Reconnecting with the joy of scrapbooking.

I wish my scrapbook fever would come out of dormancy. I'm ready to give up the whole hobby.

I feel the same way about scrapbooking right now, I don't know if it's the changing of the seasons or that my life is back on a schedule...but all I want to do is create!
Love your layouts! I can't wait to get my September Kit.
Amber Osburn
California

Love the layouts Ali and the inspiration. Thanks

Those are beautiful. You're always so inspiring. I wanted to say that you remind me of the days when I went to crops. I had my crop bag with all the basics, and all I had to do was grab photos and I was good. I'd always make it work. Now it would require a laptop and nearby outlet, so I haven't been to a crop in ages. :(
Thanks for the inspiration!

We all need to do this more. Good for you! My challenge to myself this Fall is to make 1 layout a week...this will give me permission to play!

...and these are my very favorite types of posts. I am missing these types of gatherings as well. I've been so much digital lately on my own, but I miss the inspiration and enjoyment that comes from others and the tactile fun of paper. Thanks for sharing these. I love your "2" LO. I have a boy and a girl and I love how you've combined their interactions onto that page. Inspiring indeed. =)

Great post.
So inspiring.
As ususal.
Thanks, Ali

Ali, these are great pages and I am so happy that you found that joy, again! I know sometimes it's easy to get into scrapbooking just because it's what we do and then we forget why we actually do it! That joy is what drives me, so I know how great it is to find it again!

You nailed it about what scrapbooking is supposed to be about. It's not having "all" the stuff, or tons of it. It's about taking small elements, adding it to a page with your photos and journalling your memories. Beautiful pages as always, thanks for the continued inspiration.

I really liked it ... Beautiful!

I'm thankful that you scrapbook. Each time I see your layouts I learn something about design. I'm also reminded to keep it simple and that the story needs to be told whether ordinary or special. I love your style for my scrapbooks, and now keep my wild and messy side to the art journals and canvas.

You're so adept at making something simple pop! Love the colors of the kit!

very cool. thanks for always inspiring us!!!
a

So fun to hear that you went out to a crop with others and enjoyed yourself. I do both scrapping by myself and with others. I have to say, for me, it is much more interesting to do my projects around other people also scrapping. Thanks for sharing your layouts.

such a beautiful post
such beautiful layouts
such a beautiful kit...loved playing with it!

love these layouts so much!

good words to remember. thanks! I'm new to the kit club thing myself and i'm LOVING it!! LOL. just grab my box, my tool caddy and i'm on the go. In the back of my mind there's a little voice saying "what if you need something from your supply stash" but I beat it down and shove it back in the closet with my supplies! LOL

Really lovely stuff! What a great challenge to just take the photos and basic supplies + photos. Might have to try that some time. Constant inspiration girl, in art and in life. Thanks!

These ROCK! the pictures capture amazing interaction between simon and anna- what a treasure. The design and colors are so delightful. Thank you so much for sharing- you always give me such inspiration!

Glad you had some time to play. Your layouts--so pretty--how do you do it?!! :)

I also wanted to add that I love they way you added the kids initials to your third layout. That is pretty cool.

I like the idea of only bringing one kit and your pictures...I have come to avoid crops just because of the packing. Then I took some scrap supplies on vacation and realized that the process was easier and more fun when I only had the few supplies I could pack. Maybe I should brave a crop again soon to rediscover the joy myself.

Ali, thank you for always being an inspiration to us. You are one of the reasons I have become more productive in the last 6 months. I have created more in those 6 mos. than in the last 6 years. I thought long and hard one day about what was impeding me from scrapbooking as the result of one of your posts. I have since embraced imperfection and learned to simplify. I did not realize how much I MISSED being creative until I was doing it again. I am a far more happier and calmer person now. Thank you.

Hey Ali,
do you post in any online galleries? I have your books for an inspirational pick me up but I would love to scraplift some of your pages :O)

Love your pages, Ali! I just wanted to tell you that I too have begun to simplify my scrap supplies by planning ahead. I have a lot of stuff. A lot is even an understatement. I had become so overwhelmed with my cool supplies that I couldn't even comprehend scrapping a page. Just thinking about it made my head ache. I now grab a small stack of photos and sort them out into 5 groups. I don't even worry about when or where they were taken. I then go through my perfectly organized (NOT!) supplies, and choose papers that match, stickers, titles, embellishments, etc.. that would go with the paper and theme, and then put them all in 5 different plastic enclosed file folders (mine are from Creative Memories). Then I put them in a wire file basket, so whenever I feel like scrapbooking, I just take out a file, and work only with the stuff in the folder. I have a small basket that I keep staples like my Kokuyo adhesive, corner punch, square punch, scissors, and Sakura pens in. I'm now always ready for a crop, or a night of scrapping at home.