Scrapbooking Freebies

Free Download: Instagram Album

by Jennifer Wilson on July 19, 2011 · 19 comments

in Scrapbooking Freebies, Scrapbooking Ideas

I‘ve created a fun freebie for everyone today, but let me back up a bit first. It all started with this adorable new size of album from We R Memory Keepers: 5.5×8.5. I’ve had my eye on it since last year, contemplating what project I could put together in that not-too-big, not-too-small size.

When I initially decided to create an 8.5×11 pregnancy album, I wasn’t quite sure how I would scrapbook the baby from birth on. When I discovered the 5.5×8.5 album in the exact same color, I knew I had a great mama-baby pair. And then something changed. All of my plans and energy to focus on my story were re-channeled into this process of growing a human being from scratch. It’s kind of hard to admit it, but my priorities changed – and so did my intentions for scrapbooking this story.

I’ve definitely documented my pregnancy, but in a simple and more efficient way that still allows me to spend time preparing for baby’s arrival. My photos, they’ve been primarily captured with my iPhone and shared with friends via Instagram. Not fancy, but effective (and artful). Why couldn’t I, I thought, create a set of digital pages for my pregnancy in this fun 5.5×8.5 size? I could bring in a few pieces of memorabilia without being a hoarder of every doctor’s note and advice pamphlet. And I would still have plenty of space for documenting baby’s birth and first months in the world. A few examples are below – click to enlarge.

Once these pages are printed, I’ll share where I’m at with the album. I’m finding 5.5×8.5 so fun to work with, especially since it is half of the standard letter size – 8.5×11! In the meantime, if you’d like to create along with me (on any theme), I’ve put together a download with four different page templates especially for Instagram-sized photos.

Download the Freebie

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Clutter & the True Price of Freebies

by Jennifer Wilson on July 5, 2011 · 7 comments

in Scrapbook Storage and Organization, Scrapbooking Freebies

When I launched my free organization class this year, I did so with a mission to share what I’ve learned in four years of scrapbooking as a sorta-minimalist. I crave order though my natural tendency, as with many creative people, is towards disorder. I love the things that mean something to me (and many do), but I become easily overwhelmed with clutter.

Yet I’ve battled through these contradictions to find systems that work for me, including a (what some might call) drastic approach to freebies.

Over a year ago I wrote somewhat of a manifesto on the madness of digital freebie hunting. I beckoned you to curtail your habitual downloading in favor of more moderate approaches. I feel even more strongly about this now – and it also applies to that great deal you scored on a giant stack of patterned paper five years ago. Scrapbookers today are so blessed with choices and endless sources of inspiration, but we’re drowning and thus, finding ourselves less able to document and create.

To escape this burden, I’ve found myself contented by self-imposed, fairly strict guidelines for managing my scrapbook stash:

I treat “free” and “on sale” the same as full-price.

I bring in only what I will love and use within the next 3 months.

Every 6 months, I let go of all that is unused and older than 1 year.

I came to this approach after spending hours upon hours organizing my digital supplies, only to find that I had not (and would not) use a majority of what I had amassed. When I could have been making or capturing memories, I was effectively rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. I was wasting my time. I decided enough was enough.

What this means is that I don’t hunt for freebies at all and that if I find a free (or even on sale item), I consider whether I’d be willing to pay full price for it. If the answer is no, then the question is off the table. A “no” answer means I don’t really love the item and I definitely don’t need it.

I use this mindset to acquire only products that fire up my creative juices and get me scrapping right away. Through regular (and ruthless) purges, I am no longer bogged down by guilt over my stash. In understanding what freebies were costing me, I discovered the true value in staying organized and clutter-free.

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