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Do you ever think back to a time in your life when things were just… different? Perhaps life was simpler then, or you had your priorities in line (or so you wanted to think). As I was browsing through some old photos I came across a folder from my scrapbooking days. I often think of those days (mama to only one) as a bit simpler. Pre-blogging, before the social media outlets exploded, even before I owned my beloved DSLR. Though not long ago (a few years) it often feels like a lifetime has passed since I had that room dedicated to my craft.

I spent countless hours and evenings finding just the right media to put together a single page. Sometimes I would work for three hours and still have no completed a layout, other times I’d pop 2 or 3 out in a night! My style evolved over time and I found the things I used to think were crazy actually became my favorite embellishments. When I stopped trying to do this like her or that like they did – I was able to come full circle and embrace my quirky style.

Though I have since parted ways with my once beloved scrapbooking room, I can still look back fondly on it. I think it was my entry to graphic design and photography – both of which I so dearly love now. Instead of feeling badly that I’ve since given up that passion, I can appreciate where it has since brought me.

My friends, if you are feeling similar, I’d love to hear your stories! Let’s have it!

About Angie


Angie is the founder and editor of The Creative Mama, who lives in the beautiful Bay Area, CA. She also blogs her own personal journey at angiewarren.com. When she isn't writing or taking photos, Angie can be found having tickle fights with her boys and frequenting the local Starbucks.

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  • http://www.emmymom2.blogspot.com Emily

    I used to scrapbook to. I loved these one stickers with little stick kids. I used to find any excuse to use them on a page. But now, well I just never do that anymore. I have switched to on-line scrap booking. All of my pictures are digital and with my little helpers I can’t leave pages out laying around for the hours it would require to put them together.. so it truly is easier (and cheaper too–even after printing).

  • http://www.gracefulcreative.com kirwin @ Graceful Creative

    I envy you, that you’ve found your *new* passion. I’m creative, I’m crafty…but I haven’t found that certain outlet, yet. In the meantime, I find fun ways to create invitations and/or decorate for parties, etc…still searching for that certain creative outlet. I would love to have a little shop on etsy on day, but what???

  • http://clumsyclover.blogspot.com Carly

    I have yet to fully embrace digital scrapbooking. I should really try though, as I have yet to get through my eldest son’s first year in the scrapbook that I started for him so long ago (he is now 4).

  • http://prairietrails.wordpress.com/ bdaiss

    I’ve been blessed in that my mom loves to scrapbook so I don’t have to! While I love the end result, it’s just not something I’ve been able to “get in to”. On the other hand…I have quilting. But, like you, it’s taken a back seat at the moment. Building a house has been the priority. And with a 2 year old and one on the way, I just don’t have the time like I used to. The list of quilts I want to make is long. I’m hoping to find some time around the holidays to set up a new craft room and get back to it.

  • http://girlfriendsgetreal.blogspot.com Get Real Girl

    I have a scrapbook room that is going to be turned into a bedroom and I am unsure what I will do with all of the stuff. But three kids later, the time to do it just isn’t there. I hope to try a little digital scrapbooking, but I don’t know if I even have time for that now.

  • http://proverbs31homekeeper.blogspot.com/ Chele

    I am still searching for that! I used to scrapbook too. But with little ones around it was really difficult and I gave it up. Thanks for sharing with us Ang!

  • http://recoveringfirecracker.squarespace.com Trude

    I’m a digital scrapper, been doing it for about 4 years now. Love love love it. I don’t do it as much now as I used to, but still love to combine my photos and journaling in one media. Its a great creative outlet. :) I’m so thankful for what it taught me about design and how to use Photoshop!

  • http://theakohlhepp.wordpress.com Theadora

    I still dabble in scrapbooking, but since I have found the beloved world of blogging…I have more fun taking/editing pictures, then posting them on MY blog. School starts in one week for me, so my “creative” efforts will be exercised in keeping little minds engaged in learning…:o)!

  • http://katherinemariephotography.com/blog Katherine Marie

    I used to be so crazy about paper art and scrapbooking that I opened a retail store… I loved owning a store front! That time in my life seems forever ago.

    I think the most extraordinary thing about being a creative artist is that your art evolves with you… I wonder what we will be doing in another 10 years???

  • http://pamperingbeki.blogspot.com PamperingBeki

    I’ve never been a scrapbooker, but found my stride in blogging years ago. It is my scrapbook! Love it.

  • http://www.jessicatorresphotography.com jessica

    I think that one of the cool things about creative passions is that they can definitely wax and wane and come full circle … I loved photography as a kid, but that was back in the old days with film :-) and it was expensive and time consuming. I put my camera down and only picked it back up again (my new, digital camera!) in the last year or so. And the passion is back like never before. So I agree with you and other commenters … creativity grows, evolves, and sometimes completely changes over the course of your life. And that is normal and exciting and fun!

  • http://www.beansblessings.blogspot.com Mindy

    Oh how I miss my craft room too! When we first bought our 4 bedroom home I had an ENTIRE room dedicated to everything that interested me – ceramic painting, scrapbooking, quilting, movie watching (at least while I was crafting). Now that room belongs to my oldest and our guest room belongs to my daughter. I’ve cleared out all but some of the scrapbook stuff so that ONE day I will finally finish my babies’ scrapbooks and move everything to digital. I did recently look through some of my albums from college and couldn’t believe how far my crafting skills and style has come!

  • http://www.thewellroundedmama.com Janet

    I tried paper scrapbooking for years but never got more than a few pages done a year. And then I found digital scrapbooking…four years and about 800 pages later, I still love it as much as I did. It meets a creativity need and an organizational need (no mess!). And now running my own website (www.thedailydigi.com) meets my need to share my passion with others. I think it is great when we have the freedom to let go of things that we like (but aren’t necessarily passionate about) in favor of finding what we REALLY love and going for it with all our heart!

  • bobbie

    i love digi scrapping..no need to put away stuff ..can change your mind easily and redo… and no mess… so can start something and then finish it a week later without the room being a mess…i used to have to set up a table and get out all my supplies just to scrap….digi is the way to go…i found a lot of helpful gals at scrapgirls.com and i have learned a lot there too..i find it is my therapy as well as a way to preserve all the photos and simple life moments too ( i dont only scrap big fun life cycle events) …it gives my life extra meaning and hopefully is something to pass along to the future generation… that will mark the time as well as who we are and what we valued…i know it is hard to find the time…to do but at least with digi it seems a bit easier… give it a try …it also opens up a whole way i approach photo taking…

  • http://jaimeflemingphotography.yolasite.com Jaime Fleming

    in high school i was big into art. i took somehing crazy like 17 semester-long art classes before i graduated high school. I craved it. anything from drawing, painting, and calligraphy to ceramics, sculpture, and weaving. you name it, i’ve done it. after high school i continued with art classes my first semester of college, even though they didn’t count toward my major. after several life changing events, i found myself back home living with my parents and art nowhere in sight. i got a job and lived my life day to day. i never found time and i didn’t have a place to actually do my art, so it just fell by the wayside. thanks to a very inspirational mother of two boys who takes fabulous photographs, 9 months ago i got my very first camera. a nikon D300. i love it and love the way i feel when i am taking pictures and processing them and allowing myself to try new and weird things with my images. i feel like me again, and i love the challenge of learning a new art form. best of all, photography allows me to be creative without the mess. i dont need a entire studio and easel and supplies….all i need are my camera/lenses and my macbook.