I'm considering giving up SB - I'm so Behind!!!

[Skeeter-OR]

I agree with everyone else. I reached a point when the fun was gone because I was so over-whelmed. When I started scrapping, I had about 30 years of pics from our marriage including raising 2 children. I also had 50 yrs. plus of my parents pics. When it ceased being fun, I realized I didn't need to scrap everything. Gradually, I'm getting our pics into regular photo albums and trying to write at least basics on the back. I figure anything that gets scrapped is a bonus, as I'll never do them all! That freed me up to start enjoying the process again. I also decided my work would never look like the beautiful ones I see in the gallery, but that's OK! LOL! My style is mostly about 10 yrs. ago, but I'm enjoying the hobby and my kids and grandsons enjoy every page I do, and that's what counts for me! I also use my stash to do alot of cards. You might want to try that if you decide to take a break from actually doing LOs. I also do not work chronologically, obviously, but do whatever pics call to me at the time. Hope you can get your mojo back and enjoy this wonderful hobby in whatever capacity you decide is for you. ~Bev~

[ScrapHappy06]

Don't give up! As others said, don't feel you have to scrap every photo or every event. Scrap the photos that inspire you to scrap them and don't feel pressured by the rest.

[Miss*Onigur]

You are behind by who's standards. There are no rules. We are our own worst critic in everything we do.

Your not slacking your taking a break.

And don't scrapbook for other people scrapbook for you.

Do you like looking at your books and if so then you are you audience.

Take a deep breath and fall behind. But don't stop taking pics. You'll regret not taking pics more so than not scrapbooking.

AMEN SISTER!!!!!!

[iamscrappy]

i completely understand your frustration. i dont know of anyone who is "caught up" with everything. But that is one of the things that makes this hobby fun- there is always something to work on when the inspiration hits.

i have been in your same place before- about wanting to quit, and looking at all of the money you have tied up in stuff. but it wasn't until my brother in law was "helping me" (sitting at the kitchen table) while i worked on a christmas present for my grandparents, that i gained a real perspective on it. my family (esp my sister) likes to ask how much $$ i spend on this stuff, but when my BIL asked me- i gave him my defensive answer-- to which he replied, "it was just a question, i mean think if your hobby was golf, how much $$ that is. And I spend a lot of money on cooking gadgets because that is what i liike to do"

completely cheered me up. too bad golf and cooking are my other hobbies (yikes)

but anyway, the point is, if it isn't fun for you anymore, then stop or take a break. that is the point of a hobby

hope you cheer up

[floryst]

I haven't read everone's response but I just want to ask--do you love to scrapbook?What was it that got you to begin scrapbooking? I know when I start to feel overwhelmed with the amount of pictures I have I remember why I'm doing it in the first place. That's what really matters--not how many pictures you have to scrapbook. I know that I am never going to be caught up--especially since I always take soooooo many pictures. I've decided to scrap out of order--I scrap what I'm feeling inspired to scrap. I hope this kind of helps you and that you don't decide to quit scrapping.

Nicci

[Web*Mom]

I can relate also. I'm sooo far behind it's not even funny. However, when I do get a chance to sit and scrap, the memories that I relive and preserve is wonderful. My whole family is so appreciative of the time and effor that I put into it. I may not have the cutest.. prettiest pages around, but my heart and soul goes into each little pic and journal. : ) I just scrap what moves me at the time. In fact I just just did my 20 year class reunion that happend almost three years ago. Now I'm working on some summer pics from 2005. Two down... hundreds.. okay maybe thousands of pages to go..

[oldschool]

JMO, well & a few of the ladies who replied before me. If you feel that way you should quit how you are doing it...scrapbooking is suppose to be fun...get that back!!!
Quit your current way and start fresh from 2008...then if you wanna scrap some old important moments later-go for it-give yourself a break girl!

[HannaL]

Have you tried putting your pictures in a photo album, then you don't have to feel pressured to scrap every single picture and you can pick and chose your favorites. And yes you can use the same sketch LO on different pages - I saw a sample in Simple Scrapbooks mag this month and it was amazing how different pp changed the entire look of the design. Try to take a deep breath and remember this is a fun hobby.

[ErinLincoln]

Do you have a digital photo? If so, load all those suckers up to Shutterfly and make yourself a few photobooks. It will take the pressure off, you'll have your stuff organized/in an album with journaling, and you are caught up. That way, you can get back to having fun with the hobby. It's my strategy and let me tell ya, it REALLY REALLY REALLY works.

[dueckcowgirl]

Here's a few suggestions:

*Don't force yourself to scrap every picture. Choose the best photos from each occasion or event and put the rest in photo albums.

*Try printing your photos as wallets so that you can fit more photos per page.

*Don't feel obligated to scrap in chronological order if it doesn't work for you. for some people this works, but others might feel constantly behind which just adds stress and takes away from the fun.

*Find a dozen or so basic page designs and use them over and over. You can take a sketch and rotate it in different ways so that your pages don't all look exactly the same even though they have the same basic design.


And remember, you don't need to have a ton of supplies on each page to make it beautiful. Stretch the supplies you've got so that they last a long time!

thats very good advice Megmay. I would try to either follow this and/or try Erin's idea about uploading and having a book printed out for you to take some of the stress your putting on yourself to get "caught up." I'm assuming you still want to enjoy it but are just to stressed out about it, and we have all been there at one time or another. If YOU enjoy it, then scrap a few pages for YOU. Theres nothing wrong with sliding those other puppies in a regular album and picking out a few here and there that you really WANT to do. Good luck, but I think you can see by all the responses here, that we have all been there. Sit back and read over all the great advice and find a plan of action that will work for you.