Creative Times!

I have been making more time to scrapbook lately -- it has been really good, too.

My roommate and I had a conversation on Friday about how important it is to take care of yourself... and sometimes that means making time for things you enjoy. I have been feeling less guilty about doing things like this for myself since that conversation.

Ever since last December when I have my first "duh!" light bulb moment (the one where I realized that I enjoy crafts and making things and the sense of accomplishment it gives me), I have tried to make time to be crafty.  It hasn't been a ton (between taking a class, work, cookies, etc there isn't too much me time), but it has been some.

Want to see some proof?  Here are a couple of pictures for you to enjoy -- as a note, I am not a professional scrapbooker... I just enjoy it!

from my trip to Maine with Laura.

     

from our trip to Disney World last Feb/March -- still have a couple more pages to make, but I am loving what I have done so far.

I think the other reason I am enjoying it so much is that I am scrapbooking the stuff that inspires me -- ie, makes me want to get my materials out and do it. It was my "duh!"/light bulb moment of this past weekend.  I can't wait to do more -- finish up the Disney stuff and search through all my photos and figure out what is next.  

Hope you are doing things that make you happy and feel relaxed! 

Scrapbook: Mom's Album for Jaye

Ok, so on my list of 26 Things I mentioned I wanted to Scrapbook at least three times a month. It certainly didn't happen in April, but I am giving myself a pass because it was only a half month. But, I'll have to get serious about it during May. Let's see if that can happen...

Anyway, for Christmas my mom had me make her an scrapbook/album for her of each of us kids (so one for Ross and one for me). I worked pretty hard on them, and I think they turned out great. Here are some of my favorite spreads from my album (I'll share Ross's later...):

Yep, look at those baby pictures. I really like the one on the left- don't know why. PS- don't I look like an alien baby on the right? My head is HUGE!

I did at least a page for each grade... my mom wanted me to use the professional pictures; I embellished with some of my personal pics from the years.

Each graduation page turned out pretty nice... or at least I think so. Really hard to believe that I have not only graduated High School (almost seven years ago), but also College. Also pretty crazy I can remember each day pretty clearly in mind, what I did in what order.

I also did a page/spread for memories and/or activities. So, the one on the far left is for all my Michigan memories. Click on it to make it bigger and check out the picture of my dad with a slight mullet- it's hot. The center picture is of the Girl Scout page, and the right one is of Little Point Sable, Michigan- my favorite place on earth.

Scrapbook: Jenn and Josh's Yearbook

I love to Scrapbook. I can't remember why I started in High School... but I did. And I really do like it- I think it is because it allows for me to organize my pictures and scraps from all of my trips. It also allows me a way to be creative without actually having any real artistic talent (I can't paint, I can't draw, but I can place pictures on a page).


Unfortunately, I don't get to Scrapbook as much as I would like. In college, there just wasn't enough free time. Now that I am an "adult" I should have more free time, right? HA! I have made more time for it in the recent months, but I am still working on the college days. Part of the issue is that I don't have a good work space. But I have plans to make my work station easier to transport. More on that later.


Much of the Scrapbooking I have done in recent years was to make things for people. In college, my friend Melissa and I made a scrapbook for Jenn and Josh (it was their wedding present). Here are few of my favorite spreads from the "Yearbook:"

Melissa and I made a "Yearbook" because Josh (once he learned that I did Yearbook in college and LOVED taking picture) always joked with me I would make us all a Yearbook when we graduated. Well, I didn't make it for all of us... but I did make one for Josh and Jenn!

These two are from two Spring break trips. I really like the one on the bottom- too bad I can't take credit for it. That was all Melissa.

Of course we highlighted some of the annual events- everything from Barn Dance to St. Joe Weekend. I really like the top half of the St. Joe Weekend spread.

We mapped out some of our favorite spots in Ann Arbor- South Quad, our houses, Cottage Inn and Pizza House... and note Benji on the Diag. Someday I plan to tell the story of how Benji ended up on the Diag.

And one of my favorite features of the "Yearbook?" We actually had a People Section- this is the early alphabet. As well, each person either had a quote always heard from them ("Oh, crap." -Brad) or a superlative ("Best Laugh"- Melissa).

So, what do you think? I still can't believe Melissa and I parted ways with this. We kept saying that we weren't going to be able to give it away after spending some many hours working on it. Seriously, Melissa and I worked on it for about 8 hours a day for a whole week. But, at least we can see it whenever we go to Jenn and Josh's.

Do you scrapbook? What do you love to do, but never have time for?