Motivation/Reward (on topic)

Had to sign off to call my 85-year-old dad who's on a 3-week trip across Canada with his younger (80) brother.

OK, here are my answers. (Does that mean I'm talking to myself? )

As most of you know, I'm a digital scrapper. I enjoy the process, learning new techniques, trying new styles. I also get great pleasure out of imagining the recipient enjoying going through the album. Thought of an analogy recently. There are actors who prefer TV or movies (delayed feedback/distant audience) & those that prefer the stage (immediate feedback & more intimate/personal [they're in the same room with you]). I'm like the stage actor. While I've done a couple of my 13 albums knowing I wouldn't be there to see the recipient go thru it the first time, so at least I knew going in that wouldn't happen.

The latest one was for a friend who lives close by. Had hopes of being there when he saw it the first time. Should have waited to give it to him until after his big party, but his family was in town for the weekend & I wanted them to have a chance to see it, too. I left it on the gift table & hope he got it. The party was Sunday & I still haven't heard. Big letdown for me after all the work. The album turned out to be about 180 pages (160 of them set by me + 20 copies of articles about the events we worked on together). I figure I spent at least 150 hours on it (luckily, considering I only had a bout 2 months to make it, some of it years ago when I'd scanned part of the photos).

Although all of mine have been done as gifts for others, my answer would have to be both. I have copies of all but 2 of them (the one I just finished last week & one I did for my dad). In both cases I just need to print a copy of each for me.

So far for me the answer is "no", but people keep telling me I should do them for money. They're so time/labor intensive, I wonder if it's possible to make a living wage doing it. I figure it averages about an hour per page for me, taking into consideration choosing, scanning & manipulating (cropping, color correcting, etc) the photos, page layout, printing, making any corrections needed & reprinting, if necessary. That would get pricey fast unless you could make the same album for a group of people where the only extra cost for any albums after the first one would be the printing, paper, sheet protectors & albums.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Cooler weather here, finally. May even get to turn off the A/C for the first time in months. Yippee!

Alicia

I primarily work on family pictures so my motivation is getting the memories out of a box and into something they can Cherish.

Primarily for myself, but a few years ago, I made 17 accordion albums for family Christmas gifts.

Nope. I don't think I ever could. I've never made an album at someone else's request either.

Sorry to hear you are feeling bummed after finishing an album. I'm typically really excited when I finish one. I have to show it off to everyone. But then there is that lull in between projects. Last time I was in a slump, a crop jump-started me back into action. Why don't you try one of the RCS challenges?

-- Amy L.

To me the scrapping process in itself, is reward. I love the feel of the paper under my hands and the LO taking form. I love to plan out the LO (sometimes even lie awake at night thinking of it) and then seeing how close the end result come to what I saw in my mind's eye. I love to try out new techniques and tools!

When I work with the pictures, it brings back the memories of the ccasion - it's even therapeutic in a sense and makes me think about things while I'm scrappiing.

I think I've done more LO's for other people than for myself, since I've been scrapping. I do enjoy LO's for myself more, because I feel unlimited and are not concerned that the LO might not fall in the taste of the person it's intended for. However, that being said, as soon as I've finished a gift for someone, I start thinking about something new I want to do for the next person. :))

My only regret is that my time to scrap is so limited and that I'm such a sloooooowww scrapper! LOL!

Judy, SA

Call me vain, but my reward is seeing my pages through someone elses eyes and knowing that the person really did think that they were great. I do most of my scrapbooking for other people and get the most joy out of helping other people complete their own pages. I do love seeing the joy on a person's face and seeing if my work has touched them. I try to take great care when I scrap for others to catch the essence of who they are and how they perceived the even that I am scrapping. Actually I feel the same way when I make someone a teddy bear. I guess that is one reason that while I posted the scrapbooks I made for my nieve Rachel, I'm holding on to this album until I see Lindsay and her parents, hopefully next weekend.

I can understand how disappointing it would be not to get an immediate and effusive reaction from the friend you made that huge album for. Hopefully there is a reason and it is only because he couldn;t get away from his guests and wanted to do a proper job of thanking you!

geeesh, them fingers are driving me nuts... *shaking my bag of extra letters and just throwing a few at my previous post! BTW, the doc on Thursday said that I already had dead muscles and that it was surprising that somehow my body had found a way to compromise since I had not actually lost any strength. But he did advise surgery. I'm still hoping that a combo of two different types of braces on each hand, plus the chiro and massage will somehow make things better. To make my universe complete, tomorrow is the day I get to go to the knee replacement specialist. I knew about needing that done to my right knee eventually but how all this is supposed to fit in with my hand problems, beats me!

Thanks. Still no comment from the person I made it for. :-(

Me, too. But I finished this one too close to the event to have time to show it around much & all the folks I'd usually show it to are either not in the area or no longer living.

I can't say I've paid really close attention to them because I assumed they're more geared toward traditional scrapping than digital. True or not?

Alicia

Ditto, but I also like to envision the recipient's response to various pages. I guess I like an audience. Didn't have my usual folks to proof it, so little feedback while in process, & no feedback at all from the recipient.

I don't get that part, since mine are digital.

Me, too, on that section.

Usually I'm that way, too. The next album is going to be different in that I've never met the recipients, only talked to them on the phone once. My dad spent a week this summer with a group working on a home damaged during Hurricane Katrina. He volunteered me to make an album for the family. While I'm looking forward to it as a different type of challenge, it will be odd in that I don't have any direct connection to the people involved & only actually know 2 of them that will be in any of the photos.

Yeah, I wish I had more time, especially for albums that my dad will enjoy. At his age I can't count on having unlimited time to get them done. Had only done one before mom's health failed & I don't think she really got any enjoyment out of the one I made for her.

Alicia

Ditto, M-C. I don't expect them to love every page (I certainly don't

-- LOL), but I do need the feedback (preferably in person as they go thru it for the first time).

Agreed, tho I don't get to work with others since digital is more solitary & I don't know anyone near me who does it.

Since I know he was busy I would've settled for a "got it, more later". Finally heard late in the week that he's send a written thank you later, but for all I know that's just for being at the party. No mention was made of the album. :-(

Best of luck to you with your carpal tunnel issues & with the knee replacement appointment. My dad had his bad knee done a year ago June & his advice would be "don't overdo it" on the rehab. Do what they tell you to, but "twice as much isn't twice as good".

Alicia

Alicia, I think you could do at least some of the challenges digitally. For instance August's challenge was about a dream vacation. And what I remember of September's it focuses on stretching your journalling skills which is useful for 3D or digital work.

My motivation for scrapbooking is to get hte pictures out of boxes and into albums where they can be enjoyed. I want the pictures to tell a story so I have been focusing on journalling techniques this year. My reward has been watching my girls enjoy the albums that have been started. I have also recieed comments from others who have seen my work that have been very encouraging.

I primarily scrapbook for myself. I have made one paper bag album as a gift and am currently working on a 6x6 gift album for this Christmas (it is a challenge to work in that size).

Nope. I have not got paid but I have won a few contests at the LSS.

I agree...I think most of the challenges tossed out could be enjoyed a digital scrapbooker just as much as a paper/3D scrapbooker. Even those challenges that are "use up your paper or sticker stash" or "how many brads can you use".... I think a digital scrapper could still apply the spirit of the challenge. The challenges are most often a mental challenge more than a medium specific challenge. They motivate us to try something would wouldn't think of doing on our own which interns inspires/enables us on other projects.

NOT true, most of them are generic enough that you could do them digitally. For example:

The August Challenge was about creating a 2 page LO featuring your dream vacation.

Part of the September LO asks that you " create a 2 page layout about any topic you want. This is all about journaling so at least 1/3 has to be writting of some sort"

And as I go forward with the challenges, I'll make sure not to forget our digital scrappers!

Hugs, M-C

For me its a combo of things: the gifts I do are all in the reaction of the recipient. Just did a baby book for my twin (I blew up our baby pictures and cropped me out, since twin pictures always include both kids). I included some sayings from cards she had given me over the years (pack ratting paying off, BTW). She had tears rolling down her cheeks. It was awesome!

Both. Its almost like quilting-its been a healing process for me. I still can't bring myself to scrap the pictures of my dog I lost in my divorce (long, long story), but the books I've made of Hubby and his kids adventures have gone over well. Its fun to watch his kids go through the books with their friends (and they're teens). Its rewarding. The ones I've done for myself are all about the story and journaling, not really for sharing with anyone but myself.

After trying to charge people for crafts, quilts, etc. I just don't even bother anymore. My rules for any of my crafts are all the same: 1) I won't do one for you if I don't like you. 2) I never charge, but you are on my time schedule and I might ruin whatever it is you are having me do. I just finished a 6x6 "while you were out" album for my boss that was really more work than I think she realized (she had polaroid pics that needed to be scanned and fixed, as they were full of streaks). But she gave me the pics in May and I just gave her the finished book today. Along the way I was able to work on a few techniques: Photoshop skills, new embellishments and a new size album for me. Well, yes, I'll take the work brownie points too. I overheard her showing the book off, so I know she liked it.

Having just attended Scrapfest at the Mall of America over the weekend, I can truly say being surrounded by other people who love crafting is really invigorating. I feel completely immersed today . . . and I can't craft because I'm still putting away all my stuff I made or bought this weekend. I have talked 3 coworkers into scrapping next weekend + taking a card class at Archivers. Now that's motivating.

Interesting questions. I hope you find a way to be reinvigorated. Keep us posted. Kathy

I have to say I implemented this one 2 years ago. There were several "friends of a friend" riding my crafty shirt tail. When these "friends of a friend" couldn't muster up a friendly hello at the grocery store I thought why the heck do I A. let them come to my parties and B. let them have my crafty works. So, I cut them off. Hardest thing to do for a people pleaser. It was SO liberating though. I got stronger and stronger as the year went on saying no. Reminding myself of the saying "Mean people suck" to give me strength. It actually freed me up to crafty things for people I really care about and an occasional crafty thing for someone just because. Like my neighbor who is having a baby any day now. I'm doing a paper bag album for her. In fact I better get cracking. I have all the paper cut out just need to do some sewing and adhering.

Lynne

Liberating is right Lynne! And the first "no" was the hardest. Its gotten much easier since then, and now, I have no trouble at all saying it! haha

Very interesting topic Alica!

My motivation is to get the pictures out of a box and into an album that can be cherished. But my reward is to see the joy on other faces when I show them the finished LO. I love the thought process of scrapping, though. There's times where I'll think about a LO or project ahead of time, sometimes making notes. Then there's those times where I"m staring at a set of pics for a LO, playing with colors of cardstock, patterned paper, and all of a sudden, it's like a light bulb goes off. DING DING DING DING! And aha, I know what to do and start doing it. Usually scares DH if he's around, because I"m quiet while I'm thinking then all of a sudden get excited and noisy, muttering to myself. LOL Really kind of funny sometimes. (or that could be the meds talking....LOL)

Both. I'm currently working on a 6 x 6 album for DH. It was SUPPOSED to be an anniversary gift, but didn't make it. So it's now a b-day gift...and his b-day is Saturday. MC's spurred me on to a much desired "sisters" album for my sis and SIL. I've wanted to do one for each for a couple years now, but couldn't quite get it all gelled together. But MC's Sept. challenge has given me the "light bulb moment" I've needed. You all will have to wait to see the finished product, but I'm so excited about it! The 2 sisters will get them for Christmas, so I'll have to wait until then for a reaction. I hate waiting. LOL

Nope. I don't know if it would more enjoyable or not. I might feel more pressured. Giving as gifts, it's from my heart, no pressure to please.

And my goal at the moment is to get mine organized & into boxes. LOL And to organize all the scans so I can find them on my 50-75 CDs.

For at least one of my albums, the journaling came first, then I had to try to match images with the text. It's a family history album with 3 basic sources for the journaling. One is a tape made by a cousin of my dad's talking about the family history. Another is my dad's memories of the family. And the third is a journal that my great aunt kept on a cruise to the Mediterranean she took in 1928. You can see samples at:

The album before that I did for a friend's mom (& me). It was my memories of my friend, so all the journaling was in my words. Gotta love those handwriting fonts! I used different ones in the family history album to denote different "speakers".

Alicia

When I read the original suggestion, my brain thought "swap". That's where one digital person would be like mixing apples & oranges. Now, a swap of digital elements or fonts might be something that could benefit both types of scrappers.

Alicia