Wow.

Absolutely wow!!! I was just talking about this with some friends on here! this is sooo true and very nicely written!!!!

standing O !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

agreed. very well put. :)

Wow, so true!

WOW!! This is exactly how I feel.
Drex, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts.

yep... WOW is what comes to my mind too!

Thanks for reminding us of this. It's so easy to get caught up in the trends that we forget why we really scrapbook. Thank you Drex!

SOOO TRUE!! You go for saying what is on alot of our minds! :)

Great prespective... Thanks!

Aw, I like this.

But I'm still going over budget Drex. Bahahahaha!

No, seriously, I used to say something similar when I taught classes. The most important thing you can do is write one story to go with one picture that means something to you. If you do that you've gotten what it means to scrapbook. Nothing else is as important as preserving one memory. Nothing. Not the laundry, cleaning the house, etc. Just preserve one memory whichever way makes you happy, whatever style speaks to you.

Nicely put Drex thank you.

This is amazing... very well said!

I like this, it made me a little sad because I tried getting my sister into scrapbooking hoping to be able to spend some time with her, while we both reminised about our memories. (thought it would be fun) she did it with me twice.. and then decided that she wasnt doing it anymore because "she was not good at it". I have been scrapping for along time and still have so much to learn, I dont like that she compared her work to mine, I dont like that it intimidated her (especially since Im not that great), I dont like that she missed that the whole point wasnt to create GREAT layouts but to spend quality time together, and to preserve and share our memories not only with each other, but with everyone else in our lives.

So true, all of it. Thanks for a real eye-opener!

((((CLAP))))) (((((((CLAP))))))) (((((((CLAP)))))) That is such a true to life portrayal of a "real-life" scrapbooker...I too got caught up for a minute trying to keep up with the Jone's, but when it is all said and done at the end of the day, all you have is YOUR page to remember those special times with your family and friends...Well said!!!

Bravo!! I completely agree with your thoughts. Too often, we get caught up in the things that we think we want or need and our memories get left by the wayside. We focus on what we don't have and need to get rather than looking at what would be best for the memory we are trying to preserve. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the supplies, that we don't even use them.
I always feel sad when my friends say that they don't scrapbook because they're not creative or they don't have time. I'm working on them to let them know that things don't have to be perfect - you're not going to show your family my scrapbook in 30 years. They are going to be greatful that you took the time to help preserve the memories that you had.
Again - bravo! Bring lots of fun stuff back from CHA and have a good time!!

Well said Drex! It makes me feel SO sad to see scrappers feeling "less worthy" than other scrappers.....how can there be such a thing? THAT is the beauty of scrapbooking....there is NO right or wrong. The memories are what's important, right?! We all have something to say and share and have different ways of expressing that ....that's the wonderful thing about sb.com is that you can see so many different styles but still have a common bond.... :) Okay, group hug everyone! tee hee! :)

I completely understand what you are saying. Thanks for saying it.

Well said!!!!!!!

Amen!

Love this, "[SBing is]...about becoming more of who you are, discovering and revealing yourself and your love, ..."
I know there's a lot of love shared here! And I try to put my heart in all of my LOs also. Always amazed at this wonderful hobby that we all share. TFS!

Perfect...................just perfect. Thank you Drex for reminding us all of this.

[applause]

You are so right!

*clapping* You are my hero!

I whole heartedly agree! Well said!

this really echoes my thoughts lately. i keep reitterating a similar idea in my blog: remember why i scrap and who i scrap for (the answers in my case being "me, me, me!")

Well Said Drex!!!

PSST Can I hide in your suitcase so I can go Lookie at CHA??? Taterdawg Pwease

Thank you for saying this out loud. I feel all the time that it's hard to compete with some of the other scrappers. I need to remember why I started scrapping in the first place! Thank you thank you thank you

Awesome... simply awesome! Thanks for the push and the motivation!

Excellant Drex. I vote this gets posted in the next newsletter!!!

Wow! That's exactly how I feel too. And besides preserving and sharing memories, for me personally, I have endless fun scrapbooking because of the endless possibilities of creating layouts. Very well said, Drex! Thanks for sharing your thought!

and THAT.....is why we buy from you!!!!!

pretty awesome! Thankyou. It is so easy to get caught up and think you aren't that great of a scrapper... when I feel like that I always show my pages to my children and they always ooh and aah over it and remind me that is what I do it for.

Absolutely Outstanding!!! Thank you!

You won't mind if I print this out and post it in my scraproom, I hope! I think those are words that need to be read again and again!!!!

WOW Drex. That was food for thought!! Well said.

Very well put! I love to look at the beautiful pages that others do. I find myself sometimes wishing I could do that, but when I look through my pages, I just really love them and my family loves them. That's what matters most!

Seriously well thought out! Thanks for sharing your feelings and thoughts so eloquently!

Amazing. Thank you for putting everything into perspective.

It's funny because this reminded me of my grandma's scrapbook (who I barely knew) which is a plain black paper book with cards and pictures and articles in it that I absolutely LOVE. It doesn't matter to me how they are laid out or that there are no embelishments or fancy paper. I just love that she created it and it lets me know who she was. Great blog. I think this is going on my cork board above my scrap desk as a reminder!

:)

Thank you, Drex. I honor your great thoughts and your willingness to speak them. I honor you. Thank you.

You all may want to read as a companion piece to this Jill's "Soul Scrapping."

http://scrapbook.com/blogs/206/view/2153.html

Wow, do I like my family!!

That is so true and from the heart. I love to scrap but have felt that my stuff wasn't up to pare too. But I remembered that I do this for me not for others. Thanks for saying what was in your heart.

You put it perfectly. If all my friends who want to try and don't could read this maybe they would at least give it a try.

WOW, very well said!!

Wonderfully put!!!

Enough said!! :)

You hit the nail on the head. This is what I try to make my Hubby understand. It's not just a hobby, It's a way to show my love to everyone now and forever I hope.

This really hit home with me. I actually left a different scrapbook site because of the rivarly!! I didn't realize when signing up at this other place that the whole deal was to buy the same exact materials as everyone else and try to "out do" each other. This made scrapbooking, for me, unejoyable. I'm glad I found scrapbook.com I'm happy I took the time to look through the gallery and read the forums before registering. I was happy to see "real" people not just designers and merchandise promoters being the only ones participating in the website.

:)

thank you!

Wonderful...Very well said!!!!
When I first started entering contests I really hated the lo's that I entered because I felt my heart wasn't really into the page.
I have since come off of my "contest high" and I am getting back into the true meaning of scrapbooking.
Thanks for giving us all a little reminder!!!

Thank you! This is truely what sbing is all about!!

You are such a good writer Drex. I enjoyed reading this blog entry and it really brought back to me the whole reason I scrap. I'm not in it to be published, but to have something for my family and future generations to remember the history of this family by. Thanks for reminding us of that!

Love, love, love this blog. This echos my thoughts exactly. When I first started sbing, I was directed to Scrapbook.Com immediately. I got caught up in the contests for about 5 minutes. Then I thought, "that's NOT why I am doing this." I have a ton of photos and ideas that I want to preserve and sooooo little time. I love to follow the contests and see who wins, but it's not for me. But don't worry. I still have to have the beautiful paper and embellies, etc. Thanks for the reminder of what is REALLY important. Now go get us some great stuff!!! :o)

so inspiring! You write beautifully, just like Jill's soul Scrapping! Can you put into words my journaling? LOL!!

What wonderful words... thank you.

Thank you for expressing this so eloquently. My sentiments exactly! :o)

Amen sister!

Wowza Drex, there's some serious truth and passion in that entry, I'm seeing you in a whole different light! ;) I agree it's easy to get sidetracked with toys and achievements but you just have to hold on to whatever it is that creates enjoyment for you in this hobby. Memory preservation is important, but in my opinion the creative process is just as fulfilling, and sometimes I make things just to see what kind of design I can create. The beauty of this hobby is that you can feel, be, pursue and create whatever you want and there's room for everyone. :)

And CHA is one big crazy topsy-turvy circus but I just see it as a chance to see all the awesome people that this hobby (and sb.com) have brought into my life. It ain't about nothin' but fun for me, but I'm not trying to sell or buy anything so that's probably why, lol! If I see you and the crew I'll be sure to say Hi!

Beautifully written Drex. :)

Yo Bro!!!

This is definitely great newsletter material... :)

Were you trying to tell me something? Just because I haven't done any paper scrapping and still practicing with digital and keep buying more goodies, especially with the QVC Scrapbooking fair.....what? Oh, I wasn't being singled out? Yeah but when I see so many awesome LO's in the Gallery, I wanna.....oh, ok, I got it. Tomorrow, thanks to you and putting things into perspective, I will take the plunge and actually do a LO. If all goes well, it will be posted by Monday. Thanks again for the "awakening".

Okay...my eyes teared up a little there. Thank you. Beautifully written.

Thanks for relieving the pressure! I have really been caught up in buying what is in, and forgetting about all of the great stuff I already have. Thank you for reminding me what this great hobby is about...the memories, not the product.

Very well said! Spoken from the heart! I completely buy into the fast pace of the industry at times...but I keep coming back to what's important...and scrapbook.com is WONDERFUL at providing a site and service that is reflective of the real world and what's most important: preserving memories.

That was refreshing from a scrapbooking business owner, thank you for sharing that.

I agree that scrapbooking is all about preserving memories through a creative outlet. Each person should go at their own pace and comfort level. I get discouraged when painstakingly perfect pages filled with the latest and greatest products are displayed in trade magazines. Sometimes I wonder how they find room for the photos/memorabilia, which is why we scrapbook in the first place.

Thanks, That was exactly what I needed to hear!

This means alot to me, I can't afford to by the "latest and greatest". I have been trying to get published, but I never get picked, but this woke me up, I don't have to be published. I am highlighting my families memories. That will be remembered forever! Thank you Drex!

Drex - There's nothing "sappy" about your statement!!! It was very well written and sincere!!! That's what a lot of companies forget about...the sincerity and the real reason why we scrapbook.

Some scrapbookers like myself can get overwhelmed with the new lines and gadgets that are out there for preserving our memories. Companies forget sometimes about what it really boils down to....preserving memories. I appreciate the way you and the rest of the Scrapbook.com Family take take this vision and enstill it to your members.

Thank you for caring about us and for being real!!!

Sincerely,
Raquel

Good to know that it's not all about $$$. Memories are what's most important.

Well said Drex!! I so completely agree!

Hi Drex,

Thanks for the welcome to the site. I am enjoying it a lot and TOTALLY agree with your thoughts. My whole purpose in sb is to tell a story and tell it with photos. The other stuff should accent those photos, not overtake them. This has been my attitude from the beginning (sb 1 year). I enjoy seeing what others create and let that be an inspiration to me, but in no way feel the need to compete. This is a hobby of love and pure enjoyment to me. Thanks again!

Linda :)

That was so well said! We all need to remember everything you said. That helped me realize that I shouldn't think that if I don't buy everything I need, my scrapbooks won't be good enough. If I like my pages, that's good enough!
Thank you for expressing yourself so eloquently!

That was so well said! We all need to remember everything you said. That helped me realize that I shouldn't think that if I don't buy everything I need, my scrapbooks won't be good enough. If I like my pages, that's good enough!
Thank you for expressing yourself so eloquently!

Well, I have to say that I absolutely love this blog. Being new to scrapping I got in to it just to scrap what I love; a moment in time within my life and to leave it behind to the ones who will treasure it most. When I set time aside to scrape it's like I enter another world. I get lost in all the memories within the pictures and the feelings that are arroused by those moments. It is a time of shear pleasure, joy, creatitivity and love. I do love getting on site and looking at all the layouts I must admit; it is inspiring. I love seeing other people's hearts and lives reflected in their layouts. I have read captions that have moved me to tears, because I feel and see the love within that page, and it is not in the lo, but in the words and pics. God made us all so different with different gifts and it is reflected in our scrapping and our lives. Some of us are more simple, some a little more flashy, some elegant, some outragious, some a little louder then another, some with a little more money, but really the layout and all the embellishments are nice and I do like and use them, but it really gets back to the photo on the page and that is what it is all about... that moment captured in the photo of the things we love. Our memories are linked to our hearts. That's what makes true scrapping so powerful. My daughter just scrapped her hairless rat... one would say upon viewing the lo....oh my that is so ugly, but to Rachel that rat is beautiful and is seeded in her heart because she has had it for 4 years and has loved it and nurtured it and it loves her back unconditional and it is very affectionate to her. And that is what makes her photos of Noel so meaningful to her. When my children see the few pages I have scrapped for them, "they" feel extra special and loved. They can't wait to see the next one I am going to do for them. "They" feel loved. And I can't think of any one of us who wouldn't want that now! Since I am new to all of this, I guess I would just say to all the scrapers out there, ditto to what Drex just blogged and be yourself, that is who God created and intended you to be, unique and one of a kind, not like any other; whether it be simple or flashy! I would love to see a contest where it was just a lo contest. Where the guidelines were... use whatever you have and there is no product/brand name requirement involved! Then everyone could take part, not everyone can always run out and buy a brand or wants to, but I bet more people would participate if it was open ended!

Nice blog Drex! May everyone feel gifted when it comes to scrapping!

PS... can I go in your suitcase too with taterdog1!!!!!

This issue was in desperate need of being addressed, and you've expressed your sentiments beautifully. I hit a wall when I realized I had placed 3 online orders for supplies in one month (usually I only do 1); when the third box came, I stamped my foot and thought, ENOUGH! Am I trying to win a prize for owning the most supplies?? I began scrapping because I want to be able to have a meaningful record of my life that my family can share for generations. It makes me feel good to preserve my memories. And my family & friends are no more touched and overwhelmed by the "fancier" lo's than those simple pages capturing my early efforts. As far as they are concerned, the fact that I have invested time and work into preserving a piece of them makes every page I do a masterpiece.

Thank you for putting things into perspective, it really made me step back and take a look at myself, and why I was scrapbooking, especially, because I look at other's amazing layouts and I get so intimidated, at times I'm even scared to do it, because it won't be as good as others.... Now I remember why I scrapbook in the first place...

I agree to everyone else's agreement

Well put. Many of us have talked with other scrappers and find they talk more about all the products, papers, and tools they've purchased then what they're actually doing with them! I RARELY go into the scrapbook stores in my area because I get discouraged thinking, "maybe my pages are out of style because I don't have that cool such and such...." But then I come to my senses, especially when my husband looks at the scrapbooks I've completed about our first son and he is absorbed in it. It's about memories. How true.

I'm in front of my computer giving you a Standing O. WOW!! This is the real meaning of scrapbook. Thanks for help us to open our eyes and let us know that Scrapbook is more than a competition is keep our memories for the generations. God Bless You!!!!

E.

Gracias por compartir tu pasion por el scrap y mostrar lo que en realidad es...es parte de la herencia que nosotros dejaremos en nuestro paso por este mundo. Es la herencia que pienso darles a mis hijos de los recuerdos que he vivido y experimentado con ellos, y de que sepan futuras generaciones, quien fui yo

Bendiciones
Liz Gil < Mexico!!

I'M JOINING THE OTHER 86 PEOPLE IN SAYING THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US ON WHAT SCRAP BOOKING IS ALL ABOUT. I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT AS A FAMILY HISTORY KEEPSAKE. IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT OUR FAMILIES WON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT PRODUCTS WE USED. THEY WILL BE THANKFUL ENOUGH THAT WE PUT OUR TIME, OUR HEARTS & SOULS INTO PRESERVING OUR FAMILY MEMORIES!....THANKS ALSO FOR CHECKING OUT MY GALLERY!TAKE CARE!

Drex, thanks so much for keeping things in perspective for us. Your right and I have told so many people the same thing as I have tried to encourage them to begin scrapbooking their memories. I find myself feeling a little shallow though. I agree whole heartedly with what your saying, but isn't there room for those of us who enjoy the art part of scrapbooking as well. I hope so. I for one would love to have just one page published someday. Do I have to feel guilty for that. I for one enjoy viewing others work, finding styles that appeal to me, scraplifting. I'm thankful for those "celebrities" who work so hard at their art/craft and then share it with people like me who don't have that talent. I enjoy creating things that are beautiful in others eyes. I get great joy when my daughter tells me that a page I just made her is "awesome". I like trying new techniques and don't feel pressured at all to buy the latest stuff. I do it because I enjoy it. I see nothing wrong with having a contest. That may not be right for everyone. I certainly hope there is room at this site for us shallow scrappers, who love this as a hobby as well, and enjoy the artistic side of scrapbooking. And I hope that instead of viewing advanced sb'ers as intimidating, they can be viewed as mentors, big sisters. We can all learn from each other. Anyway, thanks for sharing Drex. I just wanted to put another point of view out there. Melisa

You have left me speechless....so eloquently said......clap, clap, clap.

Glad I happened to read this as I was starting to feel like a very untalented scrapper..This has given me more incentive to keep scrapping in my way and to save the memories.....barbb60

"Sure, it's great to have the next hot thing. But don't forget when you're trying to outdo that scrapper across the table from you, that you'll remember the friendly rivalry and conversations long after you've forgotten whether your layout was "better" than his/hers.

Is any memory better than another? Or any one person's memories better than another's? They're all valuable, so capture them! And don't worry about the rest."

BRAVO!!!

wow.. well said .. thanks ...this was what I needed..

Funny how in scrapbooking and in life sometimes we get caught up in things we think are so important . It takes something we hear or read for us to stop and realize that somehow we lost sight of the purpose of why we started our project, goal, etc. Thank goodness the are different insights in life to help us all get back to the point of why we began our task. Anyway, thanks for the blog

Scrapbooking is a celebration, not a race. It is about becoming more of who you are, discovering and revealing yourself and your love, not about who is a better or hotter artist than whom, or who has the best and newest stuff.
AMEN

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen. I became so overwhelmed that I stopped scrapbooking for 3 years. Now I'm back with a simpler philosophy. Thanks for articulating it so well.

Thank you!

Very nicely put!!! One of the hardest jobs I've ever had is being a parent and one big reason why I'm a scrapper because of my children. My hope is that one day when they are older trying to figure out what to do with their lives they will look back at their albums mommy has done, stay focused on who they are, to see that they have a purpose here and that they were always loved. You are so right Drex about preserving memories!!!!

I really appreciate your comments. Sometimes I find myself staring at my photos' and paper thinking what new and different thing I can do, stressing over it, when I really should be thinking how can I convey my thoughts and feelings about my photo's. I really enjoy being able to see everyones work from the newbies to the 'divas' and think I can learn something from everyone - that's why I think this site is so great!

Thank you so much for putting this out there. Scrapbooking, for me, is about the preservation of memories, the telling of a story for future generations, and the satisfaction of the creative process. I enjoy all of the fun products available, and I am not opposed to using them. That being said, I am not satisfied when I feel like I am just assembling a page. The layouts I am most thrilled with are the ones where I created something really cool from the most basic of supplies, and a whole lot of imagination.

Wow... thanks for being a voice of reason. I have been so disappointed at the trends for embellishments in SBing that I've failed to renew some of my SBing subscriptions. Some of the leaders of the industry have lost their way, in my opinion. For all the one-photo, minimal journaling LOs that only say "sweet" or "all boy" or "cutie," I will maintain that our children really will want to know (when they are 30) what the names were of the kids who attended their eighth birthday party. Artist expression may be important but should never override the basic premise that scrapbooking is about preserving MEMORIES. Joy

Thank you so much for saying what has needed to be said for so long. Coming from a business owner it will make much more of an impact. I needed very much to read and hear and live this today - thank you.

BTW - you've made a new customer out of me today!

Thank you so much for reminding me, reminding all of us, why we love to scrapbook. I am proud to be a part of your community.

Marilyn Heywood Paige

I will keep this blog in my heart. I'm a Nana and not as fast as young mothers in scrapbooking classes.

So many of the classes say, "Fast paced..." which I shy away from. I will do as I have been and no longer feel "guilty" - scrapbook from my heart.

Everyone in my family is pleased with what I do and that's what counts.

Thank you.

BRAVO!

Wow... just wow! This is so spot on and VERY well said. How refreshing to read these inspiring words from someone in your position in the industry. Kudos!

Thank you for your words. It is so true. I am glad that someone remembered what it is all about .......Thank you dearly!

Drex....Love love love what you said...I am a girl, we know each other...Your Mom & sister are friends of mine...I used to work at Srapbooks etc...My name is Margie??? Ring any bells? Anyway, I just did a similar post on my blog about this same subject...After returning from CHA or any huge event I am a little jaded...But what you said is how I feel...I DON"T want to be a diva, or a clelb. I want to love scrapbooking and love what I do for my family! Anyway, just totally wanted to give you props for your insight...I totally dig!
kiss kiss
Just a girl,
Margie

Thank you

Thanks, Drex, for putting into words what I've been feeling since I started getting into scrapbooking a year or so ago. My "obsession" started subtly. I wanted to take pictures of all the courthouses in the state as a gift for my dad. He travelled as a carpenter across the state when I was young and he and my uncle (his brother) took pictures of the small towns where they had been and we'd get together with his family every so often for a slide show and listen to their "stories" about their adventures. They started focusing on courthouses and churches. I've had many people tell me "You know, they already have books out with all the courthouse pictures in them." or "You can get those pictures off a web site now." It has become so much more than courthouse pictures, though. It has become an adventure travelling with family and friends on road trips to different parts of the state or making sidetrips to shoot a courthouse. It was a natural excursion to start a scrapbook of these adventures including pictures of those who were with me, interesting sites in the counties, and journaling about the trips. And it began my interest in scrapbooking that has now extended to other subjects than the courthouse project. (I call it my "current mission.") Scrapbooking is about preserving memories...and MAKING memories to preserve. It is one of the most satisfying things I have ever done.

OMG!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for saying this. I think that way too often we get caught up in the "ins" and "outs" of the hobby and not on the hobby itself. I know I sometimes wonder if I like scrapbooking or collecting scrapbooking stuff. You've really made me think about why I scrapbook. And if I spend all my time buying and being sure I'm doing things the "right" way (and I don't mean in terms of preservation and archival safe). Who cares if I don't have a focal point or if my colors clash. If I like it and it was fun to do...then so be it!!!!!! I'm doing this to preserve my time here on this planet. I wish my ancenstors had done this and since they didn't I will!! I'd be happy with just some pictures taped to a piece of paper with their explanation of what is going on. I wouldn't care how pretty the paper was or if it was "HOT" or if the pictures were placed in a manner that would lead my eyes from one to the next. I would just love to know them more.

Thank you, thank you , thank you!!!
Michele McGraw

Drex,
Your eloquence has really touched me. To know that someone like you in a company as important to the industry as scrapbook.com cares more about why I scrap than what I scrap with is so heart-warming. And it is one of the reasons I have made this site my home. I have looked at dozens of scrapbooking websites and hundreds of layouts in galleries all over the internet. But I have never found another site where people were more genuinely passionate about preserving their memories and pouring their hearts and souls out onto their pages. There are surely award-winning layouts to be seen in the gallery here and you can get just about any product you want from the superstore. But I find myself drawn to the people here and their stories. That's what keeps me coming back.
I too have played "keep up" and it's exciting at first but exhausting in the long run. When all is said and done, I keep scrapbooking not because there is some new product I just have to have, but because my life keeps happening and I keep loving the people in my life.
To hold a moment in your mind forever, to let others know how much they mean to you, to create with your heart and your hands a perpetual souvenir of your life's journey, to leave a legacy that future generations will cherish... these are the things that elevate scrapbooking from merely a popular pastime to a way of living.
Thank you so much for reminding us.

Wow, how insightful and eloquent. You have certainly broken it down to its roots and squeezed the truth out of it.

I totally agree with your assessment and couldn't have said it better myself, even if I had tried.

Paper, pen, love and heart are the only things we really need. Thank you for this most candid reminder.

Blessings, Kait

I just wanted to say thank you...and uh...why didn't I see this last week when I went on an unsupervised spending spree to make myself feel better for not having the time/motivation to use the stuff I already have?;)

I have only been doing this for a little over a year and I have had my ups, down, highs and lows...sometimes all at once. I have struggled through blocks that lasted months and spurts that have kept me sleep deprived for weeks. I've run the gauntlet and I have reduced myself to a puddle of insecurity at times. I have lost focus so many times because of what I see in the magazines and the "shoulds". I have left sites that have catered to the more "successful" and "acceptable" scrapper, while leaving the human ones in the dust to muddle amongst ourselves. Thank the heavens that I've never encountered that here, and I think that I will grow because of it.

I asked myself why I was buying up so much stuff last night...uh this was AFTER i clicked on the "Submit Order" button. I always say that I want options, but I have them...and my bank account is a true testimony to that.
I think, that in all honesty, I was trying to achieve what I saw in magazines, the well organized, uber-stocked scraproom that had at least one of everything. Somehow, this was supposed to yeild HOF worthy layouts. Obviously, I didn't get the memo...or it was never sent.

I've stayed away from the online contests (particularly the ones that are more about who you know or are affiliated with) because I never felt I was "good enough". I've found myself trying to scrap in styles that seem "in" but don't reflect my personality. I've cried over not being a published scrapbooker. I've coveted the success of others who were "better at it". In the end, my inner child threw a tantrum and my creativity in a box. I didn't "find" my creativity again until I let go of the "need" to be recognized. Now that I have it back again, I'm trying not to fall into that trap again. I would love to enter all of the contests that are running now...but do I stand a chance? Probably not. Am I going to enter anyway? Maybe...if I have time. Gone are the days of trying to fit in..because I just don't. Everyone would love to be recognized and appreciated, but it's never good to make that you focus. I know women who are on 6-8 design teams and are still out trying to get more. When do they have time to enjoy their crafts? To me, telling me that I HAVE to do a layout is like water to a flame..but that may just be me.

Goals are good. I have them. I want to see my name in print, one time before I leave this earth, and I would love to work for a manufacturer. I've done the design team thing, and it's okay if you get the right owner. I'm trying to stay away from cliques and trends, how ever difficult that is.

Okay...what was I saying again? Oh, yeah, thank you for putting your message out. It really does mean a lot to hear it coming from the person who needs our obsession to keep the kiddies fed. Your words spoke to my heart and I will be posting your blog entry in my scraproom. You have been a real inspiration to me...Thank you from the bottom of my heart and wallet.
Jeanette

Being American I can just imagine the scale of pressure you guys have. I've seen the mags! I've lived in New Zealand for nearly 6 years and haven't felt much here. However, there are names out there that you think people idolize and it gets to the point of them only being idolized for their names. Not their work. Honestly, it's a race fo who's who any more. All this effort racing around and trying to be the best could be better spent with family and children. The true reason this hobby stays alive. I've been going over this whole thing in my head too. Even did a blog entry myself on it lol! Thanks for getting it out there and in more detail than I could have ever gotten across.

I enjoyed your article & I appreciated it. This topic needed to be addressed. I believe that new ideas have become too commercialized in scrapbooking....keeping up with the lastest tools, embellishments, techniques. It causes some of the 'fun' to leave. My daughter-in-law who LOVES scrapbooking has become very discouraged because she can't finanacially keep up!

Thank you for reminding ME of the TRUE reason I scrapbook!!!

Thanks so much for the article. It was very soothing and reassuring that I cannot do a wrong thing by expressing myself in any form via scrapbooking. Sometimes I as well as frends get so wrapped up on the things that in the long run are not going to matter. Down the road it was what was expressed and not how it was expressed that is going to be important..... thanks again!

Thank you so much for this. This just made me feel so absolutely validated. I know my daughter & husband feel so special because I have dedicated so much time and effort into making pages of "us". My daughter's friends love that I include them too into my pages, they are treated as family. But although I have uploaded some of my photos, I have never uploaded any of my pages for fear of "What if everyone thinks they stink". Well who cares, I love them, they make me happy and make my family happy. So what if I don't always follow the triangle method, or keep to 3's...I love scrapbooking, it is my outlet. I am going to upload them like crazy this weekend. My Grandmother sewed custom clothes for plus sized women, my Mom custom made wedding gowns & headpieces, me...I took after my professional photographer Dad, I don't sew, but I am the artist of the family with my photos and scrapping.

Dang, there are so many comments on this entry!! Guess it was something a lot of people agree with....and / or needed to read!

Glad to hear it said by you. So many scrappers have got caught up
in the 'artsy' side of it and being published. If that comes, then ok -
but it shouldn't be the priority!
I you only ever put a photo to a page and write out something about
the photo - then that's OK! It's better than not doing anything with the
pics for yourself, your family and future family members.
Why else do we take pics? SO WE CAN REMEMBER THE OCCASION!

So, we shouldn't be leaving them stuffed in boxes under the bed (or wherever!). And how we put our LO's together shouldn't depend on
what Susie or Mary does with theirs! They aren't 'Susie' or ' Mary's '
memories - they are YOURS.
Do your own 'thing' with your own memories for your own family!
and ENJOY it.

Wow. Great post.

Thank you for making that statement. I can't start to tell this community how pressured I feel to make the perfect page that has every embellishment to date yet doesn't reflect one aspect of what the picture is really saying...

I owe it to my family to help us preserve our history. Thank you for redefining what my mission truly is.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I so needed that today!

Glad I came across this today. Puts things in perspective.
Thanks !!!!

Wonderfully said. You went right to the heart of the matter. Thanks!

Thanks for your comments on my blog and the link to this one. You've reminded me of why I loved scrapping so much in the beginning. It was about preserving my memories and telling my story. Remembering why I started scrapping in the first place might bring my passion back! : )

Thank you for this. I think this is really what I needed to hear. I did forget why I started doing this in the first place. Thank you for putting things into perspective for me!

Thank you for writing this. We all have our own style and sometimes I get stressed out thinking my creations are not good enough. Everyone needs to realize that their own style is GREAT!!!!!

Drex, I am really impressed that you posted this. Everything you said is sooo true and that "you" said it makes it even more meaningful. Thank you for daring to share your insight on the true meaning of scrapbooking! :)