Get a Premium Membership for Free

by | Sponsors & Giveaways | 75 comments

On November 1st we launched an all new membership program here at Simple Scrapper and its been wonderful to see so many of you join us! To celebrate my gratitude for your support, I’d like to do a special giveaway. Two lucky participants will receive a free one year premium membership!

To enter, leave a comment below answering the following questions in at least 4 complete sentences:

  1. What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges?
  2. What makes that a trouble area for you?
  3. What is one skill you would like to master in 2012?
  4. How would you use that new knowledge?

Giveaway Rules

  • Your submission must follow the directions precisely. No exceptions.
  • You must submit your entry by 11:59pm Eastern on November 27.

Did you find this post helpful?

We believe simple is not how your page looks, but how your scrapbooking hobby works. We have a free workshop called SPARKED and it is the best way to learn more about Simple Scrapper and start creating consistently.

75 Comments

  1. Philippa

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is finding time for myself, and to scrap.
    2. I have trouble getting started, usually once i choose where to start I get moving along and am happy with the results.
    3. In 2012 i want o master journaling and telling our stories.
    4. I want to capture our everyday moments and big life stuff so my family will be able to look back at it.

    Reply
  2. BL

    1. I have a constant battle with space. I live in a 600 sq ft condo. I have 67 yrs of memories. Condensing those memories and thoughts into a small space is a huge challenge.
    2. The trouble begins with what do I keep? Then, how do I say the most with the least? Big books (16 X 16) seem way out of proportion in my small home. How do I organize (memories, family, trips, everything together)?
    3. I would like to make by books interesting to other people. It is easy for me to make them interesting to me. Possibly the answer is journaling. Perhaps, it is the combination of journaling and photos.
    4. If I could condense all my photos and journals into a smaller space, they could occupy bookshelves where I could enjoy them on a regular basis (and it would free up closet space)

    Reply
  3. Beth

    1. My biggest challenge is finding time for me ! Always can think of 100 other things that should be done…need to rid myself of the guilt !
    2. Trouble area is getting my journaling on a page that looks pleasing and inviting when others pick up my album. Otherwise the stories are just for me.
    3. The skill I would love to master in 2012 is photo organization !! Mine are on either flash drives or external hard drives and I can’t find anything !!
    4. I would use my new skills to make the best possible memory books for my boys to have for the rest of their lives.

    Reply
  4. Ellie A.

    1- My Biggest Scrapbooking challenge is that I have more pictures to know what to do with!
    2- This gets me in trouble because I do get overwhelmed and start a page or two but never seem to get it finished. HELP!!
    3- I would love to scrapbook my pictures at a timely matter and not have 100 of pictures piling up.
    4- I actually would love to share it with my SIL whom I have slowly started to introduce her to scrapbooking because of my 3 nephews and it would fun to show here a faster way to get our scrapbooking done faster.

    Thanks so much for the chance.

    Reply
  5. Sara Westhead

    One of my biggest challenges is finding inspiration. I often find that I am caught in a rut, and, as a result, tend to lose my mojo. One of the skills I’d like to learn this year is in making my own paper flowers for embellishments. It is very hard to get supplies in Bermuda, so making my own embellishments, particularly paper flowers, would allow me to create the pages and art that I want to, without having to struggle to get supplies; then, in turn, I can teach my friends here!

    Reply
  6. Jill

    What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges?
    —>Finding TIME to scrapbook… or create in general!
    What makes that a trouble area for you?
    —>I tend to take on too many other projects. I tend to over extend myself by volunteering for too many things for my daughters school, etc.
    What is one skill you would like to master in 2012?
    —->Creating time for myself. Just something small… even a half hour each week to be creative would most likely make EVERYONE in my family much happier! 🙂
    How would you use that new knowledge?
    —->I’d use the newfound knowledge/time to let my creative juices flow. I would likely use the time to work on my long list of To-do/Wishlist crafty projects!

    :o)

    Reply
  7. Katherine

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is making time to sit down and create pages.
    2. I allow this to be a trouble area for me when I allow the stress of a full work day and running kids from sports events to keep me from enjoying something that could relieve stress!
    3. I would love to master the skill of simplification. Streamlining the number of projects I’m working on at one time and just focusing on capturing memories on paper!
    4. I would use my new skills for good not evil! 😉 I would create more pages and complete more albums.

    Reply
  8. Loyd Reedy

    My biggest scrapbooking challenge is not trying to scrap everything event in our life. I just can not be done, I must choose and then do that special event. I would like to be able to put 2 or 3 events on a couple pages and tie them together. By doing this I would be able to scrap more thing, “I think”!

    Reply
  9. Christelle Lamontagne

    My biggest challenge is motivation. I see how many photos I have to scrap and I get discouraged. In 2012 I would like to learn to appreciate the pages I make and not compare them to other people’s. That way, I wouldn’t feel like I have to spend so much time on one page and I would be able to scrap more pages.

    Reply
  10. Kim Youngers

    My biggest scrapbooking challenge is organizing all my kits and pictures so that I know how to find what I need. I have collected SO much and I hate deleting it in case I need it in the future but I have trouble finding the right kit for a page because there is so much to go through. In 2010 I want to focus on learning to edit my photos better and in doing a better job at recording the every day moments instead of just the big ones. To me, scrapbooking is all about recording our families life.

    Reply
  11. Jerri Wood

    Motivation is my #1 problem, I have to constantly surf the internet for motivation. And because I am lucky enough to have my scrappy supplies at work and can scrap when I am not busy, I do not have internet or anyone around that scrapbooks. Looking at others pages or ideas help me. I am hoping to get my scrap on more often and hope to try harder to be motivated in 2012. I plan on starting a 365 day type album. It helped me in the past. Looking forward to the new year and a new start.

    Reply
  12. Mel

    My biggest scrapbooking challenge is keeping the meaning alive. I love to scrapbook for myself. I love the colors and the papers and the creativity of it. But I don’t have children of my own to share my albums with, and since time to myself is a premium due to a variety of circumstances in my life right now, there are times when I wonder if it really matters.

    I would like to master creating my own designs in the year to come. For many of my pages, the designs are scraplifted, and to start expanding my scrapbooking horizons to teach my own classes or create an e-book, any pages I would use in either of those ventures need to be my own creation.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  13. Cynthia

    Great questions and a fantastic giveaway Jennifer!
    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge besides starting a new page at all is not getting bogged down in trying to gather the ‘right’ and most ‘creative’ stuff to make it perfect. I think I make it so much harder for myself than it needs to be.
    2. I think this is a problem for me for two reasons; too much stuff to choose from (or it not being organized in a user friendly manner) and not believing in my creative self enough.
    3. I would seriously love to master the ability to visualize a page, find the ingredients and get the page or project made. I really want to master my own ability for creativity!
    4. I would use this knowledge to make more mini-books, cards, projects for my family and other loved ones in my life!

    Have a great Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  14. Cheryl M

    1. My biggest challenge isn’t actually doing the layout, it’s once they’re done, how do I group them and which album should they go in.
    2. This becomes my trouble area because I have thousands of photos on my HD to scrap, let alone all the totes of photos that still need scanned and scrapped, stories told.
    3. The one skill I’d like to master in 2012 is putting together an album from beginning to end and getting it printed, actually completing all the undone project albums sitting on my HD already scrapped.
    4. I could have hard copies for myself and all my family members if I could only get my stash organized.

    Thanks so much for this opportunity!

    Reply
  15. Cheryl L

    1.My biggest scrapbooking challenge is organization.
    2.It makes me feel overwhelmed and unproductive.
    3. I would like to master time management skills.
    4. I would love to make so many pages and have so many ideas swimming around in my head, but have a difficult time sitting down and managing to get it all done.

    Reply
  16. Leslie

    (1) Without a doubt, my biggest scrapbooking roadblock is spending too much time on a layout.

    (2) I’m not able to get my mini albums done in a normal amount of timTrying to capture the essence of someone else’s layout helps, but perfectionism prevents me from completing mini albums and takes away some of the joy

    Reply
  17. DorothyCC

    My biggest challenge is finding time to scrapbook. It’s a problem because I work full-time and have many other time commitments. I would like to learn how to scan and edit old photos. I have boxes and boxes of family photos going back decades. I would love to scan them and put them into digital photobooks for my brothers and me, as a heritage for our children.

    Reply
  18. Leslie

    (1) Without a doubt, my biggest scrapbooking roadblock is spending too much time on a layout.

    (2) I’m not able to get my mini albums done in a normal amount of time and end up frustrated (I lose some of the joy of creating by thinking too much).

    (3) The one skill I would like to master this year is being able to do more hybrid mini albums.

    (4) With my new skill, In would actually be able to share my creations with the family in a timely fashion.

    Reply
  19. rhadonda

    1. My battle is learning and using PSE often enough that i can flow with it and not approach each page as another learning session.
    2. It is a trouble area because if i don’t get to it then i forget what i have learned and the process is too slow.
    3. I would like to master PSE in 2012.
    4. I would use that knowledge then to do more pages! Thanks.

    Reply
  20. Donna

    1. My biggest challenge is getting started! 2. It is my trouble area because I have the ambition, but I need the inspriation to get me going. 3. The skill I need to master in 2012 is organization! If I had it all together I could do great things! 4.I would use that knowledge to make my scrapbooking sessions more productive, and more meaningful, and full of great memories to pass onto my grandchildren.

    Reply
  21. Miriam

    My biggest challenge is space.
    I don’t have a dedicated scrap room and struggle with getting everything out and then packed away again for just an evening of work.
    I’d like to at least dip my toes into the digital world; trying collages through Picasa or maybe PSE, though the learning curve for that worries me.
    I think that would allow me to more quickly scrap past years event as well as multi year pages (Halloween costumes, winter fun, etc.)

    Reply
  22. Ali MacDonald

    1- One of my biggest Scrapbooking challenges is finding the time to do all that I want as far as pages go. I would like to “get at” the really emotionally-laden pages (yes, this includes positive ones like when our son’s Autism Assistance Dog Guide, Argo, from the Lions Foundation of Canada, joined our family in Dec 2010) but find it is hard to do so with limited time resources. We also have a big family (4 kids) and that affects time resources as well!
    2- This is a trouble-area for me because I want to do a REALLY good job. I am a bit of a perfectionist. I DO try to “let that go,” but as I often say, “it has to be factually right, but it also has to be emotionally right.” So, that aspect can hold me back, but it ALSO lets me do a bang-up job when I get to the page! LOL! 😉
    3- I would like to master heat embossing in 2012! I have everything I need to try to heat emboss, but I have yet to do so. It’s been 2 years since I bought the supplies. OH MY!
    4- I would use the new ability and knowledge I would gain in heat embossing by adding this as a skill I’d use on the cards that I make in my small local business here in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.
    TY for the chance to win this exceptional prize! ~ Ali

    Reply
  23. Carol

    1. My biggest challenge is shadowing some elements.
    2. I don’t think they look realistic and the purchased actions don’t always look right.
    3. I would like to learn how to use the blend modes more efficiently.
    4. I would add more pizzazz to my layouts!!!

    Reply
  24. Sammie

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is finding the time to actually scrapbook!
    2. This is a challenge for me because I have too many hobbies and things I want to do!
    3. In 2012 I hope to master Lightroom 3.
    4. I would use Lightroom 3 to organize and tag all my photos and digital scrapbooking supplies.

    Reply
  25. Linda Flanagan

    One of my biggest challenges is being organized enough to have a spot to scrapbook. All of my supplies are upstairs on an enclosed back porch but there is no room to do the scrapbooking up there. The only real place I have to do it is on the dining room table but that never stays cleared off long enough. Thus, when I have the time to do any scrapbookking, I don’t have a spot. And as far along as I am (not very), I almost need to occupy the table for 6 months to get my photos more organized and get restarted. What I need is a scrapbookking coach (can’t my daughter stay here for months and that be the only thing we do?) to keep me focused!
    I would say that one skill that I’d like to master in 2012 is being able to look at my photos and visualize a layout that would be good for them as that always slows me up. I have all these fun things to use, but until a person can visualize it, it’s a hang-up. If I were able to visualize my lay-ups easily then I could sail along with my projects (espi since I can always supply the verbage and I have many, many supplies from which to choose).

    Reply
  26. MarieM

    My biggest scrapbooking challenge is getting my pictures organized. I have a lot of digital photos and do not know which program would be best to organize them. I have photoshop elements and ACDSee but maybe they are not the best programs to get my photos organized. I also need a system to organize my digital kits. I would love to master an organizing system for my photos and kits in 2012. I think that once I learn how to organize my digital photos and kits, I would be able to create more layouts.

    Reply
  27. Bernice J

    One of my biggest scrapbooking challenges is that I have a very small desk to work on. I don’t have a lot of space to put out and work on a layout. Also my paper and embellishments are located in various different places in the house. This becomes a trouble area because I cannot see and remember what I have to use and where it is. For 2012, I would really like to gain some experience digitally in font arrangement and putting journaling areas on my layout. I also have difficulty journaling about myself but feel with some experience with the “what” and “how” of journaling it will be easier to make a conscious effort to include more meaningful journaling in my scrapbook layouts.

    Reply
  28. Ann

    What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges?
    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is laziness! I get home from working all day and all I want to do is stare at the TV.
    What makes that a trouble area for you?
    2. This is definitely a trouble area because I really love scrapping once I get started. While I’m at work, I think of all the fun things I can do when I get home, but once I get home, all that motivation flies away.
    What is one skill you would like to master in 2012?
    3. I would love to learn how to use embellishments more effectively. I have tons of embellishments but when you look at my pages, they’re pretty much just paper and pictures. I try and put embellishments on my pages, but I end up removing most of them because I don’t think it looks right.
    How would you use that new knowledge?
    4. Using my newly-acquired knowledge of how to use embellishments more effectively would help me get rid of my stash of embellishments and also make my pages look less plain. I would love to pass this knowledge onto my friend who is also embellishment-challenged. 🙂

    Reply
  29. Nancy Y

    1. Biggest Challenge? Time would be number one, finding the time, making the time, using the time well.
    2. What makes this a trouble area? I have limited time, but there are so many things I want to accomplish I just don’t know where to start.
    3.Skill for 2012? I would really like to learn how to make better titles for pages. I bought a Cricut to do the letters, but somehow I just don’t know how to utilize it or other methods very well.
    4.New Knowledge? Sometimes I spend long stretches of time trying to decide upon what letters to use, what words would work best so this would help me get a page done.

    Reply
  30. Nicole Johnston

    I’m a paper scrapper that wants to go more to the digital realm.

    I see the beautiful pages in the galleries, and I wish I had made the transition.

    I would like to learn how to use brushes better.

    I would use more brushwork on pages.

    Reply
  31. Barbara

    What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges?
    It has to be balancing the time I spend on the computer with time spent doing the other things, both the needful and the fun.
    What makes that a trouble area for you?
    It’s troublesome because there is just SO MUCH that would be awesome to complete: sewing projects, photo books, framed art, art journaling, etc. The list goes on.
    What is one skill you would like to master in 2012?
    How to scrap faster! (See above!)
    How would you use that new knowledge?
    My new project for 2012 is to make a My Life Story album. After 2 years of P365, I need to change it up. Time is flying, and I’m not getting any younger!

    Reply
  32. rebecca.k

    1) My biggest scrapbooking challenge is procrastination. I get overwhelmed very quickly, so I don’t start a new project.
    2) I put off getting pages done. I get caught up in all of the details.
    3) I am hoping to become better at using my die cutting machines and I would like to start using my sewing machine to stitch on pages.
    4) I would use that knowledge to make cuter pages! 🙂

    Reply
  33. Dawn N

    What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges?
    One of my biggest challenges is overcomming the feeling of being so overwhelmed with where to start & what products to use. I am fairly new to scrapbooking (within 3 years) and the world wide web has so much information – I am in brain overload before I even begin.

    What makes that a trouble area for you? Because I feel I need to have a certain paper or a specific die cut, I dont finish or worse do not even begin. Also I love seeing so much inspiration – I am not sure which path to take to start my project in a similar fashion… ie. do I make all mini-books of my daughter through the years – or concentrate on one book in year-thru-year fashion – or do I break up early years, school and sports?

    What is one skill you would like to master in 2012? I have 2 skills that I want to master this next year…I would love to learn how to make 1. my own svg files and 2. digital scrapbook page templates.

    How would you use that new knowledge? I would definately use it to work on my books and share any svg’s I would make… but I do create scrapbooks annually for my cheerleaders, I would love to know how to save the templates to keep using year-over-year, and just pop in updated pictures.

    These are great questions – thanks for the chance to win a membership.

    Reply
  34. Tammy

    One of my biggest scrapbooking challenges is overcoming my perfectionism & desire to have everything “just right” before I start.
    This is such a trouble area for me because I start to feel overwhelmed and then rather than being productive, I end up wasting time.
    I would really like to master getting pages done in 2012. I want my kids to be able to look at scrapbooks rather than boxes of pictures!
    I would love to encourage friends to get pages done as well. Hopefully by working productively on my scrapbooks, I would be an impetus and motivation for them 🙂

    Reply
  35. Paula

    1. My biggest challenge is scrapping time for sure! That’s why I love templates.
    2. Just finding enough time to make progress. It feels like as soon as I get started I get interrupted so sometimes I don’t even start because I know I won’t get far enough to make it worth while.
    3. The one skill you would like to master in 2012? Journaling!
    4. I struggle with my journaling sometimes because I feel like I am not getting my point across as well as I would like. So I would do a lot more pages that are journal driven. I have so many good stories to tell. I would love to be able to get them on paper so my family and I could enjoy them for posterity.

    Reply
  36. Sabrina

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is just managing the sheer number of photos I have and deciding what to scrapbook.
    2. This is a problem for me because I’ve been traditional scrapbooking for 11 years, but now that I do a lot of digital, I don’t print out everything in 4×6 any more. Just picking out the best photos and editing those is still very time consuming. And I recently inherited thousands of photos and slides from my in-laws, too. Do I try to digitize those? What do I do with the photos I have no info. about?
    3. I want to learn how to use Lightroom in 2012. I got a free trial with PSE 10, so I’m going to learn it!
    4. I think learning Lightroom will help with my photo “processing” workflow because I’ve heard it can batch process photos without changing your original file.

    Reply
  37. Beth Jansen

    1. My biggest challenge is finding the time to scrapbook!
    2. This is a trouble area because I have recently starting to work more, as my youngest is now in Kindergarten! And time is very limited!! I need to learn to scrapbook in smaller amounts of time!
    Just a little here and there!
    3. I would like to master the brush tool in my digital scrapbooking.
    4. I have seen some truly beautiful ways to use the brushes on digital pages and I think learning to use this tool well will add a new level to my digital pages.

    Reply
  38. Claire

    My biggest challenge is creativity. I tend to be very straight forward. Straight lines, everything lined up neat and orderly. I would like to be more adventurous. I would like to learn more about all the different techniques, stamping, distressing, chalking, stitching, etc. I would like to get out of my comfort zone.

    Reply
  39. daphane voltz

    One of my biggest scrapbooking challenges focusing on the whole reason to do scrapbooking—telling a story through my photos. I am trying to learn how to compromise between pretty layouts and tons of photos. This makes a trouble area for me because sometimes I get lost in trying to make a layout pretty and run out of time. In 2012, I would like to learn to master basic design skills in Illustrator and Photoshop. With this knowledge, I would develop my own line of albums, kits, and templates to make it easier for others to compromise tons of photos with pretty layouts in minimal time.

    Reply
  40. Kelly S

    1. What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges? One of my biggest scrapbook challenges is setting aside time to scrap. I often let trivial things (like watching TV) steal away time I should be using to scrap.
    2. What makes that a trouble area for you? Making time to scrap is a trouble area for me because I let myself get sidetracked by things that I can always put off for later, or things that I really don’t need to do.
    3. What is one skill you would like to master in 2012? In 2012, I would love to learn how to use my stamps in new, creative ways.
    4. How would you use that new knowledge? I would use that new knowledge to add some spice to my scrapbook pages. I have several cool stamps that I love but I hardly ever use because I don’t know how to use them other than stamping straight on my page.

    Reply
  41. June S

    1. My biggest challenge is focusing! I thought I had cracked it last year but..no I still went of track.
    2. My biggest trouble area is selecting what I should keep and what to bin. I have so many photographs I would have to live to be 1000 to scrap them all..and would I want to, as some are not that great.
    3. The one skill I would love to master in 2012 is Lightroom to help my editing skills and to produce some photographs that can be the stars of my pages.
    4. I would use the knowledge to finally produce a 365 album of a year in our lives…good, bad and the mundane too. A whole year in a worthwile snapshot of 2012 to look back on.

    Reply
  42. Melinda T

    1. One of my biggest scrapbooking challenges is not having enough confidence in myself to scrap. I start with having a plan/idea, then when I’m selecting photos, paper, embellishments…, I don’t know what to do because it doesn’t look or feel right. I also strive for perfection and compare myself to others.
    2. Its a trouble area for me because it means less memories and moments are being scrapped onto layouts and into albums to be enjoyed and treasured. I also love buying scrapbooking supplies and if I don’t use those said supplies, its a waste of my time and money.
    3. One skill I’d like to master in 2012 is to make time to learn how to digital scrap and to not be so critical of my work.
    4. I don’t know if I’ll ever catch up, I have far too many photos! But in learning how to digiscrap, I hope to streamline my photo-editing process, create multi-photo templates or quickpages so I can scrap more photos and its also more portable!

    Reply
  43. Kenna Gathright

    1. One of my biggest scrapbooking challenges is having good, complete journaling. I do sentences here and there but I think I leave out some good stories in my effort to scrap quickly.
    2. I believe this is a trouble area for me because I work hard to keep my scrapping current, which means I am always in a hurry to finish.
    3. In 2012 I would like to become more competent (not sure I can master) in Photoshop Elements.
    4. I would use that new knowledge to scrap more efficiently using my favorite pictures.

    Reply
  44. sue

    1. My biggest challenge is finding the time to scrap so many photos from the last 45 years.
    2. I tend to waste time, picking, choosing and changing my mind on what to start first, do I work backwards or start from the older ones.
    3. I would like to master realistic drop shadows and lighting.
    4. With my new found knowledge, I would create more layouts of a much better quality.
    thanks Sue : )

    Reply
  45. Regina

    1. What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges? My biggest challenge is finding time to do things for me. I want time to photograph, scrapbook (traditional & digital), craft projects & read as well as exercise & eat healthy.
    What makes that a trouble area for you? Making time to do what I would like to do is a trouble area for me because I get distracted or I have too much on my plate and I feel that I don’t have enough time to dedicate –
    3. What is one skill you would like to master in 2012? In 2012, I would love to learn how to budget my time better and be organized – have a viable plan
    4. How would you use that new knowledge? I would use that new knowledge of time management and organization to make a goal and accomplis or meet the goal!

    Reply
  46. Kanani Kawamura

    My BIGGEST scrapbooking challenge is finding TIME to get it done! As a stay at home mom to a 2 year old, sports playing 15 year old, and gf to a guy who coaches + plays soccer my schedule is stretched thin sometimes. One skill I would like to master in 2012 is creating simple pages…quickly! Quick + simple pages would make for getting more scrapbooking done!

    Reply
  47. Helen

    1. My biggest challenge is finding (or making!) time to scrapbook
    2. This makes it a trouble area as I cannot create all the layouts I would like to.
    3. In 2012 I would like to find new ways to simplify my scrapbooking. I am thinking along the lines of simpler pages, maybe a layout for each month which sums up that month’s stories, and making a list of all the photos/stories which are priority. So basically identify my scrapbooking goals.
    4. I would use this new knowledge to focus on the stories which I think are the most important ones to tell.

    Reply
  48. Colleen

    My biggest challenge is being able to make my layouts the way I envision them. I use PSE 9 and yet do not know how to do all of the little digital scrap things I need to know. It’s a problem for me because when I go online to try to learn a particular way to do something (ex. clipping mask), I then end up being overwhelmed at all of the tutorials out there. From there I get side-tracked into other tutorials on scrapping, etc. See this viscious circle?????? I want to learn my PSE 9 or 10 to the extent that I can do all of the little things to make my scrap pages better without spending hours having to look for tutorials. I think the knowledge would save me tons of time and free up my mind for better page ideas. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  49. G.T.

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge would be lack of confidence to be able to create pages?
    2. This then means that the memories are not being documented.
    3. I would like to master just basic planning of my scrapbooking pages.
    4. With this knowledge, I could then document my parents’ lives (I have 5 tubs of their photos & memorabilia) as well as our own so that this knowledge gets passed on.
    I would love to win this membership to help me!!!

    Reply
  50. Sarah S.

    One of my biggest scrapbooking challenges is finding the inspiration to create unique pages. I get overwhelmed by all the beautiful images in galleries, and sometimes it keeps me from creating my own. I just feel a need to “keep up” in digiland, which I know is silly. But it’s a real feeling, and it’s keeping me from scrapping right now.
    In 2012, I’d like to try a new scrapping system – something like project life – where I’m doing hybrid pages, collecting real life bits of paper, and making a simple album about our everyday stories. The freedom to just tell our stories and not have to create something “beautiful” every time will enable me to record more of what makes our family special. I’m looking forward to the new year!!!

    How would you use that new knowledge?

    Reply
  51. Kate aka stinkydudette

    What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges?
    Making time to scrapbook and committing (papers, embellishments, etc).

    What makes that a trouble area for you?
    It makes the whole scrapbook tedious and a lot of work, though I really enjoy scrapbooking.

    What is one skill you would like to master in 2012?
    I would like to plan my pages better and streamline the process.

    How would you use that new knowledge?
    Scrapbooking will be stress-free and more enjoyable, and create memories that matter.

    Reply
  52. fancyscrapper

    1. One of my biggest scrapbooking challenges is just getting started! For instance, right now I have some pictures that begin to tell the story of our Thanksgiving week, and I have an album I prepared for that purpose. I narrowed down the supplies I thought I’d use, but I’m just having trouble sitting down and starting. Once I get started, I can usually keep going.
    2. This is a trouble area for me because without creative inspiration, sometimes I’m just stumped. I want to create my own patterns though, and not just recreate something someone else made. I often challenge myself with using specific embellishments or tools (such as using stamps, my die cut alphas, fibers, wire, or something like that) in order to get the ball rolling.
    3. I would like to master the skill of creating art and scrapbooking more regularly in 2012. My family is growing up, needing me on a less consistent basis, and I’d like to develop the habit of taking more time for creativity now that I have the room to do so. I’m already well on the road in this respect since it’s rare for more than a week to go by without me spending some time in the studio. I’d like to see this increase.
    4. I would like to consider joining the many who are using their art to create an income stream as an option. I’ve been thinking on this a good deal, and will continue to do so. I think a good place to start is to spend more time honing some skills, as well as develop my own unique style in the hopes of finding a niche I might fill perhaps through the internet.

    Reply
  53. Sherry

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is just the overwhelming feeling of “where do I begin, what do I use, how is it done?” What kind of scrapbooker am I?
    2. It’s challenging to me because I’m a visual learner. Video’s help but I need a real live person to show me. That’s hard where I live because I am in a rural area…there are no scrapbook stores within 50 miles of me. All the people I know who scrapbook do it “the old-fashioned way.”
    3. Right now, the thing I want to learn the most is how to use my new bind-it-all. It’s driving me crazy! I’ve watched video’s. It’s not helping…I need someone to show me.
    4. I would use my new knowledge to use in a business and for my own enjoyment.. I have an idea for a scrapbook niche and need to learn to bind properly.

    Reply
  54. WinnieH

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge at the moment is lack of motivation. That and trying to deal with a new baby!
    2. This is a trouble area for me as it means I don’t get to scrapbook much anymore. I just can’t seem to find the motivation to do any scrapbooking. I tried digital scrapbooking, and that’s okay, but I’m more a touchy-feely person so digi-scrapping is definitely not the same as paper scrapping.
    3. I would love to learn how to master using Copics and Alcohol Inks – not together although that might be a great skill to learn how to combine them!
    4. I would love to apply my new knowledge to the scrapbook pages and cards that I make and in doing so ensure that they are unique and individual pieces of work.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  55. Nancy McMahon

    1. What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges? My biggest challenge is finding the energy to scrapbook at night after I have worked all day, made dinner/cleaned up, and prepped for the next day {clothes out, lunches made, coffee set-up, etc}.

    2. What makes that a trouble area for you? This is troublesome to me because it contributes to my sense of lack of accomplishment. I really do enjoy scrapbooking, and I take pride in my layouts {simple as they are} and love the fact that my family and friends enjoy looking at them. So when I go for days/weeks {as I have been lately} I feel like I’m just adrift, not getting any ME time in my scrap space or getting anything done.

    3. What is one skill you would to master in 2012? I would like to master the use of my Cricut machine. I have the Expression, and I seldom use it {or the Design Studio} when scrapping. I have over 2 dozen cartridges which could produce all kinds of embellishments for me to use, yet I seldom use it.

    4. How would you use that new knowledge? I would use the Cricut to make titles, embellishments, etc. that would be personalized to the layouts I do. It would also be helpful to guide my daughter, as she uses it alot for school projects. Though I guess because of her age, she instinctively uses it alot better than I.

    Thank you for the chance to win a free subscription. I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving 🙂

    Nancy McMahon

    Reply
  56. Michelle

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is finding time and motivation to actually sit and create.

    2. The reason for this is fatigue and lack of energy due to having three young kids, also, wanting to do so many things I love, I never know where to start when I actually have quality time to myself, or, I just want to vegge!

    3. In 2012, I would like to not only take pictures but also be able to catch up on putting order in the ones I already have and keep it up…

    4. I think by doing this, I will be able to actually write about the pics and that way, capture the FULL moment that is represented…

    Reply
  57. Delia W

    1. What is one of your biggest scrapbooking challenges? I think for me its still to put words down. I’ve read some advice on how, but for some reason I just dont seem to find the words.
    2. What makes that a trouble area for you? I think its because I’ve always believed hat I can’t do it.
    3. What is one skill you would like to master in 2012? Skills on how to capture the everyday.
    How would you use that new knowledge? scrap more with words and stories, not just pretty pics.

    Reply
  58. Ghislaine

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is that I’m a very poor at journaling.

    2. I think it’s a trouble area for me because I have never felt I was good at writing assignments during school so why would I want something that’s not so good on my pages. Perhaps it really boils down to a question of perfectionism!

    3. I’d really like to master the software program I use. There aren’t a lot of tutorials out there for it but I’m slowly figuring out how to recreate the things I see on other’s layouts.

    4. I think I would have to write my own tutorials to spread that knowledge to others! I’m more comfortable with writing up a set of instructions that I am with journaling!

    Reply
  59. Brenda Letellier

    My biggest scrapbooking challenge is making the time go and scrapbook my own projects instead of sitting near the computer watching all of the talented ladies on youtube scrapbook. What makes this a trouble area for me is that my computer is in the living room with the rest of the family and my scraproom is downstairs so it is just easier to sit upstairs and watch others scrap. The one skill I would like to master in 2012 is better time management and more discipline. I would use that knowledge to better spend my time so that I could finish more beautiful projects for my family.

    Reply
  60. Lynne

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is the journaling.
    2. My difficulty is not with the words – it is finding a way to incorporate the journaling into the overall design of the page.
    3. I would love to learn how to stamp.
    4. I think using stamps would open a whole new dimension for my layouts.

    Reply
  61. Karyn A.

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge would be feeling overwhelmed very quickly.
    2. This is a trouble area for me because, I have a lot of photos, a lot of product, a lot of thoughts floating around in my head that I want to get out and share. I think too that I have the disease of comparing myself to all the professionals and I know that I’m not there yet, but I want my pages to look like they are.
    3. I would like to become a better drop shadower – I’m mostly digital and that is something that I really need to work on.
    4. I would use the new knowledge I gain from being a member to be inspired to “Just Do It” – I’ve adopted that in other areas of my life and it is working well. Now I just need to apply it to the scrapbooking side of things and I think that it will work.
    How would you use that new knowledge?

    Reply
  62. Amy Ulen

    1) My biggest scrapbooking challenge is making the time to scrapbook.
    2) It isn’t that I don’t have time to scrapbook, my problem is that I spend so much time surfing scrapbooking websites and pinning inspiration pieces that I’m not left with any time to actually create!
    3) In 2012, my goal is to master time management. This must be a focus in not only my crafting but in my teaching and home life. I need to make time to exercise and take care of myself physically and emotionally. So, perhaps I should add “break my Internet addiction” to the goal list!
    4) Mastering time management will help me explore my creativity through scrapbooking, reduce my stress by keeping up with grading, housework, and exercise. It should also help me sleep better because I will be living a more balanced life.

    Thanks for the chance to win the membership. Please don’t disqualify me because I said I need to break my Internet addiction…LOL!

    Reply
  63. Sheri K

    My biggest scrapbooking challenge is getting motivated to actually sit down and get something done. This is a trouble area because I’m fairly new to digital scrapbooking, and as such, am still quite intimidated by it all. I get easily bogged down and discouraged trying to remember things that are very simple and should take almost no time at all. In 2012 I would like to shake the intimidation and master putting some pages together quickly, without worrying too much that they are not “perfect”. This skill would in turn give me the boost I need to continue on, feeling buoyed by finished pages, and finally printing out an album of my twins’ first year.

    Reply
  64. jode

    1. Choosing is my biggest challenge – right now I wondered whether I should type a: Time (and lack thereof – with 4 kids there is always someone else that NEEDS me) or b: Space – as above, the kids’ toys and projects overwhelm MY limited space, or c: Overwhelm – I know I take too many photos – and I want to keep ALL of them – sigh!
    2. This is a troublesome area for me because on the rare occasions that I do sit down to a clear space with a clear timetable (or just didn’t bother with mopping floors or washing or other cleaning) I can’t decide where to begin, or what project to continue or which of my overflowing photos to scrap.
    3. The skill I really NEED to develop is decisiveness, I would also really like to work on embellishing, and learning quick, neat little time-saving tricks – I find it so hard to do effectively, so my pages end up being too plain (in a give-up kind of way – to just get it done).
    4. this new knowledge would result in more completed pages, more albums and more enjoyment for myself, my family and my future.
    4.

    Reply
  65. Rebecca

    My biggest scrapbook challenge is finding time to create! Sometimes it takes me a really long time to finish even a basic layout so with limited time to create I just seem to get much accomplished. I just received PSE 10 as a gift, so in 2012 I want to learn the new features of the program. One specific skill I am looking forward to learning is using text paths, because I love seeing creative use of text on gallery layouts and I want to add that to my own projects.

    Reply
  66. Jenifer

    1. Time… Making time for myself
    2. I do not schedule it and MAKE it happen.
    3. Hmmm… in the scrapbook world or personal 😉
    Journal better and be more creative.
    4. Complete more rewarding pages.

    Reply
  67. Gail

    My biggest challenge is journaling. I can’t see to find the right words to make it meaningful. The skill I would like to become more proficient at this year is making embellishment clusters that really add to my pages. It would not only give my pages more eye appeal, but would help me use up part of my stash.

    Reply
  68. Evie Pea

    One of my biggest scrapbooking challenges is space. I am moving and have set up in a temporary space. It is not large enough for organizing my supplies and workspace. Being visual by nature, I prefer to “see” an outcome before I commit the idea to scissors. Laying it all out works because then I am not timid with my materials and do not compromise my creative process.

    What makes this a trouble area for me is that I will procrastinate a project. I am embarrassed to say that I have one rather large project that is over 10 years old. I’ll feel relieved when it’s completed. But this in no way discourages me; I am looking forward to beginning again!

    In 2012, I would like to master using a digital scrapbooking software program. I would love PS (of course!) but will begin looking around for something more affordable. I would also like to learn to take wonderful pictures on a good camera in 2012. Life changes so quickly that this is the only way to keep up with it!

    I would use that new knowledge to maintain the now for those in my family. We are becoming more and more scattered and do not have the benefit of physically sharing in our everyday lives. These two marvelous things would be my contribution to our family history. And both these would be a satisfaction to me.

    Reply
  69. Janice

    • The biggest challenge I have right now is that my young kitty thinks my work table is his playground. He likes to chew/rip paper, steal my stamps, watercolor pencils, ephemera and whatever else he can walk away with or push off the table. He plays with his own toys, but he likes mine, too. Nothing is really where I like and easily accessible anymore.
    • The trouble is I know if I have tools and supplies at hand I will create something randomly in a few minutes, but my table is in disarray. I can’t leave anything out, in progress. As an artist this is incredibly frustrating. I am looking forward to kitty outgrowing this…kinda, he’s really curious and cute and smart and did I mention cute. {deep sigh}
    • I’m not sure I want to master any new skills at this time, but I would like to revisit some from my art school days.
    • I bought new paint and canvas and I’m really loving my watercolor pencils. I have the desire to draw and paint again and I’m good with that. (And I don’t need my work table to do it!)

    Reply
  70. KatieK.

    1.) My biggest challenge is getting around to printing the photos I’ve uploaded and organized. I just don’t do it. I know how. I know why.
    2.) The trouble with me not printing is I like to do traditional and Project Life type scrapping. I like to do my layouts with my right-now life stories and memories. No pictures=no pages. I I keep great records of the stories and my days. I know how to do digital. I just prefer traditional and PL. So there sits my lonely piles of memorabilia, my stories and supplies waiting for me to add a pile of photos to the mix.
    3.) I would like to master layering or creating pages with embellishments, printed papers, stamps, etc. I am great at creating clean simple designed layouts but I want to stretch myself to learn another way so I have more than 1 method when designing my layouts.
    4.) I need to learn these new techniques for a bunch of reasons: I love the way they look but I don’t know if I will like them for my albums unless I do them: I feel stuck in my simple clean design method and not growing; I have friends I scrap with that would like me to share new things I learn – they don’t have the time or access like I do; I also want my layouts to reflect current trends, reflect life now and design is part of life! So learning would have multiple applications and beneficial outcomes.
    Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply
  71. anne

    My biggest chalange would be how to make everything come together and to keep a daily journal.
    2. How to recolor elements and papers .
    3. Photoshop. I have all the basics but need help with more advanced features.
    4. I would love to be able to put all that knowledge to use and create wonderful albums for my kids.

    Reply
  72. Gwen

    1. My biggest scrapbooking challenge is organizing my old physical photos and slides and incorporating them with my current digital images.
    2. The trouble I have with organizing physical photos and digital images is that they are different creatures. Do I scan the physical photos, or print out the digital photos? Neither seem to offer a good solution.
    3. I would like to master an effective digital image workflow in 2012.
    4. If I had a reliable system for handling my digital images, even though I haven’t solved my problem with what to do with the physical photos, I would have all new photos I create in an organized and accessible system.

    Reply
  73. Bunnyfreak

    1. One of my biggest challenges is finding ways to use not so good photos that are meaningful.
    2. I work digitally so not so good photos tend to look even worse when they have been scanned and I am not sure what edits would help.
    3. I would love to learn cool photo post-processing tips to make photos better, especially grainy and dark photos.
    4. I would use this skill on some Christmas photos from several years ago that I would love to scrap and salvage.

    Reply
  74. scrapingramma aka Ronda

    1. Time we have 12+2 grand children whom I scrap books for

    2.I babysit grand children everyday for 10-12 hours

    3. don’t be so critical of myself when making layouts

    4.books would come together alot faster

    Reply
  75. PatriciaD

    My biggest scrapbooking challenge is to find time and energy.
    That makes a trouble area for me because I simply don’t have time to do all I want to do.
    The one skill I’d like to master in 2012 is quickly doing pages and not making them have to perfect.
    I’d you use that new knowledge by doing more pages and disseminating to family.

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. How to Decide Which Photos to Print - [...] November, I asked Simple Scrapper readers about your biggest challenges. I learned so much for all the comments about…

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

READY TO SCRAPBOOK YOUR WAY?

The Simple Scrapper community will encourage and support your unique creative journey.