Guest Post | 6 Principles For Effortless Memory Keeping | Jennifer Wilson
"How does she make it look so easy?" you often wonder when reading scrapbooking magazines and blogs. Pages and projects appear to come together effortlessly for some memory keepers, yet you sometimes struggle with designing an attractive page and feeling in control of the process.
There's something you should know. Appearances are deceiving. Every scrapbooker has been in your shoes, tossing aside a page that just didn't work and feeling like there just aren't enough hours in the day. However, there are common threads that help the most active memory keepers stay creative and productive.
1. Know your priorities
You've heard it right here before - sometimes we leave dishes to the next day or forgo a favorite TV program in favor of finishing a page. If you want to make progress in your scrapbooking, then it needs to stay at the forefront of your life, even integrated into it. This means that other items will slide down a notch and be of lesser priority. That's OK, because it's your decision, but you must make the choice to have memory keeping be a part of your life.
2. Practice controlled chaos
As creative people, we are stimulated by colors, patterns and textures. We gain inspiration from seeing our supplies. However, we also live in the real world, where too much clutter can add to an already overwhelming day. Let yourself play, but try to set boundaries (time and space) and make sure to pick up what you get out. If you need to, use pre-designed or self-created kits to help manage projects.
Once you've coordinated a selection of products, put away the excess for enhanced focus and efficiency.
3. Let go of perfection
It's far too easy to get roped into a test of mental fortitude with lining things up just-so. But life isn't that way - it doesn't come with perfect focus or hospital corners. Life can be messy - so why should your scrapbooking be anything else? The easiest way to make memory keeping feel like a walk on the breach to treat it with the same easy, breezy attitude.
4. Bathe in inspiration
The most productive scrapbookers never run out of ideas but also do not let too-many-ideas feel overwhelming. They soak up inspiration and let the excess run off, knowing there will always be more to come. You can achieve this balance by selectively consuming information, keeping track of ideas that stir your soul, and then consciously saying "no more".
5. Try new things
Every expert began as a novice and every great discovery started as an experiment. By trying new techniques and approaches to your craft, you sharpen your creative saw and gain even more experience. Also, in knowing that things will be OK if your experiment flops, you'll develop an essential confidence to keeping trying new things and always be in learning mode.
6. Embrace shortcuts
Rulers are there for drawing straight lines and album templates to help you quickly create a beautiful photobook. You don't lose brownie points for leveraging solutions and tools that make scrapbooking easier. In fact, you gain time for recording more memories. Shortcuts can help you navigate mojo-drowning creative and logistical hurdles.
Always be on the lookout for simple solutions, such as printing multiple photos on one sheet.
Every day as we live life and strive to document it, we're evolving and growing as photographers and scrapbookers - as documentarians. Challenges and roadblocks are a certainty. With simple mindset shifts, however, you can leave behind feelings of anxiety and self-doubt and feel more joyful ease in your memory keeping.
Jennifer Wilson offers solutions for stress-free memory keeping at Simple Scrapper, including downloadable products and inspiring e-courses.
Thank you, thank you! I needed to read this today - I seem to be drowning in projects and ideas right now x
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I totally agree with Lara! This couldn't have come at a better moment! Thanks!
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Great reminders - thanks!
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Some great tips here today and ones that you do forget at times so great to be reminded xx
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I copied this since I know I will need to go back and read it when I am having a tough time. Thank you for the reminders!
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OMG---did Jen creep inside my brain last night while I was asleep!!! You so stated this with accuracy...It also made me feel O.K. all creative souls live similiar to this chaos I have at home. I moved 18 mo ago and still finding memory keeping stash and photos and ink and stamps and paint ant thread and ephemera!!!! BOOO YAH It is like Christmas everyday!! love love love it....thanks for great writing and have day filled with creative memories and creating masterpieces of your histor!
hugs
Sharon
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Thank you for posting exactly what I needed to read today! When I was a young Mother with two small sons, I was uber organized and able to manage my memory ephemera and photos. These days I feel completely overwhelmed and feel very grateful for your generosity of sharing great ideas with photos for visual learners.
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Thanks for this today, really needed the ideas. My creativeness is out the window this summer with kids home. They seem to drain me by bedtime so I'm going to bed even earlier then usual. Going to bookmark this for the fall and reread it again. Love the photo with the tags, they look fun.
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Thanks for sharing. Great reminders - love the look of those gorgeous tags and buttons :)
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great post-thanks!!
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very inspiring! i cut TV out of my life over a year ago so i have more time to spend scrapbooking don't miss it at all! my husband is happy too he gets the remote all to himself! now if i could just figure out a way to not have to work 40 hours a week....
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Love these hints. Thanks Jennifer.
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Good tips. Thanks Jennifer. I especially like #3 - about perfection.
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Such an inspiring post! And - these tips apply to so many creative projects!!!
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Thanks as always for the motivating words! You always seem to say exactly what I need to read to keep me going!
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Love it, love it, LOVE IT! Thanks for the advice and encouragement on keeping it simple and do-able!
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I have been struggling for months now trying to fit everything into my life. Thanks for reminding me that I am responsible for prioritizing the things that are important to me.
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I love "there will always be more to come." The internet is a blessing. I freely use the Unsubscribe button and rarely bookmark.
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"The easiest way to make memory keeping feel like a walk on the breach to treat it with the same easy, breezy attitude." - This statement got me! Amazing post and indeed very inspiring! You summarized everything that a scrapbooker needs in just one article! A must-read post for every scrapbook enthusiasts, both novice or expert! It brings out the creativity more alive than ever!
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This is a wonderful post. Very helpful. The information will keep me mindful when working on my own photobook/scrapbook and crafts. Thanks for sharing.
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[...] It improves Memory. [...]
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Great post! I can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed as some of your other readers...so, to keep up with all the school memories and keepsakes pouring in, I started using Memory Pockets (www.memorypockets.com). I still scrapbook special occassions and vacations, but for the report cards, awards, artwork, milestones, yearbooks, etc., I totally rely on Memory Pockets! I can record all of their special moments on the outside of the pocket and neatly store tons of their keepsakes in the inside! Super easy and takes the pressure off so when I do scrapbook I can be focused.
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