How the Other Half Does It

Jill says:
When I read Mel's post about how she meticulously organises her Lifescrap photos, paper, embellishments, etc., I had a bit of a chuckle to myself. She is far more organised than me. Mel also puts far more time into the prep for her Lifescrap album than me. I thought to myself, "I'm gonna take photos step by step of how I prepare for Lifescrap (just for a laugh). So here it is.

Step 1.

A couple of months ago I went through my old scrapbooking magazines (so they could go to a new home after I got what I wanted out of them). I thought it would be a good opportunity to get all the half decent papers out them and use them for Lifescrap since the whole idea of Lifescrap is to recycle.

Step 2.

Recently on a Scrapbooking Retreat, I spent some time cutting up rectangles 3 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches out of all the half decent papers I had rescued from my old magazines. That's a couple of months out of the way.

Step 3.

At the start of the year I went through all the white pages I had kept from albums that I didn't use and cut out rectangles in the same dimensions. They sit in a basket on my table for easy access (and not really having any other idea where to store them) so they are ready for journalling.

Step 4.

When I print photos throughtout the month for other things like circle journals or layouts (usually I don't print photos at home unless I need a special size or I have forgotten to get a photo printed when I have visited the photo lab), I also print my photos for Lifescrap. If I don't have any need to print photos during the month, I do it on the day I am finishing off for that month.

Step 5.

I get out all my scrap cardstock and pick out some matching cardstock for the month title and for the date circles and any other embellishments I want to use up. I usually use the same circle punch for the date and I try to add in something else. This month I punched some daisies out of pink cardstock.

Step 6.

I have one stamp set that has the right size numbers so no big choice here. I like that cos it saves me time.

Step 7.

Write out the journalling by going over my diary (although this will change from this month as I am thinking about using Mel's idea of a month to an opening diary just for Lifescrap) and type up the journalling on my computer. Also this is the time to put together any embellishments.

Step 8.
Put it all together.



The almost finished product! I am still to print one photo (which I hurriedly got my husband to take today) of my 'stitch' on my back. I realised when I was doing my Lifescrap (as I took these photos this morning) that I didn't actually have a photo of my 'procedure' and needed one as I had journalled about it.


So there you have it. In 8 easy steps. A simple record of how I 'throw' my Lifescrap 365 pages together.

The last of May

Melissa says:
This month I really got into the swing of taking more photo's than previous months. Using my camera phone was just so much more convenient, especially when I tend to use mini prints in my lifescrap album and the quality was really good.

A little reminder to Jill when she reads this. You promised to create a post about how you plan your month. I'm dying to see how you do it.

The month of May in progress

Melissa says:
When the beginning of the month rolls around, I love to create an overall look. Not only does it make it easy to just add photos and journalling, but a massive timesaver when you can just reach for the same thing for a block of time. Here's a sneak peek at the process. Maybe it will help when it comes to planning your next project.


Step 1.
I like to choose 7 complimentary patterns or cardstock. They are sometimes from a collection but mostly they are a general mix of things I already have at home. I have found that 1 full sheet of each pattern is more than enough. 2 pieces of cardstock to flesh out the title pages completes the set.








Step 2.
Next I start looking in my scraps folders to find any of the papers or cardstock that I have previously used. Stickers and rub on's with numbers are essential when labelling the date and I have a set of acetate months that I am using all year.For me, stitching is a pre requisite, so I find the matching shades of DMC cotton and any embellishments that will compliment the colour grouping.






Step 3.
I take the time to cut all of the pieces I will need to fill the page protectors ear marked for the month. A cardstock base for the title and final page of the month and all of patterns are cut into journalling size rectangles to fit the ATC refills. This is where all of your scraps can start to be very handy.





Step 4.
I place all of the pre cut pieces in all of the sleeves, so I can move colours around and get the placement just the way I want it before I start any of the entries. Usually I like to get this done within the first few days of the month so it allows me no time to fall behind on taking a photo most days.

Step 5.

To keep track of the photo's I take every month, I have a cheap diary to keep important details in. Each day that I take a photo, I circle the date, write what the photo was as well as a quick bit of journalling. It's also a great place to keep a note of anything else I need to keep track of.

When I have done all of those things, I keep all of the supplies together for the entire month so I can quickly just grab, create and move on to something else. Great for dashing into my workroom to do a few minutes between hanging out the washing and mopping the floors.