My First Archiver's Scrap Mania

A couple of months ago, my girlfriend and I went to a Scrap Mania night at our local Archiver's store. I wanted to make this night about being productive, not about shopping and adding to my already-overstocked stash of scrapbooking supplies. I decided to "prepare" for the crop. First, I went through some of my older photos (all the way back to 2009!) and selected photos for my page layouts. I then moved onto paper selection. I chose the patterened papers that I wanted to use first and then coordinated with a few sheets of solid cardstock. To keep my "page ideas" together and organized, I placed the photographs and scapbook paper into a page protectors. I transported them to the crop in a plastic tote. I think I took about 20 page packets to the Scrap Mania. I also took some (okay...way more than I needed) basic tools, alphas, rub-ons, and embellishments. With only three bags in tow as I walked into Archiver's, I was excited and ready to scrapbook. The crop time actually went by way too quickly. Going prepared was key! 

I did not get 20 pages done that night, however, I was happy with what I accomplished. For $5, I got myself organized and finally completed some scrapbook layouts. I also left the store spending under $15 after using my $5 registration credit! Pretty much a bargain in my book. I have avoided going to crops in the past because I did not want to, 1) get EVERYTHING ready to scrapbook away from my home, 2) transport ALL of my scrapbooking supplies to/from the crop (because I would have to take nearly everything plus the kitchen sink, just in case) and, 3) I felt that I would visit way too much and get absolutely NOTHING accomplished.

Preparing for the Scrap Mania by creating page packets helped me tremendously! One of the unforeseen bonuses...coming home with uncompleted page packets. Half the work is already done and this has made my scrapbooking at home much more productive and rewarding! I love completed scrapbook layouts!

~Scrapbook layouts completed that night featuring my gorgeous subjects~

My Scrapbook Layouts gallery has been updated so check it out, if you like.

Have a great weekend!

Michelle

2012 Take Twelve Photo Challenge

Once again it is the beginning of a new year and I need, yes NEED, some scrapbooking motivation, a project of some sort, a goal, a renewed purpose of why I scrapbook in the first place. I need to be held accountable for preserving all of the wonderful memories that I capture each year. Accountability is the catalyst to turning my "organized" stash of photos into beautiful scrapbook pages and put to good use the amass of product I have managed to acquire. What can I say?? I am a sucker for pretty pretty scrapbook paper.

As yet another package of a couple 100 developed pictures arrive from Snapfish, I am resolute in taking action and thus begin the search for my "motivation". I love Two Peas in a Bucket. Their website is my go-to for inspiration and motivation so I start (and end) there. I have found my motivation...the 2012 Take Twelve Photo Challenge hosted by Ella Publishing. What is Take Twelve you ask? Take 12 is both a photography and scrapbooking challenge. You take 12 photos on the 12th of each month in 2012 and scrapbook them. They even have a Take Twelve Inspiration Kit to guide and inspire you through the journey. How cool is that?! It is exactly what this girl needs. I am officially signed up and plan to dive in this weekend! While it does not necessarily help me with my backlog of unscrapped photos (still searching for that scrap-your-stash class...), it will certainly spark my creativity and provide me with a "project" that is very meaningful to me. I am also hoping to discover new ideas and become a more purposeful scrapbooker through the process. If you are looking for a great project to throw yourself into this year, you should check out the Take Twelve challenge. It may be just what you need, too!