Tip of the Month

The subject of this month's Tip of the Month question is time. Time is a precious commodity normally, but especially at this time of the year. How do you find time to Organize your photos, supplies and scrap? Do you have a secret? Share it with us!

kathy m from San Jose, CA writes...
I use to be really good at finding time, but lately my life is so crazy that I\'m more in a crisis mangement mode. I do have a group of people that we have regular monthly crops with. During the week before the crop, I start planning pages, and getting things together. It really gets my scrapping juices flowing. For me scrapping is one of those things that once you start, you can\'t stop.

Holly in OK writes...
What finally got me going was moving the office out to our living room so that my DS 2 could have his own room. (After 8 mos of no sleep, room sharing looks less appealing.) Now I can watch TV at night with DH and work on office or scrapbook things the whole time. It makes it more fun, makes me feel less guilty than retreating to another room, and I have to keep it fairly picked up so that the living room doesn\'t look atrocious to visitors. Of course, keeping my little ones out is a task. But, a baby gate, and it\'ll be fixed, I think.

amber from ivanhoe tx writes...
I make time! I always have tried to set aside time for my scrapbook projects every week. After all it is just as important as laundry and other stuff. I try to allow myself 10-15 mins per day to look through my photos and supplies. I chose the photos and paper and embellishments and stack them toghether then on Saturady or Sunady I give myself at least an hour to put some of those pages together. Sometimes more time it depends on what all is going on and when but I have learned that you must make time for you hobby just like you make time for your chores, work etc. It is that IMPORTANT!

Judy from North Pole, Alaska writes...
Finding time to do all these things has been a real problem for me. It seems like when I can finally get a chance to do them, I\'m too tired. I\'ve finally realized that the only way I will ever be able to be organized is simply to set an hour or two once or twice a week that will be set aside for nothing but scrapbooking projects. The hours will have to be \"set in concrete\", on \"specific days\" during the hours when I\'ve got some energy, and I will not let anything else interfere...except getting struck by lightning!...maybe...

mamichelle writes...
I usually squeeze in time while watching t.v. or waiting for dinner to cook. I pull out photos for at least 6 pages and decide which to use. For example, the other night while I was waiting for the trick-or-treaters (my kids are older), I was going through photos. So last night I was able to start scrapping a double page. Tonight I\'ll go home and try to do another pg. I guess it\'s really done when I\'d be waiting for someone or something (like a commercial). I can\'t stand idle time! LOL

TurkeyFace from Wisconsin writes...
I use the pages in progress system. It is a 2 pocket folder that holds 12x12 paper. When I only have a half hour or less to scrapbook I use the time to organize layouts that I need to get done. Here is what I do: 1) Choose picture(s). 2) Choose papers to coordinate. 3) Locate any embellishments that coordinate with my theme and colors. 4) If I have an idea of what I want to do for the page I make a rough sketch of the layout. (And I do mean rough sketch, I can\'t draw at all! lol) 5) If I have journaling notes I include them in the small front pocket. If I have time I sometimes pre-type these on vellum or transparencies so that it\'s ready to go. 6) All embellishments go in the front pocket and papers go in the back pocket. I try to always have at least three layouts pre-planned so that when I have just a short amount of time to scrapbook I can get something done. There\'s nothing more annoying then just getting into the swing of things and realizing it\'s time to go!! HTH, Crystal

Barb from PA writes...
I finally decided to set one day a week to work on my scrapbooking for at least 4 to 6 hours. I figure if I can do this, I may catch up on what I\'m behind on in about 5 years or so. LOL. But, if I am watching tv then I may pre-plan pages if I don\'t want to actually scrap. I also have started doing pages and leaving space for my journaling but not journal while I\'m scrapping. This way I can take my book and journal at the doctors office or waiting in the car for someone that I need to give a ride to. Anywhere I can find time to journal. Journaling at lunch time when at work is good for me also. I get so many more pages done this way. ----I go to a 12 hour crop that I pay for about 3 or 4 times a year. If I am stuck not wanting to scrapbook for awhile, this gives me incentive and I get back into the groove again. -----Another tip I have is making sure my photo\'s are in order first. If they are in order before I start, my scrapbooking goes along so much better. I then go through them and crop them and use my corner rounder or circles & ovals before I ever start. This is so much faster then doing it while doing pages. If feels so good to just be able to grab the photo\'s and put them on pages when I want to scrap without having to do all the extra things while scrapping. ---While traveling or even taking photo\'s, I have also learned to write things down about when, where, who, etc. is when I take photo\'s. This way if I can\'t get to them for awhile, I\'m not sitting there for half an hour trying to figure out where I took it or who was there, etc. -----One more thing is that when I pre-plan, I write down everything I need for those pages. Like I may want stickers or certain paper, maybe copies of documents or whatever. I have a list of 20 or more pre-plan pages that I need certain things for. I take the list to the store and get everything I need in one trip. Boy, is this a time saver! I will also throw in my sample of layout I want to use or just draw free hand my idea for my layout and put it in the zip lock bag I use for pre-planning. Then I can zip right through them. I have learned over the years that these things really help & work for me. --Hope you find something in these tips that will help you too.

Susan from Central PA writes...
I find that if I pull out photos & try to start scrapping, I get stumped. What works for me is to go through my pics & group them for layouts. I then will either continue on a page in progress or stop scrapping and do chores/errands. In the back of my mind, I keep thinking of the pics & what papers and embellishments I will want to use. When I get back to my scrap desk, I start pulling out different papers/kits that I think will work. I am not good at sketching so this works for me. Basically, I\'m planning it out by visualizing in my mind & it makes the actual hands-on part go quicker. I also think about any journaling or titles & will jot down notes so that when it comes time I can type it on the computer or cut out my titles.

Jill in Chicago writes...
Sunday afternoons used to work really well for me. I\'m going to make a push to get back into that. I have to remind myself that it is good to take time to rest and recharge. I have lots of clear 12 x 12 envelopes. I put photos into them by theme, and then drop in brochures, mementos... that go with the photos. That really helps keep me organized.

Darcelle Winchell from Gloversville, NY writes...
I encourage my husband to go hunting! ;) -- that gives me \"alone\" time and I use that time to work on my photos, pages, etc.!

Phyllis in IL writes...
I work full time and I bring my scrapbooking stuff with me to work on at lunch. I use my hour lunch to sort pictures, work on a layout or just do bits and pieces. Today I have my small Xyron with me to use for a ton of letters I punched out at yesterday\'s lunch hour. I go to our lunchroom and do my thing. I also pre-plan my pages in 12x12 storage envelopes and pull one out when I have some time to crop.

GG writes...
I scrap at work, too. I bring a ziplock with \"parts\' inside and go from there. At lunch, I will just try to get say, one picture done with stitching around it or a tag finished. Little by little it comes together and each piece is detailed because I go so slow. It is very refreshing and I can kinda daydream about the layout for the rest of the day while I go about my busy work - LOL. Another great time saver is to work on a page while my DS is doing his homework. We sit together at the big desk each evening and so I am available for HW help and he\'s available for journaling interviews or pic choices. I keep a stack of magazines at the home computer for slow loading pages and also to look up websites mentioned in articles. This isn\'t actual scrap time but more like scrap research. One last way to get scrapping in is of course, the all nighter - LOL! I actually get gift albums done this way with a nap scheduled in the next day.

Carolyn Wood writes...

Carolyn Wood from Rigby, Idaho writes...
I am a busy mother of 7 children with tons of photos to scrapbook. Once a week a friend and I trade babysitting for a day so we each have a few quiet hours. What do I do on my free day? I scrapbook!

Carolyn Wood from Rigby, Idaho writes...
I am a busy mother of 7 children with tons of photos to scrapbook. Once a week a friend and I trade babysitting for a day so we each have a few quiet hours. What do I do on my free day? I scrapbook!

GBS from Baton Rouge writes...
I am blessed to have grown children and a little more freedom to scrap. When I get my photos, I put them in my \"current\" photo holder. I like to use that most of the time when I scrap. Whenever I have a few minutes, I will sit down and look through them to pick something to scrap. Sometimes I can sit and finish the whole layout, somethimes I only get to lay it out or just pick cardstock. But I use whatever time I have to work on something.

LittleScrapper from Racine, WI writes...
I rarely go to crops, so my supplies generally stay in my scrap area. But I\'ve spent a lot of time getting an organizational system that works for me, so that I know exactly where things are when I need them. I use my PSB for stickers, charms, other metals, tags, etc. I find that if I can see them, I\'m more likely to use them! I have a stacking mini drawer unit right on my desktop for the supplies that I\'m constantly using like adhesive, rub-on letters, distressing tools (sandpaper, steel wool, ink), pencils, rulers, etc. And then when I\'m done using them, I make sure to put them back IMMEDIATELY, as not to clutter my work area!! My favorite scrap area addition has been a large white peg board behind my desk! I can hang up my scissors and hole punches, rulers, etc. A trip to the hardware store to find peg board storage was so much fun! Little drawers and shelves for all of my goodies!! My desk stays much cleaner now!! It has taken me four years to find a \"system\" that allows me to work more efficiently, but when everything has a home, I get to spend more time scrapping and less time searching for stuff!! The best part of my scrap area . . . it\'s right next to my best friends, Ms. Washer and Mr. Dryer . . . so I tend to hand out there quite a bit! Do a little laundry, do a little scrapping . . .

DawninNoVa from Northern Virginia writes...
I spent a Sunday afternoon organizing my photos into several of those Cropper Hopper photo boxes. I also do a lot of preplanning by putting my photos, cardstock and embellishments into those clear Generations folders -- one for each layout. I have a tote bag I purchased from A.C. Moore for about $4.00 in which I keep essential tools (mat, scissors, ruler, adhesive, paper trimmer, chalks, etc.) and a few of the \"planned\" Generations folders. It\'s easy then to just grab this bag to take with me almost anywhere. It\'s large enough to hold what I need, but small enough to not be a burden to carry around or to look too conspicuous. I often take it to my brother\'s while I babysit the nieces/nephews. I\'ve also found myself with time to spare while waiting for an appointment or for a friend to finish a class, and I\'ve often used that time to go work in the public library! I\'ve gotten lots done there! I even have my very own table there, and feel a little put out when someone else is using it, heh heh! : ) I find that by getting organized, having my pages/swaps preplanned and my bag ready to go, even if it\'s just down to the family room, it is much easier to make use of those small fragments of time that I might not otherwise put to good use.

Mandy from NE writes...
I make time for myself to scrap after I have the kids in bed. Dh has gone to work by then so it\'s just me. I preplan 95% of my pages beforehand. I\'ll sit down one night after I\'ve developed some film, select my pictures, decide on what papers to use and gather it together. I also make notes of title ideas, journaling notes, and any type of embellishments I may want to use or a specific \"theme\" of embellishments. I then put it all into a large folder and set aside for another night. Then when I\'m in the mood to scrap I just pull in out and go. Right now I have about 150 layouts planned out...guess I should get to scrapping. My MIL and SIL have recently became more active scrappers so they\'ve been coming over to my house to scrap since I have all the tools. This makes me get something done while they are here...even if it\'s only a couple pages.

Terri from NC writes...
I\'m fortunate to have to pantries in a room off the kitchen. One was filled with large dishes and counter appliances that I only used now and then. So I packed up some and moved the others to the food pantry and used the emptied pantry for my scrapbook materials and my dollhouse building materials. I use the paper trays stacked four high on one shelf for my paper. I use my cropping XXL bag for all my embellishments, etc. and my classroom small bag for my tools. When I go to a crop, I never have to get my supplies ready other than taking paper out of the closet and putting it in my paper holder. I just zip up my crop bag, grab my smaller classroom tool bag and off I go. I use the pantry not only for paper but for duplicate supplies like extra glue, little sewing machine and other things I don\'t use as often. When I come home from the crop, I put my crop XXL next to my table and it\'s ready for me to crop at home. No unpacking. For organizing pictures. I only started scrapbooking when I turned 48 so I had 48 years of pictures to sort. In lieu of a crop, I hosted an organization party for just sorting pictures. Everyone brought their pictures, the picture boxes you buy at any store and the index cards that come with the boxes. First you sort my year, then months. I did this in one night (6 hours). Then I started with the easier things to crop like Holidays and Birthdays. Then I started on vacations. Next I went to the baby pictures. When you go to a crop, just reach in your picture boxes and decide what you want to crop for the night say two holidays and a birthday. Piece of cake. I\'ve done some 20 albums in the past 18 months and yes, I work full time plus some.

Barbara in IN from NW Indiana writes...
Time! agh..... wish I had more of it!! lol I just dont scrapbook like I used to . My life is so hectic- with working fulltime- many times 10-12 hours days and then I am able to take my ds to school on my lunchhour and then try to clean the house... plus , i am in bed by 10pm! there is little time for SB! When I do get a spare minute, i like to organize all my stuff. I do have all my stickers in PSB\'s and all the PP is bought on Ebay in another PSB. This really helps when I am searching for that special item.

Angela in VA from Virginia writes...
I think organization and pre planned pages are the key for all us busy scrappers. I try to get things pre-planned and keep those in a box or generations envelope and ready to go. This really helps when you have a few mins to spare you can grab them and get straight to work. I have done things on my lunch break, while sitting in line at the bank drive thru, and while helping DS with homework. I also host alot of page kit swaps and have alot of handmade items all ready to go on my pages when I have time to put them together. It is so nice to have a whole kit of things that already go together and all you have to do is place them on your page. Like everyone else said, you may only get a little done, but every little bit helps.

Carla in NC writes...
Since I take digital pics, I can order prints whenever I am ready to preplan pages. I will order several events at once, then when the pics arrive, I sort them into 12x12 large storage baggies. If I have a certain paper in mind for that layout, I\'ll put it in with the pictures -- same with stickers and/or other embellishments and any memoribilia and any notes about the event. I keep the baggies sorted by year in 12x12 storage boxes (made by Highlander I think). So, when I\'m ready to crop... I usually have several pages to choose from to work on!

Marci Beth from Northest corner of Ohio writes...
I always find time to go through my pictures while my husband is at work and I am catching up on the laundry. I figure it takes about 45 minutes for our clothing to dry in the dryer, so I use that time to go through my pictures and do my scrapbooking. I love scrapbooking so I use any spare moment I can get to do a page or two.

Jodi Lundell from North Carolina writes...
I am the mother of 2 children. When they are taking a nap I am scrapbooking or making cards or just in organizing my scrapping area. I have a tv in there also so I\'m not missing my shows either. This way I have 2-3 hours a day to myself.

SnoopMurph from AZ writes...
On my scrap desk, I leave out 3-4 photos that I would like to scrap. I walk by my desk a gazillion times a day and I can look at them and think about the layout. Then, when I actually do scrap, I usually have an idea or sketch in mind and I can get at least 1-2 pages done. And that is better than none sometimes! Usually, I scrap on the weekend for a few hours, while my husband is home and he can take care of the baby. Plus, my husband likes the scrap pages and will give input on the captions/journaling! I do have my photos stored in Cropper Hopper Photo boxes, but I am finding that I would much rather print out some of my digital photos from Snapfish, than scrap old photos! I also have my PSB full of tags, rubons and stickers and it sits out where I can leaf through it quickly. My fibers/ribbons are organized on paper cards in a floss organizer box. Plus, I just bought a PC tool turnabout, which I LOVE for all my tools and adhesives, etc. My area to be worked on is all of the crazy scraps that accumulate, which are sorted by color into pocket folders, but man, the folders all chock full of usable scrap! I think I am going to make some mats for photos from some of the pieces or cards.

Gail McKelvey from gmckelvey writes...
I don\'t...I close up shop for the holidays. Pick everything up and put it away! I use the table for decorating packages. Don\'t feel as crazed then and it is a lot easier than wrapping packages on the floor. Then after the holidays everything is where it is SUPPOSED to be in the first place and I can start fresh, and organized. Happy Holidays!

Karen in Texas from DFW writes...
The only way I can manage it is to schedule the time. Actually putting it on my calendar makes it a priority so it really gets done. Otherwise it is too easy to put off and put off . . . . You get the idea!

Kim in TN from Nashville, TN writes...
I used to be really good at finding time for scrapbooking, but it\'s been tough lately. The best tip I have is to set up a consistent day/time to scrap. That way, everyone (you, DH, kids, etc) that you have that time set aside and reserved.

Scrappinmom42 writes...
As soon as I get a roll back from being developed I sort them out, (if I have more than one event) and put them in my accordian file according to event. I finally got all of my DH\'s photos out of his NON safe albums and have them numbered on the back, then went and numbered a paper accordingly and had his mom help me with names of the people. So when I get time that will be my next big project. Jodi

michele on safari from south africa writes...
Two things that I do are leave my supplies out on a table so I can easily pick up and continue when I have a few spare minutes, and make the time! I talk to so many people who say they would like to scrapbook but don\'t have the time but I think you have to find it somehow. I go to classes once a week and often that is the only time I find to scrapbook but at least I know that for three hours a week I will get something done. Then if I find more time at home it is a bonus!

Lisa in Texas writes...
Having my own scrap space helps me to find the time. It\'s just an old desk pushed into a corner, but I can leave my photos out while I think about themes/colors. Then I can leave my layouts in progress out while I work on them a bit here and there. I also keep a running list of all the things I want to scrap, along with their dates if applicable, plus little bits of journaling I scribble here and there. I put these in a palce on my desk so I can refer to them when needed. Also, any new embellishments/papers that I buy for pages I have upcoming in my list get left out in the open so I don\'t do the layout, then go \"Ack, I forgot I bought that!\"

Chris in CT writes...
I have a scrap/craft room and any time I have a free minute or two I head in there. I am still in the process of organizing my supplies and I know I will get more done after everything is organized. I take magazines/idea books to work to read at lunch or breaks. After reading some of the responses from this question of the month, I plan on taking some items to work that I can work on at lunch.

Rema from San Jose, California writes...
I work full-time outside the house, then come home to a busy routine for the family. I make the time to scrap late at night after the kids are in bed. This will mean that I literally lose some sleep, but I\'m pretty good at going with the flow the next day. I don\'t attend crops very often. I have to plan out my project in advance, which just means that all my supplies need to be gathered together. If I haven\'t done that, then I don\'t use my time well.

kellee from Alabama writes...
I never really have time to scrap. I work full time, have three heavily-involved children, and all the stuff that all mothers have! I used to let my lack of time to scrap stress me. I now just appreciate the little bits of time I get here and there, and I devote my full attention to continue to MAKE memories rather than stressing about RECORDING memories. Scrapbooking is still my favorite thing - it just can\'t be one of MY priorities right now.

sherrie from rock springs, WY writes...
I have 3 little ones so when they lay down, I have time to organize my tote. I don\'t have an actual workspace,besides the kitchen table so I have to keep everything in a tote. They also love to look at pictures, so when I want to organize my pics, I let them look at them and take a little bit at a time. I have a box where I keep pictures and the little individual dividers are labeled how I want to scrapbook. I also have a small picture holder plastic purse in tote and they are organized by plastic separaters. When I want to scrapbook, I take out a little bit and they are already organized and ready to be scrapped. This is so that i don\'t have to take that big box of pictures. I hope that made sense!!

Donna Scraps from NC writes...
We have recently moved into campus housing and space is limited to say the least. I just purchased the XXL at J\'s for an unbelievable price with some birthday money. Since our kitchen table is also our craft table, study desk, cooking counter space and homeschool table, I can\'t leave my stuff out. The XXL makes it easy to grab an hour here and there without having a major clean-up to do each time. I usually scrap 1-3 times a week in the afternoon for one or two hours while my children play. I keep a small notebook with page protectors in it to sort upcoming pages. I also have a stack of \"My favorite pictures\" that go in an 8x8 album, so even when I don\'t have time for a big 2-pager, I can whip out the 8x8 pages and have a sense of accomplishment. Currently I don\'t attend a regular crop, my neighbor and I are hoping to host one monthly for our neighborhood.