Scrapbooking

[txgurl]

I recently bought a scrapebooking starter kit with the intention of getting me some push to get all of these photos of my kids that are in Kodak envelopes in a hugh box.....20 years of them.

I really could use some help on how to sort and weed through the piles of photos to start this project. It seems so overwhelming :(

[QuiltAngel]

When I did this I worked backwards. I started with the current ones first.

I organized the photos by year. Then I would go through and pick out the ones I wanted to put in a scrapbook. Don't be afraid to crop photos. I would have some that had cute expressions, but did not like something off to the side in the photo so would cut it out. That way, you have the cute photo.

It is less overwhelming when you break it down to smaller time period of photos.

This is something that can be done while watching television. While watching a favorite show, pull some out and start putting them in an album.

Have fun sorting and remembering.

Jane

[txgurl]

Thanks, Jane, for the help on starting this project. I can use all the help I can get.

I think starting with the year is a good idea. I hope most of my photos are marked with the year or the age of the girls. I tried to do this once I got them back from developing. The longer I wait to do this, more chance I won't remember age or year. :rolleyes:

[QuiltAngel]

That is the hard part, trying to determine when a photo was taken if not marked. I have learned to mark the envelope the photos are in when I get them back. I also get photos processed on CD now and I mark the CD's right away.

I remember going through my photos and many were not marked. My kids were in marching band and I had to try to identify not only which contest but what year. Fortunately, they changed hats one year so that helped.

I have started making sure I take photos of when we visit relatives as some I don't get to see very often. This way I have a record of when I saw them last.

When we go on vacation, I tend to take a photo of signs, that way I don't have to remember where all we were that day. I also try to write down highlights of the while on the trip. These really help in organizing photos later on.

Good luck on sorting adn starting on the scrapbooks.

[txgurl]

Yes, I know what you mean about school activity photos. My younger DD did cheerleading, and I am glad I did separate those years, as they were easy to get confused . The uniforms were the difference in identifiying the years.

I got a digital camera a year ago, but don't use it much since the girls are out of the nest. I have to make more of an effort now to take the pictures. I am good about taking it along on vacations though.

I agree about marking pictures with date, location, right after getting them. I think I did mark most photos.

That is a great idea to take a picture of signs that mark the place where you are taking pictures.

[YellowRoseTex]

I have sorted thru lots of pics in my day as my dad was a camera buff and I inherited most of the pics. I found it best to sit on the floor and start sorting. I can usually tell around what time the pics were by the way I or the people in them looked. It may not be exact, but it is close.

I've always wanted to scrapbook. I do have tons of pictures. Some of them are in albums, but I also have many loose ones just laying around. I've looked at the stuff at the Hobby store, but am confused as to how much is a reasonable price for an album and how much I should be spending for supplies.

A place I used to work at is having a reunion this spring and I think it would be neat to take the pictures that I have and make a scrapbook.

[Ms Big Butt]

I have slacked off on this the last few years, but intend to get started again. I agree on the working backwards in time idea that Jane suggested. You will spend less time figuring out who's who, and then you will feel like you have something accomplished.

One idea that I came up with is that I put the finished page in the protective sleeve (two pages per sleeve). But, I didn't want the negatives from those photos to get displaced, so I stuck them between the two pages so they are right there hidden away :)

Kim, I think you should pick an "event" and go get a kit... it will just give you a jump-start. Once you get the hang of of it, you will know what tools & products you like best. I use leftover greeting cards & wrapping papers, party confetti, etc. I am careful not to get sucked into spending too much. I worry that I won't like my hobby if it's too cost-intensive.

Good luck to you :)

[handywoman]

I too have tons of pictures that need to be put into albums. My stopping point has always been the embellishments to coordinate with the pictures. A friend of mine told me about the "naked album" concept. You put the pictures into the album - no extra stickers, paper, etc. This gives you more room for pictures and journaling - so the next person doesn't have to figure out when and where :)

I wasn't to sure about this idea - until I finished an album in a weekend! I have decided that for the older pictures (I have 24 years worth of pictures and OLD family photos) I am going to do the naked albums. I have sorted all the pictures by years and now going to put them into the acid free albums. That is what is really important!

As for the negatives - there are photo labs out there that will put those negatives onto CD very cheaply. Much easier to sort those CDs than the negatives. You then have the option to make your own duplicates. :)

Take care,
Darlene

[Luvmabug]

Thanks for inspiring me ladies.

I have tons of pictures that need to be organized.
My daughter's boyfriend bought her a neat book on scrapbooking. I think I'll have her help me!

[emarray]

Hey ladies! I've done some extensive photo sorting/organizing and have found that there's no one way that works for everyone.

Some people prefer to organize chronologically, others by event, and still others by category (i.e. vacations, holidays, family members, etc.)

My own method is to sort through photos according to category (one for each family member, one for group family things, one for vacation, one for Christmas--our own photos plus cards and photos from friends and family, special events, special activities (like when I was in 4-H as a kid).

Once I get through that first sort, then I go back, take each category one at a time, and put them in chronological order--as best as I can.

My photos are sorted and ready to be put into albums any time I want to work on them.

The absolute best thing about having them sorted is that I know exactly where they are and I know without a doubt that they are in a 100% guaranteed photo-safe storage box. So if I never get some of them into albums, they'll still be safe for my kids and grandkids, etc. to enjoy.

--Meri

[stampinafwife]

I agree with the last poster there is "no ONE way to work for everyone". This is my job to teach and educate scrapbooking and stamping and everyone has there own way of wanting things done. I have done scrapbooks of all sorts and lately the ones that seem to be really going fast and fun are "the year in life of" and its a scrapbook dedicated all to each child or person. Then of course there are the others that are family albums of all pictures of group photos and parties ect. Its all in your own taste. The point of scrapbooking is to protect and preserve the moments.

Happy scrapping

[DesertRose]

I have tons of old family photos that I got from my Mom's two older sisters. There were many pictures I had never even seen before and it has been so much fun!! I have been working with my Mom to identify people, places, times, events, etc. This got me started on genealogy research and scrapbooking. I have so much fun and it is so rewarding to discover more of my family history and family roots. Documenting it for future generations has become my mission and will be my legacy to them all.

[Doodles]

I get really inspired after reading my scrapbook magazines...oh there are so many!

They have great ideas...I am not always that creative, I tend to do better when scrap-lifting.

Most magazines have a page with a list of tools and things to get you started...A basic toolkit of sorts.

Once you do it, you'll be hooked!!!

Debbi

[AgingGracefully]

I am fairly new to scrapbooking, but I am absolutely hooked!! I started out with kits, but I couldn't accomplish quite what I wanted. The best thing I ever did was to start taking classes. I had a habit of going into craft stores and spending way too much on stickers, embellishments etc. When I took the class, I learned lots of little tricks to help me make beautiful pages, but without a great expense.
Kathy

[Kim308pl]

I want to scrapbook, I have tons of pics in print and over thousands on disks and the computer. I did mark what month the ones on the disk and compter were taken in, the others I would have no idea. I just do not know how to scrapbook.

I had wanted to make my dad a scarpbook for his birthday 2YEARS AGO, I have everything about his hometown printed out and pics saved and this and that and well, it stll sits there nothing done and well his next birthday is this Sunday...UGH. I evne have a scrapbooking program and have not even installed it...lol

[ashanti1922]

I own my own scarpbooking business if I can help anyone out let me know.

[ashanti1922]

I started in 1990, and when I would take my creations to work people would ask me to create one for them so I did. Then more people wanted to see my work so I started a website. I love scrapbooking.

[emarray]

I get really inspired after reading my scrapbook magazines...oh there are so many

Have you seen Lasting Moments, the magazine from Creative Memories? It's one of the best I've seen.

[AgingGracefully]

Ashanti
Can you give me some tips on organizing my supplies?

Kathy

[ashanti1922]

SURE!
Tell me what types of supplies you have?
how often do you scrapbook, where do you scrapbook?

[AgingGracefully]

Ashanti,
I am lucky to have a room dedicated to crafting, so I don't have to worry about always putting things away. I try and scrapbook at least once a week, sometimes it is more often. I have paper, stickers, die cuts, embellishments, cutters, ribbons,buttons ....well you get the idea. I would like to be able to see what I have. I have bunches of mason jars that I am considering for buttons, ribbons etc. If I put a shelf on the wall, then these could sit on the shelf and I could see at a glance what I have. Stickers are everywhere and out of control.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Kathy

[ashanti1922]

it is the key, I like being able to see my supplies but everyone is different.
For my small embellishments. I bought a little desktop chest that has 4 thin drawers. It sits on top of the table.

Then I went out and got a large hope chest, it is really big and I keep everything in there. But I went out and found the 2 gallon hefty bags which can hold anything from 12x12 pages and adhesives, fibers, scraps, you name it I have it organized. I have my stickers in a CM binder. I have my paper organized by color solids in one areas and prints in another. Then I have speciality paper, vellum, mulberry, metallics, etc.

I hope this helps I feel like i am rambling

[butterfly05450]

i love scrapbooking it is a way to destress and its fun, i started about a year ago and i love it i learn new things all the time. and if any one has any new ideas i would love to hear them.