Last year I was invited to run a class at my monthly Eclectic Keepsakes crop. Well of course, I immediately said yes! I LOVE making mini books and felt honoured to be asked.
Then doubt set in!
You see, I immediately thought of a beautiful little book I had once seen and thought 'one-day I will make that'. Now, how many times do you do this? Because I do it fairly regularly, and those ideas fade or get forgotten, or I can't find the original inspiration when I want it. But on this occasion I DID find the picture I had printed. So it was meant to be! Then I started to think of how I could make it my own....
And that's where the problem started.... You see, among the ladies who regularly attend the crop are those who create beautiful scrap book pages, members of design teams (some with published work), those who like layers and pretty pages, and others who use stamps and inking and make me want to hide my pads because their amazing techniques make me feel inadequate....
So how could I make this class appeal to everyone?!
For the next couple of weeks I started to procrastinate, to search the internet and my books for alternative designs. None clicked with me. I still 'loved' my original idea. So in the end I decided to STOP trying to compromise and think how I can please everyone else. I made up my mind to be me!
To be authentic.
This gave me new energy and focus so after making a sample I went shopping for materials. What fun! I had ideas in mind but in the shop I found some Simple Story papers. Now I love these, and while I shopped I mentally re-designed my pages so these could be
included. I enjoy being spontaneous and going with my intuition. Sometimes I don't know what will turn out, but that makes it all the more exciting!
And armed with my new-found enthusiasm and materials I threw myself into making my Mini Book. I didn't even know the theme before I started, but the Simple Stories was perfect for a recent holiday and my book was quickly filled with photos and memories. And I was confident that this was adaptable and that others could make it fit their photos and themes too. At the crop I loved how other ladies used the same materials and design and made it their own, but sadly I have no photos of these to share.
But I do have photos of my book. It is also a reminder to me to be authentic at all times. And rather than be photo heavy I thought I'd make a short video. But do you know what? I have sat here hours today trying to do this, so for now I will add some photos and maybe try and do a video later. And I'd be interested to know what you prefer? Photos or video?
Some of the smaller photos serve as pages within pages. That makes it ideal for journaling or adding even more photos on the back if like me you struggle to know what to leave out!
There was lots of space for journaling.
Some of the pages above were unfinished and I have now added journaling or final finishes. And I am glad I stuck to my original idea for the design.
And if you run classes I wonder if you can relate to my dilemma? How do you go about trying to make the experience enjoyable and meaningful for everyone?
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