve come a long ways with this one. i do have a few design team obligations … but i’ve been the most happiest with my assignments when i gave myself more freedom to play and not limit myself too much. use the assigned products … but also use all the other awesome products i have laying around. sometimes you just need to take out some stuff that you really love … and just play!
i’ve been thinking a lot lately about what i’m scrapping. the subject of my layouts … what i’m taking the time to document. i think i want to change some things. i realized that i really don’t do as many layouts about my girls and our family as i used to. i think one reason is that i don’t have as many pictures of them … they truely do run from my camera when it comes out. lol! and photos can really inspire me … so i need to work on getting more random everyday photos from my girls.
not quite sure where i’m going with this post. just thinking i guess. lol! still trying to figure out what i’m doing in my head. it really is so random the layouts i make sometimes. as soon as i get some time to scrap and play … i really never seem to have anything particular in mind. i just kind of rifle through things and pull out what speaks to me. i think i just need to work harded to focus more on our family and getting our lives down … all those great things i really want to remember down the road!
i’ll let you know what i come up with!
Laura Vegas 
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