Just Play!

When I was dreaming up this layout, I was really excited to play around with some new things, like the diagonal orientation and painting the edges of the pic and journalling box. This layout did NOT turn out as cute as I had envisioned it, but I really had fun putting it together. And it's such a funny memory that I'll definitely treasure it!

The card beneath is another example of just playing. I made it with scraps from the layout and a fun felt flourish I cut with my Cuttlebug and a new Sizzix die that followed me home from Washington. I love cardmaking because you can try out all sorts of fun new things and just goof around with your supplies, without committing to a whole scrapbook page that is supposed to last forever!

I've noticed a shift in my paper-crafting lately -- I used to be in get-'er-done mode, where I wanted to get as many pages as I could done in as little time as I could so I could "catch up." Or I'd do cards in big batches so I'd have lots in my stash. But the more I learn about this craft -- all the different, fun techniques and materials -- the more it's become as much about the art as anything else. I love creating! I love using all the different techniques and feeling creative. So who cares if I ever get caught up as long as I am having fun creating and preserving the memories I want to preserve? Down with scrapper's guilt! :)

And that reminds me: Another great thing about doing this layout is that it's another break from chronological scrapping for me. I've been wanting to do a layout with this fake engagement pic of me and my hubby (then just a friend) since we got engaged 5 1/2 years ago. Seriously. But I felt like I had to get my family scrapbook caught up before I could go back and do the just him and me scrapbook I'd been planning, so this had to wait. No way, jose! I'm scrapping whatever I want from now on!

Would you scrap an appendectomy?

This morning I was at about mile 2 of my first ever 5k when my sweet hubby called me from Idaho Falls, where he was on a business trip, to tell me he was heading to the ER with what he thought was a kidney stone. After I finished the race I called for an update and he said the doctors thought it was really his appendix! My wonderful dad immediately volunteered to drive me up to Idaho Falls, four hours away, to be there with Dan, so we left the boys with my mom and jumped in the car. Before we left, though, I was sure to tuck my camera into my bag -- after all, one doesn't get appendicitis every day!

And thank goodness for that! Poor Dan was in so much pain. By the time they were able to get him in for surgery, his appendix had ruptured and had an abscess and all sorts of yuck. After the surgery Dan felt a whole lot better and has done really well throughout the evening, which I feel is a wonderful blessing from Heavenly Father.

It makes me wonder, though, why I feel so compelled to document all our family happenings, both good and bad. In my quest to get "caught up" with my scrapbooking, I always feel guilty if I skip over some event or cute picture (which is why I am still so far behind). I guess I just want to make sure that all our ups and downs are preserved! We learn from both sides, I suppose. For instance, today I was so worried about Dan, but it made me appreciate him and love him more than ever! dBut now I'm falling asleep even as I type, so, from the EIRMC in Idaho Falls, I'll say goodnight!

Why do I love crafting?

My family and friends, by and large, are not paper-crafty people (not yet, anyway -- muahahahaha!). Amazingly artistic and creative, yes, but not crafty. I am frequently called upon to explain my addiction to paper -- why do I HAVE to scrapbook and make cards for every occasion? I've thought about it a lot, and here is my answer:

#1 -- I am a stay-at-home mom, which is wonderful all by itself and I wouldn't want to trade, but it does have its own frustrations. I wash the same clothes, do the same dishes, and sweep the same cheerio-covered floor over and over and over again. But when I make a scrapbook page, mini-album, or card, it's permanent! It's something that can be enjoyed forever, that doesn't have to be redone.

#2 -- This is the main reason, though I'm sure some people would think it's corny: I craft because I care! (I couldn't think of a cornier way to say it than that!) Really, though, I make cards and mini-albums and such as gifts because I want the people in my life to know that they mean something to me, that I care about them enough to invest my time and talents in creating something that (hopefully) they will treasure. Same goes for scrapbooking -- I want my sweet little boys and the rest of my family to know that I love them enough to keep a record of the amazing, sweet people they are. I want them to know that the memories we share are the treasures of my life. My boys are only 3 and 1, and I know I don't remember anything that far back except a few flashes. If something happened to me (or my husband, parents, grandparents, etc.), neither of them would remember us later in life. There is so much love in our family, in spite of and because of our struggles. The thought that such love might be forgotten is so sad to me; I want to document our family relationships in a way that will serve as a permanent, tangible reminder of all that we share.

#3 -- I just really love pretty things. :)

Thanks for bearing with me...