view from the classroom - do over
by: Janet Petersma
I
was recently watching a group of young kids play an outdoor game. Someone made a mistake and the team called “Do over!” So everyone backed up and started afresh. No hard feelings, no guilt, just a fresh start. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do that in life? Whether it’s a job situation, a relationship,
or a decorating decision, we’ve all had occasions where a “do over” would be in order. Oh, to be able to wipe the slate clean and start afresh! Scrapbooking is really no different. Talk to a group of experienced scrapbookers and ask them, now that they’ve been scrapbooking for years, what they wish they could do differently. What would they like to “do over”, if they had the chance? I bet they’ll give you quite a list! In fact, I recently did just that. I asked a few groups of longtime scrapbookers to tell me what they would do differently, if they could start fresh with this hobby today. I’ve summarized their suggestions in this article, and plan to share them with my next class of beginners, so that they can learn from our collective experience. If you’re a store owner, look for ways to incorporate these suggestions into your classes and sales strategies.
Find your style Most experienced scrapbookers will tell you that you need to make a LOT of layouts before you figure out your personal style. Many of us have tried a range of styles, from clean/contemporary though shabby chic. While dabbling in many styles is a great way to try new products, and learn new techniques, it can also cost you time and money -- and result in pages that you don’t absolutely love.
If they could start over, several scrapbookers told me they would try to figure out their style from the very beginning. But how? Think about the kind of style you prefer in home décor and fashion, and then look at magazines, idea books, and the work of fellow scrapbookers. Identify layouts you like, so you can mentally “deconstruct” them to determine the elements that appeal to you. Perhaps you’re drawn to
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