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Wednesday 26 September 2012

SCRAP HAPPY LOAD BLOG HOP - 1012!

Hey! Thankyou for popping by on the  Scrap Happy only Pre LOAD blog hop welcome, Welcome WELCOME!!! This is the first time I have ever taken part in a blog hop and I am thrilled and excited to be taking part in both this, and LOAD! Scrap Happy is a great online community of scrappers, and you are seriously missing out, if you are not taking part in the private Layout a Day class, led by some very talented members of the ScrapHappy family, which we start on October 1st! If you want to know more about Scrap Happy and all the other great stuff that goes on there - here is the link you need for more information about how to join us!  http://www.scraphappy.org.

Layout a Day  (LOAD) is a class run several times a year and is perfect for scrapbookers like me - you know the ones who talk a good page, but often spend more time buying stash, admiring embellishments, moving 'stuff' around the page - in a totally adhesive free environment, and getting absolutely nada done, in the way of getting our memories into our scrapbooks - we have memorabilia, memories, unprinted photos and good intentions cluttering up our lives, until we forget how wonderful the memory was, and we loose the memorabilia, and in time we forget about the photograph and where it was taken and the story behind it, that meant so much to us or said so much about us at the time - worst still in the future nobody will know how great our lives were! How sad would that be?

So, to save us from ourselves, Lain invented LOAD its a simple concept, and for me its a bit like my exercise routine - I power walk with friends three times a week - 5km a time round our beautiful Botanical Gardens - I commit to do it - people do it with me and the fact that Im not doing it alone keeps me on track - and I need that! You can see how beautiful the gardens are here!
http://scrappinginsingapore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/my-monday-morning-routine.html

As soon as I typed that a thunderstorm started, the heavens opened and our organiser emailled to confirm this morning's walk is cancelled! Proof were it needed that even the best laid plans can go wrong - but we'll pick up and carry on again on Friday morning......... right?

But lets get back to LOAD shall we? For me the best part of LOAD is I'll be doing it with some of the friendliest scrappers from all over the world, they too keep me on track, encourage me and inspire me - and I need that too! We commit to doing one LO every day for a whole month - sound unachievable - I thought so too the first time I joined in for LOAD 512 but I did it and believe me, if I can do it - you can too!  Every day we post our LO's in the private Flickr group gallery - this you need to do by midnight PST every day! We leave love and encouragement for each other, chat and share ideas - and it doesnt matter if its your first or thousandth (is that a word?) LO - you are going to find people encouraging you on every step of the way and meet a very talented bunch of ladies too - how fab is that??????

We get a daily email prompt with a video and further inspiation from our very own Scrapper on the Street - who shares her inspiration with us and is the best possible start to the day - every day! I really missed her cheeful and inspirational videos, every morning, when LOAD ended last time - love you Dani!

There are even prizes!!!! LOAD is going to be soooo much fun and I am as excited as any kid at Christmas (OMG thats just around the corner too) - but for this month all things snowy and white are very defnitately not on the radar - in fact living only 1'15 degrees north of the equator its fair to say that most people here have never even SEEN snow - but I digress!

For some weeks now, members of the Scrap Happy community have been making lists and checking them more than twice to prepare for LOAD. Everybody has a different way of doing this, but I thought I would share my top ten tips for actually achieving my goal of completing a LO every day of October 2012! Theres some links to some of my favourite resources here - to save you time and whet your scrapping appetite too! I hope you enjoy them!

1 Stock up on adhesive and cardstock - and if you are not like me, patterned paper and anything else you need. I have more than enough stuff already and wont run out of anything for at least the next 20 years - so I use LOAD as a reason to make some inroads into my stash mountain - I could do to do LOAD every month really! Although we do have a challenge every month to to 20 LO's and 20 cards to keep us motivated between LOADS -  because some of us really need that! If proof were needed just how much 'stuff' I have you can have a peek into my craft room here!

http://scrappinginsingapore.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/organised-space-at-last.html

2 I use old 12 x 12 bags from kits I subscribe to and find and bag up photos, memorabilia, paper, cardstock and embellishments that go together! This speeds up the scrapping later, because everything is to hand. As I come across things I drop them into the right bag - these are also good to take to crops, if I dont use them all in LOAD, or to make the best use of a short amount of scrapping time!

3 I try and use up my scraps and things that have been lying around for far too long - like the million packs of Creative Memories Alphas in every colour of the rainbow I bought when I first started scrapbooking! These go in the bags too, so I have a starting point - especially useful if I have a day when time is tight! So I spend my time actually scrapping - not sorting through the stash mountain!

4 I use sketches for inspiration - if I need to - I made these using trading card holders from the dollar store and a couple of book rings - easy and portable!



Each one has a little image of a sketch that I printed off and cut and numbered - I have friends who say the fact that I did this, proves I have too much time on my hands!!!! If you dont - a simple google search for Scrapbooking sketches will give you a ton of sketches to play with!


5 I have a lot of photos I need to scrap - I  store my pages chronologically, but dont scrap that way, so I look at the gaps in my album and add photos and bits into a page protector in an an incomplete album instead of a 12 x 12 bag sometimes. My top tip here is if you have a scrap of something left over from a preceeding or following page drop it in there, to improve the flow of the album and join it together - this is a tip I got when doing Shimelle Lain's Cover to Cover class and it helps bring an album together with ease! If you havent done this class its awesome and you can find details of it here http://www.shimelle.com/paper/1466/cover-to-cover-a-new-online-scrapbooking-class/

6 Done is better than perfect - now I do twitch a bit still, even typing that - but deep down I know its true! I will never scrapbook everything I could scrapbook, but Im going to get a whole lot more done if I just get on with it! And if a layout is not perfect because my brad is the wrong shape size or colour - I need to get over it or leave it off the LO!

7 My favourite place for colour palette inspiration is http://www.design-seeds.com/.  I use this site to find unusual colour combinations and add bits of scraps to use up the stuff in my colour coded scraps bags or page protectors of memorabilia and photos - just looking at the amazing photos there could take up several weeks!!

I realise this makes me sound like a bit of a bag lady - with my kit bags and colour coded scraps bags - but it works for me - I can find things, and more importantly Im getting pages completed AND preserving our memories - I can live with it - I grant you its not fancy or pretty but it works!!!! I know there will be some fancy accessory for doing it in a more aesthetically beautiful way somewhere - but Im not even looking!!!!

Habits Ive changed to make me a more productive scrapper

8 Im a hybrid scrapper - which means I can spend days looking on the net at lovely digital supplies and vintage images - and do nothing but! This one has been really hard for me, but now I only let myself do this when I have time I cant use for anything else, like waiting for a connecting flight as travel is a big part of my world! I save the images in dropbox when Im on the go, so I can access them anywhere and I organise them into my scrapping filing system about once a month! This step alone has saved me days!

But if you are a hybrid girl too and havent found these sites - check them out from my Pinterest board here http://pinterest.com/alisonscraps/scrapbooking/ there are a ton of  links to free downloadables here and masses of fab inspiration! You still have five days before LOAD starts that you could easily loose in there!!!

 And if you need something to nibble on as you scrap - these might fit the bill too http://pinterest.com/alisonscraps/for-the-home/ Im trying not to make them because we are on a healthy eating quest at the moment and I wouldnt be able to leave them alone! Oh and if you do make them and get chocolate on your LO - I suggest you stick a flower over it - just saying!!!

9 Keep a notebook - I always keep a notebook in my bag and when I take a scrapworthy photo or have a moment of journalling inspiration - I jot it down - again making the most of the time I have, when I cant be scrapping! Listening to the kids, the smells or sounds of a new place or any memorable event can be noted and referred back to at a later date!  Lain recommended doing this too in her Scrap Happy September 12 'Scrap like the Wind' scrapinar - another great source of advice for just making the most of your scrapping time!

I find this step helps with the flow of my albums as I note in the book when the info is used to make sure I dont journal using the same story about a dozen times without realising it, or leave something out I meant to include! Shimelle's cover to cover and true Stories classes are both great for improving the flow of your albums and your journalling skills too!
http://www.shimelle.com/paper/1466/cover-to-cover-a-new-online-scrapbooking-class/
http://www.shimelle.com/classes/836/online-scrapbooking-class-true-stories-journaling-for-scrapbookers-and-bloggers/

10 Dont stress and enjoy it - I know this sounds a bit obvious - but this is meant to be fun! Sure a Layout a Day sounds a bit scary at first - but the beauty of a simple LO is not diminished because it didnt take ages to do! A simple completed page is preferable to a lavish one that sits in your craftspace never finished - so get your story told - forget perfection - have fun - join in - what are you waiting for??????

I hope you found some great ideas and look forward to seeing what you do! I expect some of my top tips appear as a common thread throughout the blog hop - so I hope you found some new inspiration here - just in case you get lost - here is the blog hop list,  where you are now and where you're going next!!!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Please come back often or make my day even better by subscribing - I would just love have you visit anytime at all!!!!

Lynnette http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com (http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com/)
Leslie http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com (http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/)
Katrina http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com (http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com/)
Kelli P.  www.scrapbookgirl71.com (http://www.scrapbookgirl71.com/)
Alison D.  http://adayinthelifeor5.blogspot.ca (http://adayinthelifeor5.blogspot.ca/)
Cathy H.  http://pikespeakscrapper.blogspot.com (http://pikespeakscrapper.blogspot.com/)
Dani  www.acoffeeaddict.com (http://www.acoffeeaddict.com/)
Heather H.  http://heathazscrapz.blogspot.com (http://heathazscrapz.blogspot.com/)
JUST IN CASE YOU ARE LOST ........ YOU ARE HERE NOW
Alison C.  http://scrappinginsingapore.blogspot.com (http://scrappinginsingapore.blogspot.com/)
AND YOU ARE GOING HERE NEXT!
Heather D.  http://heathersdragonsden.blogspot.com (http://heathersdragonsden.blogspot.com/)
Danielle H.  http://ecoscrapbook.blogspot.com (http://ecoscrapbook.blogspot.com/)



 

27 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Mary - So pleased you popped in!!!!

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  2. Love your post!!!! So many great tips.

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    1. Thanks Dani - Cant wait for your scrapper o the street videos to start!!!

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  3. "adhesive free environment" made me LOL...I have a girlfriend who leaves pages in progress on her workspace for DAYS without adhering anything. And THEN she INSISTS on using repositionable adhesive in case she doesn't like where things land!! I don't know how she does it. I like the extra sticky, won't move if you took a crow bar to it type of adhesive. Anyway, I'm going to send her your post to try and convince her to join the next LOAD!! :)

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    1. Where's the like button? Love what you say about adhesive. I like the strong stuff too. Aggressive adhesive even.

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    2. I have added a like button Heather - just for you - thanks for popping over! I usually end up sticking things where I first put them now - I have a much more laid back approach than I used to these days - I cant tell you how much more Im getting done!!!!

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  4. Im a recovering adhes-a-phobic too! I bought an ATG gun to cure me of it in the end, and these days I can even manage to occasionally use the extra sticky red tape! I dont even have any repositionable adhesive any more! Have a great LOAD - and hope your friend joins in the next one too!!!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!!!

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  5. ALISON!! I miss you already!! So much great advice here! I love how you said about having the group to keep you on track! It's soooo true. I look forward to seeing you and my friends each day that I post! Can't wait to see what you do this month!

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    1. Kelli - missing you too!!!!!!! Thanks for popping by! DH went and got me photos printed today, as Im heading back to the UK tonight! He said you'll be too tired to go and get them printed yourself when you arrive, and he knows Im starting LOAD on Monday...................... Thats why I married him - he just knows me sooooo well!

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  6. Wow! What an amazing sketch organization tool you have! Great tips, especially the one about not stressing...let's have fun!

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    1. Thank you Danielle! Looking forward to seeing you on the boards! You know I use that sketch organisation thing all the time! I love it!

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  7. My favorite line? "...you know, the ones who talk a good page!" I've talked many a good page. It feels good to finally be getting them done! Awesome job!

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  8. Oh my gosh, your sketch stash and organization is impressive. Love your description of the pre-productive scrapper. Love it.

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    1. Thanks Heather - Ive found if its tidy, I can fit more in!!!!!!!!! I am using more of it these days, but Im not going to run out of anything but time anytime soon!!!!

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  9. You are seriously organized Alison! I bow to your labelled prowess!! :) Love the sketch books!!
    Great advice all around. Can't wait to get started now! See you on the boards.

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    1. I knew you would like my labels after I saw yours and thought hmmm theres a girl after my own heart!!!!

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  10. Whew! I think you covered it - am getting really excited about now - forcing myself to idle for the next few days but am itching to scrap! Thanks for helping out on the blog hop :~)

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    1. Thanks Leslie - It was a lot of fun and Im so excited about LOAD 1012!!!!

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  11. I am loving how you organize. Right now I just grab what's closest and go with it. Perhaps I need to just take a break until Monday and totally revamp my room. Hmmm, not a bad idea! Still keeping up with LSNED! See you online!

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  12. Great post! ( I still twitch a bit with done is better than perfect too, even though I know it's true!) "see" you October 1st!

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  13. Crikey, Alison - you covered EVERYTHING. I am seriously coming back later to read it again, because you make such good sense! Yay to your sketch ring - will never happen here, but it is super cool. I am going to BURROW into my stash - forget inroads! See you soon!

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  14. Youre always welcome Claire - pop in anytime:)

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  15. Great post! I love your ring of sketches. I've been meaning to do something like that, but I am satisfied right now with a notebook I flip through.

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Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to comment! I cant tell you how much I appreciate it!