What I Discovered About Myself From Two Peas in a Bucket

Yesterday I spent a good portion of the day downloading my Two Peas in a Bucket gallery to my computer. While most of the layouts and projects I had created for 2Peas (and for other companies) through the years were already saved, there were a few items I hadn't remembered to keep a copy of. What started as a rather laborious task turned into a glimpse into my growth as a designer, a historical look at my family history, and a peek at my online personality.

Here are a few things I learned from my relationship with Two Peas in a Bucket (an online scrapbooking community):

1. I've come a long way, baby! I started scrapbooking in 1997. Two Peas was my online source of sharing my scrapbooking journey and from the late 1990's I started uploading my projects to their online gallery. It was fun to review some of the projects I've created over the years. My style has morphed, changed, improved, hit a few stale notes, and brought me a great deal of joy. Here are a few of my past projects posted on 2Peas:



2. I made seriously a LOT of videos at 2Peas. Would you believe that I made over 70 videos for 2Peas? Did they even have video cameras in 2011? Ok, obviously they did but I honestly didn't remember that over the course of the past few years I've uploaded videos for several series including "A Mini Album a Month," "Stretch Your Sketch," "Memory Keeping Mondays," "Seeing Double," and this year's series "Make It Meaningful." I think it would be fun to share some of my past videos so look for some "throwback" themed blog posts in which I share past videos. I've downloaded all of them so just in case 2Peas shuts down the Youtube channel, I can reupload them and share. Making videos is hours and hours of work, but it's very rewarding to see your work on film (even if you do cringe when you hear your own voice talking back to you). I also learned that I can spot my own hands instantly in a video thumbnail. I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but it helped me to quickly identify my own videos on the channel.



3. I like to chat. Maybe that's no surprise to anyone, but I have posted 15,069 message board posts in the 11 years I've been a member at 2Peas. That's a whole lot of chatting. I can tell you right now that I'm having serious posting withdrawals. I guess I may have to rediscover the phone again (something I avoid like the plague). I'm going to miss my 2Peas friends. I'm hoping to rediscover you through other outlets because I know myself. I'm going to need a place to chat it up and soon!



4. I'm a sucker for a badge. Being a total reward motivated person, I was a happy collector of all available 2Peas badges. As someone who actually misses getting report cards, I think I'm going to have to make my own badges that say things like "Owned it Like a Boss," or "You Rock It and You Know it" or something similar to motivate me to get things done.



5. I'm also completely assignment driven. I have no idea how to scrapbook supply shop if I don't have an idea in mind. Having been a Garden Girl for five years and part of the industry for 17, I was very motivated by my assignments. While I'm taking a short break from making new commitments until we're settled in a more permanent situation, I can tell already that someone is going to have start bossing me around. I'm a people pleaser and without some kind of schedule, I'm feeling "all over the place." I suppose I need to learn to relax and go with the flow, but I really am much happier with a long "to do" list and a bunch of checkmarks. I'll share some of my 2Peas projects in those "throwback" posts as well, but here's a peek now at one I rediscovered and still love:



6. I look to YOU for inspiration. I have bookmarked 2,252 projects at 2Peas and that's not counting the hundreds of projects I've Pinned on Pinterest. Any time I need any kind of inspiration, I would search the gallery and then start bookmarking like mad the ideas I loved. Thank goodness for Pinterest because I'm always looking to you for trends, new techniques, and hot new products. Stay in touch because I really want to see what you're up to!



7. I might have a slight shopping/hoarding addiction. I can confess now that I typically ordered at least once every month from 2Peas during my service as a Garden Girl. I should also confess that I often ordered twice so I could get my hands on the latest items. I'm taking a slight reprieve from shopping until I have a place in which to store it, but it's hard not to order every new thing coming into other online stores. While I have become very good at buying only what I'll need and use, I hoard beloved papers and embellishments just as much as the next person. (Don't even ask me why I kept thousands of eyelets for ten years.) Admitting you have a problem is the first step. Now I suppose once I figure out how to give myself assignments, then I can justify purchasing again. Don't worry. Where there's a will, there's a way; and I'm a pretty determined gal.



8. I really loved Two Peas and all my online relationships there. I have actually been surprisingly ok with the change I think because we are neck deep in moving and house hunting. But this week it started to hit. When something you loved goes away, there's a bit of a mourning period you have to go through. You might feel a little mad. You might feel sad. And then when you've accepted it (and trust me I've been mentally fighting it for days), you move on. Moving on means new and exciting things, and I'm anxious to see what's next for me and for all of us that called Two Peas home. I'm looking forward to new friendships as well, as I discover my new creative "home."

I'm very grateful for the opportunity I had as a part of the Two Peas family. I'm grateful for lasting friendships, inspiration, creative outlets, and fulfillment of dreams. Thank YOU for being a part of that grand experience.

11 comments

  1. So glad to know that 2 peas had that affect on so many of us!! Will miss that place... And your beautiful projects!

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  2. Thank you Jen for working so hard on saving your videos incase 2Peas decides to remove them from You Tube. I will miss that place too. You're awesome Jen!

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  3. I will miss 2peas. I miss Archiver's too. Being minutes from the MN border, I had access to a handful of stores. I didn't always shop. But, it was just fun and inspiring to walk around there and see new product in person. 2peas was a wonderful place to hang out and I have met the nicest, sweetest people there. I will miss our PM's of you enabling me. :) LOL I was thinking of saving some of my favorite videos of yours and some others. Wishing you all the very best on your new home search.

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  4. I loved collecting those badges too... :( Thanks for the hours and hours you must have spent making all those layouts and videos Jen. I appreciate each and every one. x

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  5. Hope to see you on Paperclipping forum! ;)

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  6. Absolutely superb post Jen. I loved reading this and finding our your insights. I guess because it resonates for so many of us. I hope you find a new 'home' soon where you can continue to express your voice and your creativity!
    xxx
    Natalie

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  7. Jen, your vintage layouts still show your clean layered style and look NOTHING like my cut and paste style first layouts (mine were also 9.5x11). As sad as it is, there is now a new community of former 2Peas-ers. Is there a support group yet for us (thanks Noelle at PaperClipping for the forum)! "Hi, my name is Anna, and it's been four and a half days since I browsed the 2Peas gallery looking for inspiration..." lol and it will be exciting to see where our favorite designers show off their work next, you included. Thanks as always for sharing with us!

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  8. Great post, Jen! I will be looking towards your new projects and more videos! I have watched all of them a couple of times :) I love how you have everything planned and your page comes in no time! It's a great learning source for anyone! And meanwhile, I wanted to ask you how do you decide what picture or what story you are going to scrap next? What do you like to begin with photos, stories or product? How do you keep track of what you need to scrap or what story you haven't told, or how do you even come up with journling for a page number 701? Maybe we can get some answers in your next video :)

    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  9. I have been lurking at the new NSBR 2peas refugees board. That has helped a little. I was trying to decide if I wanted all my two peas badges or not. But your videos would be nice. I hope something can be worked out!

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  10. I will miss two peas also, and my family just does not understand !! :) It was a part of my life for over 10 years. It is nice to know others feel the same way. I loved my badges too, I didn't realize I had so many until I started saving them from my account. I plan on watching as many videos as I can this week. I hope two peas leaves up the youtube channel.

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  11. I don't know whether I'm a Jen-fan or a Jen-junkie :) I love seeing your projects and am so happy to call you my friend! Can't wait to see some of those throwbacks and follow your new chapter <3

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