Type-B Scrapbooking

I am a type-A, left-brained, organizational junkie. I like order.

That being said I should tell you-- you don't have to scrapbook that way. There are no rules; you cannot scrapbook "wrong." So do it the way it works for you.

If it takes you months to find all the baby pictures you wish to preserve, whats wrong with ordering a few pages today from the pictures you just had developed? Pay for the pages as you organize the pictures, (which will allow you to fit the scrapbook into your monthly budget in pieces, rather than all at once) and just do it! You are not behind. You are not out of order. You are recording memories. And that means you have a scrapbook.

Choose a D-ring album (like a 3-ring binder) and slip the pages in where ever you wish. Isn't it better to have some pages, some stories, some pictures, preserved than none at all?

So go with what motivates you. Choose what you enjoy. I give you permission not to feel guilty about the rest.

The Quest Continues

Happy Monday!

In our quest for simpler scrapbooks, last week we discussed not using every photo. But what if you really like them...

If you really like them-- scrap them! But just because you scrap them doesn't mean they need their own page. Here are some ideas for adding more photos to a single page or single spread (that's the two pages which face each other). The cost involved is minimal. To use these ideas your page will be classified as a level 3 (Check the website if you need clarification!), which does cost a bit more than the first two levels, but is still more bang for your buck than adding more pages!

First option: create a pocket behind the page. Add tabs to the tops of your photos and place them in the pocket. You can pull them out and look at them whenever you like!

Second option: choose wallet sized photos, or even use the index provided when you order pictures.

Third option: order a small album, such as an explosion or paper bag album to display lots of photos and still stay in budget. I did this for my son's first birthday and I love it!

Fourth: add photo pockets to your scrapbook. Simply slide 6 4x6 pictures next to a layout. This worked great for last year's Christmas pictures.

Until next time!

Stress Free!

Bring me your shoebox full of photos, sure, sure. You've got four boxes. And some albums. It would take dozens of scrapbooks just to hold them all. Where would you begin?

As this seems to be a common hang-up on the way to organized scrapbook bliss, I've decided to run a series of suggestions for stress-free photos. My website provides the steps to having your scrapbook created for you, but this will be more about making the task manageable and afforadable.

So if you're interested, tune in each Monday! See you then!

Too Much of a Good Thing

Okay, so you can never have too many pictures, too many memories, too many scrapbook pages... right? Well... For those who have no limits in life this is probably true. Unfortunately I, as well as most of you, do not fit into this category.

Personally I am quickly running out of space for scrapbook storage. For you it might be something else-- cost of having pages made, time required to get it all together, or even not knowing where to begin. Fortunately for all of you, I love to solve problems!

In my albums I've gone to creating all one page layouts. This means each event in my scrapbook covers 1 sheet of 12x12 paper. The page on the other side of the book is a separate event. Fewer pages, less cost, more space.

Think about solving your problem by ordering pages a few at a time. Get together just those pages of, say a child's birthday, and order a 2-page spread of party fun. When those pages are finished find the pictures of vacation and order a couple of those. For just a few dollars and very little time you can add to your album bit by bit.

Still not sure where to start? Good news for you-- I offer a one hour free consultation. Just send me an e-mail, drop me a line, leave a comment and we can walk through it together. Some problems just need a fresh perspective!