So I woke up this morning (late) and as I was rushing around the house getting kids up and off to school and myself ready for the work day I noticed the bag of recent scrap supplies I had bought at our local scrap store (TOM). Although the supplies were for one specific project they sat forgotten in the brown paper bag leaning up against the leg of my desk.

I've passed by that bag so many times in the last month I can't even count them but still those supplies sit there waiting for me to make time in my crazy schedule to pull them out, admire them and turn them into a memory of an event that happened over a month ago now. (I bought the supplies before the event fyi)

I have to laugh at myself for although I have good intentions it seems like scrapbooking doesn't happen for me unless I designate an afternon or evening with my friends to do it. Sad but true and also one of the reason's I love GYSO. I feel the itch to get out my supplies, take over the dining room table and be creative but when I look at all my "to-do's" it doesn't seem very realistic to me to give up a couple hours for scrapping. All that being said, the itch will build up and before long I'll find myself ignoring the "must do's" in favor of the "just for me" time of scrapbooking. Until then I expect the brown papr bag with new scrap supplies will sit, patiently waiting for me to come to my creative senses.

One of the things that I love best about scrapbooking is looking at what other people have created. It never ceases to amaze and inspire me. Every page is fresh and different. Pages can be simple or over the top in detail but all of them are true works of art. I think that is one of the reasons I was so excited to start this network with my two partners. I believe there is something dynamic about the creativity of groups. It helps to bounce ideas off other people. (do you like this ribbon? what about those brads? should I add a touch of blue?) Part of scrapbooking is about developing your artistic style and part of it is about cherishing memories including those made around a scrapbook table where other friends are gathered. For me the journey into scrapbooking started as a way to embrace and befriend a group of women beyond just working together. Then it became a way to share photos with family and friends that wasn't boring. It became a way to give gifts to people that really had meaning for them and me. Then it became a way to develop my own creativity and now, well now, it is a passion. Something I love to do for multiple reasons but mostly for the joy it brings me.