There. I said it. Titled it, even. I’ve been in the closet about it because it’s as middle America as calling Target, "Tarjey." I’ve admitted to hoarding supplies before. From embroidery skeins to porcelain paints and etching creme, I’ve got art supplies covered. Charcoals, craypas, pastels, watercolors, watercolor pencils, conte crayons, acid-free pens, a ridiculously large box of Prisma-color pencils. I love these tidy bits of creativity, all neatly tucked into their proper places, sharpened, crisp, eager. They’ve been stowed away for far too long. I’ve finally taken over my own space in the house, a writing room, off our bedroom, and soon enough, the supplies are coming out of their storage boxes. I still need a table and proper shelves to house all my friends. They’re all going to be in "hi" places. Not unreachable "high." "Hello, hi." I need to see everything. It’s the same way in the refrigerator. I need to see things or they go forgotten, and then rotten. And my supplies have been dormant for too long. There has been intention over the years to adopt new projects. I have a box with slippery knitting needles, a book of fancy stitches, half-knitted items. Now, please, let’s not go to that all too familiar place of "why can’t you finish things you start?" We’ve done that. It makes me happy. Art supplies make me happy, deliciously giddy, like I can almost hear Santa and the reindeer on the roof.
This weekend, on a joy ride in search of media room furniture (reclining sofas, seats, and drink coasters, oh my), I found myself in an unfamiliar shopping center a good fifteen minutes before the stores opened. What? What’s that? I squinted. It couldn’t be! A store dedicated to scrapbooking? What bliss, what joy, better maybe than even food. Archivers. Hurry up and open! I began to pace. Then I cupped my hands around my eyes and pressed my face to the store window. Ohh, what goodies do they have? I’d already been to Target and seen their K and Company / Making Memories supplies. What did Archivers have for me? More Jolee’s Boutique stickers? Can anyone own too many? I began to jump up and down and must have appeared like a strong candidate for some serious ADD drug.
I’m doing everything in my power not to spend all my days and nights there. I’m already signed up for a class. I need time to paw my way through some of their books. Scrapbooking is an insane industry. They have scrapbooking radio shows. Radio shows I tell you. I am beginning to wonder if it’s at all creepy. You know, in a domestic apron way where you’re a bit too excited about making entrees with jell-o. It’s a little bit eerie, like a 1960’s Weight Watcher’s Cookbook. It’s so blue-ribbon, state fair, smile big and fake. But I don’t care. I want in.
I just watched an online video. FOR ADHESIVES. Seriously. A good six minutes of my life spent learning about the different adhesive options out there, from semi-permanent, adjustable adhesives to permanent fixatives. Fascinated, I was.
I was a graphic designer for a good nine years or so. I know pixels and white space, competing messages, clear organization, simple and clean. Still, I don’t know from print, from Vellum overlays, grommets and brads. When I hear, "brads" I think of those twins from Grease II who sing about his cute little buckle that fastened in back. I don’t want to do what I’ve done in the past: go insane, spending over $500 on supplies I’ll never use. So I’m taking my time, planning my pages. But the papers are so irresistible. I’m beginning to dream in layers, in plans, and wanting to sort through all the digital photos I’ve never taken the time to print. Which is the one shame I’ve found from going completely digital. I so rarely print things. This, of course, is going to change in the face of this new undertaking. I just haven’t decided if I’m going to make one large scrapbook, or initially two mini-books, one for each baby. Are you a scrapbooker? Do you have scrapbook parties and actually admit to it? Stand up and say it loud and proud.
*Images above are not mine. See, I haven’t officially started yet. I’m doing my research first.
