A Way Out of the Rut

Raise your hand if you're not afraid to admit that you often find yourself in a scrapbooking rut... and I'll readily admit that I've raised mine as well.  And now everyone's kind of looking at me funny. I mean, who raises their hand in a cubicle? By their self? While writing a blog post? I ask you...

But it's the honest truth. Sometimes I'll spend an entire week or so gearing up for some "me time" on the weekend and naturally, I choose to spend my "me time" scrapbooking. (Or sleeping. But that's beside the point...) And sometimes it works out just so perfectly that I actually have a plan--I know what pictures I'm going to scrapbook or what projects I plan to get done and I go in, get started and come out feeling like I've accomplished a great deal--having the disaster of a scraproom littered in leftovers to show for it!

Most of the time... I head to my scrap space with the best of intentions and I spend a good 15-20 minutes cleaning up the scrap-disaster I failed to take care of the last time I had "me time".  And then I sift through all of the photos I've had printed, hoping something will jump out at me and if nothing does, I head to the computer and wade through my digital files to order some prints I hope to have ready for the next time I have some "me time".

And then I'm pretty much stuck.

Back to the pre-printed photos I go to pull out something I know I need to get scrapped (but have obviously been putting off) and I resign myself to scrapbooking something I want to scrapbook, but am not necessarily all that excited about. Anyone else have this problem sometimes?! Anyone?!

I eventually get the job done--layout finished, into the album it goes. But I miss the fun & excitement of the process, you know?! Sometimes I just need a little inspiration! A little "nudge" that points me in a creative direction!

And that's where these babies come in...

 
Sometimes glancing through them means I'll find a layout or a card or a project of some kind that I'm literally itching to scraplift. BONUS! Other times, there's a theme I spot that reminds me of photos I have waiting to be scrapped and just seeing that theme on a page is enough to strike up "the mood". And well, while I'm being completely honest here I might as well mention that yes--there are still times I browse through and I get nuttin'.
It happens.

More often than not, however... there's a little something in there, somewhere that get's the creative juices flowing and for that I'm grateful! If it weren't for all of the talented designers out there willing to share their passions with the world or some pretty nifty products available to work with in the first place, I'm afraid my mojo just might have taken a permanent leave of absence! Know what I mean?

 
So, for those of you who raised your hands with me (or did so, but at least kept it to yourself so as not to make a fool of yourself in front of your co-workers)... these books are just one option for getting up out of the rut. They're a start, anyway... and sometimes, that's all we need!

Here's to a weekend filled with inspiration and at least 1 or 2 finished layouts for the books! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

TGIF!

Comments

[MonicaS]

So true! I get so excited about having time to spend scrapbooking, but then I get so overwhelmed with the little time I have, almost nothing but organizing gets done! I am glad I am not the only one! Thanks for sharing the "inspiration". PS I would love some input on how and what to prepare for a CROP night. The "me time" seems so ideal but then I am so overwhelmed with what to bring, etc that I haven't ever gone to one. Thanks!

[Janet Zeppa]

I'm raising my hand here too! I think it happens to us all at one time or another.

[Scrapbook Studio]

Monica--what a great idea for a blog post! Getting stuff together for a crop can be totally intimidating! I know I, for one, could stand to hear a few tips!!