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A Creative Outlet for Moms
I remember, not so long ago, looking at the boxes and boxes of my babies'
photographs and becoming so overwhelmed by the notion that I had better get them
organized and labeled before I lost track of which kid was which.
And then one day, I picked up a particularly poignant photo of my oldest
daughter, and I had an urge to create a scrapbooking page around it. I didn't
know what I was doing. I just knew I wanted a finished product that would evoke
the same emotion I felt when I took the photo.
I took far too much time on this page (and had so much fun creating for the
simple sake of creating), and when my scrapbooking layout was finished, I showed
it to my daughter. The look on her face told me I had succeeded in doing what I
set out to do. She was touched, and so was I.
From that day on, I was hooked. But I had to promise myself that his hobby would
never turn into another "should," "ought," or "must." My scrapbook became my
precious lifeline to my artistic and emotional center, and I had to promise
myself that I would never rush it. That I would never cheapen the experience
with the notion that I had to finish "x" amount of pages in one day. That my
photographs and memories would never be something to simply process - but
something always to honor and revere.
Scrapbooking is unlike almost everything else in my life as a mother of small
children. The layouts and cards that I make stay finished, unlike the dishes and
the diaper changes. When I'm done with a piece, I'll put it up where I can see
it as I walk past, and I feel a small but sure sense of accomplishment.
And that is one of the reasons I scrapbook. There are others:
- Scrapbooking offers a connection to the community. Classes and crops are
serving the same social function that quilting bees once did. This is a time to
get together with friends, to share precious memories, to exercise your artistic
expression, and to get something accomplished.
- When your children leave home, and if they are ever feeling down, they will
look through the scrapbook you've created for them. They will hear your words
and feel your love span across time and space. And, beyond that, when you are
gone, your voice, your memories, and the written and visual record of your
philosophy and your values will live on.
- Scrapbooking helps us to remember that our life is our art. The time I spend
scrapbooking helps me to remember that every single moment I spend being a good
mom - as well as a good human being - is time spent in positive, artistic
creation. And I have no doubt that if we all spent more of our time in positive,
artistic creation, the world would be a better place.
Whenever I spend time cropping, I relish the present moment with my family more
fully as the very moments I seek to capture and celebrate on my pages play out
in my living room.
Time spent scrapbooking is time spent in open, ardent appreciation of your
family and the experiences that you have had. It's a way of honoring the
experiences and people in your life with your time and reflection.
A scrapbook is a treasured gift. It is a piece of the real you - the real
artistic, emotional you - which encourages others to show their artistic,
emotional, real selves, too. And you can start today!
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How to Turn Your
Scrapbooking Hobby into a Profitable Business
Earn Money Scrapbooking for Others
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