Inspire me, inspire you.

I love being inspired, don't you? When the mojo is flowing and all is right in our scrappy world it just feels so good. But oh, when you're not feeling it, it just plain sucks. You have the urge or even the need to create but the creativity just isn't there. What's a gal to do?

Get inspired.

I know, easier said than done.

But here are some of the things I do.

* Pick up some scrapbooking magazines and start flipping. It's even more fun to look through older scrap mags. Whether I copy the design, get inspired by the colors or embellishments, there's bound to be something that catches my eye.

Here's a layout I created today using a layout I found by Cathy Blackstone in the Nov/Dec 2005 issue of Scrapbooks Etc. The inspiration is below.

And here's Cathy's original LO (love the classic design). The photo corners and journaling strips is what caught my eye and got me going.

* Stop by some of the challenge and manufacturer blogs. Here are a few of my faves:

How Much is Too Much

The Dares

The Gallery Here at Studio Calico

KI Memories blog

American Crafts blog

Sassafrass blog

* Scrapbooking books! I love Elizabeth Dillow's "The Scrapbooker's Almanac" for all the cues and page ideas for getting out of a rut and back to scrapping, and any of Ali's or Cathy's books are virtual treasure troves of ideas.

* Take a class or go to a crop! Big Picture Scrapbooking, retreats (like this one where our very own Maggie Holmes will be teaching), or call your local scrapbooking store to see what classes and crops they have going on. Sometimes just being around other scrappers and all the excitement can be energizing. I went to a class taught by Jamie Waters at a store in Orange County and I loved it. I came home and make three layouts afterwards - I was up WAAAY late that night.

* Go back through your own layouts for inspiration. I love doing this because it never fails that I see a design or photo or embellishment that jumps off the page and invites me to use those things in new ways.

* Read magazines, taking notice of ads and articles. Color combos, photo placement, title ideas. It's all good!

* Keep a list of the crazy things your kids say or make a layout about your shopping list. When it comes to documenting our lives through scrapbooking, nothing is off limits (well, okay, there ARE a few things that should be, and you know what I'm talking about).

So, go forth and scrap. Be inspired!