2011 Fast Scrap Decisions

Did I mention that I am about 25 years behind. To remedy this, I have a plan. :)

I have bits and pieces of a lot of years mostly because i entered a challenge or took an online class or followed someone's tutorial. Now, I want to finish these starts and the years they are a part of and have it printed.

I would like each book to include 2 years. My current plan is to start with 2011/ 2012 and have them printed together. I chose these because my memory of them is fairly current. I've lost some of the details of years back so why start there.

 I have very organized photo files. (By year, month, event)

For each book, I plan to select a template pack and stick with it throughout the book. I think this lends itself to some continuity within the book. For efficiency, I copy the templates to the photo file. It makes opening things in PS so much faster.

For the 2011/2012 book, drumroll please...I've chosen Anna Aspnes Month in Review templates.
These templates are the best because they come in a two page spread. that means the right and left side go together. Brilliant! By Anna, for me. After reviewing my photos for the story I am telling, I find one of the templates that will fill the bill. The beauty of using templates is the fast starting place. You can flip them or eliminate a photo or stretch one to make it bigger. They are very versatile. Pick a background paper, add elements and then tell your story.

To make things easy, I usually stick with the same couple of fonts and font sizes for the book.
Hey, I am just trying to make things happen and for me, it's all about the photos and stories.

Here are a couple of examples:

 

Thanks for looking! Comments are welcome! You're the best!

Fast Scrap

I generally make two types of books: travel and family books that are generally in chronological order. In both cases and for speed, I most often use templates.

For a single event book, my approach is:

1. set up a file with a variety of templates and a number of background papers;
2. include drop shadows on all the photo spots on the template;
3. look at the photos to determine if more portrait or landscape spots were needed; 
4. place the photos on the template and clip them to the mask;
5. size and straighten them on the page;
6. select from background papers included in the file, many were the same and simply recolored in PS 
7. select and use just a few fonts and font sizes;

The slowest part of this process is the journaling. It helps to keep a journal while on your trip. One of my SILs writes about the day at the end of each day. I like that idea.

I like to make a two page spread for each place or activity. One page is a large single photo  from the event. The other side is a collage of images that tell the story.

In the end, doing any type of photo book is an opportunity to clean out photo files. Storage in a PC while not messy, is not free. It is also clutter. How many photos of an event do you really need. Don't be a hoarder. haha

Here are a few examples from my New Zealand trip and book.

 

Enjoy!

Scrapbooking Approach

I have a lot of scrapbooking catch up to do after many years of starts and stops.

I remember the first time I saw a really fun scrapbook at a craft fair "Walk in the Park". I was immediately hooked. The woman  was a Creative Memories vendor. I walked that path for awhile but it was so slow and messy. I didn't have a dedicated place to work so I spent more time getting supplies out and putting them away again with very little progress. My SIL introduced me to digital scrapbooking and I have never looked back. These digi ladies have taught me how to use Photoshop creatively which has segued into my fiber art as well. I love that you can spend a few minutes on a layout and it stays in your computer until you get back to it. The mess is stored in my brain and PC.

The next step in my scrapbooking timeline was the advent of book publishers. My choice is Blurb. There are many more. Persnickety Prints prints single pages if you would like to load them into your own scrapbooks or embellish them further.

I've looked at and admired the work of many scrapbookers who have raised scrapbooking to an art form. In the end I've decided for me, getting the story told is what I want and that means a lot of pictures and the stories that go with them. Skip the elements. Give me a good piece of paper and I'm a happy camper.

I have bits and pieces of our family stories but estimate I am 25 years (yes, you heard me) behind. I have a plan which I will share in my next post. I am currently scrapping memories from 2011 and offer a few pages for your viewing.