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

[ScrapMyKids]

Anyone else ever at this point? I am far behind with stacks of pictures to scrapbook, my finished albums sit on a shelf, and I look at all the money I have invested in this hobby. I feel that I should just go back to photo albums. I wonder if anyone will care that I have put all this time, effort and money into these albums in years to come. And where will I put all of the albums if I do ever (ha) get all the pictures actually put on layouts?? I find myself not even taking as many pictures because I think about them stacking up on my scrapbook table.

I hate feeling like this about something that is supposed to be fun, enjoyable and a break from the mundane everyday life!!

Those are my deep thoughts from the land of lurkdom. Today is one of the first days I've even been back to lurk, much less post an occasional response!

sad...

[iscrapboys]

Well, there's no reason you have to scrap every picture. Why not take a break from all-out scrapping and try some 2-up or 3-up albums? Then you get to just slide the pics into their slots, keeping out an occassional slot for journaling or a title or whatever. There are also 12X12 albums (scrapworks, maybe?) that have slots for pics. Or you could just put all your pics into plain albums and start scrapping again only with future pics. Or just go for super simple. Or, if it makes you feel better, then give it up for a while. See how you feel in 6 months' time. If you still don't think you want to scrap anymore, then feel no guilt in quitting. It's a hobby, not something that should make you feel bad!

[myangels5]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I have often felt the same way, not just because I'm behind, but we have no kids and I figure who will pass these along. Then I remember that yes, while I am preserving memories, this is also a creative outlet for me. And thanks to last night's HH, I know I am not the only one without kids who scrap.

Are you being unrealistic in your goals? In other words, are you scrapping EVERY photo you take?

I say stick with it!

[Chrispea]

This is exactly why I don't scrap chronologically.

I just scrap whatever I feel like it. One day I might do Christmas, the next a summer project or one of my kids birthdays from 1999.

So, don't stress. Just do it for fun. Just play. Don't make it like a job... we all know how we feel about jobs when we "have" to do stuff. It's no fun.

Just have fun. Life is too short to stress out. Whatever you don't scrap, just put in pretty albums until you get a chance. Heck, I have doubles of everything, so I have albums and scrap pages. (notice how I don't have "scrap" albums yet?!)

Good luck.

[Jenbear]

I keep my photos in photo boxes that way they are not looking at me all of the time. I don't have a lot of time to scrap, so I'm many years behind. The way I look at it is someday when my kids are grown and out of the house there may actually be time to finish up on some albums.

Yep I look at the money I have put into this hobby and think oh my I could have used that money else where, but then I think about how much it relaxes me at the end of a day or week (depending on when I can scrap) and I find it to be refreshing.

I know my family will appreciate all of the work I have done in the future, because not only is there just photos, but a story with them that tell about that picture and that time.

[BlessedtoknowHim]

I used to think this way when I was caught in the stronghold of chronological scrapbooking, lol. Seriously, what is your goal in scrapbooking. If your goal is just to put pictures on paper, then you may be behind. However, if your goal is share values, beliefs, traditions, feelings, memories, etc. then are you really behind if you make a habit of meeting your goal with each layout you create? KWIM?

[scrapthat]

Don't give up!! Yes, it is all worth it and it will be appreciated. The alternative is to have what I have, both my parents are gone and I am left with a box of photos where I often wonder...who are these people? Obviously they are important as my Mom and Dad didn't take a TON of photos, and they are smiling and having a good time but I have no clue, it's not written anywhere...I have no handwriting from them to speak of...I don't know the date...My Dad was in the service but he never spoke of it...I don't know if it was the army or what. I wish someone had taken the time to document this information for me, and now I have no one to ask really. So see, it is worth it and your Children will appreciate the time you took to document the events of their lives, and yours.

[megmay8]

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!

[blondegrrlie]

I doubt that I will EVER be caught up, and sometimes I do feel overwhelmed but I try not to let it get to me. I have to remind myself WHY I scrapbook and it also means a lot to my family. I made my mom a calander for Christmas and she cried while she was looking at it...those types of things keep me scrapbooking...plus I love it and can barely go a day without working on something....even if it's just for a few minutes...plus I have invested way too much money into it to let it go! I think my son will look back when he is older and appreciate the time and work I did to capture every moment of his life that I could! I know that no one in my family has ever done this and it kind of saddens me to know that so many memories are uncaptured and undocumented....just lost.... I don't want my life to be forgotten...or the little things my son says or does to be forgotten! And like others have said before, scrapbooking is kinda therapuetic! At the end of a stressful or busy day you sit down and recapture a happy moment or event and it calms you down a bit...at least for me anyways! I'm sorry you are feeling this way and I really hope you don't give it up for good!

[tjsscrapinaunt]

I know completely how you feel. I was at the point just a few short months ago. But then I realized that not every picture needs to be scrapped. y nephew also asked me if he was getting another ablum because he wants to take it to show n tell at school. He wants to show his classmates his vacation to WA. He also said he would rather read the things I put in the scrapbook than a book. He HATES to read. And that is when I realized it was all worth it.