Help! Make my upcoming weekend crop a success!

[Spinning]

This is my first time to go away from Friday to Sunday! I mean ever....let a lone a crop...I think when the kids were real small I spent the night at my friends house....But I had kids with me! This time it is me, my scrapping stuff and a friend!
So how do I make the best of it! I am a fly by the seat of my pants type of scrapper! I don't do well making kits....SO HELP! I do have all my stuff packed and organized. The crop is the first weekend in Dec. I am so excited! But I want to make sure this is a very productive weekend!

 

[Alice28]

Wow! A whole weekend! How fun! My advice would be to definitely have your pictures organized and have a plan of what you are going to work on; set yourself a goal even. I find that if I have my photos organized and in order, it makes everything else go much faster. I would have my papers organized by color & all in one spot (like a file folder), my stickers organized by theme; sometimes if I have bought a specific sticker or diecut for a layout, I stick it in that envelope of pictures so I don't forget to use it! (I hate doing a layout and going back through my stuff and finding the sticker I bought just for that photo!). I would have a spot to put all of my pens, cutting tools that is easily accessible & convenient...if you have time, I would even start cropping some of the pictures, so you just have to get them on the page during your crop. One time I went to an evening crop and I managed to crop all of my pictures the weekend before- I literally was able to get an entire album done in one evening. It wasn't a huge album, but I was quite pleased nonetheless. Have a great time!

P.S.- Label everything with a Sharpie! I am a CMC and most of the crops I organize or attend, everyone has the same stuff!! It helps that my initials are on the back of all of my cutters, templates, etc.

 

[Spinning]

all my stuff is labled
I have all my paper sorted solids in one paper taker, patterned in 2 paper taker. I also have special paper sorted I.E. Disney , holiday etc...
My stickers/die cuts are all in a binder sorted by them
I bought a tackle box and have all my tools and embellishments in there
So that part is set....
I have my pictures sorted and in order. I know I want to work on Disney so I have that all together.
I just don't want to get so wrapped up in being away and with adults I forget to scrap! LOL! My goal...I want our last Disney trip scrapped! I have several pages done but have a ton!

 

[janine lemar]

This is my tip (works for me): If you use idea books, I go through my pics with all my idea books, then make notes which pics go with which idea. Noteing the book & page number so that I can grab my pics and the idea is already there. Atleast the idea book gives you a base to start from and then give it your personal touches.

When I don't do this, I spend so much time trying to look through books or trying to come up with ideas and don't get near as many pages done.

Good luck and HAVE A BLAST!!!!
Janine

 

[Pammy jo]

I am totally jealous!!! I have so much stuff I don't know how I'd ever scrap for a whole weekend though. I'd want to bring it all, just in case . . .
By the way, where are you going for this? And have fun regardless of how many pages you get completed!!!

 

[Spinning]

Pam I am going to the Medowlands, in New Jersey! So exciting! The crop is really only Sat and Sunday but we are leaving Friday. Because it starts early on Sat!.
One nice thing, since I don't have a scrapping space I am totally portable! SO everything will be going with me! LOL! I just don't plan to bring a lot of albums with me.

 

[pattievers]

I am no help at being portable. I bring everything, including the kitchen sink.

BTW...my husband and I met at the Meadowlands! We both worked there. I asked him to run away and join the circus with me. We didn't, but it could describe our home on alot of days

I hope you get lots and lots done!

Patti

 

[crazyforpooh]

When I go for the weekend I also bring a seat cushion in case the chairs have hard bottoms makes sitting that long much more comfortable. Oh and you may also want to bring a desk lamp in case the lighting isn't that great.

I've gone to two weekend crops on the first one I didn't get as much as I would have liked completed but, it was my first time away with a bunch of ladies I didn't know and we had a blast chit chatting away and cropping. The second time I went with a plan like you have of doing certain pictures and completed a whole album plus.

Have a great time.

Oh, one more thing I always pack a small cooler with beverages and snacks.

Laura
A scrapaholic

 

[Spinning]

small cooler with snacks....didn't think about that. I know I drink a lot of water! So I will have to get some!

 

[bananiem]

I haven't been on a weekend crop (I'm so jealous!) But when I go anywhere else I don't take any albums, just the page protectors. Then when I get home I put them in the album. I think it cuts down on some bulk.
I have a case that 12x12's fit in but I can't remember who makes it! It's just a clear, big envelope type thing.

 

[amgpmg]

I just got back from a weekend crop. I too am a fly by the seat scrapper and cannot preplan for anything. I do enjoy going to crops though, because if I need something to compliment my page all I have to do is go buy it. Needless to say, sometimes it could get pricey. I did good though, I only spent about $120.00 (that included getting both of my album covers & backs embossed with my kids names). And I got 24 pages done!!!!! I was so excited, it usually takes me a couple of hours to do a two page layout, I never in my dreams thought I would get this many done. I had a blast and got something accomplished!

Good Luck!

 

[GrammieMame]

We went to a Fri/Sat/Sun Crop in Myrtle Beach last November, and are going again November 14. Can't wait - it was so much fun. I did learn a few things, though. They had so so many unique dye-cut cutter things - borders, lots of alphabets, etc. - that I spent a lot of time waiting in line the first 2 days to cut a bunch of stuff to take home with me. On the final day, people started drifting out to head home, and the dye cut machines were virtually empty. This time, I'll wait till late in the last day to cut things that I don't need right away.

You are smart to go the night before. Even though we left home early, we wasted 1/2 a day before we finally checked in and got our stuff set up. The other thing is to take a break. Sitting there for 3 days without getting up and moving around sure did make me stiff. You definitely have to go with a plan. I started my Disney album last year, but didn't get as much done as I had hoped because I was distracted by the "stuff" they had there. I'll know better this time.

Have a fabulous time.

 

[pattyT]

are you taking classes? Are there Make and Takes?

I made a bunch of 'kits' for my crop in August - and I STILL haven't finished some of the pages - I'm a moody scrapper if ya know what I mean!

I saw sooo busy talking - who me - yep me!
taking classes, talking, eating, talking, shopping, talking, doing make and takes, and talking!

I only got 6 pages done the whole weekend (actaully Sunday we left in the AM no croptime that day! Friday night and Saturday night were the only times I actually sat and got pages done!

Don't bring EVERYTHING! I was going to pack lite - but my best friend said - if you don't bring this and that you will wish you had -
well i definately OVERPACKED LOL

Just relax hanve fun and Enjoy! and dont forget to eat and talk

 

[nicki dahling]

Have a great trip Spinning.

Cyndi