Last week, I had the privilege of being on the Paperclipping Roundtable. I’ve been on the show twice before and have enjoyed every single time. I also listen to the show pretty regularly and always find it enjoyable. So when they asked me again, I was honored and excited.
I think the conversation was interesting and thought provoking. At some point, I said something that I didn’t think was controversial but I guess it was. There were comments on both directions and I’ve been tempted to respond a few times but never managed to do it. So I thought it might be good to share some of my thoughts with you.
Let me give you a short bit of context. The show was about how to get started. Staring at the empty page and getting blocked. We each talked about our process a bit and then some about what helps us unblock. There was some talk about design principles which is where I said that I was worried about the focus on design principles and perfect photography lately. Here’s what I meant:
I feel like sometimes we tend to over-stress ourselves and add a lot of restrictions to our art. If it’s your job or a service you provide, I totally understand the need to strive for perfection (or at least excellence) but since scrapbooking is a hobby for most of us, I feel like we should try to lower the stress-bar on it. And we should do whatever brings us most joy. For some people that’s learning design principles, for others it’s photography. For others it’s playing with paint. For others it’s just having fun with product. And then there are those who love journaling.
In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with any of these. I am not interested in telling others what they should or should not do. That’s exactly my point. Only you know what part of the process brings you joy. All I was saying was that instead of focusing on what others are doing/saying, you might want to find out what brings you joy and do that since, theoretically, that will mean you feel happy doing it! I hope this makes sense.
If design principles give you joy (like it does for Noell) then go for it. Learn all there is to learn. Use them. I specifically said in the show that I learned them too and use them and love them. I was just saying that I worry some people who might not care for them are feeling pressured to do what everyone else is. That people sometimes worry about looking good. Doing what others say is the right thing to do. And I was just encouraging people to remember that this is their hobby and they should find what gives them joy about it and that, finding that, will likely overcome the stuck feeling.
When I did my LOTD, I realized what matters most to me is a combination:
1. Find the story you want to tell
2. Come up with a representative title (generally a sentence)
3. Use small photos
4. Use white background
these are what set me on fire. Having my small photos, white cardstock and title, I am all set. I am happy. I am joyful. And the process goes smoothly (for the most part) for me when I have those.
So my point was that each person should figure out theirs. If you don’t know, you can try learning design principles, or photography or journaling or different products or whatever. There’s no one right thing, in my opinion. We’re all different people.
So I wasn’t saying “it should be fun and design principles aren’t fun!” or that “It should all be fun and don’t worry about your page looking pretty.” I was just saying that I am worried that everyone seems to be emphasizing design principles and perfect photography and if these aren’t what excite you, it might cause you to struggle more. And that you should make the pages for you and your loved ones, not for the internet. That’s all.
It’s totally ok if you don’t agree with me. But I wanted to be clear that I wasn’t bashing anyone’s system or way of doing it. I was just saying that I want some pressure off since it’s a hobby and something we do for fun. If doing an excellent job and focusing on design and photography is fun for you, that’s great. These things *are* fun for me. I have a photography company. I take professional photos. I studied design at school. I even have a minor in Art from college. I work for a few manufacturers and take the scrapping seriously. I do try my best. I try to do right by the people who were kind enough to offer me opportunities. I don’t take any of it for granted.
But I also try to remember that it’s a choice. I chose to do this hobby. I chose to tell our stories. And I want to make sure, for me, it stays fun and joyful. So finding the part that gives me most joy and focusing on it is a priority for me. And since doing that made me happier and less stuck, I was suggesting maybe others can try it too.
And, for me, these thoughts are not specific to scrapping. It’s for any hobby. Anything we choose to do with our free time. Ideally it would apply to work, too but that’s more restrictive and might not always work out. But, with the little time we have in this world, I try to make sure that things I choose to do in my free time bring me joy.
Maybe I wasn’t clear enough in the show. Maybe I am still not clear. I hope I am. Either way, I am totally ok with each person doing whatever they want.
As long as it makes them happy.
Oh Karen, I thought you were pretty clear on the show, but it was good of you to expound for the sake of clarity. I was thankful for your point of view on the show because I think the concern you were trying to address is a real one. I so appreciated your encouragement to those of us without design expertise and even gave my thoughts on it in a blog post of my own too. Thanks for lifting up this craft of ours by making it more accessible to everyone.
thank you for your kind words 🙂 I am glad it was not misunderstood. I would never assume to know what others should do. I love and respect both Angie and Noell (and izzy and nancy!) and love that there’s such a wide range in this industry so we can all find our own corner in it 🙂
Thank you for your clarity on what you meant. I got the message and was one of those people who appreciated what you had to say. It is a hobby and it is something that I do for enjoyment. I don’t know much about design principles although I consider myself an artist. I tire of being preached at about how I ought to learn something that doesn’t speak to me. Apparently, my comment on the Roundtable site was misunderstood as I was accused of “dissing” the show which seemed a little strong. Maybe I was too opinionated. I’ve appreciated finding your blog and thank you for your honesty.
thank you for your kind words 🙂 I know sometimes it’s very easy to misunderstand written communication like this. Even when face to face we tend to read into things, and it is extra hard online, in my opinion. I find Noell to be wonderful and openminded so I doubt she would have meant to come across that way. That’s one of the reasons I love PRT, they welcome all opinions and are always lighthearted and full of laughter. Which certainly brightens my life. You, like everyone else, are completely free to have your own opinions 🙂 I think finding a way to make the hobby enjoyable for you is magical. Any which way it comes. Some people like to challenge themselves, and other just want it to be easy. Some people like artsy and others want more graphical. And some mix it all up. It’s all good in my opinion as long as it brings you joy 🙂
Hi, Ann. I think you must be the one who signed in as Chief Dot at Paperclipping. It really did sound to me like you were dissing me, personally. As I look back at the comment, and as I read this comment here, it still really reads that way to me. I’m completely open to the idea that you’re not, but here’s why it sounds like that:
I was sharing my process just like everyone else and you called it “another long speech.” Over here you called it “preaching,” and claimed that I’m preaching that you should learn something you’re not interested in. Hopefully you can see why your particular comments sound more like targeted insults, rather than you simply sharing a point of view that differs from mine.
I’ve always encouraged people to do only what they love, so I don’t understand why you say I said everybody should learn design principles. I share what I love and why I love it, especially when we share our processes but you’re taking it as me saying everybody should be doing it. I hope you understand that that’s not what I’m saying and I hope you won’t take it that way that in the future as I continue to share my own passion, just as I encourage our guests to share theirs.
I heard the Roundtable and your opinion and understood what you meant. Thank you for reminding us that this is a hobby and it should be for fun. I felt like the other panelists felt they had to defend their fun before fully understanding what you meant. Things like that are difficult when doing live recordings.
thanks Linda, I think both Noell and Angie have a lot of fun scrapping. At least it seems that way to me from their pages 🙂 I just was trying to make the point that not all of us use the same tools to have fun or even define fun the same way. It might not even always be fun to be joyous. Joy, to me, is the key. Cause even when doing something challenging or new or hard, the joy is what needs to be there, imho.
As a new- ish scrapper I often feel like I should wait to do something until I finish my design classes, so I can make these “perfect pages.” And then I think in 10 years from now will I care I didn’t have a visual triangle or that I have trapped white space (I honestly don’t even know what that is)? No I will be happy to Have preserved these memories. I just got out of 9 years of school where I strived to be perfect in everything I did. I picked up scrapping, among other things, to free myself from that stress, to give me a creative outlet and calm me. I am still very much interested in learning these principles that I do not fully under stand but I will not let my lack of that understanding keep me from creating. I was nodding along with you the whole show, and I really enjoy your straight forward way of expressing yourself. Thanks for letting people know that not everything needs to be perfect 🙂 I look forward to your next appearance on PRT.
Typos are my iPads fault… I swear 🙂
I listened to the show and was in total agreement with you. There is a lot of pressure to do pages perfectly instead of just enjoying what we put onto a page. I thought you did a great job getting your point across.
Thank you Karen … I needed this reminder. I get wound up and sometimes lose sight of Why.
Karen, I meant to comment on the prt show but never got around to it…and by the sound of it it’s a good job I didn’t! I understood exactly what you were saying and I totally agree with you. Scrapbooking is a hobby for most people so first and foremost it should be FUN. I personally enjoy learning about design, but I’ve been Scrapbooking for more than 10 years, so I think I’ve naturally picked up a lot of this knowledge along the way. In no way do I feel obliged to produce the “perfect design”.
Actually I’ve recently made a special album for my mother’s birthday, and while I loved being able to create a heartfelt gift for her I hated the process because I felt obliged to come up with great design (pressure I put on myself). It was a great lesson for me that I should avoid scrapbook projects which make me feel pressured and suck the joy out of my hobby!
Anyway, just to repeat myself, I think you were spot on and what I heard you say was that people should do what brings them joy in their scrapbooks…and what’s wrong with that?
Karen, I thought you were awesome on the show. I loved the fact that you reminded us all that it is a hobby and should be about the fun – yes, whatever that means to you/me/anyone. It’s definitely something that I’ve been thinking about recently as I feel there is too much pressure in the industry to make it all too serious. I just left a follow up comment over at PRT that I think the industry gives us too many shoulds, oughts, musts and obligations. I loved to hear the passion in your voice about the topic and the fact that you expressed a point of view that we don’t hear very often. It IS a hobby for most of us and your words were such a wonderful reminder. Thanks for speaking out, thanks for the words here, hope to hear you again on PRT again soon 🙂
Oh Karen, I love when you are on the Roundtable! I gave a cheer when you said what you did. I think the point of the show is to get many perspectives, and sometimes everyone falls into the habit of agreeing with everyone else. It’s funny, I had Recently written a post where I described some of my recent experiences with the pressure of the recent push for perfect design, photography, and “epic” stories (I loved that episode too). http://onlysleepn.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/3-days-in-a-row/
Thanks for voicing what so many of us are feeling!
I have not had the op to listen to the show, but I do appreciate this post. Before I took any online classes, I was clear as to what I wanted to scrap and pretty much how I wanted a lo to look. My layouts were balanced and did not look terrible, and I have come a long way since 3 years ago when I started. That said, I went through a period when I would be ready to scrap, but become stuck because a photo was bad or the lo did not follow design principles, etc. I almost stopped scrapping because I felt my work was not good enough. How silly! If a photo is blurred but part of a memorable story, it needs to be scrapped. I have been working on scrapbooks for my nine grandchildren, and I am certain that they will be thrilled to see these stories about them growing up. I continue to enjoy learning new techniques and more about design principle. I would love to take WOW photos. For now I am where I am. I shall not allow the joy of scrapping slip away. This hobby is all about sharing and keeping the memories that are precious to us. Karen, I love your passion for this hobby and your encouragement.
I loved the show and understood what you meant and agree with you. I also adore how Noell loves her design princilpes and enjoy hearing her talk enthusiastically about them. Listening to you guys on the panel it’s clear you are all so passionate about this hobby and that’s why I keep listening!
And I also took your advice about being brave and sticking things down. Just doing it. Last night I made two layouts in record time because I just did it. So big thanks for that and for your words here.
Hi, Karen! Personally I think you made this episode extra interesting and there were definitely more people who agreed with you than disagreed. I think part of continued “controversy” is not as much about what you said (because you clarified it very well) but from lots of people commenting in large caps that it’s a hobby and should be fun. So it sounds like those people are assuming we’re not having fun. They may not actually think that, but it sounds that way when they type it like that.
I do think the initial confusion came because of the timing of what you said. Because it came after I was sharing my process, I think it initially sounded like you were criticizing my process. You made it clear that that’s not what you intended but I’ve noticed that when listeners hear something that has impacted them in some way, they turn out what comes next because they’re thinking. I think there were very few of those people, though, and mostly people have been responding to the overall discussion, including from people who commented.
I just finished listening to this PRT to which you refer to above. I totally agree. I love listening to the podcast (and have listened to them all). I have learned LOTS just by listening. But their process is not my process….and that’s OK. I think you can glean something useful from ANYTHING anyone says even if you do not fully subscribe to the way that person does things. Noell is so passionate about the roundtable, has wonderful guests, talks about some awesome products, and puts together a great show…..but the whole concept of “design” make me dizzy. I wnat to enjoy my photos with a little paper and some stickers and a story….and then move on. I am still trying to find “my” way in scrapping so I can move things along a little faster. I’ll get there eventually.
Hi Karen,
It was a pleasure listening to you on the Paperclipping podcast. I am a fan of the show as hearing about the creative process is something in which I take great interest. Although I have worked as both a graphic designer and art director for years…I absolutely understood your frustration. I am certain that many people feel about graphic design the way I feel about photography. I really want to care about all the F-stops and lenses and stuff…but I just don’t. I use all the fancy filters on my iphone and call it a day. I spent years feeling like my pictures weren’t good enough to scrap and I was WRONG. They were just fine. It is absolutely unnecessary to put undue pressure on ourselves to be something we aren’t. It can be creatively paralyzing. Most scrapbookers are not graphic designers or professional photographers yet we can still manage to tell stories and take pictures. Bravo to you for saying something that I feel often goes unsaid…just do what makes you happy:)
Hi Karen,
I am in the middle of listening to this episode and just wanted to say that I found myself nodding my head in absolute agreement with you. It is a shame that some people didn’t understand that a) you are sharing your opinion and b) everyone works differently! I have really felt that there is so much pressure out there to have excellent design skills and I for one just want to make a page that records the memory and makes me feel like I had fun doing it. If learning design principles rocks your socks or if you want to use a sketch then whatever! Just go with it and enjoy the hobby.
Awesome comments, thanks so much for your frankness.
Cheers, Kirstie
I completely agree with you. I think it was controversial because for some of the other members of panel it is their job, it is not a hobby like it is for us. I was getting caught up on taking perfect pictures, trying to get my family to “look” perfect, and then scrapbooking with all the design elements in mind. What ended up happening, is that I didn’t scrapbook for 3 yrs. Sad that many of those memories are lost because of me trying to keep up with people who do this for a living. I took your class losing perfection and it really changed my way of thinking. Since it has been so long, I need to find my way scrapbooking again. Thanks Karen for keeping the right perspective!!!