So Many Pretties

CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) happened last week. Lots of new scrapbooking product is released at CHA’s semi-annual gatherings. Lots of new pretties have been floating around the web like over at Scrapbook Update.
I don’t want to see any of it. Really. I mean it. Perhaps I should have just marked all my “scrapbook” blogs as read in my reader without opening.

I know, I know. They are pretty. I do love the classic Christmas line from Cosmo Cricket…but I have Christmas paper and I am “all caught up” with my Christmas layouts.

I realize that people have to sell product in order to stay in business and so that there is “scrapbook industry,” but there is a problem here, too.

Perhaps the problem is The Paradox of Choice–too much choice can be paralyzing. Should I use a punch? A stamp? A pre-made embellishment? A paper pieced embellishment? Should I just doodle? Or include a flower, button, or ribbon? Should I sew on my page? I realize that part of the appeal of sketches is in part due to all these choices. But what if you just had fewer choices in the first place? Then you wouldn’t have to take valuable scrapbook time searching for the perfect sketch.

My problem, however, hasn’t been too many choices, but not having a place for everything. I’ve solved that problem for the most part.

That’s what my workspace looks like. I have no fewer than three projects in progress on my tiny workspace right now. I mentioned the other day that I need a small table for some of this stuff. But, maybe I don’t. What if I get rid of some of my scrapbook supplies and make room for some of these projects in progress? Since I took the minimalist scrapbooking challenge, I’ve been really good at limiting my scrapbook purchases. I am much more aware of what types of things I like to use when I scrapbook, so when I do buy scrapbook supplies, I know I am fairly likely to use the item. I also don’t end up with the dreaded bag of new pretties on my workspace that I have to deal with before I can actually scrapbook. Back to my point, this also means that I have a lot of supplies that I know I am highly unlikely to use. I know I have talked about sorting and purging before, but I think it is time to be ruthless. I have decided to sort my excess supplies into four groups: toss, daughter’s art supplies, donations, and giveaways here on the blog. This will clear up my existing space and give me room to keep my projects in progress easily accessible.

My question for you, is if you were on a deserted island, what is one scrapbook supply you would have to have? (Ok, you can’t say laptop if you are digi scrapbooker and we’ll assume you have a paper trimmer and adhesive if you are a paper scrapbooker. What could you not live without?) Comment below or join the conversation on facebook or twitter.

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Stephanie

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