Getting Out of a Creative Rut

One of the most frustrating things that can happen creatively is getting stuck. You look at your blank page and you stare. Nothing. You want to scrapbook, but nothing is coming to you. You stare some more, and finally you decide to console yourself with some Cheetos, or cookies, or ice cream. {Oh wait, maybe that’s just me.}

 

 

Here are some ways that I’ve found helpful in getting unstuck creatively, and finding your way back to the joy of scrapbooking.

1. Lower your expectations of the output. Not every page has to be a masterpiece. Every page has its purpose and sometimes it’s okay to create a page that’s not your favorite. The important thing is you created. And practiced.
2. Just play. Pull out your favorite supplies and just start putting things on the page. Especially with digital scrapbooking, you can move stuff around the page and if you don’t like it, just hit the “Undo” button.
3. Start small. Tell yourself you’re going to spend 10 minutes working on a page, and if you’re still stuck at that point, you will go do something else. Sometimes the battle within yourself is won just by starting.
4. Let go of perfection. I can’t tell you how many times I didn’t start something or didn’t finish something because I thought it wasn’t perfect. Perfectionism can kill creativity. Sometimes done is better than none, and you may surprise yourself with how much you might like that page.
5. Let go of guilt. You are not “behind” in scrapbooking. Every story told is an additional story documented. You’re ADDING to your story with every page you make. Don’t concentrate on the pages that haven’t been made yet.
6. Stop consuming, and start creating. I do this often myself… I go look at Pinterest, other people’s blog, or online galleries for inspiration. Before I know it, I’ve spent an hour or more looking at other people’s pages and now I don’t have time to create. There’s nothing wrong with getting inspiration, but don’t spend your whole creative time looking at other people’s work.
7. Use something new. Maybe you bought a kit and haven’t used it yet. Or maybe you’ve been eyeing some cool new embellishments. Sometimes new supplies can jumpstart a page.
8. Make a list of techniques/ideas to try, and just pick one. I have a list of things I want to try on a page in my Evernote notebook. When I get stuck on what to do on a page, I can refer to it and just pick one thing to do.
9. Don’t compare yourself to other people. I’m almost positive when your kids and your family look at your pages, they do not compare the page to the Super-Scrapper in the forum and say, “Mom, how come your page isn’t as good as Super-Scrapper’s page?”
10. Start with a photo. Find a favorite photo or the latest photo, and just start.
11. Start with a story. You probably have many stories that haven’t been told on your pages.  Pick one and then pick a photo that goes with itl

I hope that some of these tips will help you get unstuck in your creativity and get you scrapbooking!  Now put down those cookies and just start! :)