Want to start scrapping again...but where to start

[twinsmum2]

Well I have been out of the loop the last 17 months due to my husband dying in a motorbike accident.
I did commence a NKOTB at the time with little success.
Anyway I am now scratching at the bit and wanting to dabble once again into digital scrapbooking. I had been teaching myself PSE3 and then bought the PSE7 version just before my life changed forever.
Now I don't know where to start. Any learning I had done seems to have disappeared and it feels overwhelming to try and learn PSE7 all over again. I feel I have totally gone backwards.
I still have it in my head that learning new things is not the best thing to do. Life is still a roller coaster but I am needing to take some time out here and there for me and I think this is something that I would enjoy. Plus the boys did ask last year for me to do them a digital book of them and their dad.
So any advice to get me back in the swing of things and to remind myself how much fun it is would be appreciated.
I think I just don't know where to start. I haven't taken as many photos in the last year as before so I need to start capturing our life again. Those photos of my husband and family are so much more important to me now than ever.
Any advice...bring it on. Many thanks
Richelle

[TalyQ]

Hello Richelle, I know how you feel. I had a very long break in scrapping before I returned a few years ago and felt like I had forgotten everything. But I am sure when you start again, it will slowly come back. Here are a few suggestions:

Take a look (again) at the tutorials, especially the one about making your first page:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/tutorials.shtml#first

Use a Quick Click to finish a page faster - here are tutorials for using QC:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/tutorials.shtml#dspproducts

Consider signing up for a mentor, it has helped me tremendously getting back to scrapping:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/mentor.shtml

But most importantly, just try to do something and ask for advice, I am sure someone will be able to answer specific things and get you through the hurdles.

Happy scrapping!

[Margie]

So sorry to hear that Richelle. :( I'm biased, but I love ploppers for quick pages. They're such an easy way to scrap and have a great looking page with very little work. Now I prefer to stop there, but many will continue on to start using kits and quick clicks and making the pages your own. But they're such an easy way to get back into the swing of things. Find a pic you love, search for a plopper in that theme or color. Plop on your pic, add text, done!

[mariafer]

I am sorry for ur loss! I will have to agree with quick clicks. I also like to look through the challenges and get much inspiration there. I Didn't scrap for almost a year so i know what u mean. That first page was the hardest but just have fun with it. I know the quote challenge:http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=936 and the ad challenge:http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50787 helped me along. There are a whole lot of others. Here is a post with all current challenges:http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43011.

Hope to see ur pages soon.

[jmnodwell]

Richelle, so very sorry to hear about your loss! and welcome back!!! You should IM Grandma Crys and sign up in the mentor/mentee program. Your mentor can help you with questions, etc.

I agree with Margie on the ploppers!!! A plopper, a pic or two, a couple of fonts (or alphabets) and you are in business!!! We love to "see" at the weekly chats too!!!

Great group of scrappers here!!!

[honeymoon]

Welcome back Richelle.

The other way to do it would be to join in with one of the designer challenges. I find the kit that's used for the challenge then helps me to pick the photo or story to scrap. Today Lauren has a chat at 9pm EST, which I know is 2pm here in NZ, but not sure what that means for Perth.

The other thing to do is to take the pressure off and just make some cards. Work out which birthdays are coming up and then make a card for them. I like to scrap my cards at 4x6 and then get them printed at a photo lab and stick onto a card base. You don't need any photos then and don't have to journal, but can still be creative.

Just play and take time out for yourself.

[twinsmum2]

Thanks for the replies...I forgot about ploppers so will give them a try. I also like your idea Fiona of making cards with no photos just random colour and animations etc...that sounds like a great idea too, never thought about doing that.
I will start this weekend or on my day off next week and see how I go. I am actually looking forward to it and once I start I think I will start to enjoy again....
thanks again...

[addielee]

I remember you from NKOTB Richelle! I hope you are back to stay! I'm sure you will find scrapping to be therapeutic.

[Kathleen]

Hi, Richelle. I am so sorry for your loss! I can't imagine what the last 17 months have been like, and wish I could just give you a big hug!

Try to start small. You mention a book for your boys, that is a great idea, but it is big! Find something that you love and that inspires you, and just do it! Ask for help, post questions, look for inspiration, but just do! And have fun!

[diturpin]

Hugggssss! You've gotten great advice so far and I look forward to seeing your layouts soon in the galleries. Just want to say hello and let you know that there are tons of friends here at DSP to help you through your re-start!

[Lauren]

Sympathies for your loss Richelle - I suggest scraplifting as a way to get back into things - pick a ( fairly simple looking) layout you like and basically copy it using your photos - always a good way to get into the groove again I think