Enjoy the Journey

Here is another excerpt from the Scrap Girls Newsletter. This one was written by Brandy. I wanted to share it with you.

Enjoy the Journey
When I first started designing for Scrap Girls, I knew that I had this passion and I wanted to be as good as some of my favorite Scrap Girl idols. I also knew I had a lot to learn. One day, I asked one of the designers, “How do you decide what to design and how do you know people will like it?”
Her answer was simple and I adhere to it to this day. She said, “I design what I like.” It is really as simple as that. I have found that being true to myself is where the greatest inspiration comes from.
Now, a year later (I can't believe it has already been a year), I continue to grow and learn. I have also developed another guideline that helps me... not to over-think things. How many times have we reworked a layout to the point where we have lost the original idea in our journey to make it better? It's the same with designing.
I have had several occasions of working on something, only to go back to the original idea in its simplest form. Oh sure, there are lots of things that can be better and as I learned new skills or techniques, I used to want to go back and change things (yet again). Now, I save those new ideas for new projects. When I look at collections or layouts I did six months or a year ago, I can see growth and that feels good. Once I would look back on old layouts and cringe. Now, I smile and think, “Wow, I have come a long way.”
So, if I could give you advice, it would be to not be so critical of yourself in your own journey to develop your artistic skills. We all start somewhere and learn and grow at different paces. I admire each and every one of you for putting it out there and sharing your ideas, whether you are a beginner or a designer with many years of experience. I think that sometimes you have to forget about the destination and just enjoy the journey.
- Brandy

Just last night I was talking with someone about one of the first digital scrapbook pages I created. After I made the page I was SO excited and thought it was the most amazing creation. But now when I look back at it I have to laugh because it's so not that cool. BUT...I realize that's where I was at the time and back then it WAS cool! (Even poofy hair was cool back in the 80's, right? *wink*)

I could relate to what Brandy said about how she would want to go back and change page layouts. Sometimes I do, but I have come to the point where I realize that that's where I was when I created it and I liked it then, so I just leave it alone now. I am always changing and growing in my creativity with scrapbooking. I'm learning to just go with the flow. One week I like texture and brown, and the next week I like flowers and yellow. Maybe Forrest Gump hit it on the head when he said, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." Ha!

Where is that box of chocolates, anyway?

So, go ahead, ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!