"FISH OUT OF WATER!" Remember playing Marco Polo? I'm the fish out of water when it comes to scrapbooking... Aby Garvey however is both the Marco and the Polo... this girlfriend's seriously got it going on!
I met Aby last Spring at our NAPO conference Bloggers Meet up & just had to have my photo taken with her to prove to my neighbor I got to meet "Aby Garvey". And well, you know me... I just mosied on up and made a new friend! Now mind you I didn't know at the time just how cool Aby was... now I do!
Not a scrapbooker? Me neither, in fact many of you know, I fondly refer to scrapbooking as crapbooking (only because of all the "crap" you need to create one 12x12 page and I've got so little patience ;)) BUT even though the title has Scrapbook in it... the subtitles + copy are truly some great basics. So, read on and relate because whether you scrap or just have crap ;) - Aby knows how to get it together! don't forget to visit her site + see why i'm so smitten~
THANK YOU Aby for this great addition to my Summer Guest Blog Series...
Scrapbook Organizing: Aby’s Top Five Things to Know
When you think about all the stuff that goes into creating a scrapbook—photos, adhesives, scissors, photo trimmers, cardstock, embellishments (galore!), letter stickers, the scrapbook itself, your memorabilia—the prospect of organizing for scrapbooking can seem a bit daunting. But, with just five key principles under your belt, you’ll be well on your way to orderly scrapbooking bliss.
1. Know Your Motivation for Scrapbooking.
Is it to organize your family photos? Is scrapbooking a creative outlet for you? Do you want to tell your family’s stories? When you understand your true reasons for scrapbooking, you will more easily make sense of which products to keep in your stash—those that will help you accomplish your scrapbooking goals. Without this filter in place, it’s hard to make decisions about what supplies to keep, which to let go of, and which new ones to bring into your space.
2. Know Your Approach to Scrapbooking.
How do you look for things when you’re scrapbooking? Do you look to add a little something pink, or do you think of things in terms of themes or seasons? Understanding your approach to scrapbooking, and how you look for things in the midst of creating a scrapbook page, will help you figure out the best ways to organize your supplies so you can find what you need in the heat of the scrapping moment.
3. Know the Difference Between Storage and Organization.
In a nutshell, storage is the container you put things in; organization is how you divide your things amongst your containers. Why is this important? Because you can’t solve an organization problem with storage container and you can’t solve a storage problem by re-categorizing your stuff. Understanding the difference between these two concepts, and approaching storage and organization as two separate decisions, will help you create an effective and organized scrapbook space.
4. Understand Your Storage Needs and Preferences.
Do you need to see your scrapbook supplies to remember what you have? Do you need portable storage solutions so you can scrapbook at the kitchen table or go to classes and crops? Do you need closed containers to protect you supplies from dust (or the curious fingers of your kiddos?) Understanding your storage needs and preferences before investing in containers will save you loads of frustration (and a few dollars, too!)
5. Understand the Importance of Filling Your Space with Inspiration.
Let’s face it, when we scrapbook we’re capturing our life and memories on paper. We’re telling our family’s story…and that’s pretty inspiring stuff. Let your space remind you of the importance of what you’re doing by filling it with items that inspire you to create. Whether you scrapbook at the kitchen table or have a dedicated craft space, look for ways to bring your scrapbooking inspiration into your space. Hang photos. Display completed scrapbook pages. Or, alter storage items using your favorite scrapbook supplies.
With these five key principles under your belt, you’re five steps closer to the scrapbook space of your dreams!
Happy organizing!
Aby
Aby Garvey is the co-author of The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker, and the author of The Happy Scrapper. Visit her website at www.simplify101.com for more creative organizing ideas.
Your site looks great; very crisp and clean.
(I love typepad. Makes me want to jump ship.)
Posted by: Lisa Milton | July 17, 2008 at 09:50 PM