Are You Making It Meaningful? You Can Join the Movement NOW!

I began scrapbooking almost 18 years ago. I didn't do it because I wanted to document my family's stories. I didn't do it because I wanted to make beautiful things for people I cared about. I started because I was a lonely, stressed-out, stay-at-home mom looking for a way to get out of the house. Yep. It's true. When I was first introduced to scrapbooking in 1996-97, I just wanted a creative outlet for my overworked soul.


What I discovered and the direction my scrapbooking and crafting has taken over the past 18 years, has been an incredible journey of self-discovery.

In the past 18 years, I've learned a few things . . .

1) I am leaving a legacy of love for my children. When we lost our oldest son to cancer, I realized there are certain things I NEVER want left unsaid. For many of my scrapbooking layouts, what drives me is the desire to leave a message of love or encouragement for someone I care about. I want them to KNOW that I loved them, that I was proud of them, and that I had high expectations for their futures. That's become one of the most important reasons why I scrapbook.


2) Bonds of friendship are formed when people get together and craft. It constantly amazes me how a group of people can get together from completely different parts of the world, with completely different stories and backgrounds, and yet can form a bond over scrapbooking and crafting. They encourage one another. They teach one another. They become a special kind of family. When I attend an event or a crop, I try to notice those women who feel on the "outs" of the group. I want everyone to feel included, loved, and part of this crafting family. I know we can do more to uplift and encourage one another. We have the power to make life better for each other. When we become a sisterhood or family of crafters, we can connect and help one another. I want to do more of this!



3) What we create brings other people joy. One of my most cherished memories was a warm summer day in Savannah, Georgia several years ago. We had been working in the yard and then later taken a break in our youngest son's room. I had retreated there first to help rock him to sleep for his nap. Like a magnet, slowly every member of the family made their way to his room. Several of my scrapbooks lay on the floor where I had recently leafed through them. As the two older children opened the pages of one of them, I listened as they reminisced about the memories contained within. They laughed and chatted and I could tell from the tone of their conversation that they were happy that things that were important to them were also important to me. Whether we are creating a scrapbook layout that documents an important memory, or whether we're mailing off a card to a friend in need, or whether we've created something beautiful to display in our homes, we are making meaningful things.

The Beginnings of the "Making It Meaningful" Movement:

In 2014 I was invited to teach a weekly scrapbooking video class for Two Peas In a Bucket. As we mulled over what we wanted to teach, and we thought about the message we were trying to convey I suggested the name, "Make It Meaningful." I wanted to share ways we could meaningfully scrapbook our memories. The goal was to help scrapbookers make the connection between simply crafting and making their memories more meaningful. After Two Peas closed its doors later that year, I knew that I wanted the goals I had started for that class to live on so I spent the rest of 2014 and the early part of 2015 thinking on how I could make that happen.


Join the "Making It Meaningful" Movement!

Are you a paper crafter? Do you enjoy scrapbooking your memories? Or do you find joy in making handmade cards for others? You are already part of the movement! You are making meaningful things and spending your time meaningfully.


I am now offering a MONTHLY NEWSLETTER for subscribers that will include some of the following items:

* Making It Meaningful prompts, quotes, and ideas
* Information on upcoming and current classes that I'm teaching
* Links to my latest video tutorials
* Coupons for the printables, Ebooks, and workshops that I offer

(Sample Newsletter)
http://jengallacher.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

If you'd like to be a part of the "Making It Meaningful" movement, simply subscribe now HERE!

Become part of the "Making It Meaningful" family. Share the movement with friends and family that might benefit from making their crafting and scrapbooking more meaningful. Use the hashtag #makingitmeaningful when you share the news about this movement or create your own meaningful layout, card, or art piece so that we can watch together as this movement grows and takes shape.

6 comments

  1. How exciting! Thank you for sharing. I will definitely be signing up!

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  2. The link to subscribe is not working, how do I go about subscribing? Help!!!

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    1. You're right! Thank you for letting me know. I've fixed it, but here's the link: http://jengallacher.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

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  3. Love this! I just inherited a car full of family photo albums from my grandmother and as I sort through them I find myself wishing I knew more of the stories that went with them. I want to be more mindful of always including a little tidbit for future generations on each of my pages so they are more than just photos. :)

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    1. I love that idea of adding tidbits, Mendi!

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  4. Loved the post. You are right about making it meaningful and how uplifting the craft can be. Definitely signing up for the newsletter!

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