Okay, I’ll admit it.
I’ve been neglecting you…
Maybe it is the advent of nice weather and summer breezes, but things have been downright crazy lately! It has been hard to complete anything, other than what is immediately necessary…which made me think of scrapbooking. In reality, what doesn’t make me think of scrapbooking?
The most common complaint that scrapbookers have is that “I don’t have time to scrapbook”. It would be easy to say “make time”, but often the people and activities that fill our time have much more urgent demands for our attention, and a hobby is often the first thing that is demoted in our To Do lists.
Strangely enough, during this super-busy week, I found myself finishing about 1/3 of a mini album. How? I’m not sure, but pondering on it, here are some ways that I got that work done: by not trying to ”make” time for scrapping, but finding ways to ”fit” it into my schedule.
- organize your projects into specific boxes or folders. Then, when you have a few minutes, or are feeling creative, it is much easier to sit down and get something accomplished, rather than spending time trying to find things, only to get frustrated, or realize that you are now out of time…again.
- jot down ideas when they come to you. Creativity cannot be forced, no matter how hard you try, and there is nothing more frustrating than finally being able to sit down to scrapbook, only to find that you cannot think of a single thing to do with a photo. Jotting down a creative idea or layout when it comes to you will ensure that it is not “lost” in the jumble of other thoughts that must occupy your brain on a daily basis. Plus, having that crude pencil drawing will often spark that creativity when you look at it again, or even bring out another layout idea.
- when waiting in line, or stuck in traffic, change your mind to more creative channels. Turning your mind off from the list of things that need to get done, to thinking of scrapbooking will often give you some great ideas, which can then be implemented later. Listening to music that inspires you will also help your mind change channels when stuck in the car. Keep a notebook handy!
- if possible, leave your projects out on a table. This way, sometimes you’ll walk by and do a few things to a layout or mini album while waiting for the washing machine, microwave, etc. Five minutes here and there, all added up, can mean hours of scrapbooking time in one week!
- scrapbook when watching TV. For other CSI lovers out there, that means three hours of scrapbooking each week! Be sure you do projects that still allow you to watch the detectives, though. You wouldn’t want to miss the key evidence that cracks the case! (And, as well, some of those detectives are pretty cute! 
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If you have some ideas or suggestions on how to accomplish everything on your To Do list, and still fit in your scrapbooking addiction, feel free to share!
Have a productive, and fun, weekend!
Tanya
