Lately, I’ve been documenting my life in a seemingly unconventional sort of way. While most people stick to something chronological, like keeping a 12×12 album with dated layouts or pocket pages, or keeping a memory planner or Project Life album, I’ve decided to not document my life in a chronological sort of way. From the few years I’ve been scrapbooking, I have finally realized that documenting my life in any sort of dated chronological way just doesn’t work for me. I become anxious and stressed with having to “keep up” to prevent “falling behind,” because “catching up” is just the worst.
If you recall, I began my year documenting in a 6×8 album in this unconventional way. I was very inspired by the ever-so-lovely and inspiring Suse Fish to approach my 2018 album in a “Scrap Therapy” sort of way–except in pocket pages and small layouts. And I enjoyed it for a bit before talking a break from it to pursue a 12×12 album life.
But then I purchased this lovely black and white stripped planner from Felicity Jane and began something new. I only worked in this planner when I felt like cutting and sticking things down. Again, I was inspired by what Suse was doing in her planner. I wasn’t using this planner to plan or to memory plan–there was no story to tell, really. I simply worked in it whenever I felt like it. I did however, section the months off, possibly the only chronological bit of this particular project (much like I was doing in my 6×8 album).
And you know what? I LOVED IT.
I loved working in this way. I wasn’t constrained to tell my life day by day or week by week. I didn’t even have to tell a story. As I began working through Susannah Conway’s Unraveling course for the second time, I decided to print my photos and scrap them in this planner. I would write out a few thoughts on the collaged spread or page and that was it. If I felt like including a quote from something that I had read, I wrote it down and embellished it later. And if I did want to commemorate an occasion in the old-fashion way, I did. Whatever I wanted to do, I did in this planner. And it was so fun.
So, I have decided to documenting my year in this Scrap Therapy sort of way. I’m going to combine my 6×8 album with these planner pages into one (maybe two) albums, that way I can continue doing 6×8 pocket pages when I feel like it. I’m also going to be keeping my first ever 12×12 album, because I rather enjoy creating a 12×12 layout from time to time, and I’ve just recently discovered my joy for doing 12×12 Project Life (in the Design A format), so I decided why not keep both albums? I’m the type of scrapbooker who doesn’t mind documenting a favorite photo twice, so only the very best, most magical moments will be documented in the 12×12 album, while everything else–including random thoughts, quotes, ephemera and the like–will grace the pages of my Scrap Therapy album.
I honestly think this transition is good for me. I enjoy documenting in this way and I for once haven’t tired out creating my yearly album like I would with Project Life or a memory planner. So it’s an excellent sign!
I’ve filmed a little flip through video of what I have so far in my Felicity Jane planner–I should just call it my Felicity Jane binder–and explain why I decided to make the change and how I’m going about it. I do hope you enjoy.