Scrap envy

My 2 cents....

Absolutely no is my answer to "are they better pages." I don't think one should compare their work to that of another's. The opinion that matters is when you look at your album do you like it. Does it make you smile. My albums make me smile. Yeah when I look at other's albums their styles are different and some make me think "OH I want to do that." But I'm too practical I think sometimes. I just don't want to spend the money. I like to make things myself. I too, have simple pages. Sometimes I'll really get crazy, but not often. I don't like my albums fat with embellishments. I like them fat with photos.

Is it a fad... that will pass... I do think it's a fad. Will it pass... I think it's a fad to sell scrapbooking products, so I don't think it will pass as long as there is interest. I think some products are designed to help people that don't feel crafty to make incredible pages that they'll like. I think some of the products are just new cool things that scrappers like to try. I think people should dive in as far as they want to go. Some are just waders... some are going off the high dive. I'm some where in the middle.

There are probably simple inexpensive things one can do to make them look fuller without a lot of money or trouble. One technique I saw at the Barn a few years ago and I'm still not in the habit of doing is inking the edges of things. I saw several scrappers do it. I thought it really added more depth and character with something so simple. The gal next to me would take card stock she had cut to use on her LO and would drag the edges across an ink pad. She was using brown ink that day. I still get cards done and LOs done and think darn it I should have inked the edges.

Lynne

I have to agree. Sometimes I will look at the scrapbook work posted here and go "what am I nuts, I'm not this good." Then again I challenge myself to try again. It took me over 3 hours to do a layout that I challenged myself to do. It was called "Palmeri Women" and the three hours were spent folding paper.

The layout is somewhere in this website that I initially had started posting to:

I have to agree with these guys as well. I see layouts all the time that are way pretty with all kinds of doo-dads and such. Personally, I can't afford things like that. I make scrapbooks for myself...So that when I look back I can have a laugh or a smile. It is all about what you want. Don't make a page thinking you will impress someone else :) Make sure you impress yourself.

~Crystal

Every once in a while I see a LO that wow's me and I want one like it with lots of pretties.........but most of the time I just want my photos to tell me the story. I can't justify the price of some of the LO I see. The club I belong to that meets at the LSS is like that at times. A couple of the gals bring in these wonderflu creations of art to show and then I feel like my pages are dull and uninteresting. But when I add up mentally the cost of their LO compared to mine I feel ever so much better. I've seen several $15-$20 LO's recently at club. IF I spent that much money and time I couldn't get anywhere. I completed 125 LO's this past year....imagine if I spent $10 or $15 per LO... I find myself only showing off the LO's on webshots or at the club meeting that have the embellishments or bling because I feel the rest of them are uninteresting to someone besides me.

Sandy

Luna,

My pages probably look sparse to some pe> *sigh* I've been seeing so many beautiful layouts lately, from the

Luna -

I know exactly how you feel - I'll look at a layout, and go - I should learn to implement that, I should try that, etc.

Then, next time I go to do a layout, I just go with what I think looks best at the time, and don't try those other things.

I also agree, that what matters most is your own sense of the layout, if you're proud of it and you love it, then it's perfect!

Jessica

Oh how funny you state that you are envious of others and yet you do great work from what i can tell...I thought i was the only person who felt bad about my layouts.i always say i want to do that or hey why cant i do something better...i guess like the other gals are saying is there is no wrong or right way just YOUR way...and they are right... I love Bling Bling but not all the time..sometimes i just want to get my photos in a album with journaling..so see its all depends... Hey be proud that your doing what you are doing there are so many out there that just shove pictures in the shoe box and off they go...so you go girlfriend. Happy Scrapin.... chatty

No way are they better pages Luna. I used to feel the same. I've come to the realization that I, personally, don't like a bunch of froo, froo stuff on my pages. I think that's also why I always like your work. You're doing great. Don't compare yourself to others. We all have our own taste.

Katr> *sigh* I've been seeing so many beautiful layouts lately, from the

Very well said Lynne! I believe the only thing you should worry about Luna is if it makes you smile and do you like it. Often my pages are critiqued for being "loud" or "should have put ___ here. But when I put them in my albums I love them and that's all that really matters.

Also keep in mind Luna that we are our own worst critic.