I don't scrap to get it done; I scrap because I enjoy the process. Completed pages in an album are a nice bonus. So, while I usually start with a photo or two that I love, I also sometimes start with an idea--a title, a theme, even a technique I want to try--and choose a photo or photos at some later point in the process. Yesterday I did a Top Ten layout of my current favorite things--that started with the idea, then a list, then I actually took some photos to use (I had some already but wanted a few more). That's not typical but it's not the first time I've taken pictures specifically for a layout, either.
I also sometimes start with a kit or something I just want to use, so I'm thinking: I love these frames, how can I use them? But that's not typical either.
I do scraplift, but not really that often. What I do a lot of is lifting an idea or two from layouts I love. I went through scrapbooking magazines over the weekend and took notes: Try filling a shape with buttons. Try reducing a 12 x 12 edge overlay on a page. Try putting photos into a shape. So if I do one of these things, I'm not really lifting the whole design but just one or two elements. I'm not very original in my designs, and I absorb a lot of great ideas by browsing the gallery or other sources.
Keep it fun!
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