Preparing for a Crop

[Spinning]

I can't do the page kit thing... I tried it just makes it too structured Plus I think to my self if I spent all of that time making kits why didn't I just adhere it to the paper.....

This is how I make the most of my crop time:
1. Realize this is also a social time and shopping experience! LOL! This allows me some guilt free down time.
2. Pictures...most important. Pick a theme or event you want scrapped. Then bring items for that.
Last crop I went was to complete my Disney/Universal trip. So I left home punches, stickers etc that I knew I wouldn't use. I put together all of my paper and things I would use for those type of pages in a file. But didnt' break it down to page specific. Just so I could find it easier.
3. Packing my stuff before the crop: Simplify. Do you really need to bring everything you own and then some?
I am now down to one x-large crop hopper tote, and table top tote for my tools, and one table top style embellishment case.
4. Once at the crop organize your space. Make it comfy and things in reach.

5. Think simple pages. I find when I go to crops I get overwhelmed when I see some of these creations people are making....just amazed..then I try to "become" the amazing page queen.....and I fail! LOL! It isn't me! I like clean simple pages Once I realized my pages were perfect for me I was able to become more creative and complete pages.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Shauna you are well organized!!

to answer a few questions:
my DCWV papers, if they are just the card stock I separate them and filter them in to my regular stock by color. If they are patterned or themed like xmas, fall, etc. I take the slabs apart but keep the pages together.

the bead boxes are usually with the beads at Walmart, Mikes, and Joanns. Usually just on the footboard of the aisle under the loose beads.

sticker binder:
from crop in style

cropper hopper: the 12x12 deco file folders from CM fit in these too. that is how I store my big scraps

iris cart from joanns:
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat323863&PRODID=xprd74098

staples makes this in 5 x 8, I wonder if that would hold your color kits?

 

[TPCShauna]

Well, I tried something new that I think kind of qualifies as kitting. I pulled my pics and then found the background papers I wanted to go with them as well as the embellies I thought I would need. I didn't pull any matting cardstock or even the cardstock I needed to cut titles.

I managed to finish 5 pages which is two more than normal. 3 of them flew together but the other two took quite a while as they were title pages for albums and I really wanted them to be super nice. I was sitting next to someone who hadn't scrapped in a long time and she had lots of questions about my tools and stuff so I kept stopping to explain things. I definitely chatted less which I think helped. I probably would have gotten even more done if I hadn't been sitting where I was.

I have 6 more pages that I kitted which I am planning to work on at home tomorrow. I'll see how long they take me.

I think I need to go the extra step and get together all of my matting material and stuff for titles. I still spent a lot of time searching through my cardstock packs to find the right colors. Doing that at home would save that time.

So I have a question for y'all. Do you kit to work at home? If so, how much time do y'all spend kitting vs. actual page assembly?

 

[MazdaUK]

Sometimes - but not often! My photos waiting to scrap are in a small powersort and sometimes I'll slip something with them like an embellishment that I know I'll want to use. But I have s little space I can't really spread everything around to sort it properly for kitting - I tend to feel while I've got everything out I might as well do the page

 

[TPCShauna]

believen - Thanks for reporting back and CONGRATS on finishing so much! It sounds like you had a really great time.

Mazda - I really like page kits also. In fact, I'm really trying to limit myself to only participating in the kinds of swaps that give me generic things like this. I also tend not to use the whole kit on a single page. I do find them very versatile and quick to use. I've seen some of the awesome pages you put together with your page kits and appreciate you sharing your work.

Spinning - My pages are simple by my standards but incredibly fancy compared to the other girls' stuff. I think my problem is that I am a total perfectionist so my page has to be just right before I'll put everything down. I took less stuff to the crop today but still had more than I needed. If I kit my stuff, I really won't need to bring nearly the amount of stuff I currently lug. In fact, if I spend the time to pull out matting material, I should be able to leave my whole giant cart at home. Talk about an accomplishment! Thanks for sharing what works for you. All information is helpful to me at this point.

BAMB - You are so sweet for thinking I'm organized! I feel like I could do better, though. I'll definitely look for those bead containers as they would work well for all of my ribbon. It would be nice to be able to find my ribbon more easily. I also LOVE the look of that Iris cart. I could totally see using it to sort by theme which is what I think I'm leaning towards. In fact, I think I'm going to try the method that Juliegirl1 posted about before. My problem know is that I don't have paper and embellishments together so I have to dig in multiple locations to find things for the same pages. My embellies work for as long as I am scrapping at home. It's just the packing for crops thing that is the problem and I do most pages at crops. Anyway, thanks for the ideas. I think they will be a good start in the right direction for me.

 

[TPCShauna]

But I have s little space I can't really spread everything around to sort it properly for kitting - I tend to feel while I've got everything out I might as well do the page

Here I am just going to bed and you are posting in the new day! You make me feel tired!

Your statement above is kind of how I have always felt. It was a hassle for me to kit but it seemed to make a difference. I think I'm going to try to go one step further.

Have a nice day!

 

[toverly]

I just noticed a page kit at a crop yesterday. A friend had gone thru and sorted the things she knew she wanted on one page and put them in the page protector. i.e. Lego paper and stickers with lego store photos. She said she didn't take too much time with it, just quick organization. So when the crop came her page was halfway there. Only the messy cutting, glueing and solid paper selection remained to be done. I thought it was brilliant.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

So I have a question for y'all. Do you kit to work at home? If so, how much time do y'all spend kitting vs. actual page assembly?

Not really, but then again I don't do many pages at home. The kids just won't let me! LOL

But as I go through my stuff to work on at home and I see a specific embellie that would go great with a group of photos I will pull it and put it in my power sort box with the pics. Then it is there when I need it. I have also started pulling patterned paper and putting it with card stock that I think looks great together. I don't think that would work for everyone, I just have so many pics I'm bound to find pics to go with the paper.

I actually bought the iris cases for my swaps. I was doing I think 5 swaps at once, one time so each drawer was labeled with the swap name and due date. Now they hold stamps, embellies that don't have a home yet, finished page kits, finished pages, and ziploc bags.
That also work great for sorting your paper, you could put the DCWV slabs in them.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

P.S. congrats on the 6 pages!!! I only got 7 done yesterday, I could not get in the zone.

 

[LindaBabe]

Thanksgiving, I went on a trip to my inlaws - lots of downtime, so, I knew I could scrap - and packed as if it was a 4 day crop! I took my medium sized rolling tote, my table top bag and they held everything I needed. . . Finishing my September Disney trip at AKL, a gift album about Wilderness Lodge and an exploding box.

These projects were chosen because they were all shades of brown and tan, so I had a stack of plain & patterned cardstock in those colors, coordinating ribbons and title letters (cricutted and xyroned), antique bronze/copper big decorative brads, corners, and a pill bottle of black, copper, bronze, regular brads, paper cutter, scissors, adhesive. pens. Corner rounder. ruler. big square punch.

The photos were loosely sorted in a 'coupon' holder type packet from big lots.

I finished everything, working about 2 hours each non-travel day.

Crops for me are a social activity - I don't want to have to think! If I don't have time to kit, I do just what I did on the trip - take one topic and only the paper/embellis/photos that go with that topic - lets me lug a LOT less (I have mobility issues and can't physically carry a ton of stuff) - and get more done by limiting my choices.

On the organizational front - I use priority mail boxes to store my paper and like them better than the plastic holders because they don't collapse when not supported by other boxes. Paper/cardstock is sorted ROY G BIV , both pattern and plain in the same box, but not intermingled.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Just curious. Do you leave the priority boxes as is, or do you use wrapping paper to pretty them up and help designate what colors are inside?


On getting all that stuff down while away from home.

 

[Juliegirl1]

Juliegirl1 - I really like your method. I've tried binders and the organizational process is too overwhelming for me. I LOVE the Iris cases. What brand are the paper planner envelopes that you use? Do you put all themed embellies in an envelope? Like for Zoo, you put all paper, stickers, brads, ribbon in one folder? How much stuff do they hold? How do you organize colors and every day stuff?

I use the Cropper Hopper page planners and for bigger sections I use those 12 x 12 plastic envelopes that are usually in the scrapbook section.

My ribbons (and fibers) are all wound around the small ribbon cards and stored in the small Cropper Hopper drawers by most prominent color and a separate one for printed ribbon with words or wild color combos. When I know I am doing the specific theme I will go and pull some ribbon cards to take with me without having to take all of my drawers. I will usually take one of ROY G BIV colors to a crop.

My embellishments like brads, buttons, eyelets, etc are in the tiny Cropper Hopper boxes labeled and kept in the embellishment case. It holds a lot!Sometimes if I buy soccer brads I will put them into the soccer envelope but only if I know I will be using it soon. Otherwise it is just easier for me to know that all of my brads are in the same place in the embellishment case. Also, the whole case is easy to transport.

My solid paper is organized ROY G BIV, Black and White in Cropper Hopper vertical paper holders and I use those for my non-themed printed paper as well. Printed paper that is not a specific theme is divided by the print - Floral, Stripes, Polka Dots, Plaids, etc. The themed paper goes into the themed Iris case. Also in the Iris case to keep the stickers organized I use the Creative Memories sticker holders (I can't remember the exact name). I also will pull a few sheets of ROY G BIV paper to a take to a crop.

I also keep my rubons all together in an 12 x12 plastic envelope. I guess I don't really have too much "everyday" stuff. Everything goes into a theme pretty well for me. It sure has made everything a lot easier!

 

[TPCShauna]

You are so organized! I talked DH into getting me an Iris cart and a pack of those clear plastic folders. I'm going to try to partially duplicate your organizational method as it sounds like the one most likely to work for me. Thanks so much for sharing!!

 

[LindaBabe]

Just curious. Do you leave the priority boxes as is, or do you use wrapping paper to pretty them up and help designate what colors are inside?


On getting all that stuff down while away from home.

I folded the open end flaps to the outside and taped them back, but left the boxes plain because the sides don't show. They are lined up inside the cabinet that holds up my scrap table. I thought to label the outside, but it didn't work real well in my location.

 

[DarbyB]

I have been scrapbooking for a long time now and have owned almost every style of bag made for cropping, and have not found that right one for me.
But, I have a new love in my life and it is a laundry basket. Not the baskets filled with laundry, but the ones filled with scrap goodness!!

My friend and I teach classes at Creating Keepsakes Conventions so we have a lot of class stuff to carry. In the great search for the easiest way to transport things we came across these Sterilite baskets at the Dollar Store they are 19 X 19 X 13 H. They hold 50 prepackaged class kits perfectly and with a bit of room to spare.

So when I was going on my last weekend retreat, I decided to leave the bags at home and give them a try. I prepacked all my page goodies in the 12X12 envleopes.So I have my pictures, my patterned paper, matching cardstock and any special embellishments or alphas that I have purchased for this layout.
I had about 40 prepacked sleeves in one basket.

In a 2nd basket , I had my cardstock, my trimmer, and a couple of iris boxes with misc... stuff in them...

Then I used my big serving tray basket with the organizer liner to house pens, scissors, staamps, punches and so on... I hate to take too much, but like to have my favs...

I ACTUALLY finished several layouts...

Darby

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Shauna, I was at Mikes today and they had new Iris totes (that look a little like trash cans) and you can stand 12x12 paper up in them and the lid has a storage compartment for doo dads. Thought you might be interested and I wasn't sure if you had seen them, oh and they have a handle too.
And they had different colored iris boxes now too, pink and purple, I think.

 

[aroyer]

Shauna, I was at Mikes today and they had new Iris totes (that look a little like trash cans) and you can stand 12x12 paper up in them and the lid has a storage compartment for doo dads. Thought you might be interested and I wasn't sure if you had seen them, oh and they have a handle too.
And they had different colored iris boxes now too, pink and purple, I think.

OOOOOoooooo.... I might NEED this.

 

[KerTggr]

Shauna, I was at Mikes today and they had new Iris totes (that look a little like trash cans) and you can stand 12x12 paper up in them and the lid has a storage compartment for doo dads. Thought you might be interested and I wasn't sure if you had seen them, oh and they have a handle too.
And they had different colored iris boxes now too, pink and purple, I think.

Love both of these products. The totes are actually how I organize my kits: paper, pictures journaling in the file folders and small/large/odd embellishments in the top. I have 3 of these totes and use them for my weekend retreats (only once a year, but got over 40 pages done last time!)

 

[MyLittlePiglet]

I love reasding all your tips and think I can offer some suggests too but as I got about half way through this thread I thought hey instead of dising go scrap and that way you'll get more done LOL

 

[TPCShauna]

I just want to thank everyone who offered their tips for organizing stuff in general and on how you prepare for crops. I am excited to say that I am just about done organizing my stuff and I LOVE it!

I started my reorganization by taking out the big 2-shelf bookcase I was using to set my small bag on. In its place, I put an Iris cart and a smaller rolling cart. I was able to completely empty out my two CM bags for the first time EVER! I put both of them in a back closet to take out only when needed.

The first things I bought were an Iris cart and some plastic 12x12 holders. I divided my embellies and loose pattened paper into the various plastic holders and then put those in the various Iris cases. I then added any stacks I have to the corresponding case. Some cases have just a stack and one or two embellie holders (Christmas stack with Christmas and Winter embellies divided into two holders) and some have 4 different embellie holders. I have one case that is empty so I have room to grow. I just need to label the individual holders and the outside of the Iris cases so it is easy to find things.

I re-purposed a 5-drawer rolling cart with a lot of the stuff I kept in the bookcase and my small bag. It has my Ziploc bags and swap supplies like tape and labels in the bottom large drawer, chalk and some doodling templates in one, Cricut carts in another and CM Storybox photo mats/journal boxes in the fourth. I have one empty drawer so I have room to grow.

I purchased two large, rectangular baskets to place on top of the rolling carts. They have straight sides and are exactly wide enough to place all of the plastic holders that hold my cardstock and random patterned paper. One basket is all cardstock including all of the holders and the multi-color packages I have. The other basket holds the other three plastic holders with PP (Disney, Misc. Patterned Paper and Misc. Patterned Paper Scraps) plus all of the stacks of generic patterned paper like the Glitter stack and the giant stack I bought from Costco. There is enough room in the front of each of the baskets for me to stand up my 12" trimmer, my cutting mats and my Cricut mats.

On the other side of my bench, I have a very low table that holds my picture sorter box, my soft-sided bag that contains all of my brads, eyelets, buttons and snaps, and my three clear sorters with all of my ribbon, fiber and Primas.

This seems to be working well for me at the moment. It is MUCH easier for me to reach everything (especially my paper) and everything is more organized so I spend less time looking for stuff. This makes it easier for me to kit so I am able to prep for crops and home scrapping faster than I used to which has upped my productivity level.

Thanks again to everyone for sharing your methods and ideas. I'm loving what my organizing has done to help me. I really feel like my goal of 365 pages scrapped this year is totally doable!!