Why I Have Given Up Scrapbooking

If you have been to our home, you may have seen the 14 scrapbooks that line our coffee table and shelf, that chronicle my life from high school to now. To say the least, they take up a good amount of shelf space, but shelf space worth spent!

My sister started scrapbooking while I was in high school, I soon started to appreciate the creativity, hands-on, social gatherings that scrapbooking created. Weekend retreats at hotels and cottages, were unforgettable. The late nights laughing, eating way to much chocolate, trying to make sense of all of our pictures, while reminiscing of good times past, has made scrapbooking so worth while! It has cost some money, but doesn’t any hobby? To see what comes out of a productive scrapbooking night, is priceless.

Over the past year or so, I have lost a little bit of the passion that I used to have for scrapbooking. While downsizing in all areas of my life, like my DIY projects, fabric, scrapbooking paper, I really started to question what I really ENJOYED doing. I am seeking to live a simple life; doing hobbies that I have lost passion and desire to do, aren’t worth it to me.

I have learned that life has seasons – even when it comes to hobbies. When I was in high school, college, when I got married, our vacations, etc., I wanted to make sure I treasured those moments. As life has become a little busier, time to just sit down and scrapbook, has become less and less. The DESIRE has become less and less.

Then I had the crazy idea of giving it up.
This idea came about mid-2013, but I had to find a good time TO quit. I didn’t want to quit mid-year, leaving a gap. So, I decided to stop at the end of 2013.

If you are questioning whether you should stick with something, here are a few things to consider:
1. Do you love it as much as you used to? That was the kicker for me. When I saw all of the pictures I had to scrapbook, I almost felt overwhelmed. It felt like a burden. I knew then, I had lost the joy and the passion. Then I knew, it was time to give it up.

2. Is it worth the time it takes? Scrapbooking each page does take a long time. That was what I was struggling with the most. I was wanting to spend my time doing other things. Another check mark as to why I should stop scrapbooking.

3. Is it worth the money invested? I have a LOT of paper. Granted many of my scrapbooking supplies I have received as birthday and Christmas gifts, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep SPENDING money on it. In reality, I haven’t bought anything scrapbook-related in quite some time, but still. I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep investing money, time, and energy into this hobby.

4. Is there another way you can enjoy it, but not at the same level? This is was the icing on the cake for me. I LOVE to make homemade cards. This is something I will continue to do, even though I am no longer scrapbooking. I have all of the supplies I need – paper, fancy paper, glue, ribbon, a Cricut, Cuddlebug, really everything I would ever need. Also, there are so many digital photo book programs out there, where I can still “scrapbook,” just not to the level I was doing it before. I am currently using the program Blurb for all of my digital photo needs. I created a 12×12 album (same size as my scrapbooks) and can fit SO many more pictures into each layout and it takes a fraction of the time! All I have to do is load the pictures onto my computer, drop them into a layout, add text if I want, and I am done with an event.

5. Are you going to regret it? For me, I don’t think so. I no longer have to pay to get pictures printed, organize them, find the right paper, layout, cutting each picture to size, and now I can just enjoy dropping them into a layout, and seeing the event still come alive, but without the sacrifice of time.

Do you have a hobby that you are getting burdened with? Do you continue to do that hobby for fear of guilt of what you’ve spent on supplies? Fear of what others might think of you? Questioning your decision? Don’t be afraid to close the door and open a new one!

The decision to put away my scrapbooking days has been a very freeing choice. If you are a scrapbooker, I encourage you to keep scrapbooking! My decision to put it aside is my personal decision – if you still love what you do, STICK WITH IT!