Help me get started scrapping...

[annakris1973]

I have completed 2 books for DFiL, but have yet to start a book on my own. I have tons of things just piled in a corner of my spare room, but I can't seem to get organized. Also, question for you non-digital scrappers....do you make copies of all the pics you scrap and keep hard copies somewhere, or copy them all on a disk? (Like at a photocenter or something...I don't have a printer/scanner) I have boxes of pictures from the pre-digital age, and I want to make sure that if I need to make re-prints at a later date, I can. Do you scrap everything, or do you have regular photo albums, and special scrapbooks?

Any suggestions on how to get organized, or a good plan of attack would be greatly appreciated!!!


ps....just read through the stickys at the top and it helped bunches....but still want to know what you do about saving your pictures.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Well.... for me it was easier to put all my photos in regular albums. I had all my photos in a box and it was just too hard to find anything. I did find pre-digital that I had duplicate copies of all my pictures so, I used one to scrap with and one to keep in my regular album choronological (spelling??). So, I put my prints in an album and I just put the double print behind it. Now, when I want to scrap something from pre-digital time I just take out the duplicate. I had about 10 years worth of pictures in boxes. I filled 20 albums where each album held 500 photos. It took me over a week to finish the project in the evening. Luckily, I had written on the envelope the month and year the pictures were from. Some I did have to guess. I'm so happy that I organized them. I think, CM has some sort of organizing boxes you can buy to help you out. Also, with my photos all in albums my scrap area doesn't look so cluttered.

 

[huge mickey fan]

I personally scrap trips separate from the everyday events and holidays. I think the first thing would be to sort through photos. Pick an easy starting point like a baby's birth, wedding or something along those lines. I don't scrap every photo only the best ones. I try not to print them if I won't use them. As far as storing purposes, I have them on CD's and I have every intention of putting those CD's in a fire proof safe. I have to get the safe first.

I would say try to find an all day or weekend crop to go to then you maybe able to find the motivation and get started. You would be surprised how much you can get done with no interuptions.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

My pre digi pics are stored in the CM (Creative Memories) power sorter. I sort them by person, place, event. Me, DH, kids separate, kids together, Hawaii, animals, wedding, etc.... I am currently trying to copy these onto CD, which I can do from home.

My digi pics are stored on 2 external hard-drives and my laptop. I have copies of all those on CD and they are stored at my mom's and I am getting a safety deposit box. 99% of these pics are WDW so they are sorted by trip.

This is the CM power sort box. It holds around 2400 5x7 pics and has sections and dividers. I love this box! I also go my mom one foe christmas.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

I second the vote for the power sorter box--I love mine!!

 

[RLccweems]

My pre digi pics are stored in the CM (Creative Memories) power sorter. I sort them by person, place, event. Me, DH, kids separate, kids together, Hawaii, animals, wedding, etc.... I am currently trying to copy these onto CD, which I can do from home.

My digi pics are stored on 2 external hard-drives and my laptop. I have copies of all those on CD and they are stored at my mom's and I am getting a safety deposit box. 99% of these pics are WDW so they are sorted by trip.

This is the CM power sort box. It holds around 2400 5x7 pics and has sections and dividers. I love this box! I also go my mom one foe christmas.

I have this box and all I can say is I love it!!! Since I got my first box and my friends have seen it they've gone out and gotten one too. It makes it so much easier to sort through the pictures.


lettie

 

[MazdaUK]

I have this, also the small one which I use for the "current" project (or the next few sections which need scrapping). Negs are in here in the appropriate storage, but currently CDs are next to the computer on a shelf. I have a task to upload them all to CM Memory Manager and then back them up onto another disc (or two) and my "ghost" drive. Pictures I haven't scrapped are currently in the powersort, and the ones I won't scrap (not good enough, similar to others etc. ) I will eventually put in "safe" ordinary photo albums - once I've emptied them out

 

[JandJ]

My pre digi pics are stored in the CM (Creative Memories) power sorter. I sort them by person, place, event. Me, DH, kids separate, kids together, Hawaii, animals, wedding, etc.... I am currently trying to copy these onto CD, which I can do from home.

My digi pics are stored on 2 external hard-drives and my laptop. I have copies of all those on CD and they are stored at my mom's and I am getting a safety deposit box. 99% of these pics are WDW so they are sorted by trip.

This is the CM power sort box. It holds around 2400 5x7 pics and has sections and dividers. I love this box! I also go my mom one foe christmas.

Yes, the Power Sorter, and the smaller version, are great!!

Edited to add - I am not someone who scraps everything. I complete an album a year for all pictures of holidays/daily events/etc. and then an album for each "big" thing like our wedding, honeymoon, anniversary cruise, etc. (we go to Disney a lot so pictures from that just go in the yearly album). I have never been one to add out of focus pictures or anything that just isn't very good. I just throw them out. I don't even keep the digital version if it's out of focus unless it's the ONE and ONLY picture of that person/place. I'm trying to "de-clutter" my life and getting rid of bad pictures is a good place to start for me!

 

[Faerie]

is the Power Sorter still available?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

is the Power Sorter still available?

Oh yes! It runs around $35.

 

[annakris1973]

I do have several photo boxes that I have seperated all of my "loose" pic in. I just use 4x6 index card dividers to seperate events/dates. I have come up with a semi-plan of attack, and that is to basically work backward starting with my digital pics from our '05 WDW trip, and basically get everything into several big family sized matching photo albums. Once I get that done, I will try and do a page here and there covering the big things like our wedding, both of the kids being born, and move forward.

Maybe I should ask for a copier/printer/scanner for christmas!!!