I am BEYOND pathetic

[LindaBabe]

After watching my neighbors go through 80 years of accumulated memories in preparation for moving, I decided it was time to deal with mine while I still had the energy.

Since he predates scrapbooking (He's 45), my only child's babybook wasn't done, school album wasn't done. Last week I selected my favorite few photos, packaged up all the rest, and shipped them off to HIM.

 

[CopperWife]

Well, I am glad to see I am in good company with all of you fine ladies.

Slacker scrappers, unite!

 

[mlktwins]

I don't usually post here (maybe just a couple of times), because I don't feel I have anything useful to add. BUT...I am always checking to see what great new layouts you guys are doing !

I just wanted to add myself to the pathetic list. I have not completed a single page of my 7 year old twins' albums. I have saved up so much stuff to put in them (hospital bracelets, first pictures they colored, etc), have milestones, special events, funny things they've said or done all written in yearly calendars. I am a SAHM and always thought I'd get to their albums when they went off to school. Then DH and I decided to homeschool them. Yep -- no scrapbooking happening here .

To top that off, my 77 year old dad just dumped all the family pictures on me to organize (4 big plastic bins of pictures in the original envelopes they came in). My mom passed away in 2001 and she had never organized or labeled our pictures. My MIL is 85 and she never did an album for DH either. I was just handed a big file folder with his pictures, report cards, etc.

I am so overwhelmed -- I don't even know where to start!!!

I think one of my main problems (other than time to myself) is I procatinate because I want each page to be PERFECT!!! Then I get nervous gluing anything down. Can anyone relate ?!?!?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Don't even attempt to scrap your dad's pics!!
I say sort them to the best of your ability. Have him help you identify and label places, people, things. Maybe in the future you can slide them into an album with just sleeves.
Digitally scan the important stuff, weddings, babies, etc. If time allows continue to scan in order of priority.

Same with MIL's stuff.

Then start with the most current things and work backwards.

And don't feel the need to scrap every little thing. I had to learn that lesson!!
And dump the perfection!! That was a hard lesson for me to learn. I had to remember that my books are about my family, our history, not about being on the cover of a scrap magazines.
I came up with a quote a long time ago and it still holds true.

My scrapbooks revolve around my life, my life does not revolve around my scrapbooks.

 

[LindaBabe]

ITo top that off, my 77 year old dad just dumped all the family pictures on me to organize (4 big plastic bins of pictures in the original envelopes they came in). My mom passed away in 2001 and she had never organized or labeled our pictures. My MIL is 85 and she never did an album for DH either. I was just handed a big file folder with his pictures, report cards, etc.

I am so overwhelmed -- I don't even know where to start!!!

I think one of my main problems (other than time to myself) is I procatinate because I want each page to be PERFECT!!! Then I get nervous gluing anything down. Can anyone relate ?!?!?

Start with a coarse sort of your parents photos - that is - his family of origin - her family of origin - and the "joint" family -> meaning them as a couple, you and your sibs. While you are doing that, chuck the 'bad ones' unless they are the only existing photo of someone. By bad, I mean blurry, too dark to see, to bright to see - junk.

Put the resulting piles in zipper bags along with the 4th pile (haven't got a clue who these people are)

Take ONE bag at a time and sort by decade. This too will be a pretty rough sort - after you've got a little organization, then you can maybe gather some info from your dad - if you don't sort it first he'll be like

You can also decide at this point whether these particular photos are of value to you or if they would be better off living with someone else. I just shipped a whole box of photos of my mothers side of the family off to the cousin who is the memory keeper for that side. My son has no interest, and i've already scrapped the stories that I know about my grandparents, aunts and uncles.

That should help get you started Good Luck.

 

[laura&fam]

BernardandMissBianca that is how I stopped feeling so overwhelmed and got closer (not there yet) to being caught up.
When my daughter turned 12 I handed her her album that she had just turned 10 in and said "It's all yours"! I felt like a total slacker. Maybe I'll go back someday, but if I don't work on the family album I won't remember anything so no one will have a scrapbook.

 

[lovingthemouse]

Thank heavens for picture sorters - my saving grace!! I am about 3 albums behind ( another procrastinator Squid)and keep having scrapbook vacations or wonderful events that I "have to remember!"
Don't let yourself become overwhelmed - it can be easy, and sometimes you need a break. I have taken one for a month now after completing a 60 pg Disney cruise book, but the WDW Memorial Day one is ready to go!!

 

[mlktwins]

Don't even attempt to scrap your dad's pics!!
I say sort them to the best of your ability. Have him help you identify and label places, people, things. Maybe in the future you can slide them into an album with just sleeves.
Digitally scan the important stuff, weddings, babies, etc. If time allows continue to scan in order of priority.

Same with MIL's stuff.

Then start with the most current things and work backwards.

And don't feel the need to scrap every little thing. I had to learn that lesson!!
And dump the perfection!! That was a hard lesson for me to learn. I had to remember that my books are about my family, our history, not about being on the cover of a scrap magazines.
I came up with a quote a long time ago and it still holds true.

My scrapbooks revolve around my life, my life does not revolve around my scrapbooks.

Thank you for this and I love your quote!!!! I think I'm going to get started on our the boys' Disney albums (we went for our first trip for 2 weeks this past December) while it is most fresh in my mind.

Start with a coarse sort of your parents photos - that is - his family of origin - her family of origin - and the "joint" family -> meaning them as a couple, you and your sibs. While you are doing that, chuck the 'bad ones' unless they are the only existing photo of someone. By bad, I mean blurry, too dark to see, to bright to see - junk.

Put the resulting piles in zipper bags along with the 4th pile (haven't got a clue who these people are)

Take ONE bag at a time and sort by decade. This too will be a pretty rough sort - after you've got a little organization, then you can maybe gather some info from your dad - if you don't sort it first he'll be like

You can also decide at this point whether these particular photos are of value to you or if they would be better off living with someone else. I just shipped a whole box of photos of my mothers side of the family off to the cousin who is the memory keeper for that side. My son has no interest, and i've already scrapped the stories that I know about my grandparents, aunts and uncles.

That should help get you started Good Luck.

I am the only one interested at all on my side of the family to get pictures and information in order. My aunt (my mom's sister) is going to give me her pics too (pics of her and my mom growing up) because her daughters are not interested. My sister has no interest in getting anything organized, but would very much love an album is I can get one put together -- years down the road .

I think I just need to start doing it and not feel so overwhelmed. Maybe even a 1/2 hour a day in the morning would be a start. I like your system so will give that a try. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!!!

 

[PrincessinTexas]

I have not even completed my Disney album from the 2007 trip. Half way there. Autograph books have been done for awhile but not the album. Also, my daughter is nearly 11 going into 7th grade and I only have her kindergarten album done. Oh well!!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thank you for this and I love your quote!!!! I think I'm going to get started on our the boys' Disney albums (we went for our first trip for 2 weeks this past December) while it is most fresh in my mind.




I am the only one interested at all on my side of the family to get pictures and information in order. My aunt (my mom's sister) is going to give me her pics too (pics of her and my mom growing up) because her daughters are not interested. My sister has no interest in getting anything organized, but would very much love an album is I can get one put together -- years down the road .

I think I just need to start doing it and not feel so overwhelmed. Maybe even a 1/2 hour a day in the morning would be a start. I like your system so will give that a try. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond!!!

Squish me and Linda together!!

Purge, sort and prioritize!!



For your disney album, before you even print (if you are digital) figure out your plan. ABC, chronological order, or by park.
This will help you to start laying out a game plan.

Now I have a Mac so I'm able to hide photos in iPhoto so what I do it start hiding the ones I know right away I don't want. Then I take what's left and start sorting them into page layouts which I can do by creating new event folders, I may reduce the number of photos even more at that point.
This way I only print what I need. I can't tell you how much money I have wasted because I had the need to print every photo. I tossed a lot this past month. I kept pics of the kids in case we need them for school projects but I tossed the multiples of the same landscape photo at WDW. We go a lot and have millions of pics.
While sorting your pics have a notebook with you so you can write down funny quotes, title ideas, thoughts etc. This will make journalling go so much faster. Sometimes I forget the details until I see the pics again.

When you get your pics printed, then you can kit your pages to make scrapping faster.
Here is a tutorial that Rebecca did. Most of us who kit, do it this way
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052976

All of this can be done a little a time. But when you sit down to scrap you will speed up the process tenfold.

 

[fireplug]

Seems like there are plenty of us that have lots of stuff to work on.....

4 days till knee surgery and I will see how I do after that! My wife said she would make sure my walker fits into the craft room!

Squid

 

[mlktwins]

Squish me and Linda together!!

Purge, sort and prioritize!!



For your disney album, before you even print (if you are digital) figure out your plan. ABC, chronological order, or by park.
This will help you to start laying out a game plan.

Now I have a Mac so I'm able to hide photos in iPhoto so what I do it start hiding the ones I know right away I don't want. Then I take what's left and start sorting them into page layouts which I can do by creating new event folders, I may reduce the number of photos even more at that point.
This way I only print what I need. I can't tell you how much money I have wasted because I had the need to print every photo. I tossed a lot this past month. I kept pics of the kids in case we need them for school projects but I tossed the multiples of the same landscape photo at WDW. We go a lot and have millions of pics.
While sorting your pics have a notebook with you so you can write down funny quotes, title ideas, thoughts etc. This will make journalling go so much faster. Sometimes I forget the details until I see the pics again.

When you get your pics printed, then you can kit your pages to make scrapping faster.
Here is a tutorial that Rebecca did. Most of us who kit, do it this way
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052976

All of this can be done a little a time. But when you sit down to scrap you will speed up the process tenfold.

THANK YOU!!! I have all my pics backed up in several different places. I think I'll start deleting off the ones I know I won't print off my laptop so the ones I'm interested in will be easier to find. Then I'll just widdle away from there. The only good thing about not having done my boys' albums is that I will be more picky about what pictures I use since I know how many great pics I have down the road. When they were in their first year, I wanted to print and scrap EVERY picture like it was the last .

 

[laura&fam]

THANK YOU!!! I have all my pics backed up in several different places. I think I'll start deleting off the ones I know I won't print off my laptop so the ones I'm interested in will be easier to find. Then I'll just widdle away from there. The only good thing about not having done my boys' albums is that I will be more picky about what pictures I use since I know how many great pics I have down the road. When they were in their first year, I wanted to print and scrap EVERY picture like it was the last .

My oldest's scrapbook is about twice the size of my youngest I think I scraped every picture I took of her. My youngest's book is much better because there aren't as many photos to slog through. It's just the best and most memorable things. And it takes less time to scrap!

 

[MelsBells]

I just finished the first page of our book for our Disney trip......in 2008

And it gets worse. I used my Cricut to make the Disney signature. Took me two hours to remember how to use the dang machine!!!!!! And 3 attempts to get it right!

Oh well tomorrow is another day Maybe I can get 2 pages done!!!!!


Squid

Don't feel bad, I am even worse! I have multiple trips that have yet to be scrapbooked. We sold our house almost 3 yrs ago and over the past three years i have only scrapbooked maybe 3 pages

We are 19 days and counting to our next trip and I would like to do a couple of pages for our last trip to get me psyched up.

As for my cricut, I am clueless with that thing I have never been able to get something to come out right.

Kudos to you for starting your book

 

[MelsBells]

I think one of my main problems (other than time to myself) is I procatinate because I want each page to be PERFECT!!! Then I get nervous gluing anything down. Can anyone relate ?!?!?

I'm in the same boat. I have had some sort of scrapper's block for a while and I've been feeling like I lost my mojo. I just don't think my pages will be cute enough

But I know this really doesn't matter because when my girls look through what I have done they are most interested and happiest to see the pictures. I've never once heard them say 'oh this layout stinks'

So I just need to get over this and start scrappin again!

 

[LindaBabe]

This is going to sound whacko - but here goes. Since I let go of the need for "perfection" (my version of perfection, which ain't, very) I think my scrapbooks have gotten better. Now the pages don't even have to be all the same size, shape, in page protectors etc and it seems to bring energy to the project and release my creativity - got this little memento - ah just stick it there in that blank spot and be done with it. My new mantra is Git 'er done.

 

[SCRAPBOOKQUEEN]

LindaBabe,

I'm right there with ya. I am just starting my 2008 Disney Cruise, infact I think we were on the same cruise, the 5-night DD September 1-5, 2008???

I've got one complete album and half of another and I have only just gotten on the boat!!!!!

I took a lot of pictures and I'm trying to pair it down but it was such a magical trip it's hard to decide what to hold out. I've think I've got it down to 4 albums!!!!

I think you held a scrapbooking class on the ship. I have the book. It was a great class. Have fun. Post some of your pics when you can.

Scrapbookqueen
Kellie

 

[CopperWife]

When you get your pics printed, then you can kit your pages to make scrapping faster. Here is a tutorial that Rebecca did. Most of us who kit, do it this way
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052976

All of this can be done a little a time. But when you sit down to scrap you will speed up the process tenfold.

Wow! I never scrapped this way before, but I thought I'd give it a try. I don't know what's gotten into me, but I've gotten 14 pages done in the past three days! Thanks for the tip!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

You're very welcome!!
It seems crazy going through the process because you figure, I have all the stuff out I may as well scrap. But it keeps from wasting time sorting through all your papers and embellishments. If you don't have a lot of big chunks of time, this is the way to do it.
I also purchased iris totes at michaels and that's how I stack my kits.
I'll post a pic when I get home ( at camp with the kids)
I also have a box of sketches on index cards. If I find a sketch I like I'll throw that in the kit too.
Hefty makes 2.5 gallon ziploc bags. I keep an empty one with my kits to throw scraps in. Then when I'm done scrapping either a tote or just done for the day, I re-file the unused papers, photos and embellishments.

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