What I learned by doing MOC 6

@MrsPeel it's my usual self doubt. I see so many amazing scrappers & feel untalented. I was ready to give up with just a few days to go. I kept making mistakes & I really don't like to make mistakes! But, I finished as always. I even made 6 additional pages yesterday because I was still in scrapping mode. I love you my dear & I know you love me, I've never doubted it. Just sometimes my anxiety & insecurities get the best of me.

 

I know, and you must know by now I have my attacks in which I feel exactly the same...... you are amazing, the Universe sometimes takes longer to show you.... but you are. Love you!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have to echo all the things everyone has been saying. I've even learned a few things by reading what YOU have learned. LOL!
I have to chime in here with something I learned about myself. This year I did a little planning ahead - selected a theme and listed photos I want to get scrapped. One major help was that I let my family know in advance that this month was going to be unusual. I was going to be pretty distracted and it would last ALL month long! Then, I let myself know that since scrapping was going to be big this month, there would be many other things that would not get done. I gave myself permission to ignore the half finished quilt, miss the evening newscast occasionally, and let a few dust bunnies pile up. Just a little!
This has been the most enjoyable and stress-free month I've had in a long while. I definitely plan to do it again next year! Thank you to all of you who work so hard to put this together. I cannot imagine where all the ideas come from, but I'm so glad you have them!

 

My biggest takeaway from MOC came in these last 2 days, as I was racing to get all my layouts done and uploaded. I'm usually a very slow scrapper, and I always use templates. The only way I was going to finish 8 layouts in 2 days (along with work and family stuff) was to entirely change my scrapping process. I still don't know how, but I got all 8 done in about 30 minutes each. I think part of it was not using a template; I felt more able to scrap in a simpler style that comes more naturally to me. Now that MOC is over, I need to experiment with making more pages from scratch and see if I can get my time-per-page down that way. I won't make my pages quite as quick and simple as I did for MOC catchup, but being able to finish most pages in an hour would be a gamechanger.

 

This! This is definitely one thing I learned too. I still used a lot of templates but I made more pages from scratch in the last month than I did in all of last year.

Another thing was just getting started on something. I have a list of pages to scrap and tons of photos to choose from, so I'm usually spending half my time deciding what I feel like doing (and finding the perfect template). For MOC I just had to go for it! Pick something that needs doing and start working on it. Having a deadline (and prize!) is the perfect motivation for me.

Also, I have more time to scrap than I realized. The first week was easy because it was still winter break but when school was back in session and my days were full, I thought I'd had a hard time keeping up. Actually, it was harder on the weekends because I had no routine. Weekdays I knew I'd have time to scrap after dinner. Being on the West Coast helped when challenges were posted early, then I could be finishing the current day and get a start on the following day.

I got more comfortable with AJ too. Still not my first choice, but at least it doesn't scare me like a few years ago. Actually, I really enjoyed the art doll challenge - it felt freeing to create something to express thoughts that had been knocking around in my head.

And the techniques! The dispersion and mosaic gave me tools to spice up LOs in the future.

Basically the whole month was great and I'm so glad I participated and amazed that I finished! Thanks to all the Pollys and admins for all the hard work they put into a successful MOC!

 

I keep coming back with more things I’ve learnt

Developing a love for using @mommyish and @justjaimee styles rather than just a collector of them

developing a scrapping style I enjoy https://the-lilypad.com/forum/threads/scrapping-style.52824/

 

I really can't tell you how happy this thread makes me ...... I love you guys!

 

I leant dispersion technique, which was on my bucket list for a while. Journaling and using templates was also challenging. Never made a LO following a sketch before, nor a page "inside a shape" - it was really fun.

So thank you girls, it was a wonderful time to play with you again

 

I learned that I love MOC even more than I loved MOC last year.

I got off to a very rocky start. My sister passed away, just before Christmas, I took my mom in while waiting for a placement at a seniors care home, and my daughter was hospitalized for almost a week. I wasn't even really going to delve deeply into MOC but I kept reading the challenges and wanting to do them, but was just to overwhelmed to start. Then I told myself, just do the ones, that move you. Then I was like you can do this. Then I down to three that were just hard for me. They were two emotional ones I felt I couldn't face (heritage and happy), and the art doll. That art doll. It gave me grief. Much grief.

I adored the scrapping in a shape, my favourite. I ejoyed the mosaic and dispersion. I've always been a writer, the journaling ones were simple for me. I learned I used the same kits over and over in a variety of ways. I learned I own one kit with a true black paper. How is that possible? I think having an entire trip waiting to be scrapped giving me plenty of photos helped.

I scrapped all but three of my pages in a program that I had only picked up in July. That is awesome. I learned so much more using it.

Thanks for all the hard work put into arranging, running and bringing MOC to us.

 

You utterly make my heart happy.... your page was amazing, thank you. I'm so sorry you have had such a tough time leading up to the MOC, I know that any words I have to say won't do justice to your feelings {hugs} but I think all that feeling really came out n your challenge pages xx

 

First of all, let me say I haven't read all posts, I came from my email notifications which are, to put it mildly, all over the place and not really accurate LOL, but this makes me so so immensely happy!!!!
what she said:

yup, with a tiny difference, I can't stop myself crying!!!!!!

I think we maybe twins souls in different parts of the world...... we have similar health conditions and for what I keep reading of you, we are confronting similar ordeals..... also, another Canadian that makes me feel like I NEED to visit the country!!!!!!
I'm so with you on the scrapping inside the shape!!!!! I'm sure @amandac knows how mu ch, I ended up one of my most loved pages in years with the challenge!!!! LOVE @jk703 Mosaic!!! you will see me making a few from now on!!!!
I realized (have been doing so for a while now) I don;t wrote as much as I used to....but the MOC most definitely pushed me to remember how great it is!!!!
I know that I can combine old kits with new ones and it makes me happy like a toddler for a birthday when I recognize a new release I will be able to scrap with lots of my old faves!!!

now...regarding the ARt Doll?
my dear girl, it may have given you grief, but I hope you realize you have a natural talent for it...... it is SO amazing!!!!!!!!! I would never had said you didn't do that kind of page by looking at it....truly AWESOME!!!! and with such a beautiful meaning too....good cause, and it touched me especially.... chatting with you is also a delight..... so I'm hopeful that you will (as much as life allows you) will keep scrapping all the year until we get to MOC7!!!!!!

the challenge was SO amazing!!! I thought I wouldn't like much as I'm a bit claustrophobic
but ended up making one of the pages I love the most!!!!!!

Personally I am delighted with so much I learned and enjoyed with MOC6, the list is huge, but the Mosaic from Jenn I think was a bit of an extra achievement...... and of course , the inspiration coming from everyone!!!!!!!

 

I started MOC very apprehensive. I am new to digital and did not know if I had enough skills to comlete the requirements. I did not finish but more importantly I know I AM NOT FINISHED. I was able to complete 14. MOC made me feel like a kid in a candy store...there was so much to choose from...I think my style will be challenge- it gives you the variety box...and all the wonderful helpers and encouragers in this store will always make me want to shop here. Thank you for making my new attempt at this such fun and rewarding!

 

@scrapper78 14 when you are brand new to digital is amazing! Pat yourself on the back and get a high five!

 

I learned i can scrap 12 pages in 24 hours...

 

Jess- I think you’re an amazing scrapper, and this place wouldn’t be the same without you. I’ve also really enjoyed reading your blog this past year and the insights you’ve shared there. Many wonderful words of wisdom that I’m so glad you posted. Love you, girl!

 

Another thing that finally clicked for me was layer masks! I don't know why it took so long, or what the clicking point was...but it finally stuck!