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Homesclscrapper's Blog
 
Crops?   (16 comments, 180 views) Tuesday, 18 July 2006

So, this may get me in trouble as I have invited many friends from my crops to come and visit me here at SB.com.  If you are one of those people, please know that it is not you, it is me. 

Saturday I spent my day (at least the latter half) at my LSS's crop!  I love love love all of my friends there and the girls who work there, but I am beginning to notice a problem. 

It started a few months ago.  I spent the day at my crop and came home hating all of my pages.  Many if not most of them I brought home and redid.  I just didn't like the way they came out.  Since that day, I have noticed that this is happening a lot!  I spend the day at the crop and end up hating my LOs.  The pages I do in my crop time at home I am much more happy with.  I don't know what is going on.  I don't know if it is that I feel compelled to scrap at the crop.  That I am not in my own space at the crop.  That I am trying to rush through the LOs so that I get a lot done at the crops?

Well, whatever the reason, I am not happy and I am considering not going anymore.  It makes me sad because I enjoy the social aspect.  I am just not sure it is worth the time and money I am spending if I am not happy with the end result.

I will miss all of my friends if I quit going.  Have you ever experienced anything like this?  Do you think it is just a phase? 

 

 

 

 
I have had that same feeling before. I can count on one hand the amount of crops I've attended, but everytime, I don't feel very productive. I think, for me, I am just so excited to be around others who love scrapbooking as much as me. The LOs I actually complete aren't nearly as good as they would be if I were home. Personally, I feel pressured to complete as many LOs as possible, whereas at home, I can spend 2hours on one LO and no person would ever know. I wonder how many other people feel the same after a crop.
18-Jul-2006 @ 6:28:51pm
 
I prepare a page or two with everything I need ahead of time. That way, I can do a page if I feel like it, enjoy the comraderie, spend my time learning about my friend's favorite new techniques, or just relax. For me, crops are rarely about the actual scrapping. I just like ot get out and see the girls!
18-Jul-2006 @ 7:20:42pm
 
I actually feel the opposite when I go to crops. I feel like I want to do my best because others are watching and want to see the end result. I also try to pick out pictures and try to plan what I want to do there. But don't feel bad it may just not be for you.
18-Jul-2006 @ 7:50:24pm
 
I go to a crop once a month on average and I feel that there is a push to get many pages done at a crop. I shrug off the push by saying, I like to take my time with my layouts and that seems to do the trick. However there can be pressure to get a bunch done. I don't like being rushed when I scrap.
Another idea - you could go to the crop and crop pictures, work on page elements instead of entire layouts, or organize you scrap bag. That way you are still getting to socialize but you don't have the pressure or end up hating your layouts.
18-Jul-2006 @ 7:56:54pm
 
I've only been to one crop but did enjoy it and I did not get much done. I like it because I was with other people who do what I enjoy also. Don't feel the pressure to try to get everything done there. Think of it as more of a place to relax and get away from the everyday things you do at home. More than anything just sit back and have fun with the girls
18-Jul-2006 @ 8:15:12pm
 
I've experienced this, too. I find it best when I have a specific project to work on, like a gift album. Most of the ladies at the crops I've been to don't get a lot of scrapping done. It's mostly socializing, eating, shopping, exchanging ideas. Sometimes I'll just put together sketches and basic layouts, but then put the final product together at home. It's nice to be working on a layout with an entire store at your disposal!!
18-Jul-2006 @ 8:55:37pm
 
I felt the same way after my last crop day my LSS. I think it was because I didn't have my entire stash to pull and pick and choose from. Now when I got my local crop shop nights I tend to love the work I leave with. I think its because I took my time and only did a page per session [3.5 hours]. Just take your time and take only a few projects... that's just my opinion... don't give up on going to crops... try... try... try again! ((hugs))
18-Jul-2006 @ 9:13:10pm
 
Don' t feel alone. I, too, go to a weekly crop but I usually don't finish my projects there. I'll start them but will bring them home to finish with the embellies. The gals kinda' like that as I will bring the LO's back all finished the following week. I'll get the pics matted, papers chosen, basic placement of pics or reviewing of sketches done there but all else is done at home. It works for me and I can still keep up the friendships.
19-Jul-2006 @ 12:23:39am
 
I usually bring home a bunch of pages that i like, but are not completed because i don't have my entire stash with me and usually can't think about the journaling like I want to, too much going on.
An idea so that you can still go to the crops is to use that time planning. Bring your pictures, papers and idea books and plan your pages and ideas so when you crop at home you are all set to go.
Hope this helps!
19-Jul-2006 @ 11:18:46am
 
I go to quite a few crops & sometimes get almost nothing done it seems. Just not motivated once I'm there. But I love the social aspect of it more - being with people who love the same thing you do. Sometimes I come home with several done. I am not a fast scrapper, I think my big day total would be about 10 pages and that was like a whole day 9-9 where I really focused on what I was doing.
I know what you mean about the others pages - I see them too & sometimes think to myself "WOW" I wish I could do that or something, but that is when its time to learn a new technique maybe. I've learned lots from crops and here on SB.COM.
I would try to keep going to the crops. Don't pressure yourself. Go at your own pace & you will be happier. We don't all scrap alike, thats why its so cool. Everyones has different styles. Sometimes it does get discouraging when there are those out there popping pages out like a factory but keep you chin UP!!
Enjoy the social aspect & crop at your own pace - or maybe find a new group to crop with. But I think they're all the same probably.
Good luck with whatever you choose.

Bev
19-Jul-2006 @ 12:06:41pm
 
I go to a crop every weekend. I love it for the social aspects and getting new ideas. I do not accomplish much "scrapping" while I am there, though. I have found that taking projects like swaps, mini books, and such keep me focused just enough to keep me busy, while at the same time I can socialize. One new thing I am doing, which has worked out AWESOME, is to challenge myself to ONLY use scraps and work on cards. I accomplish stuff and feel good about cleaning out my stash!
19-Jul-2006 @ 1:00:29pm
 
I LOVE going to crops! I went to a 12-hour one last weekend. I actually find it quite beneficial. I ask others for help when I'm stuck. I learn new techniques. I get to borrow stuff and try it out before I buy. If it's at the LSS, I can just get up & go get that piece of patterned paper with popcorn or stars on it. At the 12-hour thing I just went to, I only got 10 pages done. I liked them all, too. One person there totally helped me figure out a way to make an "eh" page I did at home MUCH better. Guess it all just depends on your mood and surroundings! Keep going! You'll be glad you did, and you'll miss it if you don't!
Sarah
19-Jul-2006 @ 7:26:29pm
 
i actually have never been to a crop because i scared of the same thing. i think i would feel the pressure to get something done that i would hurry and finish something i don't like!
20-Jul-2006 @ 4:01:42pm
 
hi pal,i never ever do any lo when i am at a crop i go for the fellowship and to see what new and to try different thing or get new ideal just keep going but try not to rush lo unless it for a contest.
22-Jul-2006 @ 6:10:48am
 
Keep going! I have gone to crops and been totally productive and also gone and felt the same as you did. The diffrence was in having everything preplanned including journalling and i had scale size sketches (it was a 6x6 album). I find I like to chat mostly so I think for the next one i am going to preplan some pages and just make cards so that I can chat a storm and not feel like I was unproductive.
25-Jul-2006 @ 11:45:25pm
 
Like was mentioned earlier, I too take swap stuff or cards to work on. I realized after my first couple of swaps that my working style for scrap pages is much more relaxed than the atmosphere at most crops. I got hardly anything done, spent most of my time chatting with others. I realized that I was better off doing my scrapping at home, but found smaller projects I could work on that would give me something to do while I was chatting, but wouldn't result in the unhappy feeling I had when I got home from crops. It's made a world of difference for me. So, find small projects to take with you, and go... enjoy the company without the pressure of doing layouts that you may find you don't like once you get them home.
6-Aug-2006 @ 11:17:59am