All Those Pictures, and No Ideas! by Graham Johns

You have an afternoon to yourself, the house is quiet, the family is out, and you have all your photos spread out on the kitchen table before you, ready to create the most fantastic scrapbook ever. There's only one problem with your hobby-time; you're drawing a creative blank. Could it be true? Has the unthinkable happened? Yes, you have scrapper's block. Now don't panic; this condition of lacking imagination is only temporary. Lots of people have been through a block before and here are some tips to help you through yours.

One of the most common reasons for scrapper's block is option paralysis. There are so many ideas to choose from that you just can't settle on the one that might be best. Maybe you're so far behind on your scrapbooking that everything has had a chance to pile up and now the size of your project looks rather daunting. You have so much to do that you have no idea where to start. Often times, it is much easier to put things away again and avoid scrapbooking altogether, but if you do that, the photos will continue to multiply.

When this happens to you, start small. Organize your photographs into album ideas. Think about the people or events that would work well in one album. Start with a small stack rather than an entire attic full of photos. The best tip is to start with the most current pictures and work your way back. While this might make you feel as if you are getting nowhere, it is more important to start with fresh memories and then make time later for older ones, rather then letting even more pictures and memories get stale and becoming even more frustrated.

Another way to deal with scrapper's block is to scrapbook with other people. Attend crops at a consultant's house where you can get ideas from friends and fellow scrappers when you simply cannot think of anything to do. A similar suggestion would be to take the troubling pictures to a scrapbooking class. Have an instructor show you the best way to arrange them. You just might learn a new technique while dealing with the pictures that are causing you frustration.

Keeping your scrapbooking supplies organized is helpful in avoiding scrapper's block. When you know where to find your paper and stickers without having to sort through huge piles of clutter, you are more likely to have fresh ideas. If you can, have an area in your home set aside for your scrapbooking supplies.

Have scrapbooking idea books and magazines on hand. When you start to suffer from scrapper's block, try thumbing through a magazine. You will most likely find that there is a layout in the magazine that will work for you! When scrapper's block hits, try something new. Getting your creative juices flowing is one of the best ways to start scrapping again!

Should any of these ideas fail to stir up some creativity, there is still one thing left that you can try: Take the day off. Go outside, take a walk, get some coffee at the local cafe and people-watch, or spend time with your kids. Some playtime and a break away from your hobby can do wonders to get the creative juices flowing. Out there in the world, you will find plenty of inspiration or just be able to relax enough to take another shot at that scrapbook. After all, those pictures will still be there tomorrow. Taking a break might be exactly what the doctor ordered to help you approach your project with a fresh eye and mind.

Author Resource: Graham Johns runs and writes regularly for Easy Scrapbooking Ideas where you can read many more articles on scrapbooking.

MOST READ ARTICLES