Yes, I’m Collecting Scraps

 

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The cover of the scrapbook. Poet, Bastille

Scrapbooking is not something new or something unheard of, but it is something that I think is underappreciated. It gives validation to my belief that there is meaning behind everything! That every candy wrapper can have sentimental value and every picture has a story that deserves to be written next to it. As you may have noticed, I like recording things and having written reminders of my thoughts and feelings (more on this topic in my upcoming posts – see Posting Schedule), and therefore my having started another scrapbook is not exactly surprising. I’m still going to tell you all about it though.

1. At work the other day I needed a nametag for an event, and someone showed me how to use the label maker. Yes, they have a label maker. Yes, they are the coolest people ever. I printed my name inside a candy wrapper frame a couple of times, and one of them is now on the back of my scrapbook. I’m not even going to try to cover up the fact that the label maker totally made my day and that maybe the single best thing in my room right now is my sticker label.

2. I stayed over at a friend’s house in a another city, and we bought frozen yogurt (because, um, what I do with my friends is eat frozen yogurt… I promise we do do other things too. Like laugh at “do do”). I saved the stamp card I got and made sure not to lose it, and it’s now in my scrapbook.

3. Every now and then, late in the evening, when I’m in a certain mood, I let myself float through YouTube for longer than recommended by, well, anyone. On one such night I lost myself in a flurry of commencement speeches, and I landed on one given by John Green. It is by far the best speech I have ever heard. I transcribed large sections of it, and it is now written in my scrapbook.

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Part I

Part II

Part II

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Part III

These three examples demonstrate what my scrapbook means to me. The things in there might not be the most beautiful or the most impressive, but to me they mean something. Every time I see my name on the back of it I will remember my (slightly) out of proportion excitement, and how sweet everyone at work was that day. Every time I see the frozen yogurt card I’ll remember hanging out with my friend and her boyfriend in a park playing Heads Up in the dark. Every time I read the highlights of the speech I will remember to let myself be inspired (though I have something against that word) and remember all of the people I have read it aloud to.

And of course, let us not forget, that my scrapbook is also full of collages and song quotes. Because, well… it’s me. Way back when, during what feels like forever ago, I wrote a whole post* about how I want to fall in love and it all had to do with listening to Ed Sheeran’s love songs. Without further ado, the love page of my scrapbook:

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Thinking Out Loud + Afire Love

*clears throat* Okay, back to business. I’m simply writing this to encourage you to maybe give scrapbooking a try and to share with you what I have been busy doing lately. Mission accomplished, right? Okay, fine, I’ll answer that myself: right!

 

Yours truly,

And babbling because that’s the mood I’m in right now,

Ella

 

Song Quote:

Where you invest your love, you invest your life. –Awake My Soul, Mumford & Sons

P.s. Tweet me with your examples of #RainbowArea!

*The post is called When You Wake Me Up

 

I didn’t even realize this is my 50th post! That’s insane! Please leave me a comment with the words (fifty, fiftieth, five, zero) or the number 50 in it. Let’s see what you can come up with :) get creative!

14 comments on “Yes, I’m Collecting Scraps

  1. Ever since my wife took a scapbooking class, I see– or at least identify so many projects with– scrapbooking. In fact, I’ve accepted the fact that even my cgi artwork is a form of this, since my projects involve composites of both photography, paintings and computer software. Many thanx for visiting my blog and have a wonderful day.

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  2. sheketechad says:

    All of my scrapbooking stuff is stored at a friends house as I have no place for it. I cannot wait until my move in a couple of years to get back to it, and collages and found object medium creations! Yay for label makers making your day :)

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  3. I’ll be 50 in 6 years…hope I’ll have made something of myself by then. If not, well there’s still the next 50 years, right 😉.

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  4. therapyjourney says:

    Yay well done, congrats. If I were 50 cent I’d take you to da club to celebrate.

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  5. ktoriia says:

    Oh now you’ve inspired me to get started on one!

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  6. DotedOn says:

    Congratulations on your 50th post! I use my blog as scrapbook sometimes. I take pictures of all the things I love or have a meaning to me and then post them and write something about it. I wonder sometimes what readers think about it, but I mostly do it because I can always go back and see it and it’s not taking any space in my tiny house :).

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  7. Norah says:

    Your scrapbook tells a lot about you. Thanks for sharing these special memories. :)

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  8. Ms.Quality says:

    I love your posts Hun! Keep it up!

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  9. Elouise says:

    50
    my freedom age!
    loved it then
    still love it at
    70

    This post is very personal and revealing–in a wonderful way. You live and love in each moment–focused on what captures you, brings you joy, makes wonderful memories.

    kudos!

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  10. Divya says:

    As a kid I used to make scrap books. When I started moving places for studies, job; it got difficult to carry those piles of books around. It is nice to hear that you have started it. Go on..put everything there – your thoughts, your dreams, stories, gossips – ;) cant help ! I am girl after all ! Speaking of gossips, I am reminded of the Burn book from the movie Mean girls ??!!! hahaha

    Congratulations on your 50th post !!!!! I’d suggest get someone close/dear to you; to write to you and put it away (in a bottle – I can be very dramatic !!) to be opened only after you reach your next fifteith post !! How does it sound ???

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    • tiredella says:

      My friend and I actually exchanged letters in bottles about two years ago, to be opened on our eighteenth birthdays :) it’s not like Mean Girls! I’m nice, I promise!

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  11. starfish says:

    Do your scapbooks have more or less than 50 pages each? ;)
    That said, I don’t scrapbook, but I carry a small journal with me all the time to write down funny things people say, random ideas, interesting facts I learn, beautiful song quotes, notes I take at church, and occasionally a ticket or a dried flower find their way into it as well. And I doodle in between all this, too.
    I like you idea of putting together all the small things that remind you of good times, together with all the imperfections of life.

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  12. I want a scrapbook!! I used to have a memo board and pinned all my stuff to that but an actual book is so much better!

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