Once I Wanted to Be a Scrapbooker…

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Once upon a time in my life pre-children, I wanted to be a scrapbooker. It was only a mild interest as I transitioned from high school to college. I had so many pictures and memories I wanted to put together. The kit started it all. Someone gave me a little starter kit that had an album, plastic sleeves, colored paper, and some stickers. I sorted through tons of photographs and cut out quotes from magazines.

Sure, I pasted a handful of pictures into the book and doodled inside jokes and names with my glittery pens, but that was as far as I got. The box for the kit got packed away and is still in a storage container in my basement today.

My desire to scrapbook re-surged as college ended. I wanted to be crafty and have a creative outlet besides writing. Hobbies are good to have right? Ones that don’t involve a video game controller, I mean.

It hit an all time high while I was working third shift at a group home for disabled children. I somehow took over decorating the bulletin board for seasons and holidays. I went above and beyond and they loved it – the kids and staff. I had a knack for it! Clearly I had hidden talents.

Despite having stacks of pictures, I decided I needed more supplies before I could begin scrapbooking. I bought special paper, edging scissors, buttons, stamps, stickers, quotes, more paper, cutouts, a die cutting machine….

My hobby became buying scrapbook supplies.  I was like an insane woman going to craft shops and bidding for things on eBay but I never made a thing. I literally spent hundreds of dollars on supplies I never opened. Buying was fun… actually sitting down and doing it was not.

Eventually I quit buying useless (for me) supplies. I used some of the stuff I had for other projects so I guess it wasn’t a complete waste. Too bad I also bought candle and soap making supplies before I realized I was doing it again. A few years ago I gave away and sold whatever unused supplies I could from all three failed hobbies.

I just wasn’t cut out for it, I guess.

Have you ever tried to start a hobby but quit along the way?

Darcy Zalewski

Darcy is the founder of “Life With Darcy and Brian,” where she combines her love for education, board games, and crafting to create engaging learning experiences for kids. Her creative projects and writing have been featured in outlets like The Toy Insider, CafeMom, Mom.com, Parents.com, Country Living, and The Pioneer Woman.