2yrold/1 1/2yr old When do you scrap?

Andi - posted on 02/10/2010

When there isn't time, make time to do it. Being a mom you're constantly giving to others and you need to make time to do it for yourself.

Jessica - posted on 02/10/2010

I have to be in the mood to scrapbook, it takes awhile for me to get everything out, go through pictures, and to set up my Cricut stuff. I like to plan a whole day of it, just to get into the groove. I block off our second living room, and my hubby keeps an eye on things. I hate to be disrtacted when I am deep into putting pages together, so I plan ahead. I say, "okay everyone, on Tuesday, mama is busy!"

Stephanie - posted on 02/10/2010

Like a lot of the other ladies, my only time to really get scrapbooking done is to go to a crop. However, if I really feel the creative urge I try and leave my project out and give it 10 or 15 minutes at a time over a few days. It's not the best but it's the only way. Most of the time in the evenings I just don't have the creativity. My daughter is now almost 21/2 and will sometimes sit with me for 30 minutes and I give her scraps and stickers to work with on her own 'scrapbook'. It's not easy but you do have to make some time for yourself. You cannot give to your family all the time without some time back. You will be a better mum for it.

Zelda - posted on 02/10/2010

a few friends make a date once a month for 3 hours to scrap - and believe me - that is the only time i have for scrapping. it is decided a month in advance, dad does babysitting, (sometimes gran) but if it wasn't for that monthly 'date', nothing will get done.

Josie - posted on 02/02/2010

For me, the best time is at night after the kids go to bed and the hubby is watching TV! I do it on my island in my kitchen so I am still close and able to talk to him while I scrap...it works out great!

Noel - posted on 02/01/2010

I have no clue. By the time the kids are at there grandparents to spend a weekend here and there, I get excited I can finally scrapbook. No of course not I always end up doing something else haha. The boys are 4 and 3 years old. Maybe when the oldest goes to school this year?

Julie - posted on 02/01/2010

You need to talk to your husband and let him know that you need to have a time for you when you can scrapbook. Let him know that every mom needs something for herself to give her a break and keep her sane. Ask him when would be a good time when he could be in charge of the kids and you could scrapbook. For me, my older children and my husband are home on Sundays. So after church, dinner etc. I scrapbook until about 10 p.m. because they are there to watch them. I don't feel guilty because my husband works 2 jobs and that is his day to spend time with our children. I usually can work for a few hours at least on most Sundays. Sometimes other stuff comes up, but for the most part I'm able to do it consistently. I also go to a scrapbooking workshop 1 night a month with my 14 year old while my 18 year old babysits her younger sisters. It's special mother/daughter time for my daughter and me. The important thing is to talk with your husband and find a time that works for you and stick to it. Cleaning, laundry etc. will always be there and all week we do everything for everybody else. Sunday is a day of rest and every mom needs to have 1 day to recharge and do something for herself.

Catherine - posted on 01/29/2010

I have a 2 1/2 year old very active boy, a husband that works nights and a full-time career so finding time to scrapbook can be difficult.

I do it at night after my son goes to bed or during his nap time. Occassionally I can get him playing with his trains in the room where I scrapbook so we're both doing something we like and still spending time together.

I have a girlfriend who also loves to scrapbook and also has a 2 1/2 year old. Every once in a while we get our hubbies to take the kids for a Saturday. We start in the afternoon with a trip to the scrapbook store, then the wine store, then the Thai Food restaurant for take-out. We throw on the Dixie Chicks CD's and scrap, chat and drink wine into the wee hours. Sometimes there's more chatting and wine than scrapbooking but we enjoy ourselves none-the-less!!

Good luck and enjoy!

Dayna - posted on 01/28/2010

I make the time... my wonderful, understanding husband fills in for me about one evening every 2 weeks. Once we're done dinner, he's in charge, he does the dishes, plays with our little one (who's 14 months) and then spends an evening (after she's in bed) doing what he wants to do... usually watching something that I'd complain about on TV. It's been such an awesome experience for our family. I work full time & until we started our little bi-weekly ritual, I felt like my husband didn't really understand how busy my life was. Now that he looks after everything during my scheduled "me" time... it's amazing how he pitches in around the house daily.

Kate - posted on 01/28/2010

Can you sit and crop pictures while you and hubby are hanging out? How about focusing on one "event" at a time - don't look at the huge pile of pics n front of you - tackle one thing at a time and do it in small increments if that is all the time you have. Talk with hubby about what you are creating and why - show him a layout or two that you want to do - when he sees how invaluable this is to your family - preserving memories and creating a treasured keepsake - I am sure he will "lighten up" about you taking time one night a week or every other week to get some scrapping done.

Jennifer - posted on 01/28/2010

As a widowed mother of an almost 2 year old and new to the scrapbooking community I know what you mean about finding time to scrapbook. I usually park myself in what used to be my office (now turned into my "me time" room) after the little one is in bed bust since you don't have that option most of the time the other time I get to scrap is when she is playing or watching Winnie the Pooh - she gets TV time in the am when Playhouse Disney is on and since I'm not a morning person this gives me my time to wake up and get ready for my day - I try to steal away for about 1/2 hour to hour if she stays interested that long. Then that leaves me the rest of the day to catch up on household stuff, do our crafft time in the afternoon (which I sometime scrap during while she is coloring or painting as well) and our play time. There are times that I may get one picture cropped because she wants my attention or I may be able to get a page or two done it all just depends on her mood that day!

Nathalie - posted on 01/28/2010

With little kids, (yes it's sad) I completely stopped scrapbooking. Now, they are 2 1/2, 5 and 9 and I am barely considering scrapbooking again. I went through a lot too when they were smaller and just didn't have any time for myself. If you get backep up, I would say the most important thing you can do is print the pictures and keep notes of who, what, when why and the date and how did it feel. So even if you pick up those pictures to scrapbook 3 years later, you will not have lost the info and the "feel" of those pictures.

SUSANA - posted on 01/27/2010

Late at night. Fridays usually, from about 9PM to 1AM. And I also go out of the house to scrap--to my LSS and groups. It helps a lot to have it scheduled and not try to fit it in here and there.

Bridgette - posted on 01/27/2010

I had a friend that sold Creative Memories she would invite me to scrapbooking weekends,Or a scrapbooking day -all day saturday 6 am to 6 pm.I loved it not only could i do what i love and leave a legacy for my (autistic children who probably won't care anyway.) but got some me time. Ya gotta make time.

Melissa - posted on 01/27/2010

I would just pick one day that you have the less to do, and maybe do it then or have your kids or your hubby help you. it always better when you have someone to help or just to talk to when you do. Good Luck

Christy - posted on 01/27/2010

I have a 20 month old and I go on scrapbooking weekends sponsored by Creative Memories about 3 times a year.

Rebecca - posted on 01/27/2010

When my girls where younger, I would have a sitter (family member) come over one night a month so that I could go to a local crop.... it was something that I could look forward to and I always felt a little more relaxed when I was away from the house, so I actually got to enjoy myself and take my time with my layouts... no need to feel bad about it either. When mom is happy then everybody is happy, LOL!! If there is no local crop around your area then make one, theres always somebody willing to scrapbook atleast one night a month...

Carolyn - posted on 01/26/2010

I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 1/2 year old. I put the younger one down for a nap, and then I pull out my supplies and let my older daughter "scrapbook" with me! That way, she is being creative (instead of watching TV) and having fun doing something with me one-on-one. I keep all her pages in her own scrapbook, so she can show Daddy when he gets home!

Angela - posted on 01/26/2010

When my kids were that little I used to do my scrapping after I put them to bed, that was my time to relax.

Alie - posted on 01/26/2010

Okay, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the problem of NO time. Wait, I'm not "glad", I wish we all had the time to do it. Maybe I should join a group "wannabe scrapbooking Mamas"! :)

Heather - posted on 01/25/2010

I have a 7 year old, 5 year old and 22 month old and yes, finding time is next to impossible. I work full time and on weekends it's spending time with hubby and kids, housework, yardwork, etc. But about once a month, my girlfriend hosts a crop date from about 9:30 am until whenever we are done. My hubby knows this is my time for me and I make the most of it. My goal is to also get a scrap area set up at home so that I can work on pages and projects for 5 minutes here, 20 minutes there and leave the page out until it's done. I say pick one day and either send hubby out of the house to the park with the kids or something or go meet friends, but make it your scrap day. Good luck!

Claudin - posted on 01/24/2010

I would get together with friends twice a month and we would have a scrapbooking party usually on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon without the kids.

Susan - posted on 01/24/2010

Have your husband join you one night a week. He could read or help you scrap. You might get him started on the hobby! LOL You deserve a night to do what you want to do so your hubby should be understanding.

Chrystal - posted on 01/23/2010

My daughter and I scrap together at times. We actually spent 3 hours scraping today (but she's 8). When she was younger I would send the kids outside to play in the backyard. They had one hour to play before they were allowed to interupt me. Our back yard is fenced in and I can see them from the kitchen which is where I scrap. In the winter I scrap for a few hours every Saturday morning. My kids play together and my husband either helps out with them or goes in to work. It works out well. Good luck.

Christine - posted on 01/23/2010

With your children so little, probably the best option is scheduling time at a local crop. If you really can't get out to a crop, schedule a girls night with a friend who scraps. Maybe one night a week, hubby could do without you or you could bring your scrapbooking stuff to the living room. Also with your limited time to scrap, you might want to Power Layout so that when you have time to scrap it is most productive. (http://scraphappychristinescorner.blogsp...). Good luck

Lori - posted on 01/22/2010

I try to take one night a week for myself. I don't think you should feel guilty. It is time for you to make your life balanced. If you don't take time to do what you want to do, you will lose yourself and then no one is happy.

Stephanie - posted on 01/22/2010

i do it some nights if my husband is workign night shift or during naps, or on the weekend for an hour or two here and there. I just keep everything semi packed up so i can put things away quick if the kids wake up

Mandy - posted on 01/21/2010

I have a 2yr old and the only time I really have for scrapbooking is going to crops with friends! I have also gone to a scrapbook store a few times to scrapbook while my hubby stays home with our daughter! It's easier to be able to have a block of time where you can create then to chop up and lose your rhythm! Also helpful to have a little area in your house that you can keep your scrapbook materials out if necessary. I have a little nook in our upstairs so if its a mess...nobody needs to see it up there! Never hesitate to skip the cleaning and scrapbook at their naptime...you need mommy time!

LORETTA - posted on 01/21/2010

The only time I'm able to scrapbook is when the kids are asleep. It's the only time little hands aren't grabbing stuff. I've managed to get a good bit done this way. Plus you're not on a deadline so do only what you can when you can. Don't feel guilty. It's a stress reliever.

Mary - posted on 01/20/2010

In 5 minute increments most of the time. Every once & a while during a naptime or at night. But yeah it is hard to find the time when they are so young. Hey if Hubby crashes, slip away for an hour at night.

Chris - posted on 01/20/2010

There really isn't time, is there?