Scrapping too Much?

lovely1m

lovely1m

Active member
Do you ever wonder if you scrap too much? I have noticed that a lot of the people that we lift for TOTM & SALs only do 5 LOs or so a month. Last month I did 28 LOs and 3 hybrid projects. I work full-time, too. Do you think its possible to scrap too much?
 
As long as you feel you've got a good work/life/scrap balance there I'm not sure there is too much. I'm just jealous you're so productive.
 
starxlr8 said:
As long as you feel you've got a good work/life/scrap balance there I'm not sure there is too much. I'm just jealous you're so productive.
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What she said.
I kind of hate you a little for being that productive and creative. :p Kidding of course, I'm just crazy jealous.
 
I am the same as you... I am definitely and ADDICT! And I would have to say that MOST of the time my life is balanced...MOST of the time. :)
 
I do think it's possible...for some people. If you're a memory-keeper scrapper, like I am, I don't want to make pages "just because." In the past, when I was doing a lot of challenges (not just here, but on blogs too), I was making pages that didn't really serve a purpose in my scrapbooks. So I cut back. Now I'm much more selective about the pages I make. I don't want to waste my time with pages that serve no purpose just to scrap a lot.

I guess if you're not a memory scrapper, then you probably don't care if you're making pages just to make them.
 
I scrap 500 layouts a year on the average...but...I have 3 boys...and involvement in school, Boy Scouts, Bowling, Basketball (this year?), and Robotics...plus everyday life...so since I scrap books for each of them....it's just what I do...it's my way to relax and my boys like looking up events in their books.
 
lovely1m said:
Do you ever wonder if you scrap too much? I have noticed that a lot of the people that we lift for TOTM & SALs only do 5 LOs or so a month. Last month I did 28 LOs and 3 hybrid projects. I work full-time, too. Do you think its possible to scrap too much?
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Maybe they take too long on their layouts and that is all they have time to finish? :p Just kidding girls...or am I? ;) I know some paper scrappers that spend DAYS on end just doing one layout....at that rate I wouldn't be past the first year of each child's life! I want my pages to look good...but ... ;)

Sometimes on the challenges I will go back and tweak the page again later...but that never gets posted...
 
I think as long as you enjoy what you are doing, and your life is balanced...scrap as much as you want. Some girls are really fast scrappers. I'm just not one of them. I can still do about 20 layouts a month...give or take some. I enjoy sitting in the evening after work and the dinner is done, and scrapping a page. I am mostly a memory scrapper too.
 
i'll say maybe, lol. i used to scrap 2 or 3 pages a day. and i ignored everything else around me. i'm a sahm. i scrapped way too much i think. i have since gone the opposite way; now im lucky to scrap a page or 2 a week, lol. i just don't have it in me like i used to. don't know why. i miss it, but i just can't seem to be like i was. but i have since started to pay more attention to other things; ie housework, lol.
 
junebug said:
i'll say maybe, lol. i used to scrap 2 or 3 pages a day. and i ignored everything else around me. i'm a sahm. i scrapped way too much i think. i have since gone the opposite way; now im lucky to scrap a page or 2 a week, lol. i just don't have it in me like i used to. don't know why. i miss it, but i just can't seem to be like i was. but i have since started to pay more attention to other things; ie housework, lol.
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This is me to a T!! You wrote everything that was in my mind as I read through the thread. I finally came to a point where I had to decide what was most important to me. Thankfully I chose my family and although I don't get as much scrapped anymore it feels so wonderful knowing that I am enjoying my family more and other things, not just sitting in front of my computer All. Day. Long. like I did before! Though I love preserving my families memories I had to remind myself that this was still just a hobby for me. I found that I was scrapping my kids more than enjoying them!
 
Well, scrapping can be very addictive... especially with all the awesome goodies these designers come up with every week! But like everything... it's all in moderation. :) I wish I could scrap more... or faster, at least. But the reason I scrapbook is to capture memories and if I'm busy scrapping all the time, I'm missing creating a memory with those that I love... so I guess unless you think you are scrapping too much or your family have put out a missing person report on you... then you probably are okay. ;)
 
If there is...I'm in big trouble! I scrap because I need a creative outlet and I love that my girls really enjoy the pages that I create for them. I want to be able to remember the little things 20 years down the road, and this allows me to do that. I love the challenges here because they force me to think outside of my little (clustered) bubble. I'm sure there are PLENTY of people who think I scrap too much but my kids are taken care of, my house is clean, and my laundry's done (for the most part ;) ).
 
I don't think so. I have done maybe 150 pages this year, and today is the 273rd day of the year. I'm maybe averaging one layout every 2 days.

For me, this is a cheap creative outlet (I don't buy much, rely a lot on my creative teams). I live in a small community, and don't get out much these days (no vehicle once hubby goes to work in the afternoons). And I only really scrap when the kids are doing their things or are in bed, and when hubby is at work or doing his thing. When I first started, I was on the computer all the time. Now, not so much. I am sure if I had photoshop installed at work I would do more, but I can't find my dang PS cd. hehee
 
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I think it depends on what your goals are and why you scrap. If you scrap cause you love it and you're happy making that many pages and it feeds your soul so-to-speak then no you aren't making too many! For me, I scrap more for the purpose of documenting stories and photos the my kids - so I don't do a lot of the challenges unless I can make them fit to pages I want to scrap. I like the creative aspect of it but over the years I've become more about the end message than about the creativity of it all. That being said I DO enjoy the shopping aspect so keeping those pages flowing does give me an excuse to shop more!

One thing I think about is overkill on my kids' albums. If I scrap thousands of pages for them, will they ever wade through all of it to find the really special ones? Or will the special ones be lost in the vastness of their albums. See? I'm so deep to be wondering about stuff like that....ha!
 
As long as everything is in perspective and your priorities are in the right place, then no, you're not scrapping too much. :thumbup:

I'm working on that balance of family and designing so I can have more time for scrapping!
 
junebug said:
i'll say maybe, lol. i used to scrap 2 or 3 pages a day. and i ignored everything else around me. i'm a sahm. i scrapped way too much i think. i have since gone the opposite way; now im lucky to scrap a page or 2 a week, lol. i just don't have it in me like i used to. don't know why. i miss it, but i just can't seem to be like i was. but i have since started to pay more attention to other things; ie housework, lol.
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That's totally me too! And, not that I wasn't happy before, but I'm happier now and feel like a better mom--plus, I can fit in some other hobbies here and there too!
 
emmasmommy said:
If there is...I'm in big trouble! I scrap because I need a creative outlet and I love that my girls really enjoy the pages that I create for them. I want to be able to remember the little things 20 years down the road, and this allows me to do that. I love the challenges here because they force me to think outside of my little (clustered) bubble. I'm sure there are PLENTY of people who think I scrap too much but my kids are taken care of, my house is clean, and my laundry's done (for the most part ;) ).
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This is me except for the house clean part. It's CLEAN but it's cluttered. It will be uncluttered when my children are in college. :D :D :D

My kids LOVE the pages.
 
I think as long as your life is balanced, go for it! I work full-time and design, and for a while I was hardly scrapping at all, and I didn't really feel balanced again until I started really putting out the layouts doing the challenges here for September and scrapping more. Scrapping is my hobby and I wasn't doing enough of it, considering how crazy life is at work and stuff. So it helps me... If you find the same for you, then scrap your heart out!
 
As far as scrapping goes, I say make as many layouts as makes you happy. If you are a full time working mom I see scrapping as therapy. :O)

Now for me, my issue is my hybrid projects. I make more than I can give away or use. I have a whole drawer full of projects I’ve done nothing with. It’s all because of CT’s, but honestly, other than the fact it annoys my husband – I love doing it. I hope to one day be published in a paper magazine or find a way to make some money with hybrid projects. I guess I’ll call it perfecting my craft. LOL!
 
There are times when I make as many as 35 pages a month without sacrificing taking care of the family (I work full time at home and take care of the kids). However, there are also times when I hardly scrap at all. I agree with what they are saying, as long as you find the balance, it works perfectly!

I also am a fairly fast scrapper. I never ever spend as much time on my LO as I think it's wasting my time, LOL. Just as long as my story is told it is OK for me. I do understand why others would spend much time on it as they see it as a creative outlet and expression of art :)
 
WOW 28 !!! And my husband complains and says I am always scrapping and I haven't put many out at all in the past few months. Even cut back on doing the challenges. But I say if you love it and you are still getting your work done and spending time with your family its totally fine. My husband just always complains that I am scrapping when he is home from work and wants to be with me. So....if that isn't a problem I don't see why doing somehting you love is an issue.
 
yeah..ditto to everyone else! :D :D

Depends on the person and the balance each person needs. I'm a fast scrapper so I can do a few pages before going to bed every night so it adds up to a lot, but only took an hour or two, lol.
 
rochelle789 said:
I do think it's possible...for some people. If you're a memory-keeper scrapper, like I am, I don't want to make pages "just because." In the past, when I was doing a lot of challenges (not just here, but on blogs too), I was making pages that didn't really serve a purpose in my scrapbooks. So I cut back. Now I'm much more selective about the pages I make. I don't want to waste my time with pages that serve no purpose just to scrap a lot.

I guess if you're not a memory scrapper, then you probably don't care if you're making pages just to make them.
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What you said. LOL! That's me too, I can't just scrap because. I think I did probably 50 plus pages in September, and still managed to go to school, take care of the hubby and kids, so I'm not worry about scrapping too much. I'm fast and it relaxes me.
 
I am not scrapping enough right now. I was taking a break with all the wedding stress (I don't know how you do it Col! ) and I am trying to get back in my groove now.
 
I can scrap a couple page a day if inspired and I also have weeks were I scrap 1 page the entire week. I spend the time with my kids when they are up and try to scrap when they are asleep. I wish I had more time in the day to do other things. But I work 1 hour away from home and my DH works fulltime out of the home too along with other acitivities. If you are enjoying it and no one is suffering, then don't sweat it.
 
I think it's different for everyone.
I scrapped 270 pages last year and it was too much for me. I neglected exercising regularly and I gained a few pounds. Did not like that at all. I'm not a fast scrapper (avg maybe 1.5 hours per page). And I made so many pages last year that looked nice but were not meaningful to me, with no journaling.

This year I decided it was perfectly okay to scrap less, but make the pages more meaningful. I think I've accomplished that and I'm happy with less pages. (I have about 95 so far.) I've also exercised and run more and lost a couple of lbs. Ran a half marathon. I feel more well-balanced.
 
{Raises Hand} Addict here

I definitely struggle to find balance, and I totally think lots of people dedicate too much time and energy to this hobby, myself being one of them.

You have to find the balance that is right for you. For me, I love the distraction it provides, but it isn't healthy, so I had to cut back and I think I am at a good place with it now...for the most part.
 
Scrapping is a nice diversion for me from work and from real life. I like the pages I make, and over the past few months, I've been adding more journalling and working harder to make my pages more "me" than what I think will be popular or someone else's definition of good. I've been working harder to scrap better and more meaningful pages, which means they are taking a bit longer than they used to. But they mean more.

I feel that scrapping, like anything else, is best done in moderation, and as long as there is a balance between everything, it's cool. There are times when I can scrap 5 pages in a day, other times it takes me a week to get my page done, it just depends.

I don't think you should base it on the sheer number of pages made, some people are super fast scrappers!

I have spent a lot of time scrapping and hanging out on the boards. When I'm not here, I do miss it. I'm guilty of getting too wrapped up in it at times too. But it does bring me joy. I'm still trying to find that balance, it's hard sometimes.
 
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