Do Design Principles Really Matter?

Design Principles...

Color Theory...

Spatial Relationships...

What do they mean to the everyday scrapper? Do you really need to have a grasp on those concepts in order to be accepted into the guild of the published scrapper?

Unless said scrapper is also a graphic designer (or some other qualified designer), those terms could mean very little to the majority. Yes, there are some of us who have a vested interest in those areas of design and who often employ our knowledge into their pages without doing any harm to anyone elses scrapping ego. Then there are those who share that interest, but feel that anyone who choses to disregard the golden rules of design aren't worth their weight in rubons. Those enlightened beings often choose to look down on or wholeheartedly ignore scrappers that they feel are "uninformed". To be honest, I don't think that it's all that important to most scrappers. It takes all sorts of scrapper to make the scrap-universe go round and nobody's approach to the craft is better or worse than anyone else's. There are no constants in the fickle scrapbooking world.

I've seen unpublished scrapbookers who have cranked out some of the most aesthetically pleasing pages that seem to peacefully exist within the guidelines of design principles...but the creator of those pages has only admits to a cursory knowledge of design principles and color theory.

AND

I've seen very published scrappers who are published everywhere despite the fact that their pages flip the bird at conventional design principles.

Are either layout offerings better than the other? Uh, no. Well, in my personal court of opinion, I have my favorites, but on an existential level, no. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is it not? What matters the most is that we record our memories in a way that pleases us and that we remain true to ourselves while we do it.

So why is there such an emphasis on design priniciples? It seems that everyone and their brother's brother has an opinion on how to pull off an aesthetically sound layout. We've had that pointy visual triangle shoved down our throats and the color wheel is now a staple in most scrapbooking shops and on many a scrappers hind end. It's not bad to have this arsenal of information, don't get me wrong. What is bad is that there are some who find it necessary to pick apart every layout that comes across their path in search of design flaws. It's bad when scrapbookers fall in love with a page but are reluctant to share it because it fails to play nicely with those design principles. It's bad when people are subjected to criticism or disregard because they are perceived (by those who chose to cast judgment) as flawed on some ridiculously superficial design level. I cringe every time I hear someone complain about a gallery being full of crappy layouts because of the sheer audacity and the foundation of unacceptance that comments like that are founded upon.

If absorbing design principles and color theory is of interest to you and will allow you to take your scrapping to what ever level you want to achieve, fine. If it cause your brain to numb just thinking about it, then perhaps it isn't all that important to you. We are a society that likes to feel good...that should carry over into our hobbies as well. If you like the way that your cobalt blue and bubblegum pink layout looks...get your sunglasses out and do your thing! Don't let some silly color wheel stop you!

The use of designing principles should be a personal choice amongst scrapbookers, not the cost of admission into some exclusive community clique. It's one thing to want to use those tools to please yourself, it's another thing to expect anyone who is "serious' about scrapbooking to choke on them in order to fit in some preordained mold.

Just another brick in the wall that keeps the meat and potatoes of the industry (that's us) divided...

Stress and Scrapbooking...hand in hand?

If Scrapbooking is a craft...should it be stressful?

Well...first of all... I don't think that there should be any "shoulds" in scrapbooking...but that's just me.

In a nutshell, I think the answer to the stress in scrapbooking question will vary from person to person. It all depends on 1) why you scrapbook, 2) how you scrapbook, and 3) what you seek to get out of scrapbooking.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if scrapbooking is an outlet for you, that stress would better left out of the equation. I have enough stress in my life...I don't need to have it inundating my relaxation time as well...but it does.

I didn't used to...(how's that for baaaad grammar...Ms. Mendiola is probably somewhere balled up in a corner screaming to high heaven for my head on a platter!)

When I was a liberated scrapper, I scrapped to keep myself from hurting the people that I loved. I found that I was less likely to view my family as a Preying Mathis views her mate after copulation when I threw myself into creating layouts. Now that I've allowed stress into my creative environment, my family lives everyday in mortal peril.

Stress has no place in my crafting life...but that is again, my personal cup-o-tea. Make your own tea. Make your own rules. I did...now if I could just live by the darned things!

Stress is the main reason that I had my near fatal scrap-breakdown. My buddy Chicken Louver can attest to the day that I sent her an email telling her that I couldn't do it anymore. I almost short circuited my keyboard with my bitter tears of rejection and walking away from scrapbooking seemed to be the only solution that would end the constant, painful bombardment of rejection. I was a dumb little girl back then...I can't say I'm any smarter, but I did manage to grow up enough to get over myself.

We all need to determine the level of involvement (in this 'hobby') that will magically transform it into a J.O.B. and ask ourselves if we are ready to cross it. For me, that line of demarcation is right at the DT Gig level. I won't allow myself to work for scraps...because despite loving the shower of goodies, the word 'work' is still involved. I have a job...in fact... because I felt the urge to replicate myself...twice...I have 3 or 4 jobs. I need another pay-less job like I need another dimple in my thigh...no thank you very much! If my hobby looks, smells and tastes like work...then I'd better be getting paid for it...and even with paycheck in hand I will denounce it as any hobby of mine.

What I'm trying to say...if I'm trying to say anything at all, is that for me (and hopefully nobody will miss the "for me" part), Scrapbooking isn't about achievements (outside of achieving giddy happiness at completing a page I love), it isn't about goals, it isn't about 'catching up'. It's about release and release is the antithesis of stress...IMHO. Therefore, it only calls to reason that stress has no place in my scrapbooking. However it got there, it needs to exit, stage left and asap!

Now I need to ponder how to get the festering cyst out of my scrap area...

TFR

Why do I scrapbook?

I truely feel, in every rickety bone in my rapidly aging body, that I lost sight of this question (and it's answer) some time ago.

Why do I scrapbook?

Yes, I want to preserve memories...cliche' as all heck but truth none the less.
Yes, I need the creative outlet.

But why scrapbooking? Why not photography?

I'm still trying to figure it out folks and it appears that the answer is still buried under my mountain of past mistakes. The cost of losing site of my goal has been great indeed. The place that has been hit the hardest is my wallet with my self esteem taking the next harshest blow.
In an attempt to follow the trends, I accumulated whatever the industry told me that I needed to have...and I still have it. While on my search for peer validation, I allowed myself to forget to count my own personal validation amongst the most important. I take full ownership; I did this to myself and I am the only person that will be able to heal all of the wounds that I've allowed to be inflicted.

I feel as if while chasing my dream for 15 seconds of fame, glory and validation, I lost myself to this hobby...but not in a good way. I've been so far gone that even now, 9 months after my discovery of what my ambitions were doing to me, I still can't quite get it together. I know that I love to scrapbook, but I feel as if something is holding me back.

I spoke to Dorkfish yesterday and she urged me to consider throwing in a few layouts for the Lucky 7 contest at SB.com. To be honest, I'm afraid that I will back slide into the same tar pit I just crawled out of. The upside to entering is that there is no product requirement, the down side is that I'm not sure I'm quite ready to make a move that would require emotional detachment from my entries. The downside is that even if I did enter, and did pick up an honorable mention (I dare not dream too big), it would only result in my acquiring yet another Scrapbooking GC that I don't really have a use for. Who would've ever thought I would have a hard time picking up scrapbooking stuffs?

So, why do I scrapbook? Obviously, I scrapbook for myself. I have a medical condition that may make scrapbooking difficult one day, so I hope to preserve as many memories as I can, while I can. Is it selfish to admit that I don't scrapbook for the subjects of my scrapbook pages? Maybe, but oh well, I've been called worse. I know that there is much more to "why" than I've stated, but, for the life of me, I can't figure it out. Yes, I would like some cheese with my whine, preferably Pepper Jack.

Remember when you first started scrapping? Remember how much purpose you felt? Remember how driven you were? Where'd that all go? Surely, accumulating ridiculous amounts of stash can't be the sole cause of that loss of drive...even if it's accompanied by a steady lack of validation from the public. You know, the reason for the loss isn't nearly as important as what needs to be done to get it back. One of the posters here commented that she had discovered the joy of scrapping once again...I want that...I'm working my way back to that.

In the interim, I will continue to poor my bleedin' heart out here and commune with those who see similarities between my plight and their own. One day, I'll be able to scrapbook again without hearing that nagging little voice that always asks me why I'm doing it. One day.