What do you do when...

[LenaGardner]

you start hating every page you create? I've already tried templates...that's not working. I have NO idea what happened...it's not a lack of mojo...it's a lack of appreciation for my own work. I look at my pages when I'm done lately and I'm like...meh. really? that's the best you could do?

hrm. what to do.

[carriesmom]

Honestly, I stop scrapping for a few days and then browse through my gallery and remember that I am a good scrapper. Read the comments again and then remind myself, "it is the memory that matters". HTH!

[newfiemountiewife]

I swear a lot. And I'm not kidding. I also complain a lot on Facebook

[Joana1n]

This is one of my favorite quotes. I'm rarely pleased with anything I create. This makes me feel better.

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

~Martha Graham to Agnes de Mille

[LenaGardner]

Originally Posted by newfiemountiewife

I swear a lot. And I'm not kidding. I also complain a lot on Facebook

LOL!

So far, this isn't helpful to getting me OUT of my plight...

So really it just needs time? I don't have low self-esteem about this sort of thing normally...I normally love my pages! So there really is a problem here...I'm not liking what I'm creating lately. I need a magic fix

[LenaGardner]

Joana that is beautiful!

[rochelle789]

What is it you don't like about your pages? Are you picking on certain things about them?

Answering more specific questions about what you don't like (and why) might help you find a solution.

I went though a period recently of being unhappy with my pages, and I thought I found a (partial?) solution, but it hasn't helped a whole lot. I'm kind of just waiting it out.

[pomi]

Your last two pages just sprung on me yesterday from the gallery like WOW, Lena. They're beautiful!

I think it just needs time.

[rach3975]

I hate that feeling! Usually it happens to me when I'm comparing myself to other scrappers. I start looking at my pages and wondering why mine aren't as fabulous as what I'm seeing in the gallery. I stop visiting the galleries for a while (sometimes a few weeks), spend a few days taking photos and writing journaling instead of scrapping, and then try again. If I stay out of the galleries and make a few pages that really capture some favorite memories well, I at least take pride in the photos and memories captured. Liking the pages comes back in time, but I haven't found a way to rush it

[newfiemountiewife]

Originally Posted by LenaBrandenburg

LOL!

So far, this isn't helpful to getting me OUT of my plight...

So really it just needs time? I don't have low self-esteem about this sort of thing normally...I normally love my pages! So there really is a problem here...I'm not liking what I'm creating lately. I need a magic fix

LOL I know it wasn't helpful.

Really, I don't actually like my pages all that much overall. Occasionally I'll make one I love, but mostly I don't. One of the things I struggle with is every page looking the same.

I think it might just need time. I think your pages look great, I've always thought that!

[ColleenSwerb]

Take a time out from scrapping if you can. Read, take pictures, relax, and don't stress about it. The instant this hobby stops being fun, I'm done with it. Sometimes I have to walk away for a week or two and then come back to things. I usually come back refreshed and energized and raring to create something. I've found that my mojo comes and goes every few weeks, and I've learned to take it as it comes and not stress when it doesn't.

[jessica31876]

Well I think your layouts are awesome I think everyone goes through that. I think it just takes a reminder of how much the people you are making the layouts for love them for you to really appreciate them again. When I start to feel kinda bleh on my layouts I will show one of my kids or my hubby and seeing them through their eyes makes me appreciate what I am doing more. IDK if that would help you though. It does me usually.

[nun69]

I am another fan of your LO's ♥ and I agree with the other girls...maybe just take a time out and chill and see if that helps~ I have decided that if I work with a kit first and then add my pictures, I tend to like my LO's a whole lot better...but again I am a BIG fan of your LO's ♥

[aggiefamily]

Take a break.

Buy new goodies. I know you get CT stuff but sometimes buying something special that doesn't have a requirement on it can help.

Use someone else's kids. I have about 5 years worth of photos I could lend ya!

[MandaT]

sometimes it helps to step away from the screen for a while & engage in something else. I usually get out some sewing or cook/bake something. Play with the kiddos, get some new photos, blog hop, get outdoors..

Your layouts are beautiful. Hope you find your 'happy' again.

[kresta]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

I've found that my mojo comes and goes every few weeks, and I've learned to take it as it comes and not stress when it doesn't.

Yep, this is me too...

[adrianka]

I'm joining those who say "take a break". I think this feeling of yours shows that you need one - it's like your organism is sending a signal to you (because your work is really pretty, so it's really just you who have this feeling). I'd listen to it, relax, and find myself "reborn" after that. :-)

[KirstieGai]

I walk away from Photoshop and the computer before I throw it

[Balinda]

I just put it away and concentrate on my other hobbies.

[rach3975]

Another thing I do is work on pages I usually put off, like the birthday party and holiday pages that have a million photos. I don't expect as much out of myself for those pages, so it's easier to do them when I'm feeling less creative but still want to be scrapping.

[Lyd]

Originally Posted by newfiemountiewife

One of the things I struggle with is every page looking the same.

This is me lately. Bleh!

Take a deep breath and walk away for a bit Lena. I LOVE your work, but I totally understand how you're feeling! Hope the feeling will fade soon and that you'll be back to finding lots of joy in everything you create.

[Neeny]

Mostly I just take a break for a while from scrapping to get a fresh perspective. Looking through the galleries and scrapping magazines can sometimes inspire me with something to add to a page that it was missing to make me feel it is now finished!


Good luck!

[LenaGardner]

You know there is some GREAT advice in this thread.

But herein lies the rub....it's so hard to take a break when you're on creative teams. I'm very in tune with my limits too...so I limit myself to the number of CT's. So many great calls have come up in the last 6 months I've refrained from applying for because I'm at my limit right now.

It's hard to just walk away for a week when you have responsibilities waiting. If I DO do that, then I come back to a pile of kits and then I feel stressed. I don't know what the answer is but for right now I'm having to press through, grumbly or not. I did 3 layouts yesterday that I wasn't thrilled with, but the 2 I've done today I'm more pleased with so maybe I just needed to work it out

[ColleenSwerb]

Lena, all the designers I know are more than willing to give someone a week off when they need a break. All you have to do is ask!

[LenaGardner]

Oh I know! All of my designers have been SUPER nice about giving time off for good behavior I've had to ask for one reason or another, I guess I just never thought to ask for a reason like hate my layouts.

[misfitinmn]

This is totally me lately, too. None of my kits are inspiring me, none of my pictures, and if I DO get a page started, I can't come up with titles or anything. It's very frustrating. I have just been doing a little bit here and there. My scrapping mojo comes and goes in a huge way, and it's really annoying. But I try to take a break as much as I can, and that seems to help.

Your gallery is totally inspiring, so I'm thinking it really is just your eyes being overly critical of your work. BUt I know how hard it is to keep scrapping when you aren't loving your layouts.

[newfiemountiewife]

I agree with Col, if you need a week off, and you've been "good" all along, I think all of them would understand. Every designer I've worked with here or elsewhere has been.

My mojo comes and goes. I'll do no layouts for three weeks, then I'll do 6 in a couple of days. I drive myself crazy.

[krystalhartley]

Originally Posted by newfiemountiewife

I agree with Col, if you need a week off, and you've been "good" all along, I think all of them would understand. Every designer I've worked with here or elsewhere has been.

My mojo comes and goes. I'll do no layouts for three weeks, then I'll do 6 in a couple of days. I drive myself crazy.

Not only that, but I think we (designers) would rather have you put your best foot forward than just push through and spit out something "just to meet requirements." I think you know what I mean. Speaking for myself, even if you can't find it in you to scrap a page you're really happy with, you can still help promote the kit via social networking and stuff.

[scrap2day]

Try not to be too hard on yourself and if you need a break, take one!

But if you are talking about the layouts in the sneak peeks, I think they ROCK! I wish my pages looked half that good.

[Nettio]

Originally Posted by LenaBrandenburg

You know there is some GREAT advice in this thread.

But herein lies the rub....it's so hard to take a break when you're on creative teams. I'm very in tune with my limits too...so I limit myself to the number of CT's. So many great calls have come up in the last 6 months I've refrained from applying for because I'm at my limit right now.

It's hard to just walk away for a week when you have responsibilities waiting. If I DO do that, then I come back to a pile of kits and then I feel stressed. I don't know what the answer is but for right now I'm having to press through, grumbly or not. I did 3 layouts yesterday that I wasn't thrilled with, but the 2 I've done today I'm more pleased with so maybe I just needed to work it out

I don't have any advice for you but I just wanted to say that I very much struggle with this too. In some ways I feel like walking away just adds to my stress because I still know there are things that need to get done and they won't have just disappeared because I walked away. And for me it's a vicious cycle - the more stressed I feel, the more my creative mojo disappears. I think sometimes the best thing I can do is just push myself to keep up with things even when I don't want to because I've found the stress of seeing things pile up is worse for me than just doing a layout or two that maybe isn't amazing but is good enough because at least it's done.

[kristijoy]

When I get in a scrapping slump, I've always found that making cards works. It's a similar medium, but less permanent, so it's just play. This worked great for me when I was a paper scrapper, but I've also found it works for digital too. (I just made some cards yesterday in fact!!)

[LenaGardner]

Originally Posted by scrap2day

But if you are talking about the layouts in the sneak peeks, I think they ROCK! I wish my pages looked half that good.

Thank you...those 3 I'm a little happier with. I pushed through those with 2 templates and 1 lift I had been waiting to do for a bit...it had been sitting in my faves for a while The lift, specifically, because I had an exact visual (vs. a template which is mostly just a jumping off point)...helped quite a bit. When I was done with my lift, I felt like I liked it! I'll file that away for future reference..temps aren't always an answer for me, but maybe lifting is a better solution for when I'm not enjoying my work.