Tip of the Month

February's question is still about organization. How do you organize your photos? What do you do with the photos that are extras and those waiting to be scrapped?

kathy m from San Jose writes...
I\'ve got a lot of my photos in those rubbermaid memory keeper boxes. I like them because they are sturdy and you can stack them. They are really just kind of thrown in there. I have a few photo boxes that have pictures that go with certain themes that I\'m continually working on (ie: Disney, europe vacation, etc.). I\'m looking for some ideas on how to sort the pictures so I can find them. Any suggestions?

abbey55417 from MN writes...
I have photo storage boxes from Michael\'s (on sale) that have index tabs dividers. I store the photos by topic, event, or person. I label the outside of the boxes. I have one box called \"to be scrapped\" all of the rest are storage only. It works well for me.

emmell writes...
Well most of mine are organized on the computer since take only digital pictures. I download and categorize them my dates/events. When I do print them out, I file them in photo boxes. For the ones I am currently working on I put them in a small accordian box grouped by layouts. Extra printed pictures that I decide not to use end up being given to my children for them to scrap.

Peggy J from Beavercreek OH writes...
I keep my photos in chronological order in Cropper Hopper photo cases. Right now I have almost two full cases and will probably be getting a third one soon, because I still have about ten years older pictures I\'m still organizing. The most current pictures are in a CIS Photo holder that I keep in my Navigator to work on. Any extras left after I\'m done scrapping go in the back of one of the Cropper Hopper cases, still in chronological order so I can find them if I need them. I keep the negatives in pfile sheets in a binder with an Excel spreadsheet identifying each negative. It\'s so easy to find exactly the negative I want if I need to make copies.

ShelleyinGA writes...
Awhile back I bought a stationary set..it came in a nice decorative box. After using my stationary, I starting putting my pictures in this box. Now the photos all stand up nicely, and I can just flip through my pictures to see which ones I want to use when doing a layout.

Karen in Texas from k writes...
I sort through new sets immediately. Photos deeemed scrap-worthy are immediately placed in a plastic organizer I found at Office Depot. I will also jot any notes for journalling on a post-it note and placed with the photos and any momentos I wish to scrap. I keep the doubles stacked near my photo boxes so they are very handy in case I \"over crop\" something. After a page is done, doubles may be sorted to be sent to Grandparents or put aside for small gift albums. All left over photos and negatives go into the photo boxes.

Cheryl p from Syracuse NY writes...
I take regular and digital photos. My digitals are easy - I edit what I want to scrap and store them on the computer by month in folders. I print them as I need them. My regular photos I keep stored in Hallmark photo albums ( acid free) until I am ready to scrap. Doubles are stored in the same pocket. That way, everyone knows that they can take a photo from my album if there is a double. I keep all like photos together (from each roll) , and I just refill the albums w/ more photos when the pockets are empty. It works for me!!!

Marcy from IL writes...
I store my photos in little photo albums that I get from Old Navy. (The little slip in kind for 4x6 pictures) They have a photo album for every season, so Halloween goes in a Halloween one, Valentines Day, Christmas etc.. I also have photo storage boxes organized by date.

Kristen in MO from MO writes...
WEll, up until Dec. 2003. I put all my photos in chronological order in $10.00 photo albums I got from Wal-Mart. Once my pictures were developed the pictures go in the albums with notecards that have the date, event, etc. Its easy to find events and people can still look at my photos. But I started a new system for 2004. I bought a top loading album from CTMH. When I get my pictures I decide which ones I want to scrap - those are placed in 12x12 page protectors, the remaining pictures are put into CTMH 12x12 photo sleeves on the opposite page(holds 6 pictures back to back - 12 total) This way the really special pictures are scrapped and any additional pictures are on the facing page - I\'m hoping this will cut down on time, money and motivate me more. I\'m also hoping that it will keep me from feeling so overwhelmed with all my pictures. If I don\'t have 6 photos to put in the photo sleeves then I use them for embellishments or journaling boxes.

Claudine from NJ writes...
i had gotten a crop in style photo organizer one time in oddly enough an organization essay contest thing. it\'s perfect. it has six pockets to which i can organzie my photos. i don\'t usually have more than a few rolls of film to scrap at a time and have one pocket just for those photos from old books that i just can\'t seem to scrap yet! my mom however doesn\'t scrap but got those photo boxes with the index sheets so you can organzie the photos and have tabs to see them. they\'re easy to stack too!!

Maria in Columbus from OH writes...
My photos to be scrapped go in a drawer of my SB chest in my office along with any memorabilia. they are sorted chronologically. Since I have a digital camera, I only print off a few layouts worth of photos at a time. The digital prints are organized in a folder on my desktop by year, then month, then occasion within each month. The extra pictures that I don\'t end up scrapping and extras from pre digital days are stored in those photo boxes from michaels, filed chronologically.

Boobookitty from Boston, MA writes...
I have store bought picture boxes and organize them by event, or child. Sometimes if I have too many pictures I organize by age. I also try and do current pictures as soon as I get them, as I know I can remember the event!

Boobookitty from Boston, MA writes...
I have store bought picture boxes and organize them by event, or child. Sometimes if I have too many pictures I organize by age. I also try and do current pictures as soon as I get them, as I know I can remember the event!

Rinda writes...
I sort out my scrappable pix as soon as I get them back from the developer. I put these (by layout) in a photo keeper. Any extras that I want to send or give away, I put in my \"out\" basket. The rest of the photos and duplicates go back in the envelope, and I label by event and date the envelope than keep them bagged (by year) in my closet. I can then use them for gift albums, etc. Not fancy, but it works for me. Rinda

Barb writes...
The best thing I started doing is as soon as I get my photos back, I write on the envelope the date, what we were doing, place, etc. This way if I don\'t get to them right away (which is the case most times) is at least I now can remember where, when, who, etc. just from reading the envelope on the outside. I take mine to Wal-Mart and there is a spot on the envelope for writing. If you need to write more just write on paper & put inside the envelope. I know I have to start putting my pictures in one spot. Seems simple but I have been finding old pictures all over my house. So, a specific spot to put them is best. Even if they are not in order at least I have the date, etc. written on the outside.

Barb from PA writes...
I have been making albums for each of my children, grandchild, etc. I kept going back & forth on how to incorporate siblings, family into each album. So now what I do is: I am making each one an album and toward the back of their albums will be for their siblings, family, etc. I can copy pages from each other\'s album and add certain ones to each album so they all have some photo\'s of everyone in the family.

Bethany Monson from Ludington, MI writes...
I keep the photos for each layout in a seperate ziploc baggie with a note about things I need to journal on the page, my child\'s age, things they said on or about that day, etc. I store the ziplocs in a small rubbermaid tote.

suzy from san angelo writes...
I keep my photos organized in a portable hanging file tote. I have a hanging folder for each month and a couple for etc. stuff. I seperate my pictures into themes (birthday, 1st piano lesson, etc.) them put them into envelopes and drop them into the file folder for the appropriate month. The reason I love this is the hanging files are big enough for the memorabilia that goes with the photos, so I can keep it all in one place.

Michelle Osborn from Virginia writes...
After I take a picture or pictures, I mark on my calendar the day I took it, what they were wearing or doing. I mark the beginning of the roll and the end on the calendar also. That way, if my husband takes a photo and I didn\'t know (gasp) then, I know where it would fall in date-wise. I usually take 4-5 rolls in at a time, and so it takes a while to get that many rolls together. By the time I get them back, it could be months ago when I took the roll. This way, I know when the photos were taken. When I get them back, I put them in a sterlite container with index cards with the month and year. Then, I take the calendar and on the index card, I write the actual date, the clothes or other descriptive words for the picture(s) and file them for each month. This way, I don\'t have to mark on the back of the pictures. The sterilite holds one year. I label the front of the sterilite with a piece of clear tape and permanent marker with the year. (that way can recycle the container when I scrap that year) Any photos from that year that I don\'t scrap, I put all photos from that years in a section of another sterilite to put into albums for them when they get older. I don\'t throw out any pictures, whether they have their eyes closed or whatever. After losing a parent, I could care less if a photo of my mom had her eyes closed. It would be precious, so that is how I look at every photo now.

Michelle Osborn from Virginia writes...
After I take a picture or pictures, I mark on my calendar the day I took it, what they were wearing or doing. I mark the beginning of the roll and the end on the calendar also. That way, if my husband takes a photo and I didn\'t know (gasp) then, I know where it would fall in date-wise. I usually take 4-5 rolls in at a time, and so it takes a while to get that many rolls together. By the time I get them back, it could be months ago when I took the roll. This way, I know when the photos were taken. When I get them back, I put them in a sterlite container with index cards with the month and year. Then, I take the calendar and on the index card, I write the actual date, the clothes or other descriptive words for the picture(s) and file them for each month. This way, I don\'t have to mark on the back of the pictures. The sterilite holds one year. I label the front of the sterilite with a piece of clear tape and permanent marker with the year. (that way can recycle the container when I scrap that year) Any photos from that year that I don\'t scrap, I put all photos from that years in a section of another sterilite to put into albums for them when they get older. I don\'t throw out any pictures, whether they have their eyes closed or whatever. After losing a parent, I could care less if a photo of my mom had her eyes closed. It would be precious, so that is how I look at every photo now.

Michelle Osborn from Virginia writes...
After I take a picture or pictures, I mark on my calendar the day I took it, what they were wearing or doing. I mark the beginning of the roll and the end on the calendar also. That way, if my husband takes a photo and I didn\'t know (gasp) then, I know where it would fall in date-wise. I usually take 4-5 rolls in at a time, and so it takes a while to get that many rolls together. By the time I get them back, it could be months ago when I took the roll. This way, I know when the photos were taken. When I get them back, I put them in a sterlite container with index cards with the month and year. Then, I take the calendar and on the index card, I write the actual date, the clothes or other descriptive words for the picture(s) and file them for each month. This way, I don\'t have to mark on the back of the pictures. The sterilite holds one year. I label the front of the sterilite with a piece of clear tape and permanent marker with the year. (that way can recycle the container when I scrap that year) Any photos from that year that I don\'t scrap, I put all photos from that years in a section of another sterilite to put into albums for them when they get older. I don\'t throw out any pictures, whether they have their eyes closed or whatever. After losing a parent, I could care less if a photo of my mom had her eyes closed. It would be precious, so that is how I look at every photo now.

Michelle Osborn from Virginia writes...
After I take a picture or pictures, I mark on my calendar the day I took it, what they were wearing or doing. I mark the beginning of the roll and the end on the calendar also. That way, if my husband takes a photo and I didn\'t know (gasp) then, I know where it would fall in date-wise. I usually take 4-5 rolls in at a time, and so it takes a while to get that many rolls together. By the time I get them back, it could be months ago when I took the roll. This way, I know when the photos were taken. When I get them back, I put them in a sterlite container with index cards with the month and year. Then, I take the calendar and on the index card, I write the actual date, the clothes or other descriptive words for the picture(s) and file them for each month. This way, I don\'t have to mark on the back of the pictures. The sterilite holds one year. I label the front of the sterilite with a piece of clear tape and permanent marker with the year. (that way can recycle the container when I scrap that year) Any photos from that year that I don\'t scrap, I put all photos from that years in a section of another sterilite to put into albums for them when they get older. I don\'t throw out any pictures, whether they have their eyes closed or whatever. After losing a parent, I could care less if a photo of my mom had her eyes closed. It would be precious, so that is how I look at every photo now.

Michelle Osborn from Virginia writes...
After I take a picture or pictures, I mark on my calendar the day I took it, what they were wearing or doing. I mark the beginning of the roll and the end on the calendar also. That way, if my husband takes a photo and I didn\'t know (gasp) then, I know where it would fall in date-wise. I usually take 4-5 rolls in at a time, and so it takes a while to get that many rolls together. By the time I get them back, it could be months ago when I took the roll. This way, I know when the photos were taken. When I get them back, I put them in a sterlite container with index cards with the month and year. Then, I take the calendar and on the index card, I write the actual date, the clothes or other descriptive words for the picture(s) and file them for each month. This way, I don\'t have to mark on the back of the pictures. The sterilite holds one year. I label the front of the sterilite with a piece of clear tape and permanent marker with the year. (that way can recycle the container when I scrap that year) Any photos from that year that I don\'t scrap, I put all photos from that years in a section of another sterilite to put into albums for them when they get older. I don\'t throw out any pictures, whether they have their eyes closed or whatever. After losing a parent, I could care less if a photo of my mom had her eyes closed. It would be precious, so that is how I look at every photo now.

Michelle Osborn from Virginia writes...
After I take a picture or pictures, I mark on my calendar the day I took it, what they were wearing or doing. I mark the beginning of the roll and the end on the calendar also. That way, if my husband takes a photo and I didn\'t know (gasp) then, I know where it would fall in date-wise. I usually take 4-5 rolls in at a time, and so it takes a while to get that many rolls together. By the time I get them back, it could be months ago when I took the roll. This way, I know when the photos were taken. When I get them back, I put them in a sterlite container with index cards with the month and year. Then, I take the calendar and on the index card, I write the actual date, the clothes or other descriptive words for the picture(s) and file them for each month. This way, I don\'t have to mark on the back of the pictures. The sterilite holds one year. I label the front of the sterilite with a piece of clear tape and permanent marker with the year. (that way can recycle the container when I scrap that year) Any photos from that year that I don\'t scrap, I put all photos from that years in a section of another sterilite to put into albums for them when they get older. I don\'t throw out any pictures, whether they have their eyes closed or whatever. After losing a parent, I could care less if a photo of my mom had her eyes closed. It would be precious, so that is how I look at every photo now.

scrappinpsycho from scrappinpsycho@msn.com writes...
I have an Advantix camera - so when I get the pictures developed I mark the date and maybe event on the envelope and file them in chronological order in a rubbermaid container - then I work them in chrono order - put the index print in a file with the film cartridge and the doubles in a photo file box with dividers with film # and description (also in chrono order). This works very well as long as I\'m working in chronological order. Right now I\'m working on my 6 mo. old grandson\'s book - so I have done the same way but have pulled just his pictures out.

Michelle Osborn from Virginia writes...
After I take a picture or pictures, I mark on my calendar the day I took it, what they were wearing or doing. I mark the beginning of the roll and the end on the calendar also. That way, if my husband takes a photo and I didn\'t know (gasp) then, I know where it would fall in date-wise. I usually take 4-5 rolls in at a time, and so it takes a while to get that many rolls together. By the time I get them back, it could be months ago when I took the roll. This way, I know when the photos were taken. When I get them back, I put them in a sterlite container with index cards with the month and year. Then, I take the calendar and on the index card, I write the actual date, the clothes or other descriptive words for the picture(s) and file them for each month. This way, I don\'t have to mark on the back of the pictures. The sterilite holds one year. I label the front of the sterilite with a piece of clear tape and permanent marker with the year. (that way can recycle the container when I scrap that year) Any photos from that year that I don\'t scrap, I put all photos from that years in a section of another sterilite to put into albums for them when they get older. I don\'t throw out any pictures, whether they have their eyes closed or whatever. After losing a parent, I could care less if a photo of my mom had her eyes closed. It would be precious, so that is how I look at every photo now.

Dorthy from Milford, OH writes...
OK, my photos are unorganized. I have 2 systems. The first is keeping photos I\'ve identified in photo boxes. This involves most of my very old photos and my most recent photos. The rest are unsorted and are thrown in a large box. If we find other photos around the house, they usually go in this box. At least the photos are altogether. Since I am an out-of-order scrapper, I usually go through the box when I\'m in the right mood and scrap some of these photos, then file the rest of that group in my photo boxes. I learned a long time ago that if I sorted all my photos before I scrapped any LOs, I would never scrap at all. So my dirty little secret is hidden in one big box.

Jeri from Texas writes...
Recently I changed the way I organized photos. They used to be nice filed into a cropper hopper photo organizer. That worked well when I was pretty much up to date. But when we moved and the baby arrived I had to accept that I may never be up to date again and I wanted to be able to enjoy our pictures. So this is my solution. I develop film once a month, when I get the photos back I decide which will go into what albums, which ones I want to scrapbook. I then place them in the albums using a small amout of adhesive to keep them in place. The remaining photos get sorted into two piles, ones to send out to family and ones to put in a photo album. Lastly I place the photo album pics into a photo album, the ones that allow for journaling. Then I am done. This has worked really well for me and I find myself more motivated to sb.

Tammy from NYC writes...
I have two ways. Either I put each photo into the slide-in type albums so that I can easily see each one or I put them in a photo box divided by layouts and separated with dividers. The first way allows me to see every photo but it is time consuming to put them in. The second way is easier because I can just grab a \"layout\" anytime I have some time.

ljtrout from FL writes...

LindaJ from FL writes...
I keep my scrap pictures in small manilla envelopes. On the outside of the envelope I write the occasion. I can reuse alot of the envelopes from year to year (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) On the outside of the envelope I can write the page number of the layout that I want to use for those pictures. I can also put any diecuts or stickers for the pages in the envelope. That way if I go somewhere to crop, I can take my envelopes and know that I have all that I need.

Stephanie from Virginia! writes...
I love the cropper hopper photo storage for my photos. I have organized them by person and also by event to be scrapped because I am working on several books at once. I am nowhere near being caught up so I have two full CH cases as well as more waiting in the wings. I try to scrap the more recent photos first and keep those under control. I keep them in the Crop in Style 5x7 photo holder which is cloth. I take this to crops with me because its small and holds a lot of pictures. Extra photos go back into the Cropper Hopper Box in the area for already scrapped.

Joan Davis from Ohio writes...
I have tons of OLD family pictures...some over 100 years old. I have started scanning all of those old pictures and saving them in files on my computer..I also take these photos and SHARE them with other family membrs...I now have a email list of over 30 family members, and every day they get one old picture emailed to them. I also include a little bit of history along with it...The family loves it...I am getting the old photos scanned and put on a CD and then all the family can have a copy of the old pictures instead of just me...

Mary Metoyer from Moreno Valley writes...
I store my photos in Rubbermaid boxes according to theme, event, topic or person. I keep doubles in case I make a mistake. If I don\'t make a mistake, I usually try to give them to someone who is either in the picture or was at the event with me. My photos waiting to be scrapped are put together in a 12 x 12 page protector, along with my idea for the page, I then go shopping (and take them with me) for papers, charms, stickers etc...whatever I need to complete the page. This all stays in the page protector and gets put in a 12 x 12 binder until I am ready to sit down and do entire page at once. This works well for me and they don\'t usually sit for very long as they are all \"good to go\" with everything needed for project.

Mary Metoyer from Moreno Valley writes...
I store my photos in Rubbermaid boxes according to theme, event, topic or person. I keep doubles in case I make a mistake. If I don\'t make a mistake, I usually try to give them to someone who is either in the picture or was at the event with me. My photos waiting to be scrapped are put together in a 12 x 12 page protector, along with my idea for the page, I then go shopping (and take them with me) for papers, charms, stickers etc...whatever I need to complete the page. This all stays in the page protector and gets put in a 12 x 12 binder until I am ready to sit down and do entire page at once. This works well for me and they don\'t usually sit for very long as they are all \"good to go\" with everything needed for project.

Julee Hurtado from Redlands, Ca writes...
I used to keep all the photos in huge rubermaid containers and realized it was very overwhelming! I discovered a cheap and easy way to organize. Zippered sandwich baggies, they are very reasonable if you buy store generic and perfect for organizing your photos by event. I label the outside with the event name, date, and a blurb about the event with regular avery return address lables. This helps me be prepared to scrapbook anytime I find time, without having to take 2 hours to sort through the mountains of pictures and pick out the good ones. Also I recently bought the crop in style photo holder, it is really neat it folds up accordian style and I put all my baggies inside. As far as those old photos, I started just keeping the negatives, and I know as hard as it is, I shredded the unused pictures. Are you really going to use them? I keep all my negatives in snack size zipper bags and put them by year in a photot box 5x12(cheap at Wallmart)I then put these in a large cardboard box with a lid and lable it for storage. This took me about a week a few hours a day, and now I am completely organized..... and need to do lots of scrapbooking! At least I\'ll have stress free crops!

Jill in Chicago from Roselle, IL writes...
Current photos: in 12 x 12 clear plastic envelopes by \"theme.\" I have lots of these envelopes! Older photos are in regular white envelopes in chorological order, in shoeboxes. Each envelope holds one \"theme,\" so that I can easily pull out, say a birthday party, and work on that. All my extra/leftover photos are stored by person, in yet another shoe box. I made little dividers with, \"mom,\" \"dad,\" \"mom and dad,\" \"whole family,\" \"aunts and uncles\".... I find when I want to use extra photos it\'s by person (for cards...) so this works best for me. Sounds like a pain, but you can drop them in real quick.

Jean Kinney from Sylmar, CA writes...
I take only digital pictures now, and I organize them by year on the computer. I download each day\'s photos into a new sub-folder under the year. These are usually in chronological order. I print a \"contact sheet\" of each sub-folder, with the name on it, and store them in a three-ring binder, so I can find any picture on the computer in just a few minutes. I print out the photos I am going to scrapbook and keep them organized in plastic bags chronologically. My older, 35 mm photos are in large plastic bags in two big boxes (1990 to 1999) and earlier pictures are unsorted in boxes, but all are in my scrap room so when I get 1990 through the present done, I can start on them. Since I only print the photos I am going to scrapbook I don\'t have to store \"extra\" digital pictures. I need to come up with a system for storing the extra 35 mm prints, though. By the way, I read the tip last month about using a keyboard tray for the cutting mat, and immediately bought the biggest tray I could find, and my DH installed it this weekend - great tip!

Cynthia Rainey from Indiana writes...
I divide them up by subject and then by date and place them in a photo box. I have three boxes: one for each child and one for house/vacation/other photos. The photos I don\'t use go in the back of the box until it gets full and then I clean them out. Then I divide them into a keep box and trash pile.

Barb from PA writes...
When I get a chance either at lunch or at home watching TV and if I don\'t totally feel like scrapping that day, I can take my photo\'s and get the cropping done. That way when I am ready to crop it is so easy to do then because the photo\'s are ready to go.

Joanne from Arlington, TX writes...
I\'m new to scrapbooking and what is currently working for me is a photo box and small name cards that pop-up above the photo height. The name cards have the album name (I work on five different albums at one time). After my film is developed (a week or so)and everyone has seen the pictures and taken the extra prints, I quickly drop the pictures into their appropriate catagory. This also keeps the pictures in date order. Sometimes keeping things simple is the best and cheapest way.

Laura P. from MO writes...
When I first got organized I put my photos in a rubbermaid shoebox type container, with file cards sticking up between all my categories(Christmas, dd\'s birthday, Family, etc.) and since I don\'t scrap in chronological order I would just flip through til I was inspired to scrap an event. Then I put that event in a page protector with memorabilia(stored seperately), paper, etc. Now that I\'ve gone through most of those, when I get my new photos they usually go right to page protectors. I\'ve given up on double prints-the reason I scrap is to preserve these photos, so why should I need to doubles. Most of my old doubles went to my dd when she wanted to scrap. Laura

INJacqui from Brown County, Indiana writes...
Here\'s where I am trying to get to this year. When I get film developed I pull out the \"scrap worthy\" photos and put them with other phots they will be scrapped with. These go into my to be scrapped pile (yes, it\'s really a pile). The really bad or pointless photos get thrown away. The rest get put chronologically into photo albums (the slide in pocket kind). This way, we can still enjoy all those \"extras\", and if I\'m doing a project where I need random pics, I can flip through easliy to find some. I have to admit I scrap a small percentage of all the photos we take (and we don\'t take that many). So, having the albums to look throug is really nice. jacqui

Sandra from Nederland writes...
I save all my foto`s on cd. All de ones I want to use in my scrapbook have their own cd .I save them by given the maps name and date of the event. I have cd`s children, grandchildren, christmas, eastern, hollydays, at home,family. As soon when I have time I print them and put them in \"The Book\".

Kari in WA from WA writes...
I take digital pics, so I wait until I\'m ready to do a particular album and then order the pics from Ofoto, so I do not need storage for them. When other people give me photos, or when I have memorabilia I would like to keep for albums, I store that in folders in a CM File Mate (pics in the folders and memorabilia loose in the pocket). It is very easy to scoop them out by topic this way.

Chris in IN writes...
I scrap most all my pics so organization is pretty easy for me. I must scrap in chronological order (just have to, to keep organized). So I keep all my pics in photo boxes with tabs from Michaels. I put all the current ones in the back and keep adding that way. ( I wont say how many boxes I am behind though! lol) My doubles, I have my mom and sister go through the ones they want to keep then the rest goes to my DD7 to scrap or do what she wants with them. Its hard to scrap all my pics but if I only do the \'special ones\', I will never go through my boxes in the future to look at the others. Seems to be extra storage I dont need. This is what works for me. Hope I helped someone. BTW, does anyone read all the way down this list?

Barbara in IN from Schererville, IN writes...
Well, I usually just write on the envelope the photos come in, along with the year. lol So, one pack might be Baptism 1999. When I am ready to scrap pictures, I will go thru the envelopes and pull out the photos i need. then i place these in large white envelopes. All extra pix are just kept in the original package. I need to store these better. I just bought photos boxes and negative sleeves- so i need to put them in there.

Sondra Myers from Missouri writes...
I have found that organizing by year and occasion in working for me. If I have photos of say my sister and I then I would have a slot for her and I. I just started scrappin about 1 yr ago and years to scrap so this is what I came up with to get those years photos in order. Hope this helps someone...

Carla in NC from North Carolina writes...
My pictures are sorted by year into a 12x12 cardboard page keeper (can\'t remember the manufacturer). Then within each keeper, I have pictures organized by event in a 12x12 plastic bag where I can throw in embellishments, diecuts, paper to go with the pictures as I find them, etc... so when I\'m ready to scrap, I can basically pull out any plastic bag & have some items ready to scrap. This way works really well, and it\'s almost like I preplan the pages as I get the picture developed.

Optime from Jacksonville, Florida writes...
I organize my pictures in a two step process that makes it so easy to do actual pages... First step is divide the pictures up into the Photo boxes which are so popular and cheap these days--maybe you want to do a book for a particular child, one Photo box has his name on it...maybe you are doing a wedding album, one photo box is on the wedding.... The Second step is pick the layouts and pictures before even opening the album...every page, get the paper, stickers, die cuts, whatever AND the pictures and then put them all together in one of those 12x12 clear plastic organizers...one per double page spread... Do the entire book layout first and when you start to actually work on the book, you\'ll ZOOM.

Lisa Pindell from Lisa in MI writes...
I have all of my pictures in photo boxes with dividers. I write all pertinent info on the dividers. (This is great if you get extra pics from family and friends) Just add in to specific subj, date and time. When I\'m finished scrapping specific photos I go through pics and put any cute, unused photos of kids (I have four)in a photo box with child\'s name on it. I write all info with a photo safe pen on the back so I don\'t need to worry about keeping these pics. in order. I just know I\'ll be making specific projects with these extra pics. in the future and will not have to go back through my other photo boxes. Any other not too bad photos I return to the original photo boxes.

Trina from Oregon writes...
I organized all my scrapbooking stickers, diecuts paper and other embelishments by theme in a Creative Memories file folder. It works great. When ever I want a themed page I just pull all that I have out and then I can get my page put together.

Tanya in IL writes...
I have all my pics in photo safe boxes by month with index cards in front of each referencing all the negatives with a number (month 5/03 - neg number 205), then I left the negatives in the old photo packs that they come back from the picture place in, and put neg number 205 on the outside. I\'m thinking of putting these in some kind of 3 ring binder for negatives, but about 1/2 of them have those picture index cards in them. So, I\'m still debating whether the 3 ring binder would work for me. I used to try to keep all of my photos in regular photo albums, but they were taking over my book shelves and no one really looked at them anyway - they just look at the scrapbooks.

Misty from Colville, Washington writes...
We have so many pictures in our house that is it pretty pathetic. I recently did a thing about it...I had been wanting to scrapbook pages to show people at my wedding in July, and I didn\'t want to go though all my pictures again to find the pictures I want. So, I went though them and took out the ones that I wanted for and put them aside. I put away the other ones and with the ones I took out, organized them into the event that I had it on (Example- Roberts 29th Birthday, Puppy Angel) and put them away again...so when I feel that I have time to scrapbook, I can just go and pull out the pictures I want, and scrapbook them. Very organized.

Billie writes...
I work on 4 albums at a time, so keep pictures separated for each album in a plastic case (like a large pencil case). I separate each set of photos that go on one page with a sticky note. That way I can just grab one set and crop whenever I have a minute. Then I put it back, cropped, still separated by the sticky note. It\'s the only way I can keep up (if you can call it that!) with three kids...one step at a time!

Elaine Morton from Owens Cross Roads, AL writes...
I started scrapbooking late in life so I have used the photoboxes, c/in/s photo saver, cropperhopper, you name it! What I have found that has worked best for me is a C/M filemate, I am presently working on my family and heritage albums. Because most of the older photos and portraits were not traditionally sized the filemate system is great at housing all the great-greats,uncles,aunts, and cousins ect. That way each F/M goes with me to the workshops with the album I will be working on. The paper I intend to use with stickers, copied and downloaded information fits nicely in its prespective file...I then have everything together to work on my album of choice, and not a lot of extra luggage. I suppose you could also use a file folder from on of the local office suppy stores, what ever works best for you.