Ever since I have been engaged, and married, I have tried to figure out what is my style as far as picture storage/display. I have given a few methods a very honest attempt and nothing ever seemed to fit my needs and not send me into an OCD frenzy. I honestly can't tell you how many conversations I have started {I'm sure most of you can recall one of these} trying to get some input on what might be the answer...
*I gave the "shoe boxes full of random pictures idea" a go. Needless to say, uh uh.
*I tried tiny albums that are only 4X6 a try, dysfunctional.
*I made a couple wall collages, love them, but seeing as I take around 5million pictures a month, not sufficient.
*I gave old-fashioned albums a chance, liked the simplicity and quickness but felt I needed more room to journal a few thoughts pertaining to the pictures.
*I have entertained the thought of digital scrapbooking, still-not my style. There is something about a tangible picture that is valuable, in my eyes.
*I love LOVE the idea of blogging as a journaling with photos experience, but that doesn't change that I still have a butt-load of pictures sitting in my closet...
*Last but not least, I have REALLY really tried hard to be a scrapbooker. Ask Brandy, Ericka, and mostly poor Steph... I really gave it an honest effort. I thought I would just have to eventually conform and get comfortable as a scrapper, so I very intently tried for years, YEARS to catch "the bug" but never could settle in. I need to preface this...I have a lot of very dear friends who adore this past-time so no offense even in the smallest degree is intended in what I am about to say it's merely an explanation of MY unique experience with the craft..
uh um.
After much deliberation, long dry-eyed hours, all-night-crops {poor, poor Steph} frustration, agony, guilt, self-questioning, soul-searching, praying {okay maybe that's a bit of a stretch}, and Christy furrowed eyebrows I finally, just recently declared to myself and all those around {who give a hoot} that I am officially NOT in any way, shape, or form, a traditional scrapbooker. I even brought a tax project to the last "scrapbooking" night. Just so I could still hang out but not be antagonized by the "under construction" relationship of me and archiving me!
I feel like Iris {played by Kate Winslet} on "The Holiday" when she finally realizes she is done loving the scum-of-the-earth, pig-dog, Jasper. She has this glorious moment of truth after he chases her all the way across the world and lets her think "they" will work out, all while engaged to another chick. Iris is standing in the doorway and literally, physically pushes him out the door and says, "Get the hell out!" and basically tells him, "I am done loving you and trying to love you!" You can so vividly feel the emotional release she experiences as she shuts the door behind him and leaps for joy!!! I can hear the music right now.
This is Me!
I am done trying to love something that causes so much uncertainty, frustration, feelings of inadequacy, "always behind-ness," and artificial self-expression to my life! I am liberated! Enter solution. One of my close friends, Stephanie, a few months ago, knowing my hunt for Mr. Right, showed me a miraculous & surely inspired invention. That, at the time, wasn't even available for purchase. Even the idea of it, however, was enough to calm my troubled heart. Alleluia.
It is...drumroll please... Pebbles in My Pocket brand spankin new "Share and Tells." TA DA!!!
These babies are incredible. They are a 12X12 size sheet protector separated into 6/4X6 photo sleeves per page. So what you can do is slip pictures in the slots BUT if you would like to journal or add a small "embellishment" into one of the sleeves you can. The beauty is, it's a 4X6 size. NOT a 12X12 blank area staring up at you, taunting you with its endless possibilities! And a myriad of neglected pictures begging, incessantly, constantly, no matter where you run calling to you, HELP ME HELP ME I need to be loved!!!
AH YES ain't that fresh?!?! I am in heaven.
So tonight, I joined my crazy scrappin ladies at the 5pm-2am scrappin night at about 11pm. Took out my pictures {starting with my most recent pics or my head might explode} put them into the sleeves, leaving one or two slots blank for journaling. Next, I went to my trusty journaling cards and wrote what I wanted associated with each cluster of pictures, adding a flower or sticker here or there. THE END.
None of this, flipping through "idea books" narrowing down a decent layout, then staring {deer in headlights} at the pictures for ten minutes, waiting to be struck by "idea lightning," then spending at least an hour deciding where to glue which paper, in what order, and how to arrange the embellishments. Then another 30 minutes second-guessing myself and asking everyone if my layout {for a whopping 3-4 pictures} looks cute enough. Then another 30 minutes "inking" each page element. Next, lining up the ribbon and figuring out how to glue it so the bow stays frontwards. Another long while cutting holes in the page so you can spend more time setting the eyelets and brads. Then a 30 minute break due to the headache and brain crampage. You get the idea....
I can't tell you the sheer and unadulterated elation I, Christy Jex, am feeling at this moment. Angels sang tonight as I speedily FINISHED organizing a large set of pictures, expressed my {+our} style in the simplistic, colorful, focus mostly on the pictures themselves, do-able way I have been yearning for. Exquisite. Heavenly.
I really feel WONDERFUL!!!!
{and it's 4:00 in the morning}
