Efficient Scrapbooking

Welcome to another awesome Club Scrap Creates blog hop!

One of my favorite things to do is to find something fun to listen to watch on Netflix, cue it up on my laptop, don my wireless bluetooth headphones, pour a glass of red wine, and scrapbook. I always stand up while I'm scrapbooking. Do you do that?

But sometimes I get myself all set up, and nothing happens. Like, "Okaaaaaay. I'm ready!" Nothing.

That was today.

Enter: The Layout Card. That super-handy, efficient lifesaver that rescues me from the dreaded "staring zone."

I browsed and downloaded the Bold Blooms layout card from August, 2012. (Normally this is available to Club Scrap members only, but I really want you all to see how it worked out and give you the opportunity to try it, too!) I thought it would be a good one for the Cape Cod collection that I absolutely must use immediately.

This is my approach:

1. Study the distribution of papers on the layout sketch.

2. Look at what you have on hand and imagine those papers being on the pages.

3. Assign colors to each paper; be flexible. I just write it in with a pencil, and make changes as needed.

4. Trim the papers according to the detailed cutting instructions. Note: I rarely look at the sketches during this process, but simply follow the written steps. Put all of the pieces on a big, beautiful pile.

5. Assemble the puzzle; be flexible. Once you've decided on your arrangement, adhere the pieces. 

For this particular layout design, I used a ruler to help maintain a margin of .5" on all four sides of the collaged section. That worked swell.

6. Add photos; be flexible. I ended up rotating the pages, eliminating and changing elements, swapping the right side with the left side, etc. The point here is that the layout card got me started!

Sip, sip. What should I do next? I'm on a roll!

Meanwhile, you're hopping along to see what my favorite Dutch crafter, Hetty Sanders, is up to at Craft Chaos.

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!
Tricia