The Paperclipping Community of Scrapbookers
I need to talk...
Hey Paperclipping Friends,
My scrapbooking buddy moved and I don't have anyone to talk to about some scrapbooking issues I am having. Thought maybe I could throw my thoughts out here and get some ideas from you gals. I started scrapbooking a couple of years ago. I "taught" myself and learned a lot online. I started collecting "stuff" I thought scrapbookers used, at garage sales, ebay and bought new things also. SO, now I have a lot of stuff and I need to clear some things out because there is a scrapbooking store around the corner that is having a garage sale and I want to take some of my stuff up there to sell in the garage sale. That is the background, so here are some of my questions. As I look at all my stuff, I am trying to figure out what my style is, what I will use, etc. I heard Noell say on a Paperclipping Live a couple of weeks ago, if she doesn't love it she got rid of it...so I am keeping that in mind. Then I am thinking, okay, when you find your style, does that mean you use the same type products over and over? I have lots of stuff and I always thought a "scrapbooker" tries to do all kinds of different things. So I have lots of different things like rubber and acrylic stamps, paint, pearlex, luminart paints, stickers, punches, packaged embellishments, quotes, markers, pens. So then I started thinking about what I love. I love color a lot. So, I would not even think about getting rid of my paint and ink. But the pearlex I don't really know what to do with it and the luminart paints also. I love looking at them! But I am noticing I don't use the packaged embellishments much or the stickers. I don't use my stamps much either...but I want to explore the stamps more. I guess now I am thinking, okay, what is my style. I guess I just think about what I love again? And when you have a style, that means you kinda stick with the same type products and that is okay? I seem to be very influenced by what others are doing and I have a hard time finding what I really like. It's weird. But I am to the point where I want to simplify and feel that is okay. I know that I don't want to do "cheesy" scrapbooking. I like Noell's style and I have learned a lot from her. But sometimes I try to do a more artistic page and it ends up more traditional or old fashioned. I think that may be because when I was learning about scrapbooking on my own in the beginning a lot of what I was reading and looking at on the web was old information. Okay, I rambled on enough!!! If anyone would like to give me their thoughts I would love that!
My scrapbooking buddy moved and I don't have anyone to talk to about some scrapbooking issues I am having. Thought maybe I could throw my thoughts out here and get some ideas from you gals. I started scrapbooking a couple of years ago. I "taught" myself and learned a lot online. I started collecting "stuff" I thought scrapbookers used, at garage sales, ebay and bought new things also. SO, now I have a lot of stuff and I need to clear some things out because there is a scrapbooking store around the corner that is having a garage sale and I want to take some of my stuff up there to sell in the garage sale. That is the background, so here are some of my questions. As I look at all my stuff, I am trying to figure out what my style is, what I will use, etc. I heard Noell say on a Paperclipping Live a couple of weeks ago, if she doesn't love it she got rid of it...so I am keeping that in mind. Then I am thinking, okay, when you find your style, does that mean you use the same type products over and over? I have lots of stuff and I always thought a "scrapbooker" tries to do all kinds of different things. So I have lots of different things like rubber and acrylic stamps, paint, pearlex, luminart paints, stickers, punches, packaged embellishments, quotes, markers, pens. So then I started thinking about what I love. I love color a lot. So, I would not even think about getting rid of my paint and ink. But the pearlex I don't really know what to do with it and the luminart paints also. I love looking at them! But I am noticing I don't use the packaged embellishments much or the stickers. I don't use my stamps much either...but I want to explore the stamps more. I guess now I am thinking, okay, what is my style. I guess I just think about what I love again? And when you have a style, that means you kinda stick with the same type products and that is okay? I seem to be very influenced by what others are doing and I have a hard time finding what I really like. It's weird. But I am to the point where I want to simplify and feel that is okay. I know that I don't want to do "cheesy" scrapbooking. I like Noell's style and I have learned a lot from her. But sometimes I try to do a more artistic page and it ends up more traditional or old fashioned. I think that may be because when I was learning about scrapbooking on my own in the beginning a lot of what I was reading and looking at on the web was old information. Okay, I rambled on enough!!! If anyone would like to give me their thoughts I would love that!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by TrayChic on -
I noticed that you mentioned that you didn't know how to use many of your products (pearlex, luminarts, rubber stamps, etc). Maybe see if you can take a class, either online or at the LSS you mentioned. If, after the class, you still don't find yourself using them very much, then you may want to take it as, "You know what, I like the look of it, but it's just not me." I also noticed that you have found that you don't use packaged embellishments very often. I noticed the same thing about myself a few weeks ago!!! I was totally stunned when I realized this. I have recently started developing my "style"...and it's taken quite a few layouts to do so. When I was scrapbooking just every once in awhile, I'd try anything and not really "feel" what I was doing. Now that I have more time, I have been able to notice the pattern more. With patterned paper, I completely agree with Noell- If you don't love it, don't hang on to it. I, personally, am a very "product inspired" person. I know what kind of papers I like, and I will ALWAYS go for these over older stuff that I don't totally love. If I'm stuck on how to use a paper, I head on over to the Two Peas gallery. There is so much inspiration there! Everyone has such differnt styles and they use things in different ways. So, my advice:
1. Purge the things that you dont love immediately at that garage sale
2. Sign up for a class for the luminarts, sprays, inks, etc. If, after a few months, you still dont use them, then I'd consider getting rid of them.
3. Keep on playing. Create some layouts, try out a few different "styles" by looking at those galleries, and see what develops.
Hope this helps!!
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Permalink Reply by Liz Ness on -
Hi Terrie!
It sounds like you may be a bit like me: Eclectic in your style. And, I have to admidt that every now and then, this drives me nuts and I'm compelled to purge. I think the advice to start with what you love is perfect.
Here's my advice, sort all of your stuff into two piles:
1. Stuff you know you won't use + stuff you dislike (be ruthless).
2. Stuff you may use in the future + stuff you love.
Then, get rid of the first pile (and don't look back). Next, separate the remaining stash into two piles:
1. Stuff you may use + stuff you love, but do not use.
2. Stuff you love that you use all of the time.
Package up this new first pile and keep it (separate) for awhile. If you do not get into this first pile within six months to a year, get rid of it. Then, go through the whole process of sorting again with everything remaining.
If you do get into your separate pile within the same timeframe (6 mos - year), pull out the specific class of thing(s) that you drew you in. For example, if a specific type of silk flower drew you in, remove all of the silk flowers like it, from the pile. Then, get rid of the rest.
If your style is eclectic, simplifying your stash will be a continual and regular part of your creative process.
Whatever you do, keep yourself happy -- there really are no rules here for any of this scrappy stuff. It's all about creating, sharing a bit of yourself through your stories, and having a good time while you do. =)
Best wishes!
=) Liz
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Permalink Reply by IamJen on -
It took me more than 15 years to figure out my style and I held onto a lot of "unused" product through that process. What I know now is that I always knew what was "me" immedately but purchased things all the time that I thought I "might" use and never did. I've finally gotten to that point like you mentioned about Noell....where I can get rid of it if I don't use it. I do however have an extensive collection of the things that I do use and love.
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Permalink Reply by Terrie Carlson on -
Thank you so much for taking the time to give me some great advice. There is a lot here for me to think about, try, and then re-read, which will be very helpful. It is so cool how all of you had different things to say and gave me different things to think about. They set a date for the garage sale now so I have 1 1/2 weeks to get ready for it. That helps to have this deadline and at least I will get some of it set aside to sell before then. Also I am going to box up some stuff for my daughter to use in the future. Do any of you just have a hard time getting rid of stuff you might use? I have that problem in general and need to purge stuff out of my house.....I love a good deal and that causes me to buy stuff for that reason and also shopping at garage sales (I stopped doing it finally) has also caused me to bring in too much stuff, especially toys and things for my daughter!
Again, thank you so much for your advice...I appreciate it so much!
Terrie
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Permalink Reply by Liz Ness on
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I do have trouble getting rid of the "might use" stuff. I, too, give materials to my son -- he has no trouble using any of it -- just dives right in! =)
Also, I have (in the past) been drawn in on deals (and garage sales). I finally stopped when I realized how much I spent on it and how little I used. And, I try to think about all supplies before I buy, asking myself -- can I make that myself or do I already have something just like it. It's all an ongoing thing, though...
HUGS and best wishes as you slug through it all!
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