I have now taken scrapbooking to an all new pain level! I can’t wait to be scrapbooking like normal as I IMPATIENTLY waiting for my thumb to work following reconstructive surgery. Impatience may be a negative trait but when combined with determination, persistence, and a little stupidity, there are always ways to overcome obstacles.
I have been waiting 6 weeks to design a new project featuring Bo Bunny’s “Little Miss” collection. Those of you familiar with my scrapbooking kits know that I try to release a new “purse album” each quarter and this new paper and adorable embellishments were perfect for a “Tea Party Purse” mini album.
With limited use of my right hand, designing takes longer and techniques are a little odd (like scissor cutting with middle and ring finger!) but it hasn’t been too bad UNTIL YESTERDAY. For this design, I wanted to have stacked buttons with twine through the button holes and tied in a bow. Thus began my 45 minute workout.
Simple, simple, simple thing to do. Pick out 2 buttons, stack them on top of each other and thread a twine through holes of both buttons. Then tie a knot, tie a bow and trim the ends. OH MY! Try picking up a button without using your thumb. Try threading a piece of twine through a hole in a button with fingers only. Even with the floss threader, imagine trying to align the buttons with the treader in the holds, inserting the end of the floss into the loop and then pulling it through the holes. I started out sitting, then standing, then practically standing on the table. At one point my good hand cramped up from all the tension. I resisted the urge to use my teeth since this sample will be on display in stores! Trying to tie the bow almost sent me over the edge. I would loop it around and then couldn’t grab the thread to pull it through. I almost had it so many times. I kept thinking, I could wait and ask my husband to help but I still think mine would look better than his! I didn’t quit and I finally got a bow- a very big bow – then I worked to tighten it and make it smaller and smaller and smaller. 45 minutes later it was done and I thought to myself….this entire project will be made in a 2 1/2 hour class and I just spent 45 minutes making 3 bows on buttons. I am crazy.
I was wringing wet with sweat when this was all over and then it hit me….how many calories did I burn up???? I earned a slab of grilled pound cake and a freshly cut peach. YUM…the pain of scrapbooking.
L.E.Summers, designer at Scraptacular Kits
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