I really am one of the World’s worst when it comes to planning and preparation for going to crop; anyone who has seen me arrive at my local crop with my car filled to the brim with my stash will be able to confirm that!
I have, in the past, tried my hand at being organised before going to crop and created a series of project packs. The impact on my productivity was incredible. Even if you don’t often get out to crop, you could practice preparing some project packs so that you can make the most of any scrapbooking time that you have at home.
Preparation is key!
First of all, I determined which of my paper ranges I wanted to take with me to work with. For me, these were a mixture of recently purchased products I was itching to use and a variety of older ranges that I had bought with particular photos in mind but had never got around to using yet.
Once I had decided on these, I went through the photos on my hard drive and selected at least two sets to print for each paper range I had chosen.
Step three was creating some journaling on the computer and choosing one of the patterned papers to print the journaling out on. Now, I very rarely plan my layout design before I start working on a page, so for this stage it was just a case of typing out the story I wanted to tell for each page and formatting each one slightly differently so they would fit together on a piece of the patterned paper when it was cut down to A4 to fit through the printer.
Finally, I put together my embellishment boxes - I go out to crop a lot so my favourite embellishments - a selection of tags, threads, buttons, flowers, ribbons, brads, gems, punches and inks - are all kept together in Really Useful Boxes and put into one of my wheeled totes.
Working like this was a big turn around from how I normally work on a page when I am at home, as the journaling is usually the last thing I squeeze in after the photos and title (and just before the embellishing). I was a bit apprehensive about how I would be able to work with the journaling pre printed but I found it much easier than expected. In fact, more thought went into telling the story behind the photos than sometimes happens when I leave the journaling until last and have to fit the story in around everything else!
Since this blip in my normal unorganised self, I have reverted to type. However, I recently discovered a new blog called the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. The premise of this blog is wonderfully simple. In their own words "If you have ever browsed through those great monthly scrapbook kit clubs and admired their beautiful kits...but knew you needed more supplies, like a "hole in the head"...you know who you are (you're the one with TONS of supplies and embellishments in your ever growing scrapbook stash)...this challenge is for you!" They scour the kit clubs, choose one to copy and offer it up to the rest of us for inspiration. We then shop through our own stash to replicate the inspiration kit, as closely or remotely as we wish, thereby getting a wonderful project pack all ready and waiting for when the creative desire strikes.
There are also links to tutorials for making those fun bits and pieces often included in kits as well as challenges for actually scrapping with the kit.
This first month the inspiration kit was the Jenni Bowlin December kit.
The list of all the goodies in the main kit is listed here at the Jenni Bowlin site.
The contents of the add on kit are listed here.
I spent a satisfying couple of hours hunting through my stash and put together my own version. The joy of working like this is that you are using what you already have (so it's cost effective) and you get the push to put together products which you wouldn't normally do (so it pushes you creatively), whilst getting a 'designer based' kit customised for your own personal scrapping style and tastes (theoretically, no waste! - or at least no more new stuff purchased to go to waste).
This is my own version
Main Kit
My Mind’s Eye glittered cardstock, I Believe range (red)
Making Memories Funky Vintage scallop stripe (yellow tone on tone is the reverse side)
Green Bazzil Cardstock
Creative Imaginations white line scalloped paper
Making Memories Noteworthy paper (blue/green floral)
Sassafras Mix and Mend-Fancy Free
Jenni Bowlin Vintage Red Bookprint
Bo Bunny Kitchen Spice, Allspice
Webster’s Pages Seaside Retreat Hide and Seek
KI Memories Lace Cardstock (pieces)
Mini label sticker book by 7Gypsies
Making Memories Funky Vintage Flocked Alpha stickers
Mini calendar bingo style cards (printed off at 60% original size) from download link on the challenge blog
Doillies stamped onto kraft cardstock, Hero Arts, Stampin’ Up and Grunge Art Gallery stamps
Small selection pins from stash
Flowers made from 7Gypsies tissue paper (very old stash!) following tutorial linked on the blog
Prima Cloisonne Gilded Lily flowers
Normal size book turns included (7Gypsies I think)
Yellow thread
Add on kit
1 Sassafras Cardstock Border Sticker Sheet
Selection October Afternoon cards, Prima journaling sheets and Fancy Pants creative cards
Digital bingo cards by Kenner Road at Two Peas in a Bucket
Selection digital images all from Two Peas in a Bucket (Farmer’s Market by Sande Krieger, free mini kit; Be Happy by Hazel Olive; Kitschensinque by Polka Dot Pixels)
Making Memories Funky Vintage flowers
Making Memories Funky Vintage Die cut stickers (lots left over from a prize package)
I have added in extra patterned paper in lieu of the cardstock (as I love working with tone on tone patterns for my background), included lots more embellishments (I had many part used sheets from a particular range) and printed off the digital elements from items in my digital stash.
I now just need to follow steps 2 and 3 from my project pack process (photos and journaling) and I am all set for many happy hours of scrapping when the mood takes.
xxx's
Suzanne
