Getting my Groove Back!

Hello, guest designer Jenn back with another layout!

If you have kids, then you will know what I mean when I say that September often feels more like the ‘new year’ then January does. Back to school means the start of a new year for our kids, and also the start to new routines for us parents. This year in my household we have three big school milestones with our oldest starting junior high, the middle starting his first year of full time school in grade one, and our baby starts kindergarten (sniff sniff 🙁 ). Everyone has a new schedule to get used to, and it usually takes a little time for us to find our groove. Because I don’t have a scraproom, and do all my crafting ‘out in the open’ in our living room, I find myself thrown off a little by big changes, and lose my mojo. Here is what I do to get it back:

Step 1: I kick everyone out of the house… I work full time outside of the house during the day, which means most of my scrapping gets done when everyone is home. Most of the time I’m happy to work with them around me, and I really do enjoy scrapping away with onlookers and little hands trying to help, but in moments where I need to touch base with my creativity, I like some time alone, which means asking my family to give me 30 minutes. They don’t actually have to leave the house, but for 30 minutes “Mom” is off duty!

Step 2: I go through my stash and pull out all my favourite things. Papers I’ve been hoarding, embellishments I’ve really wanted to use that just haven’t found a home yet, and all my staple items. For me, that’s usually 6×6 paper pads, enamel dots, gold Heidi Swapp Color Shine, and sequins!

Step 3: I go back to the basics! Why reinvent the wheel? We all have a comfortable layout design that is our ‘go-to’, so I go to it. My never-fail layout usually combines a triangle of embellishment clusters, with every embellishment repeated in each cluster, one picture with tons of patterned paper layers behind it, and a sprinkle of shimmer to finish it off.

Step 4: I pick one new thing. Maybe a new product or a new technique. Nothing too crazy, just something to add a spark to the layout, something to motivate a little creativity and excitement as you create, that inspires you to get your groove back!!! Like these beautiful sequins and Shimmerz sprays from SpiegelMom Scraps 🙂

It took a little time and fussing, but I finally got back into my comfort zone and came up with a layout that I really like. If you have any tips for getting your scrapbooking groove back I’d love to hear them!