Why Do You Scrapbook?

[Lynn]

I resisted scrap booking for a very long time, I have more than enough hobbies and not enough time to pursue them (more recent crafts). When my kids were growing up I had the basic style baby books and I’ve always taken lots of photos of the kids but eventually I stopped putting them in books. When in boxes, they sit on the shelf and people rarely look at them. I’m the youngest of 6 children and it amazes me that my Mom managed to make a book for each of us. It isn’t large and it is only one book but I’ve treasured that, both in my mother’s time and efforts to make it for me and to share with my kids.

When I got older I started making my own books but the quality of materials wasn’t what it is now and those books are literally falling apart even though they were all fairly high end. I loved art and drawing so I bought stencils to do the lettering etc but they were nothing to the scrapbooks of today. My mother-in-law had started an album with the annual photos of my husband when he was little. It was similar to the wedding albums but the books cost nearly $200. When I looked at the cost of tradition scrap books compared to what those wedding like albums cost, there was no comparison to where the real value was. They cost less, were prettier and told a story (preserved history with journalling as well as photos). That is what got me started. The scrapbooks are made with love! I hope my kids have an treasure them as I did my book from my mother. I’m rarely in any family photos because I HATE having my picture taken and I’m usually the one with the camera in my hand. Even if my photo doesn’t appear in the family albums much, I’m in them in a very personal way through designs, creation, and time. It's fun and I love learning new things, especially crafts.

I was forced into a digital camera when my film camera broke which lead to digital editors, then the Elements User site which got me started, especially after seeing their scrapbook design contest entries which blew me away, I couldn’t resist. I then joined this site which really keeps me going, so there is no going back. I regret many of the tools I’ve purchased for traditional scrapbooks and I’m total sold on digital. So there you have it, what lead up to and the continued education and support that keeps me going. My other crafting tools are feelign somewhat neglected

[SusanStamps]

I scrapbook because I love to create art from memories. That's why I am both a digital and paper scrapper. Being able to create meaningful and appreciated works of art in a variety of media is very satisfying. And, when I became a grandmother--Wow. That little guy just has to be scrapped.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the amazing tools and techniques, Linda, et al.

[bthiels]

To preserve memories and heritage photos for my family, especially for my granddaughter and those who will come after her.

I scrapbook so that my family will have a pictorial remembrance of our life together. I have found that memories fade with time and scrapbooks help us to recall the memories that are so cherished.

[babapat]

#1. My first real scrapbook was about my #1 grandson. I found that, even as a toddler, he was interested in his "Little Boy Kyle" books. I think the books have given him a sense of identity and have helped him to understand where he fits in the family. I have since been blessed with 2 more grandsons and hope their books will do the same for them and help them to know how much they are loved and how important they are to us.

#2. When I inherited a drawer full of photos from my husband's parents and didn't know all the people or the stories behind the photos, I almost felt almost cheated and sad. My husband and I arranged a meeting with the remaining family members to identify the pictures and to share what we had. Then I decided to put them into books for my children along with the information I had gleaned. I thought I was the only one in the world doing that and was quite proud of myself. Then I discovered the scrapbooking community that was growing by leaps and bounds. I was hooked for life!

#3. I love the challenge of learning new things and keeping my brain active.

#1 reason I scrapbook.... so I don't forget.

I'm not so good at the embellishments and making a page really appealing, although I am learning. My biggest reason for scrapbooking is so that my children will know who their family was and where they came from. It's amazing to hear Grandma, Nana, Papaw, etc. share things about their childhood, and realize it was just like mine. I want my kids to know that kind of stuff and be able to share it with their children someday.

Gee this one I had to think long and hard on. I know alot of people say they scrap to preserve their heritage or for family and I do for those reasons but that isn't the top one. I can't honestley say that while my sons love what I do that they would always preserve and take care of what I do so that would not be my topmost reason. And while I feel the urge to put memories on paper after losing both of my parents in my 40's I also don't enjoy that as much as scrapping the here and now and what I enjoy about life today not what I think someone might want to read later. So I said all that (see I said it made me think long and hard) to say my number one reason is simply, I am creative and LOVE it. I love the thought process and designing the page and then seeing it happen. I love the feeling I get when I am done with MY memory whether someone ever sees it again or not. I enjoyed doing it. Of course the bonus is others enjoy it also but that is not why I scrap. I did feel stressed a few months back because I have been scrapping 10 years and have two boys age 22 and 21 and think of how I will NEVER catch up. I told my sister that every page I do is one more memory I grabbed ahold of forever and ever picture is one more picture that isn't sitting in a box whether it is straight or crooked or not done exactly right. : ) Okay that is why I scrap. Mendy

[ADesignGallery]

Gosh, Linda, you know the answer...

We DigiScrap because we CAN!

Seriously, though, I repsonded to this same question on another site a couple of days ago. When I purchased a scanner YEARS ago, Adobe packaged software was with it (it was whatever came before Elements??? & I don't remember what it was called). I'm a greeting card junkie & can spend hours browing cards. One day while playing with the Adobe software I thought tried creating my own card YES, I became a junkie!

A couple of years ago I picked up a scrapbook magazine & was impressed by the artwork. It wasn't the kind scrapbooks I remember seeing when I was a girl.

I am the only family member who is NOT artistic. My siblings draw & my Mother paints (oils & acrylics). I couldn't draw a straight line with a ruler until that wonderful day I sat down to my computer.

It's an artistic expression for me & I actually enjoy creating embellishments & my own kits more than doing a layout. At 34 I was diagnosed with a rare, potentially fatal disease & told that I probably wouldn't see 35. Now, 19 years later at the ripe old age of 55, I've proven two things: I'm beating Fibrosing Mediastinitis AND I CAN DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE (and "a wholelottotherstufftoo"). It's wonderful therapy!

I scrap because I can! ~Nita

Digital scrapbooking is my creative outlet and my current favorite art form. Creating the "art".....the artistic design......is my motivation. The fact that I am also preserving memories as I design my pages is a wonderful by-product!