PLanning Layouts

So, now I have figured out what pages I want to work on next. Now, I am going to check out some paper and embellishments for them and set those aside. This way when I do get time to work on pages, I will have all the material ready to go. Then while the family is watching Spongebob, I will layout the pages with my sketches.

You would be surprised how much time it saves when you layout your pages before you begin scrapping. I use some sites to help with this process. scrapbooks etc. is a good place to get ideas and so is scrapbook.com.

Organizing Pictures

I never realized just how disorganized my pictures were until I tried to organize them. First, I put them in envelopes by what occasion. Then, I sort what pictures I want to use on my pages and which ones I want to put into regular photo albums. Then, I write down what pictures I have in a notebook. The order depends on what pages I want to work on first. Then, I write the sizes and whether they are vertical or horizontal. Later, (hours, days, weeks, or sometimes months later), I sit down with some layout sketches from magazines, friends, online sources, etc. and draw up how I am going to layout the pages using the pictures. Sometimes I choose the papers and embellishments then the layouts and sometimes I choose the layouts and then the papers and embellishments.
By doing this, I save myself a lot of headaches while scrapping. Usually I stick to the layout I have chosen, but sometimes I will change certain aspects of it. However, the stress of figuring out what to do is non-existent when I follow this format.
Hope this helps when you can't figure out what to do with your pictures and how to make the most of your scrapbooking time.