Why Do You Scrapbook?

[Linda Sattgast]

Why do you scrapbook?

I'm asking this because I was trying to tell someone why scrapbooking is so popular, and I suddenly wondered if MY reason for scrapbooking is the reason most other people would give.

Then again, I'm sure there are multiple reasons for scrapbooking.

Would you take a moment and tell me the most important reason you scrapbook? You can give me more than one reason, but put your TOP reason first, please!

Thank you so much!

[Laura Jean]

Preserving memories is first and foremost for me, the purpose of scrapbooking is of course to preserve your memories, and tell your family's story through photos and journaling
Scrapbooking provides a way for you to record those important moments and milestones in your child's life, while incorporating photos of the special moments to show their growth and development over the years.
To preserve the stories that can get lost in plain photo albums and in them shoe boxes….
And last but not least it is fun!

[rde]

After the birth of my first grandchild- who lives out of state- I tried paper scrapping but then discovered digital and was hooked. The top reason would be - since the grandkids aren't nearby to play with and see frequently- I "play" with their pictures and get to "see" them frequently. #2 reason - I love learning, problem solving and creating. #3 - Although the stories/journaling are usually second hand information or something I can generate based on the photo,I feel I am preserving those stories and moments that fade away as time passes. I am hoping that acrapbook albums will be easier and more frequently vewed than pictures stuffed in an album or box because they provide more than just a plain picture in a sleeve.

[MidnightChardonnay]

I notice from just about all of the scrapbooking sites on the web that the most popular subjetcs for this hobby are children, family and pets. Well, I guess they are fairly obvious subjects to choose but I'm interested in scrapbooking for different reasons.

I have an interest in learning how to put collages together and I'm now doing a lot of reading about this. But probably the biggest reason for why I like scrapbooking is because there is nothing worse than getting out a few dozen holiday pictures, or any other pictures for that matter, when you are with friends. If just half a dozen of them can be presented in an interesting layout then not only does it make the photos more appealing but it also provides a subject of conversation about why and how the layouts were put together.

The main reason I do digital scrapbooking is that I simply enjoy putting the layouts together ..

It facinates me ... and I also enjoy making all the embellishments and papers

Wendy

[jodee]

My main reason for scrapbooking is to preserve the pictures and memories for my children, their children, and other generations as they come along.

I saw what happened to my daughter’s paper scrapbooks and pictures right after they moved to a new home. They had boxes stored in the garage that was on the ground level of the house, and only a week after they moved in and began unpacking boxes the upstairs bath had a pipe begin leaking, and they woke one morning to find that their brand new carpet was soaked and the water was running into the garage where it had soaked boxes containing scrapbooks and other boxes with pictures in them. My daughter and I both have a big hole in the years of photos of her children, as a lot of them were completely ruined. Even her wedding pictures were gone, we were lucky there as she had given me a set, and I had prints made for her. That’s when I started trying to digital scrapbook, and I’m a fanatic about backing up to more than one DVD, I keep one set handy where I work with them, one set in our safe here at home, and another set in our safe deposit box at the bank. DVD’s are cheap when you consider all those precious pictures.

I love learning, and the way you teach scrapbooking Linda makes it even more fun. I was really struggling before I became a Premier Member, and then you started this wonderful site, and I’m learning more than ever, was even brave enough to upgrade to CS2. Thank you for everything.

[Robyn]

I'm with Wendy on this. I enjoy the actual creative process and I like learning new things, it keeps my brain 'oiled'! What I actually create never really sees the light of day apart from this forum. My daughter Jane will have a look if I show her that I've done a page with her children, but apart from that my family has no interest whatsoever in what I do............it's just mum 'playing around' on the computer, and certainly my extended family don't even know that I do scrapbooking. I guess you could say that I'm a closet scrapbooker! LOL

[Priss]

I Digiscrap BECAUSE

1) Because of Linda Sattgast who taught me how through Premier and her training CD's. The credit for my own digi-scrapping proficiency belongs to Linda.

2) Because my real pleasure comes in helping others be successful without frustration as they present photographs in a more appealing, permanent, and replaceable way.
3) Because I consider it a productive, and therapeutic thing to do, and it gives me tangible, satisfying results. I scrap when I need peace, quiet, and time to focus and create, and when I need mental "exercise."
4) Because there are always new techniques and effects to explore, styles to appreciate,which can be learned from other scrappers & their galleries, and from Photoshop professionals.
5) Because I have always scrapbooked--since I was a little girl. It's a habit! I like to be able to close the book and not have the flower petals, pictures, or strips of typed-tape journaling fall out onto the floor.
6) Because my real pleasure comes in helping others be successful without frustration as they present photographs in a more appealing, permanent, and replaceable way.
7) Because I like meeting people with similar interests who populate the hundreds of forums and watching designers skills grow over time. So I also digi scrap because of the availability and quality of "kits" available to us.
8) I scrap because I am custodian of family genealogy archives, and as that, I scrap to create memories for others to enjoy the future, and define the world as my world is today.
9) Because I can create a total MESS, and not have spent a cent--then clean it up it by hitting the delete key!

[Priss]

Originally Posted by Robyn

I'm with Wendy on this. I enjoy the actual creative process and I like learning new things, it keeps my brain 'oiled'! What I actually create never really sees the light of day apart from this forum. My daughter Jane will have a look if I show her that I've done a page with her children, but apart from that my family has no interest whatsoever in what I do............it's just mum 'playing around' on the computer, and certainly my extended family don't even know that I do scrapbooking. I guess you could say that I'm a closet scrapbooker! LOL

Robyn, you're funny! But your point is a great one; the sheer pleasure of mental exercise has to be the reason we're all hooked--and you nailed it!

[Penny]

I started scrapbooking when I became a member of this forum and wanted to learn what Linda teaches. There are so many techniques, and I love a challenge.

I am also with Robyn and Wendy on why I scrapbook. Love working with photoshop and learning new techniques. My family hates to have their pictures taken so scrapbooking for the family is out. I do it for fun and also to keep my brain active. It is fun to make your own paper and embellishments. Robyn, I also am a closest scrapbooker.