No Time to Scrapbook?

No time to scrapbook? Here are 9 ways you can make more time for scrapbooking.

1. Record your "why." Make a list of all the reasons you love to scrapbook. What does it do for you

personally; for your family; for generations to come?. Ask your family and friends, "why are you glad

that I scrapbook?" The answers may surprise you. Scrapbook these answers and hang the finished piece

in your scrap space. Seeing the motivation hanging before you will make scrapbooking seem less self-indulgent.

2. Book it. Write in time for scrapbooking on your calendar or on your weekly to-do list. When you

schedule specific scrapbooking time, you may be more committed to keeping that time for yourself.

3. Let go. Remember that each page you scrapbook is a reflection of you at this moment, and sometimes

that means the layouts have to be simple and quick. It's important to be able to let go of a layout without

holding yourself to a certain standard each time. Don't taint the joy of scrapbooking by making it

one more thing you have to do.

4. Get inspired. If you feel like you aren't getting enough accomplished or you're feeling

burned out, find inspiration in fresh design books or a new magazine subscription. Or slam out some quick

pages with a page kit.

5. Fresh products. Subscribe to a monthly auto-ship kit. When you invest in your scrapbooking habit at

regular intervals, fresh ideas and inspiration -- appropriate for the season, come right to your doorstep.

Encourage a few friends to

join and- viola - instant club! And you won't spend so much time wandering the aisles of your local

crapbooking store (Unless of course you want to) because all of the supplies already coordinate.

6. Organize. Make your supplies and tools easy to get to and to find. Get the organizational system you

need to make the best use of your time. Tidy and organize your area as soon as you are finished with a

layout or project so it doesn't become daunting to go there the next time.

7. Scrapbook with your family. Scrapbooking itself can create some magical family moments. Even young

children can get started with their own creations. I love to watch my children record their memories and

create cards for friends.

8. Start (or join) a scrapbook club. Get a few friends together to scrapbook at a regular time each week

or month. When we have someone that is waiting to meet us there, we are more inclined to hold the commitment.

9. Make it your business. Become a scrapbooking instructor or consultant. When you move from the spending

side of our favorite hobby to the earning side, you may be surprised how much family support you'll get.

When scrapbooking is your hobby *and* your job, all of your creations become "demo pages," too --

and that is multi-tasking at its finest.

Copyright 2005 by Susie Cortright About the author: Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com and Momscape's Scrapbooking Playground - sites devoted to celebrating life with children. Learn more about her scrapbooking club or about starting your own scrapbooking business on Susie's team: http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking/business.htm