Help! Need tips for combining traditional with digital as no time to scrap

[Tiger926]

I used to be a CM Consultant so I literally have tons of albums, pages, Cricut machine, papers, stickers, tools, etc.

The problem is that I do not have any time, nor energy to scrap. I am a busy working mom and so time is of the essence. Life is very busy...

I have been researching a bit as to whether I could combine digital with traditional (hybrid), so I attempted to work with my Photoshop Elements program (have had 2 versions), and have come to the conclusion that I just can't get it to work properly. I am very computer literate and do everything on a computer, but PSE just does not compute. Plus, it takes way too long to get anything accomplished.

So, I have been fiddling with Picasa, and that is very limited with collages, as there are just a few layouts.

Also, checked out some others mentioned in my travels on here: Smilebox and Panstoria. Not sure I want to spend money on these things as I'm not sure if they are what I want.

Bottom line is that I used to take lots of photos, and despite having 5 expensive digitals, I have slowed down, as I can't scrap anything. I am years behind in my children's albums, and they keep asking when their albums will be ready?

I have lost the energy to keep up, as it's a daunting task. I have no desire to spend 1 hour on layouts, and have gone to simple pages, but even still, it takes too long to crop and mat photos. I would really like to incorporate the digital collage aspect, as I could still add the traditional products that I have sitting on my shelves, but I just can't find what I am looking for, as I'm not even sure what that is? I would love something that has thousands of layouts that I could just add photos in, but not sure?

I have way expensive CM albums over here, that are collecting dust as I have no time nor energy to scrap layouts at this point. I do not buy any products, just in case anyone is wondering, so it's not about collecting. I have not purchased anything since I stopped consulting more than 3 years ago.

If anyone is still reading, any suggestions? Thanks, Tiger

 

[heathrow42]

What about online photobook services that printing companies like Shutterfly offer? Costco has it as well, but I think Shutterfly has more layout options. Shutterfly also has the "Project Life" style - which might help get lots of photos on each page. I think the Costco version will automatically generate a book for you from a folder of photos - then you can just shuffle them around and add text and order the book.

Here is a link to the project life shutterfly info: http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2011/12/project-life-on-shutterfly/

If you already have photos printed out - look at the We R Memory Keepers page protectors and the way folks do Project Life. You don't need to buy a kit - just get the page protectors and use whatever paper and embellishments you have. You can load up pages of photos and leave an empty photo holder or 2 per page for journaling/embellishing.

--heather

 

[LindaBabe]

What about online photobook services that printing companies like Shutterfly offer? Costco has it as well, but I think Shutterfly has more layout options. Shutterfly also has the "Project Life" style - which might help get lots of photos on each page. I think the Costco version will automatically generate a book for you from a folder of photos - then you can just shuffle them around and add text and order the book.

Here is a link to the project life shutterfly info: http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2011/12/project-life-on-shutterfly/

If you already have photos printed out - look at the We R Memory Keepers page protectors and the way folks do Project Life. You don't need to buy a kit - just get the page protectors and use whatever paper and embellishments you have. You can load up pages of photos and leave an empty photo holder or 2 per page for journaling/embellishing.--heather

I vote for this method! I do these dividered pages for "filler" in between scrapped pages. It has increased my output dramatically - I can do a full size trip album in two 4 hour crops. The scrapped pages (chapter headings, let's call them) are FUN to do because I only need to do 8 or 10 per album and the rest are pages of photos with maybe a title in 1 4x6 slot.

The divided pages come 6 horizontal, 6 vertical, 3 horizontal with 1 6x12 vertical, 3 vertical with 1 6x12 horizontal, and so forth. Several companies make them and the configurations can vary from one to the other. They fit in both post bound and binder albums, but I don't know how that would work with your CM covers.

If it HAS to be digital, CM sells a product called storybook creator or some such thing as that. It's supposed to be pretty easy.

Even though I've made photo books with snapfish and walgreens if I didn't want to spend any time on a project or was going to give away the result fast - for ME, that's not really scrapbooking. I need to handle the paper.

 

[lynner]

CM just came out with the divided page protectors - don't know if there is a variety of styles (portrait/landscape) like WRMK, and, as usual with CM, they are more pricey.

My advice to you is to find a place to get rid of your old product. That will be more freeing...you certainly won't make $8000, but you will regain your piece of mind. That's step one to getting back in the groove. There are many places to sell old product, most LSS do "garage sale" type sales, there's Craigslist, eBay, Two Peas and your own attempts at sales.

Then convert to either digital pages or the WRMK albums. Yes, you can do hybrid pages both ways to use up some of the supplies that you have. The CM software is excellent for this. You can print out your collages anywhere - send them to an on-line photo processor or just down the street.

Don't crop, don't mat! Watch videos from Shimelle Laine (4x6 photo love) and Nichol Magouirk (who does most of her pages using a photo collage as a jumping-off point). These ladies will give you some great ideas and inspiration, and while there scrapping style may not be considered "simple", it still gets you thinking about what you want to do.

And of course - do not be trapped into thinking that you MUST USE EVERY PICTURE! It's okay to throw them away, or take one of your power sort boxes and file it away for the future.

Just for context - I used to be a CMC too, and had a lot of $$ tied up in products once I deactivated. I reorganized everything, putting the things I would never, ever use in one pile and the things I wanted to keep on my open shelves. I have slowly been selling off my old stuff, and am now down to only one large tub and one small tub of stuff I will not use. I am selling at my LSS's garage sales twice yearly, and have been making about $600/year, which I get in the form of a gift card to use at the store. Then I have been picking up the WRMK albums and page protectors for my larger projects. A few years ago I totally lost my scrappy mojo, and had to work really hard at getting back into it. I now devote a weekend afternoons to my hobby, penciled in on my calendar, and am lucky to be able to grab a bit more time here and there. It's what keeps me sane!

(sorry this got so long!!)

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks for the tips and inspiration.

I am Canadian, so that limits my choices. I will certainly look into some of the suggestions that have been made here.

Thanks so much! Tiger

 

[dogcarbon]

I highly recommend you check out Becky Higgins Project Life style of scrapping.

And then make it your own.

I use WRMK albums with their page protectors and with PL page protectors all mixed up.

But you could just stick with the traditional CM 12x12 pages that you have and do every layout like it would be in a PL page protector, just sticking with the basic format of each page the same concept.

As I read your post, it screamed to me PL! You are the scrapper that Becky created her system for, because she was in the same situation as you and me!

Oh, and the PL stuff has just came back in stock on Amazon, like just last night!

 

[StephandDick]

I just wanted to say how grateful I am to have happened upon this thread and say thanks for the tips for someone like me who feels overwhelmed by how "behind" I am and how I really just don't have time or money for $20 layouts in scrapbooks! I feel empowered to get these pictures in books now. Going to order some pocket picture pages from PL and WRMK and find a binder to get started! So excited! I can still put in a few layouts and fill in with picture pages. Woohoo!

Stephanie

 

[LindaBabe]

This probably bears repeating for the new folks - here are some pages from my first 'blended' album.

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/gallery/member/120429-lindababe54/1512628-blended-scrapbook-spring-trip-2009/?c=t

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks again to all for your tips!

I have made a bunch of digital collages, that I will print out, and then I will be able to do hybrid or blended albums by mixing traditional with digital.

Tiger