Everyone wants to get more scrapbooking projects completed. I am always trying to convert my “unsafe” albums over to “safe” scrapbooks, while trying to keep up with this years events!

You can get an album done in a week or two by power cropping. Once you have SET your theme, you’re READY to organize photos, papers, accents and tools so you can GO crop with a plan. Set your goal to finish an album in a specific time frame. Being prepared and focused makes your scrapbooking time more productive.

Focus your time using these quick tips.

READY

1. Plan and focus on one album.
2. Decide on a theme. Does this scrapbook cover a specific year, vacation, or event? This can help you limit the paper colors or embellishment choices.
3. Sort your photos. Most albums are chronological within the event theme. Arrange photos in the order you want them on layout pages. Using a template for placing photos will help you save time. Place 4-6 photos into each file pocket zip bag or page protector. Accordian folders work well to store everything for a layout until you can actually scrap the page.
4. Plan the layouts. Look through web pages, magazines etc. Print or mark the pages and place them with the photos in your file for reference.

SET

1. Embellishments should be simple, even consider using the same embellishment style or product line throughout a whole album. It looks elegant and keeps the focus on your photos.
2. Simplicity also saves you time. Minimize your template shapes, corner treatments, and decorative scissors. Keep fancy cutting and matting treatments down to two photos or less per layout.  This also puts more emphasis or adds more punch to that particular photo.
3. Limit your paper. Use two colors of solid cardstock and two types of patterned papers. There are unlimited numbers of layout kits available as a tool to cut your design time down. In addition, pre-cut paper packs are available to save cropping time.
4. Journal from the heart. Pick only one or two pen colors for journaling. Keep your journaling simple using the 5-W’s or “lists” to describe the event.

GO!

1.       Going to a crop? Find a big sturdy accordion file, tote bag, or organizer that fits what you need just for this album. You can grab it and go!

2.       Allow yourself the time to give the project your undivided attention to meet your goal. Whether it’s a weekend get away or one hour a day, it will be easy to get on a roll once you have attained a little momentum.