I’m listening to the latest episode of Paperclipping Roundtable and very timely it is about “memory keeping” and how the term is ever so popular these days. When I wrote the last issue of my zine about scrapbooking, I definitely referred to memory, story and life keeping… a mix of terminology because I’m obviously finding it hard to define all of scrapbooking.
Although it’s really just semantics, I did find the combination of those words interesting after a bit of pondering. Photos would be the memory, because they help with bringing that moment back into our minds. Journaling is the story, because we are able to recount the details in words. Finally, ephemera could be the life part, because I find myself keeping things just because…it doesn’t always have explanation connected to it. It just adds to the whole scene of my life, whether it be a stamp, a wrapper, a business card, pretty paper, etc. For me, scrapbooking is a combination of those elements, but not necessarily always together or perfectly balanced in amount. I’m starting to just punch holes in my cards to add into my album as mini pages, to throw in tidbits without any explanation, simply because I want to keep them.
I’m still trying to work out my pocket system, because I have access to certain sizes here in Italy, but they don’t work for normal photo prints. I’m definitely riffing off the Project Life system by Becky Higgins, but trying to make it work for me. I don’t necessarily want to fill in pockets all the time. The number of photos, ephemera and journaling aren’t always going to be the same each week. I feel that I definitely need a different, even more modular system.
I suppose the common element in everyone’s scrapbooking is “keeping.” We are trying to keep something dear to our heart. Holding on to what is precious to us, huh?
As mentioned in my last outfit post, I’m going to consolidate and post album updates to show how I’m scrapping my day to day outfit photos. I printed them out pretty small in two week increments, because I don’t want it to take up that much space. Nothing fancy, just a record of me.
Now I’m going to figure out a proper size for my pockets and perhaps how to make my own with sewing as well… until next time…
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I’m really interested to see how Project Life evolves… a part of me thought about how it would go from divided page protectors to fewer pockets to one big page and back to regular scrapbooking! The thing I do love about it is holding on to the ephemera of everyday, which is what scrapbooking was always about. When I look at my mom’s high school scrapbook, there all sort of elements in there. But the bottom line is I need her to tell the ultimate story of it all. I think there needs to be a balance of that- sometimes I wonder if the emphasis on journalling is maybe *too* much in scrabooking these days. I know we won’t be around forever to tell our stories, but I don’t know… sometimes pictures speak a thousand words. (Sorry, just rambling!)
Well, I think you are right that the trends and styles might shift over time… it just happens. Like cycles in fashion! But I do like the idea of Project Life…trying to make scrapbooking a much more easy and laid back process. Of course, as with any template-like plan, it doesn’t always fit for all.
It’s funny because I never thought that people had issues mixing in ephemera with their scrapbooking, because like you said – it was that way before. I suppose many folks wanted their items to fit into their designed pages… I always just added them into my albums…nothing fancy! So it’s not new or freeing to me, that’s just how I always did it.