Delightfully Digital

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Just because we have super duper cameras and 5gig CF cards doesn't mean that we are bound by the laws of scrapping to fill up the card with each event and scrap all of the photos each day.

Do just what you think you will enjoy. Take photos and choose a few of the best and scrap them. Store the rest to scrap when you are my age.....it's all good! Each moment of your life doesn't have to be recorded.

Remember: The most important scrapbook is still the one in your heart. It has the most precious photos and memories. Tell those stories to the family, to the kids and to the grandkids until they start telling them along with you.

We still say things like........Tell us about the time Uncle Don tied you to the Hickory nut tree during cowboys and indians and he and Uncle Gale couldn't get you untied.......Yeah, mom, tell us about how Grandmom had to cut her only clothesline into because Uncle Don used it to tie you up....."

Some photos are better than the ones in books.......

LOL's ...are you there?

I'm a LOL.......little ole lady scrapper........are there others out there? Are you with me? DO you want some thngs created for us? If you are with me in this, please sign below so I can show the powers that be.........yes, I have something in mind.................

Hugs,

Thena

More Stuff Does Not Equal More Excitement...

Remember how exciting it was when you scrapped your first page? If you are an old timer like some of us, you had to search hard and long to find some "real" scrapbooking supplies. What a treat it was to find an entire store devoted to our hobby. And there was a whole wall of stickers on rolls along with diecuts and plastic templates that allowed us to cut our photos (gasp) into stars, balloons, circles, and sunrays.

Along with the excitement of the new found fountain of fun was the thrill of the scrapping magazine! I loved finding one in my mail and it seemed so long between issues! I read them cover to cover and that included all of the ads in the back.

Nowadays there is more stuff, but a lot of the excitement is lacking as we back peddle and downsize our stashes to a reasonable and managble amount. There is so much competition to have a page published that there is a rush to the stores in town and online to get the latest and greatest. We have lost some of the innocence of a pure hobby to the commercialization of the same.

What can we do to get the excitement back? Sharing our hobby with others is one way. Remember how excited you were when you showed a friend or neighbor how to scrap and shared some supplies with them?

Another way is to scrap what you enjoy and the way you like to do it. Don't be a slave to the trends, but be a trendsetter in your own album. If you like stickers, use stickers and if you want colors that other folks used last year as opposed to what is "hot" today.......it's your book!

Time was when the albums in the magazines really reflected the average scrapbooker and we could all identify and recreate those pages if we desired, now the competion is fierce to get into the magazines and to so many folks, being published has become a business. That is fine, if that is what you want, but if you just want to enjoy scrapping and don't want the stress of trying to outdo what has already probably been outdone by someone else, just sit back and do what you love and that love will shine through in your albums and your work will get better and better but all the while being loved and cherished and treasured by those you love most.

Even we digital scrappers have fallen prey to that same thing. Now we have so many talented digital artists that one can find almost anything needed for any type page. I remember when I had to create everything myself. We all have to keep buying more hard drive to store the wonderful things we bought-now what do I do with all of those Iris carts I bought years ago to hold all the paper supplies I had to have?

We have the opportunity to enjoy all kinds of supplies and they get better and more abundant everyday. Our responsibility is to become a more informed shopper and not try to keep up with the trends but know our style and by what we will actually use and will still love a year or two from now.

This is such a fun hobby and a worthy one for keeping our family memories to pass down for generations, but also worthwhile if we do it only for the creative outlet and the thrill it offers for today!

Have fun! Be Creative!

What Do You Think About...

 

What do you think about when you are scrapping?

That the hubby will soon be home

Or that the kids are finally napping?

Do you have time to sit and ponder as you go

Or do you have the feeling that you must not be slow

That there's so much to hurry about

And so much to be done

That it interferes with your creativity

And makes the process much less fun?

The Poem that Started it all

Jesus was born in a manger
There was no room for Him in the inn
But He was to be our Savior
To save the world from sin.

An angel had spoken to Mary
And told her that she was the one
Chosen from the world of women
To be the Mother of God's Son.

Shepherds were watching their flocks that night
When over the hills from afar
Suddenly there  appeared unto them
A bright and glorious star.

Over the hills to Bethlehem

Wise men and  shepherds made their way

And found baby Jesus in the stable

In a manger filled with hay.

Herod had asked the wise men
To tell him where the baby lay
But being warned by God
They returned the other way.

Herod was exceedingly wroth

While others were filled with joy

For Jesus was to be King of Kings

Whose Kingdom noone could destroy.

Thena at about age 8

----------------------------------

The words of the poem came to my mind tonight. It may not be exact but it is pretty close to the words that my Mom helped me with when I was in third grade. This is the first poem I ever wrote and it was in the local newspaper.

For Lisa, in Honor of Sophie

Sometimes Our Job is to Be the Cheerleader

I wrote earlier about how we can all be on the team but at various times in our lives, our position on the team may change. It may evolve from the pep squad to the team captain or we can spend a lot of time being a cheerleader, cheering others on.

Today I was reminded of that as I received some new books from my publisher and I lovingly ran my hands over them and ok, I admit it.....gave one or two a hug! I spent my first 58 years basically being a cheerleader and it is so exacting to now be an author. I don't have to be a famous author, I'm thrilled with where I am now. For me, it is perfect!

But as exciting as it is, I think my time at the tail end of the pepsquad was important and possibly instrumental in preparing me for my place on the team, the position of author. I know that first and foremost what matters is God's timing and for that I'm so thankful. If He had told me in 1980 that it would be 20 years before my first book would come out, it would have seemed so far away and I might have just given up, but instead, each day prepared me better for what was to come.

Enjoy where you are and what you are doing right now and trust that God's timing is perfect.

My Twins Are Here!

Happy Birthday to My Daughter!

I loved you the moment I first thought of you

And even more when you were born

And all through your infancy and childhood

I tried to keep you safe and warm.

I loved each tiny baby moment

And loved watching you each day

As you tried out something new

Learning as you would play.

I loved the toddler stages

And thought each day better than the one before

As I  wondered about the future

And what your life would have in store.

I treasured each moment of  your teenage years

Even those days when we disagreed

And tried to keep in touch with your age group

As to what were your wants and needs.

I missed you when you went to college

But I knew that it was good for you

I loved seeing you blossom and grow

As you became more and more "You".

I cried when you had heartbreaks

And prayed all night may a night

Asking God to keep you in His arms

And let things turn out all right.

I applauded in delight at your successes

And gave thanks to God above

For the blessings He gave to you

And for giving us the perfect daughter to love.

Love,

Mom

Digi Scrappin with Jen

Jen's site

Be sure to check out this site.