What To Do When You're OVERWHELMED?

[BethyNixon]

I've been surfing through the gallery and I am absolutely overwhelmed and awed by the talent here!

It's inspiring BUT I'm also feel like I don't know how to get to the next level.
I like my layouts (and I know that's most important) but I really want to punch them up even more.

I've taken classes here, enter challenges, I go to chats, I look everywhere for inspiration, get books from the library, etc.

But it still feels like I'm at a stall - like I'm at a plateau and can't figure out how to jump up some more.

Any advice, encouragement?
Anyone else feel this way?? It'd help to know I'm not the only one!! LOL

[Elisabeth]

Yeah, I have a comment. You're out of your mind! And since that doesn't sound nice, and that's not what I mean, I'll clarify - I love your layouts. What level do you want to go to? What about trying some of the special effects like pop out of the box photos, (Valeri has a tut on that somewhere around here) or grab some new plug ins?

I have to agree that I'm a bit frustrated with my level, too, but not for the same reason. I am just wanting to spend more time learning my program, and don't have the free time I'd like to do it. I felt like I did poorly in the class because I didn't go back and redo all my layouts based on the cc. It wasn't because I didn't agree, but just because I didn't have time to... yet. Then I jumped on the mini album craze (which I love). I will go back and rework my layouts before I print them.

I can only suggest you play with your software a bit more, Beth, and see what new effects you might like. Because your current technique is great!

[elizabethlmccoy]

scrap lift things that are out of the box for you..out of your comfort zone.....and play play play with effects and filters and blending on EVERYTHING.

[BethyNixon]

Thanks guys!

I didn't think about some of the tuts here.
Or playing outside of my comfort zone.

I just SO like learning new things and pushing myself but lately it feels kinda dead-end.
Like the things I'm learning aren't showing up in my layouts. I have great pictures, fanastic kits, but no ideas on how to showcase them.

Especially when I take a look at some of the work people are doing lately - some really amazing stuff that makes me gasp with awe (and ENVY!).

And it doesn't help that I absolutely HATE my entry for this week's DET Boot Camp. I'm actually going to delete it out of my gallery after the challenge - that's how much I don't like it. Everytime I look at it I sigh with disappointment! (sigh)

I'm going to search my library database again - see if something sparks my interest.

Any favorite books out there that inspire any of you??

[elizabethlmccoy]

oh hey one thing that gets me going is working with a kit rather than a photo....really pushing myself to use just what is in that kit. and then finding a photo to go with it. Just a thought.

[Debb Cozzi]

Beth, you do wonderful work! Please don't get discouraged. Like you I am a 'strive for excellance' kind of gal, but I always check myself about what that excellance is all about. The reason I want my layouts to be visually beautiful is because I want them to reflect the passion I feel for my family and my God. I push myself to have my layouts reflect the 'heart and emotion' that my photos represent. If I make a beautiful layout but it has no heart, then for me at least, it is meaningless. And if I make a layout that doesn't really have a great design or 'wow' effect but everytime my husband or sons look at it they know how much I love them then that is the best 'wow' I can ever get. The pages you post are always visually interesting & pleasing and even more they are filled with the love you have for your family. And for that you will get a WOW from me everytime!

[BethyNixon]

Debb:

That's what I'm talking about - - lately I haven't felt the "heart" of my layouts. They may look ok (even good) but I'm not feeling them, know what I mean?

Oh, and *your* layouts are some of the ones that make me gasp in envy!! LOL!!
Maybe I should study some of my favorite people here to see what I can learn from them!

[Biffylady]

I know exactly how you feel!! I have not one creative bone in my body, so browsing the gallery is where I get most of my inspiration. I try to stick to one kit, but sometimes have no idea where to use a certain embellishment or how to use the papers adequately. I'm really doing the scrapping for me, but of course, want them to look pleasing to others. THAT is where I run into problems!

[Maizella]

Beth, I totally know what you mean! I've been having the same problems. I've been trying different styles of scrapping to see if it helps, and it hasn't.

I think, for me, the issue is my pictures. I feel that a really great picture makes or breaks a layout. They are the whole reason we scrap in the first place! I just don't have WOW pictures.

We just have to hang in there. :D

[Timmysmum]

Beth,
I am sending you a cyber hug.... xxx

I also dug out Meryls thread on scrappers block for you.... lots of ideas there

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8203&highlight=scrappers+block


you are far too too hard on yourself.....your work is great ....

my tip... SCRAPLIFT lots and lots from the best of them.... really analyse why you like them ... then try it.... also although DET Boot camp is great and we are learning heaps , remember that is just working with kits... maybe try some more graphic work you have started in DSU 190 and Step it Up or overlay blended or montage styles....to really challenge you .... (ha ha I avoid them like the plague.) do some tutorials to learn a new technique.... and then apply it to a layout.....

Another tip I am going to do this week... knock out a quick no brains mini album (or two) for Christmas.... you will feel good you've made something for your family and maybe you'll be soothed and relaxed into enjoying your scrapping with the pressure off and I bet the creative ideas will come flooding back....


keep us updated on how you are going ?????
Your scrapping friend
Sue

[Meg]

Bethy!!!! (((((hug)))))

I'll have you know that I check your gallery or sig line almost daily to get inspiration from YOU!!!

I'll be honest though. I hated my entry for the first Boot Camp challenge and while I'll leave it in the gallery, I don't plan on ever printing it for my kids' album. I got really mired in some of the little details after I had revised it a couple of times and didn't ever feel satisfied with it. (Hmmmm, that reminds me of someone....who is it that has 5 or 6 versions of this week's challenge in the gallery even though everyone said they loved version 3?)

Any time I have a layout like that that I don't really like, I feel stuck for a while afterwards. My solution this last time? I now am working on two mini albums, this week's Boot Camp entry, prepping for a new challenge I'm working on with Marcee, taking a zillion pictures of my kids so I have new stuff to look at, and oh yeah, I walk away from my computer every once in a while to view the world around me! :p

You are so talented, start challenging yourself with techniques you wouldn't normally use. Or find someone else's page that you love and try to figure out how they did it. Or, take a break and don't beat yourself up about it. You're good and it shows. Breathe.

[shazzt]

Boy - can I relate to that feeling! We are always our own worst critics! I have been feeling a bit the same lately - hard to get motivated. What helped me was getting out and doing OTHER things - it is amazing stepping back and taking a break can really help you get your enthusiasm back. Another suggestion - don't try to scrap something unless it really excites you - maybe writing some journalling before you start on what it is about that photo that you love. Maybe it will lead you in a new direction!

Good luck!

[Judyy]

Bethy, sweetie, what's got into you? Your LOs continually inspire me! It's already been said, but let me repeat: you're being too tough on yourself.

On the other hand, I know the problem of self-doubt and feeling inadequate when we compare our work to the smashing things in the gallery. My only answer to that is--and please don't think I mean this to be flippant--get over it. This is exactly what I tell myself when I feel that I'm not measuring up to the high standards set on this site. Just remind yourself that we're lucky to have this wonderful place where we can be so inspired, and when that's not helping, bottom line is that you're not scrapping for the internet, but for your family and friends.

Personally, I've had a big imaginative shot in the arm from working on the mini-albums I've been doing. It's easy to get lots of smashing layouts done in a short time--lots of quick (though no exactly instant) gratification. :)
And another thing I think someone else mentioned--leave off scrapping for a while, and spend more time taking pictures. I know, easier said than done, but it's worth a try.

Get a grip, girlfriend--you're a wonderful scrapper! <<<hugs>>>

[BethyNixon]

Thanks everyone for not let me wallow in my pity party!
And don't get me wrong, I know my layouts are ok - they just aren't inspiring me lately. They fell bland to me.

I did exactly what Sharon said with the DET Boot Camp layout I hated - started over with the journaling. THAT is what *I* like about layouts so I had to get that right before I could go any further.

Some really great ideas here.
The most important one?? To remember to enjoy it AND to take a break!! I have a lot of cool things going on this week which will have LOTS of fun pictures (my son's first halloween at school, a halloween festival, costumes, etc.) that will be sure to inspire me.

I feel SO lucky to have this place to express myself!

[skt494]

Beth, I've so enjoyed your work ... and still do! You are a constant source of inspiration to me! - I was a little surprized to read your post because you seemed so inspired in DSU 195 just a week ago! Maybe thats a way to get you out of the slump... what if you tried creating some word art from your fav. quotes.... then tried to find or take pictures to exemplify the wordart? That seems like a kind of backward way to do it, but sometimes you gotta shake things up! Maybe just finding some favorite quotes will help to inspire you ... or get to the "heart" you were referring to. At any rate ... you're one incredible lady ... and one incredible artist ... didn't all the "greats" have their slumps?

Go get 'em!

Cyber (((hugs))))

[LauraK]

Bethy,

I almost laughed (not really) when I read your post because I have several of your layouts in my favorites folder. I think I know how you feel though because I have been feeling mediocre lately, and I want to be really good, not mediocre. I was really disappointed that I didn't make it past round 2 of the DET contest, and I had to stop scrapping for a while because it was too depressing.

The DET boot camp has really inspired me to start trying harder again (although I have only been involved a really short time). You and Meg have both been very inspirational and provided many great comments to others to help them develop their work to the next level.

I agree with the comments above about trying to break out of your current routine - do something different for a while. Maybe scraplift one of those inspiring layouts or work on taking better pictures instead. It's also really fun to look at your layouts with your kids and let them describe what they see. That always helps me remember why the heck I'm doing this.....

Best wishes!
Laura

[Emma]

I totally agree:

your layouts rock, take it easy on yourself

scraplift things you think are wow, push yourself

devour any tutorial you can find! DSU and Google are your friends

and last, take a deep breath and focus on the photos! Don't get caught up in the next best outdo yourself mentality because that only breeds competition and scrapping blues! Slow down, remember it's not about the layout but about the photos, it's not about the software, it's about you, it's not about the technique it's about the memory. If you keep learning and scraplifting and looking for inspiration, you'll progress, but do not feel as if each layout needs to outdo the last, don't measure your views and comments, don't get caught up in a steady progression of wow. Just scrap. Just enjoy it.

[Samara]

Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed and frustrated I scraplift....and I mean scraplift!!! It's usually gets me out of my stall!

[BethyNixon]

Oh my gosh - - so many of you have so completely understood where I'm coming from and have helped me define why I feel so blah about my layouts!
It's SO wonderful for me to come to this thread and know that you all get it.

I've been caught up in trying to WOW myself instead of capturing a moment in time. I've been busy comparing my ideas to others which is just plain out silly.

Digital scrapbooking has opened up such a wonderful new world for me and I need to enjoy it and concentrate on the memories. Thanks to you all for reminding me of that!

[d2vasquez]

Hey Bethy.....I read this and was stunned...I have been loving what you have been doing.....just sometimes I am so all over the place, I don't get to comment as much as I would like to and let people know that "hey I liked this". I often go through periods where I think my stuff is not up to par....but then I pull back and realize, my kids and family love them. They won't notice (or they don't say anything) if my shadows are too large, or the photo is a bit grainy or on my paper layouts that the brad was not straight....they just love that I created something special for them. I am suspecting from what I have seen of your layouts - you get the same response at home from your family! :) Enjoy those moments and then scrap them later on.....

[carti]

Beth, I agree with what the others are saying. You are doing great and am doing much better than I.

I haven't added any layouts lately, it takes me so long to make one and then I don't like what it looks like and I have a heck of a time getting them the correct size and then uploading them.

I definitely can understand how you feel cause I've been there.
Keep up the good work.

[Rosemary]

Bethy! I was just looking at your stuff yesterday thinking how DET-like it is! We all get these moments and you've gotten a lot of good suggestions. I usually do one of two things - pushpushpush myself until I get through it. Having a responsibility to the DET really helped me a lot in the last six months, I really ended up pushing myself through a lot of those block moments. The other time I feel empty after a layout, I find it's because I didn't capture the moment, I didn't get what I wanted - the heart - down on paper. Sometimes just doing a second page to get all the heart is all it takes for me to be satisfied with it. And usually the LO ends up better as a result.

I hope you find your scrapping center again, Bethy! I love seeing your work.

Y'know, that reminds me. We are artists and artists need to have heart in their work. Remember that you are an artist and not a software specialist!

[Abby]

What a great thread to have found .. I can so totally relate to all you've said .. all of you! I think scraplifting is the best way to regenerate enthusiasm. Especially if you 'lift' something you would never have tried in the first place ... as a matter of fact - I'm going to go and do that this a.m. I'm in the doldrums totally!! Good luck to us all, we poor addicted people!

[serena812]

One of the best things about this community is how you always know that someone out there understands you. Keep up the great work. Remember that this is to preserve memories and to have a great time. Everyone is different and you don't need to compare. Just think of the other layouts as inspiration and scrap away!!!

[Lauren]

Bethy - here is my advise to you!!- Just as Sharon said - step away from the computer- go out and create some memories rather than concentrating on scrapbooking them. Sometimes we get so caught up in scrapping those events we forget to partake in them ourselves !! Ive usually found that taking some time out with family or friends is just the thing to inspire me to create something new - but Ive learned not to go out to "make" the memories but to be Part of them!!

[elizabethlmccoy]

Lauren....that is exactly it for me!!! I haven't had anything to really scrap lately...so i keep turning to the same pictures and same events and can't get new things....I NEED to get out there and make some new pictures, memories and have some fun away from the computer!!!!

[Marriedin79]

I just looked at your sister's wedding album, and I am so impressed. Why? Well . . .

1. It is so simple. By that I mean that you picked two colors (from the wedding theme or just 'cause you like them?) and then used them consistently throughout the album.

2. You didn't use a kit to make your album. Although the kits on this site are AWESOME, sometimes I find that I want to use my own stuff instead of trying to get my pictures to fit into an album's theme. You captured the essence of that idea in a perfect manner.

3. The story imbedded in the album is precious!

I wish my sister and I were as close as you and yours appear to be. She is one lucky girl!

Congratulations on a beautiful wedding album for your sister! (And it's inspired me to try something similar on my own.)