Back into the Swing of Things

[karlimarie]

Hi friends!!

I haven't scrapped for a long (longlonglonglong) time and I think I'm ready to jump back in, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

When you take breaks from scrapping, how do you get back into the swing of things???

[Brendazzle]

I haven't taken a break but sometimes I need a kick in the butt to stop reading and get scrapping

I like to dive in with something that excites me: kit, photos, template, challenge... something that makes my heart sing.

Maybe if you have a big backlog, make a list of what you want to scrap and then look and see if anything special jumps out? (Ex: When we got back from a trip to Kennedy Space Center, the first thing I did was the Shuttle Launch Simulator. It wasn't the first thing we did but I wanted to use a specific template and kit and was ready to go!)

[AmieN1]

I agree with Brenda that when I'm in a funk, I find either something old on my hard drive I haven't used yet or photos that I want to get completed that can give me a boost!

[LauraOD]

I came back after a 7 year break! I stopped in 2014 and started back in 2021. All of my kits were safe and sound on an EHD but of course I mostly bought new ones. I did take a class at a place now out of business (Scrapaneers) to refresh my memory on setting up photoshop and where stuff is. I had done nothing in Photoshop all that time.

Anyway, welcome back!

[fruitysuet]

Scrapping challenges get me focused.

[catgoddess]

I like doing challenges after I've taken a break. I try not to put pressure on myself to do projects or anything intensive until I'm feeling back in my groove. I just scrap and relax.

[karlimarie]

Thanks for the tips!

I came up with a loose plan of the project I want to take on next...

then I did a little retail therapy and now I have no choice but to scrap

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

So glad to have you memory keeping again.

Unless I have a new kit and know just the photos I want (which actually happens a lot), to get inspired, I'll go through Lightroom and have a look-see at my photos, just scrolling really quickly. Then I just grab the photo and start. Usually after my first layout that I've created after a while, things start flowing smoothly and I'm back in my groove.

A HUGE thing that has been inspiring me this year is that my dear Mama passed away in March. I have so many photos and stories that I have yet to tell, and I'm the only one to tell them. I know that my daughter Olivia (Studio Liv) will certainly appreciate what I've made. I hope Daniel will as well. At any rate, it's given me a push to create because we are not promised tomorrow (or even the next minute). It just puts me in a different headspace with a purpose.

Hope you find that your purchases help you to create!

[vicky23ny]

Just start! Find a photo you want to scrap, pick a favorite kit and go for it. The mojo will come.

Originally Posted by karlimarie

Hi friends!!

I haven't scrapped for a long (longlonglonglong) time and I think I'm ready to jump back in, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

When you take breaks from scrapping, how do you get back into the swing of things???

[Kiana]

I also just wrote a blog post that might help too
https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/i...you-scrapping/

[karlimarie]

Thank you all! I jumped in today and managed to scrap a couple pages. It was crazy to me how easily it all came back - like muscle memory. All the keyboard shortcuts and little things that I used to do to make the process seamless were just THERE. Who knew all that info was just lying dormant in my brain!

I forgot how fun challenges are. I'm in the thick of the busy season, but I hope I still have time to make a page here and there.

[Kimberly27]

I was a designer for several years and then I quit. I hit a busy season of life with kids/work/life and took a break but got back into it in 2020. I started with a trip that I wanted to get done. I planned out the pages and got that and another trip out. Now I am in the busy season of work again so it has been hard to get back into it. I am not home most of the day and when I do I just want to go to bed and sleep or zone out. Glad to see you back scrapping. I find it a great stress relief.

[Robin Carlton]

Yay! So glad you're back and scrapping again! Your new pages are FAB!! It's like riding a bicycle isnt it?

[wendyp]

Welcome back, and I love your layouts!!!

[LauraOD]

Love the pages!

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

Wow! I'll say you remembered everything. Those layouts are THE BOMB!