Wrapping up our week discussion on Photo Organization

Sorry, blogpost delayed as I was caught up reading about the royal wedding on yahoo. ha ha Did any of you get up at 4am to watch? So cool seeing all of the beautiful places we visited a few years ago in London.

To reiterate a few points from Stacy Julian's book,The Big Picture

* USE your photos to make connections,

*CLOSE YOUR EYES, OPEN BRAIN, REMOVE “CAUGHT UP” from your mind;

*ENJOY NOW, LIVE NOW, JOT DOWN YOUR MEMORIES, and scrap in small increments on more regular basis;

* It’s scary, but chronological is NOT the only way to scrapbook;

*USE YOUR PHOTOS to tell a MORE compelling and meaningful story of the life of you & your family.

*Organize, Prioritize and Celebrate the happiest moments in your life.

I did find this helpful. If you have decades of photos to organize-this is some great advice:

* Rent a chick flick

* Bought some Cal's brownies

*Gather all photos in one place

Get your photo box, WHILE WATCHING CHICK FLICK:

* Photos in packets - label season/year i.e, Winter, 2007, Spring 2007, (put aside until later)

* Loose photos – 3 steps:

sort all by 1) decade in photo box, 2) then take one decade & sort by year; 3) then take & sort by season

NOW, decide which photos you wish to scrapbook & put 2-3 in one pocket of 3 up album, so that one page of 3 up album are photos to use on a double page layout. THIS makes it so easy to flip quickly through book to pull the ones you need. Also, since you have already edited photos for the layout-your layout comes together quickly.

NOTE: as you are reviewing photos-when you see a FAVORITE PHOTO-pull it for some of those connections pages we talked about. Most times you have more photos than you can fit on a layout- so here is where it was helpful to pull photos that didn't necessarily fit into the EVENT page & pull for personality or connection pages.

THEN it fills so good to be able to decide which album does it slide into: US, People we Love, Places, etc.

Hope this helps-so go rent your movie, pick up the brownies AND sort away AND PRINT!!!!!

Have an awesome weekend!!

$5 Friday: 5 yards of regular ribbon ON ROLLS for $5

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Summarizing Photo Organization

Summarizing this system

· Trust yourself to customize the system to work for you – I sort my digital photos by month/year-i do like my 3 up albums by season/year.

· If you have years of unorganized photos, setting up storage albums will take LOTS of time, but its time well spent. Once you’ve organized them, maintaining them is quite easy.

· Trust the System- you may not scrapbook all of these photos in storage album-it’s a working filing system; after 2 years, review, if not going to scrapbook, them move LOVINGLY to cold storage and scrapbook some more recent pictures with fresher memories with your perspective now.

· You’re in charge. You get to decide how & when to carry it out.

· Yes, you are filling these albums to EVENTUALLY empty them-sort of like your pantry, you can’t cook with it, if its not in your pantry AND going to the store (or sorting through pictures) wastes your time to cook (create). SO, you should only put pictures in the album that you feel is worth your creative efforts. IF NOT, throw away or if you can’t do that, put it in cold storage.

· Don’t overplan. You and your scrapbook interests change over time. Scrapbook what you are inspired to create, NOT what comes next. Don’t pin yourself down to doing an 8x8 for each vacation & putting 1 page in things we do, etc. something else may occur to you to be more meaningful.

· Here’s the deal: You won’t scrapbook photos you don’t see. Use & add to your storage album “to be scrapbooked photos”. Print your digital pics that you may use on a page; you know WHERE they go now, so sort, print & store.

· Don’t sweat the small stuff – live, make memories and be happy now. Perfection is WAY over-rated.

· HAVE FUN!!!! Scrapbooking is FUN, it’s a hobby, not a chore. Take it all in, I love the colors, the pretty papers and embellishments to help me tell a story. Enjoy the process, don’t make it a means to an end or a to do list.

Pitfalls

· Don’t over plan the next 5 years! Life happens & plans change, don’t set yourself up for disappointment

· “Life is crazy and the craziness is the fun part; life happens, let it”. Stacy Julian

· Sifting through boxes of photos robs you of your scrapbook time-so having them organized ALLOWS you to scrapbook them.

· Photo storage allows your family to view pictures now & you can jot journaling notes as they look at them.

So do you think you're up for this project? Feel free to email me with any questions & change it to fit YOUR needs.

Sources:
Big Picture Scrapbooking by Stacy Julian,
Simple Scrapbooks, May June 2007

30% Thursday: Easter Section

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Scrapbook Weekend Retreat in Baton Rouge, LA

You are invited to join us to CCL Summer, Baton Rouge, LA July 29-30, 2011
Click here to register today!!

Wacky Wednesday: 35% off Cricut Embossing Items

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More on Photo Organization

Storage Options:

· Cropper Hopper Photo Box-Step 1: Organize photos by decade into the sections of a photo box. This is my personal favorite as it holds 2000 photos. The dividers make it easy to being sorting & continue to use it for cold storage. It made it easier to then take each decade & break it down chronologically by year-season.

· Pioneer 3-up Photo Album-Step 2: Transfer photos that you plan to scrapbook into 3 up Album. Group these by double page spread into 1-2 sleeves in storage album labeled by the season, year. Extras are tossed remain in the Cropper Hopper Photo Box. Other brands I’ve bought, haven’t held up-Pioneer makes the best 3 up album. Seeing them at a glance will help you when you are flipping through pictures for inspiration.

· 2 drawer index card file; Great to file non-event photos into categories (much like tagging in the digital world), people, places & things in your life that do not fall into theme pages, or those photos that you want to scrapbook about personality, feelings and behind the scenes stories.

This next suggestion may a little outside of your box-but think about it a bit-this turned out to be some of my favorite layouts!!! Remember these are just photo organization suggestions, take what you like & leave the rest. I chose to only do people for the category drawers.

Category Drawers: Its easy to get focused on scrappin’ the “events” in our life because they happen so often (holidays, first day of school, birthday and there are enough to keep you croppin’ until the cows come home, B UT don’t forget the little moments in life are sometimes your kids want to know the most about. My mom did take those little moment pictures but I want to know what we were doing, what was she doing when we did that, how it made her feel to see us imitating her motherly chores, etc.

· Looking through your storage albums, pull pictures that don’t fall into events, your favorite photos, personality photos, etc.

· “Pull pictures that have a CONNECTION between generations, locations & events that aren’t bound by geography or chronology that captures the richness of your life and the people, places & things in it.” Stacy Julian.

Scrapbook Layout Storage: I chose Maude Asbury Albums -they hold 30-40 pages depending on depth-not recommended more than 3".

o Black Album - US (John, Tammy, Dane, Justin)

o Red Album - People we love (Mom, Dad, sisters, brothers, extended family, friends, other people you admire)

o Blue Album - Places we Go (travel, vacation or any other destination & place that’s part of personal story)

o Green Album - Things we Do (things we love, collect, spend money & time on, activities, traditions, accomplishments

Pitfalls

· Don’t over plan the next 5 years! Life happens & plans change, don’t set yourself up for disappointment

· “Life is crazy and the craziness is the fun part; life happens, let it”. Stacy Julian

· Sifting through boxes of photos robs you of your scrapbook time.

Photo storage allows your family to view pictures now & you can jot journaling notes as they look at them. Its easy to do-set the photos near the sofa & you can sort while watching TV & visiting with family. Break it down into small segments- 1 hour a day or more if you are having fun!!!

I hope this helps & motivates you to print & organize your photos!!

Sources: Stacy Julian Big Picture Scrapbooking & Photo Freedom

2fer Tuesday: All generic paper section

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Photo Organization, Next Step

PHOTO TRIAGE

1. Organize – Organize by decade; revisit & reorganize further into season, year , ie., Fall, 2007, Winter, 2007, etc. (get family to help sort into seasons). The photo box is best tool for this. Do this about 30 minutes per day while watching TV, watching the kids play, etc.

2. Organize Digital Photos TOO – Make digital files by season & year & drag your photos into those folders.

3. Prioritize – Which photos would I like to scrapbook?

4. Admit – These are the photos I will make time to scrapbook; File these photos in storage album for easy access when inspired to scrap them.

5. Categorize – Choose pictures that don’t fall into events; Personality pictures.

6. Cold Storage – for all photos that I don’t intend to scrapbook, keep in the photo box with dividers season, year for easy access if needed for another purpose or called up to scrapbook later. If it’s not a good picture-throw it out if you can (this can be hard).

7. BACKUP – Backup your digital photos on external hard drive, DVD or CD’s by season, year. Store negatives away from your home. another good backup source is online developing-Walmart.com; shutterfly.com or scrapbookpictures.com

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!! The goal is to scrapbook memories, not just events of our lives.

NOTE: FREE YOURSELF FROM “BEING CAUGHT UP”-it’s a dirty word that brings with it lots of stress & frustration and inhibits you from scrappin’. Scrap from your heart instead of from a calendar.

Wouldn’t you want quality over quantity layouts.

Sources: Big Picture Scrapbooking & Photo Freedom

Monday Madness: Select MM Kits $10.99

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Let's talk about PHOTOS

So you KNOW I'm a huge Stacy Julian fan--her books are no longer in print, but here's a little excerpt:

The Big Picture

n USE your photos to make connections,

n CLOSE YOUR EYES, OPEN BRAIN, REMOVE “CAUGHT UP” from your mind;

n ENJOY NOW, LIVE NOW, JOT DOWN YOUR MEMORIES, and scrap in small increments on more regular basis;

n It’s scary, but chronological is NOT the only way to scrapbook;

n USE YOUR PHOTOS to tell a MORE compelling and meaningful story of the life of you & your family.

n Organize, Prioritize and Celebrate the happiest moments in your life.

You know what makes scrappin' easy? ORGANIZED, PRINTED photos!!!! I know that many struggle with this, so we're going to start that project together next week-check back on the blog & I'll help you get started. Here's what you can do before then 1) UPLOAD and print pics 2) Get some of these awesome Pioneer Photo Albums for organizing (the picture above is where my photos live until they find their way into the scrapbook). Memory Mania has a good supply of these albums so stop in this weekend & check them out.

$5 Friday: Basic Grey Paper-8 for $5

Happy Easter to all of you!!!! Stealing this sweet sentiment from Valine: Hope you have lots of picture-taking moments!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Happy Scrappin'

What's your favorite adhesive?

This is mine-the Tombo Permanent Adhesive Dispenser. I like the small size of it--fits perfectly in my small hand as I go to town-I've always been partial to the dispensers. Only a small amount of film of glue is needed & the dispenser applies it quickly and cleanly. The applicator tip cleanly cuts adhesive and ensures a smooth application. The hinged cap protects tip of applicator when not in use and the refills are inexpensive. And, of course, its acid-free glue is ACMI Certified. There are many tombo or mono adhesive dispensers-but this particular one is my favorite. And I thought i would absolutely die when the herma dotto was discontinued-but WOW-this one is so much better than that one ever was. I've tried all of them and this is the one that gets my vote. A general note on all glue dispensers-the dispensers should be pitched after about 10 refills as glue gradually builds up in the wheels inside-save the frustration & purchase a new dispenser about every 10 refills. Hope this helps.

30% Thursday: All paper & stickers in the Fishing/Hunting Section

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Don't you want to be a SCRAPBOOK DIVA?

You're invited!!! We would love for you to join us for Summer CCL-July 29-30 at Crowne Plaza, Baton Rouge, LA.

Doesn't this sound like the crop you've been waiting for:

What's great about CCL?
Pay ONE price & everything below is included
GREAT VALUE
ONE place to crop & Sleep!!!

Treat Yourself & meet your friends!!
Make new Friends
relax & Be Pampered
Free Chair Massages
2 days of (37 hours) of QUIET Scrappin' Fun
4 Meals included (lunch & Dinner Friday & Saturday)
Overnight guests get Breakfast Saturday & Sunday
Welcome Gifts
Door Prizes
Reserved Table Space (4 foot) with your friends

Click here to register online!!!!

Wacky Wednesday: Buy Tim Holtz Vegabond Machine (one sale) PLUS get 2 free dies

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For the Record

For the Record created by Heather Banker

KUDOS to Heather-love this layout using the Echo Park For the Record line. This line flew out the door, hopefully you will find a few sheets left to scraplift this layout!! I love the journaling on the left and I love that you captured all of his interests at this moment in time-because we know how quickly these change. This would also be a great layout for "All About Me"-our interests change quickly also.

Hope you get the chance to enjoy this beautiful day we were blessed with today.

2fer Tuesday: Embellishment baggies

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Ladies & Gents

Introducing two new lines from Websters: Ladies & Gents & Country Estate
Come check these unique papers & embellishments out!!!

Happy Monday to everyone!!!! Its a beautiful day, I hope you can get out & enjoy it and end your day scrappin'!!!

Monday Madness: 40% off giant leaf and flower embossing punches

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Don't forget Tax Sale today (15% off storewide) & Scrapbook Challenge

Bring Your Own Stash
Wed, May 11
10am-noon

Join Christy & learn to create these precious flower embellishments!! To register call 225-744-2767.

Scrapbook Challenge for this weekend

1) Visit MM today & choose a product you haven't tried before
2) Think about your scrapbook stash-which product did you envision first? Scrap that today
3) Use a fortune from a fortune cookie as a journaling prompt to record a to-be-scrapbooked event from a new perspective-guess that means you're eating Chinese today LOL.

$5 Friday: Diecut Lace Cardstock-3 for $5

Thanks for reading, have an awesome weekend,

Need help with Scrapbook Titles & quotes

Inspiration Station: All Aboard To The Only Place You Need To Go For Page Titles, Verses & Quotes for All Your Scrapbooking & Card Making Adventures

This spiral bound book measures 5 ½ by 8 ½ and has 608 pages with over 13,700 titles, toppers, quotes, and verses that will inspire and delight while unleashing your creativity for all your scrapbooking and card making needs.

Inside you will find thousands of titles, short quotes, movie titles, simple words, or phrases. The array of topics covered will help any scrapbooker record memories in the most engaging and expressive way possible.

30% Thursday: Cricut Embossing Products

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Scrappin', Yappin' & Chillaxin' in Baton Rouge, LA

Don't miss it-Memory Mania's Scrapbook Retreat in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Great products to browse & shop while cropping
Cropping until 4am each morning
Cropping in your PJs
Hotel & crop in one location
Massages available

Sure hope you can join in the fun-registration online or in store Click here.

Wacky Wednesday: 25% off Heidi Swapp 13 month calendar (no particular year)

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Blessed

We are all sooo blessed!!!! What an appropriate title for little Tanzi & her family!!! I have to admit there have been a few days with my boys that i wonder-Just Kidding-after about 1 hour-I'm over it!! KUDOS to Noelle for this creation-I love the navy lush with the pink-just perfect. I also love all of the little things she added-she inked the lace ribbon, the fleur de lis charms and the leftover chipboard from Masters Kit Club. Great job Noelle.

Some assorted paper packs you may be interested in:


2fer Tuesday: Buy Scrapbook Trends magazine--Get Card Maker magazine

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Calling all Disney fans

WOW-FINALLY, there is some NEW Disney scrappin' goodies!!! Besides babies, Disney is the one theme that gets most people into scrapbooking-did you know that? Who can resist the mouse? Not me, for sure. I saw 3 papers from this line & said "Give me ALL of it"!!!! its so awesome-lots of unique embellishments-not sure how long this will last-its on the "new wall" so come "get you some"!!!

I hope you had a great weekend and took lots of photos!! My precious niece was in the Center Stage Showcase, so i took my share-just couldn't resist. Great show--Center Stage definitely knows how to entertain!!


Monday Madness: 35% 8x8 Sports Albums

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Do you have a photo that you LOVE?

Let Memory Mania turn your photo into an album cover!!

Click here for video about custom albums




Any SOOO many more options Click here to see all options.

Additional Details:
* 12x12 Scrapbook with 10 page protectors OR Photo Pages if you prefer
* Photo must be in electronic format.
* YOU must own the right to the photo.
* For optimum results: 300 DPI ~ 3900X3900 pixels ~ at least 2.5 mbs.
* We will NOT make any changes / enhancements / modifications to your photo.
* Photo alterations can be done at additional charges.
* All orders must be PREPAID.
* It is the customers responsibility to scotch guard or otherwise preserve the cover.
* The photo will be on the front cover only.
* 3 weeks from time of prepayment & uploading picture.
* You may pay online or at Memory Mania & upload your pic
email tammy@eatel.net with any questions.

$5 Friday: Grab Bags - $10 value

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Cricut Cartridge Storage

Almost weekly I get an email asking what is the best way to store my cricut cartridges. WOW-that is the million dollar question. Here are a few that I have great potential:

This awesome little tote is designed to accommodate up to 72 Cricut cartridges, keypad overlays and booklets. Each cartridge is held securely in place in a padded pocket. These double-sided pockets are located on both the front and back sides of the bag. Inside the bag is a flexible storage area. A large interior pocket can safely hold a stack of 12"x12' paper. Two large outer pockets provide additional storage. And yes, we have this in stock.





This little container holds 80 cartridges, but does require a little work-the mesh is sold separately (at Memory Mania) and needs to be cut to store them. Very compact storage system & yes, we have the mesh & containers in stock.


Cricut brand cartridge storage holds 12 cartridges, keypads & books.


This 17x15x5 tub can store the cricut boxes so the cartridge, keypad & book can remain together. I think we were able to get 17-don't quote me on this one-it has been a while. This is currently being restocked.

I hope this helps you organize your cricut supplies!!

30% Thursday: 12x12 Shadowbox Frame

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AND THE FUN BEGINS . . .

OK, sooo I'll let you in on a little secret-this is my MOST favorite part of the whole event.
Greeting you at the door-your smiles & excitement just kick it off for me? What's your most favorite part?


Posing for Group Photos . . .

WINNING cool prizes . . .

Ideas, ideas, and getting MORE ideas

We are so excited about the CCL XXI, can you believe its our 21st CCL-and many of you have attended each one. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for being such an avid, loyal Memory Mania fan. We know you have many choices and we thank you for choosing MM. So how many have YOU been to-tell us on facebook!!!!

If you haven't attended one yet-this is the perfect time-please join us-its a lot of good, clean, fun!!!!!

	HISTORY OF CAMP CROP-A-LOT
1	Camp Crop-A-Lot	July 27-28, 2001	Memory Mania
2	Camp Crop-A-Lot	November 16-17, 2001	Memory Mania
3	Camp Crop-A-Lot	March 22-23, 2002	Embassy Suites
4	Camp Crop-A-Lot	August 2-3, 2002	Embassy Suites
5	Camp Crop-A-Lot	March, 2003	Embassy Suites
6	Camp Crop-A-Lot	Jan 30-31, 2004	Lod Cook
7	Camp Crop-A-Lot	July 30-31, 2004	Lod Cook
8	Camp Crop-A-Lot	January 7-8, 2005	Holiday Inn Select
9	Camp Crop-A-Lot	July 29-30, 2005	Lod Cook
10	Camp Crop-A-Lot	January 6-7, 2006	Holiday Inn Select
11	Camp Crop-A-Lot	June 23-24, 2006	Holiday Inn Select
12	Camp Crop-A-Lot	January 5-6, 2007	Holiday Inn Select
13	Camp Crop-A-Lot	July, 2007	Holiday Inn Select
14	Camp Crop-A-Lot	Jan, 2008	Holiday Inn Select
15	Camp Crop-A-Lot	July, 2008	Holiday Inn Select
16	Camp Crop-A-Lot	January 17-18-2009	Crowne Plaza
17	Camp Crop-A-Lot	July 24-25, 2009	Crowne Plaza
18	Camp Crop-A-Lot	January 8-9-2010	Crowne Plaza
19	Camp Crop-A-Lot	July 17-18, 2010	Crowne Plaza
20	Camp Crop-A-Lot	January 7-8, 2011	Crowne Plaza

If we could rewind time . . .

Created by Stephanie Powers

WOW, doesn't that title just bring a wave of emotions??? Great title-LOVE the pic of the boys walking away-this pics speak volumes, maybe because I have 2 boys & am feeling the exact way this morning!!! LOVE these Kaiser papers & embellishments. I'm usually complaining that there just aren't many paper lines for boys-WOW-this CHA there is so much BOY stuff, I'm having trouble finding girly stuff. Great job Steph-I'll definitely be scraplifting this one-can't think of one thing i would change!!!

2fer Tuesday: All sizes/types canvas

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Last chance for 6 in 60 at Memory Mania

6 in 60 Class (6 double page layouts in 2 hours)
Tuesday, April 5th 6-8pm

Don't miss out-this is the LAST 6 in 60 Class!!!!! We have loved teaching this class and it has been so much fun & appreciated by so many-but after 10 years, its time to retire this class & make some changes for future classes. Thanks to so many of you that participated!!!!

Monday Madness: 40% off American Craft 8x8 Baby Album Kit

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A closer look . . .

Only 1 left of these awesome kits!!!!

Here is a closer look at the flower I told you about yesterday.

Zipper & other ribbon as title borders

Torn papers for title

Tissue & Sepia Accents

So, its the weekend, who's planning to scrap this weekend? How about taking the challenge--try one of the challenges above & email me your layout for blog Monday.

Oh, this reminds me . . . seeing ideas like this & sharing & chatting with scrappers is one of the greatest parts of CCL-are you signed up yet?

$5 Friday: All paint
Thanks for reading & Happy Scrappin'