Too many options

[rlovew]

Maybe what we need to do is come up with a list of general use your stash challenges. Just list them all in the first post of a thread. Then as people complete them- they can post a picture in the thread and be listed in the first thread with the post number for their picture. Maybe a little smiley for completing so many of them. Not ones that have a time frame- just ideas for when you sit down to scrap that would be using up your stash.

Rebecca

 

[123SA]

Maybe what we need to do is come up with a list of general use your stash challenges. Just list them all in the first post of a thread. Then as people complete them- they can post a picture in the thread and be listed in the first thread with the post number for their picture. Maybe a little smiley for completing so many of them. Not ones that have a time frame- just ideas for when you sit down to scrap that would be using up your stash.

Rebecca

This is a good idea Rebecca. Here are a few ideas:

1. Use paper that you have been hoarding for 5+ years
2. Use your oldest inkpads on a layout -- throw it away if it is dried out

 

[123SA]

I think the too much stuff/no organization is a contant problem that effects all scrapbookers. Unfortunately, the first step is just so hard to commit to. You have to stop buying (momentarily), purge and organize. I did this last January and this past year has been my most productive as a result. I had a room in the basement, but i realized that I hated being alone and I always left it messy. I moved up to the diningroom -- this means I have to put my stuff away when I am finished, but it also means I have easy access to my projects for those times when I just have a few minutes. Before I purchased my cabinet (a PAX cabinet from IKEA with pull out drawers) I designed the interior -- actually measured and planned what would go on each shelf. I did this to ensure that I bought the right cabinet for my stuff. It was a pain and not really a lot of fun, but again, the end result was worth. Since everything has a home, it is easy to clean up. Things I do not use often stay in the basement as well as my back up supplies -- extra xryon, packs of cardstock I stocked up on. My plan for this January is to go through the stuff in the basement -- if I didn't use it over the course of 2008, I clearly do not need it. I need to purge again. I also need to go through my diningroom cabinet to purge. I figure if I do this yearly on more frequently, I won't have to do the month long purge again.

Another recommendation -- and this is the hardest -- don't buy it if you don't have an immediate need for it. (Excluding the staple products like carstock, adhesives, cricut mats/blades -- I stock up at sales). I admire printed paper in the stores, but I rarely buy it unless I have a specific page/project in mind that I plan to do right away. Sure, when you go back that paper might not be there anymore, but really -- won't something just as nice or even better take its place?

Too many options where do you start? Two options, make a page around your photo, or make a page around your products. I seriously hate standing around my stuff not knowing what to do next. My solution - -sketch. I almost always sketch out my layouts first -- very detailed, put a brad here, a cricut piece there. Sure I waste time over sketches, obesess, sketch and re-sketch, but once I actual get my supplies out, I am working with them, not standing there in frustration wondering what to do next. I like the sketches because I can do them anywhere -- you know that 5 minutes you have when waiting for the kids to get out of school? or sitting at a practice, on the train or a long car ride -- all good sketching times. You can have a stack of 4x6 photos with you or an index page or your laptop photos to use as reference.

 

[LindaBabe]

So, yesterday I had some time and I pulled out the box with my Christmas cookbook stuff in it and began to scrap. Then it hit me! I think the reason I have been so productive this year has been "projects", just like this one.

For our "life after work" adventure, I picked an album, 4 coordinating cardstocks, a state sticker set that was available for all the states we'd traverse, coordinating brads, ribbons and buttons and put the whole mess in a box. When I got it out to scrap, that's all I had to get out - the box and my basic tool kit. Presto! No overwhelm.

Neighbor's 80th birthday album - same story.

Cruise album - done in a week.

Cat album for spouse for Christmas - easy peasey.

In fact, that method was so easy, on several occasions I was able to pull out some paper and whip off a few pages on the spur of the moment. Tuesday, that was 4 pages on Thanksgiving.

As soon as the Christmas cookbook album is done (which *WILL* be before New Years), while I have the Christmas stuff out, I'm going to do this years Christmas. Which HAS to be done by next Sunday, because I leave for a month in Florida on Monday.

Try the project method - it might work for you, too!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I totally agree Linda! I have made more progress on the 3 Disney albums I am working on, then on the chronological album. I think I need to rethink the chrono album to do each year as a single project. That way I will have a beginning and an end to each segment.

 

[uncw89]

There are some good tips on this thread. Glad to know I'm not the only one with a lot of stuff. I think I have that "overwhelmed by too much stuff, I don't know where to start syndrome!) I like the projects idea. I just need to start small to get going.
Thanks!

 

[SharonLovesMickey]

I'd like to ditto LindaBabe's strategy. I have the hardest time leaving my house to go to crops or working with friends because I never know where to start. I use the cropper hopper folders to store individual projects. I take the projects to the store and match paper to my photos (instead of buying paper "just for fun"). Then, when I have time I can just grab one folder with the photos and papers that I need and I can knock out several pages in one sitting. This has worked so well that I was able to finish nearly 50 pages in November/December in time to give away to friends.

 

[aroyer]

The project idea worked on me once. I really thought that was the key for me too. The one time it worked was when I told myself I wanted to finish DD's 1st grade year before she started 2nd grade. I got it done. So I figured it would work again this year when I went to scrap 2nd grade before 3rd. I didn't fall for it this time. I still like the idea of focusing on a particular project, maybe I will try to do something other than school pages.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

So, yesterday I had some time and I pulled out the box with my Christmas cookbook stuff in it and began to scrap. Then it hit me! I think the reason I have been so productive this year has been "projects", just like this one.

For our "life after work" adventure, I picked an album, 4 coordinating cardstocks, a state sticker set that was available for all the states we'd traverse, coordinating brads, ribbons and buttons and put the whole mess in a box. When I got it out to scrap, that's all I had to get out - the box and my basic tool kit. Presto! No overwhelm.

Neighbor's 80th birthday album - same story.

Cruise album - done in a week.

Cat album for spouse for Christmas - easy peasey.

In fact, that method was so easy, on several occasions I was able to pull out some paper and whip off a few pages on the spur of the moment. Tuesday, that was 4 pages on Thanksgiving.

As soon as the Christmas cookbook album is done (which *WILL* be before New Years), while I have the Christmas stuff out, I'm going to do this years Christmas. Which HAS to be done by next Sunday, because I leave for a month in Florida on Monday.

Try the project method - it might work for you, too!

This is similar to what I do. If I'm working on an album (and I'm usually so far behind that it's an entire year I need to do, or an entire trip), I spend a few hours planning out every page, putting the photos in order, the embellishments and paper in order, and then writing it all down. . .and I write down what would need to be cut with the Cricut for each page. Then, once i'm ready to start, it's all done except just the scrapping. It's my OCD, I know, but it works for me! I just need to get back to it!!

 

[rlovew]

I use the project or kitting method too and it works for me. It is much easier to just have a few things pulled out. I keep a list of things I want to scrap so that when I have my fancier m,aterials out to work with a swap I can do a little embellishment for this project or that. Once I am ready to sit down with the project everything is ready to go. I also tend to plan out enough I can cut/print all my titles at one time and then add them to the kit.

Rebecca

 

[nikkistevej]

I use the project or kitting method too and it works for me. It is much easier to just have a few things pulled out. I keep a list of things I want to scrap so that when I have my fancier m,aterials out to work with a swap I can do a little embellishment for this project or that. Once I am ready to sit down with the project everything is ready to go. I also tend to plan out enough I can cut/print all my titles at one time and then add them to the kit.

Rebecca

I like to do that too. It makes it easier for me at crops too. I just get out papers, stickers, embellishments, etc. I finished 14 pages the other night doing this at home.

 

[LindaBabe]

Finished AND assembled Christmas recipe album today. NOW I won't have to drag out 6 cookbooks, my looseleaf file, and recipe card box to do my holiday cooking /baking. By the end of this year, a goal is to get all my most used recipes out of same and into ONE place!

Also, did two pages with the photos that came in cards in 2007 (done). Started the pages for Christmas 2008.