ACOT Message Board

 Hi all - I would like to know how you organize/ what you bring etc when you leave your space for a crop -

For example:  going to a LSS crop on Saturday and I never know what to bring.  They have very limited space and I feel awful bringing more than 1 bag or so.  I put one under my table but it is really so crowded.

I have one entire tote that has alphas, tools, cutters - so that has to come along -

then I never know what else - it seems like if I take certains pics and paper I either can't get into that set or wish I had something else with me or wonder what paper might be at home.

I've thought about just bringing pics and buying paper there but they really don't have enough to do that - in my theme of pictures.

I leave my solid paper at home and I do buy that at the store -


any ideas???????????

I tried to sort paper with embellishments but that doesn't seem to be working either and so much stays at home!

ALL AND ANY IDEAS ARE WELCOME

PS :  I have very limited space at home so all of my things are packed in totes at all times - so I can't just go through and pick certain things - I have to unload, pick, load etc.

I'm no help as I pack everything... lame I know but I can't leave anything behind! That being said, I don't go to day crops nor will I go to a weekend crop where I don't get at least 1/2 a table.

I'm sure someone will have great advice for you Have a great time!

I hear you about having everything in totes.... I did that for years and some is still that way. It makes it really hard to get things completed. But you can only do what you can do with the space you have

 My Tip:

Get yourself one of those folding metal shelves from the kitchen section at a store near you such as Fred Meyer.  This gives you alot more room in your work area because you can put tools, organizing boxes of various items, etc; right at your fingertips and still have lots of room left for working.

Something I like to do for crops at my LSS is use this time to make mini books, normally 8x8 or smaller.  This way I can bring items specific to doing that book but don't have to pre do any pages.  The next reason I like this is because I tend to get chatty and if I have a mini book to complete, I still feel like I've gotten something accomplished.

Best of luck to you! 

 Well...I'm going to tell you what I do.  But it sounds like it might not work for you for THIS crop.  It takes some time at home.

I make kits.  I know lots of people do, and I think everyone probably does them a little differently, but here's what I do:

1)  Choose pictures I want to scrap, sort them into what goes together/what I want on one LO or a 2pg LO. 

2)  I print off several sheets of my "kit labels" on CS.  It's a file I created in Excel that has 6 to a sheet...and I cut them up.  I number each "kit" and these little notecard sized notes stay with the pictures.

3)  I choose a sketch or SL or jot down my own idea to go with the 1st set of pics. 

4)  Choose paper (both CS & PP) to go with my pictures/sketch and label 'em with the "kit #" on a little sticky flag.

5)  Choose embellishments, title, cut anything needed with my cricut and/or cuttlebug, etc.  I put all this in a little ziplock bag with another little sticky flag and the kit # on it. 

6) Any embellishment I don't want to pack in that bag (paint, stickles, glimmer mist...anything that could be used again & again...not like a brad, for instance), I jot on a list that I just keep by my side while I'm making kits.  I put the kit # and what the item is.

I put all my photos in my photo storage box, separated by their kit label and a cut out of the sketch or SL if it's not jotted on the kit label.  My paper all goes in a little 12x12 plastic envelope/bag, sorted by kit #. And my little baggies go in a rubbermaid bin.  Then I just take those 3 things, all my adhesive and cutting tools and everything on my list (from #6).  Sometimes I take my scrap paper folder too, just in case.

Does that make sense?

Like I said...it does take time to do though and you kinda have to have everything out so I'm not sure it helps for THIS Saturday. 

 My stuff at home is pretty much organized into totes, too.  I have a station wagon.  I just go ahead and put all of the totes in the back of it.  I do pull out a few things that I think I will be working and put them with the pictures in a separate bag.  Then at the crop I go back and forth to my car getting each tote as I need it and then putting it back in the car when I've gotten what I want out of it.

 I like to take a certain thing to work on. I have a hard time working willy nilly unless its a several day crop.  I'm going to a "meet up" group for scrapbooking for my first time next week. I plan on taking my cricut machine and all my scraps and making a bunch of cards.  I usually have a few "must haves" when working, like my stickle bag, a jar of flowers (all mixed) and my jar of scrap ribbons.  I also do lots of altered projects and will pull everything for that and just take those items.  Besides, you're at a SCRAPPY store, right?

 yeah for the crop tonight.. i'm just putting sheets of 8x8 paper in this clear filing thing that I got with my crop bag..and just putting little embellishments I want to use for different layouts in little ziploc bags.my adhesive in the quart size bags etc. Just seems the easiest way to me.. I am trying to think through my layouts some before I go tonight.. It's a 3 hour crop.just going to take like 5 or 6 layouts I could do possibly.. not sure what to expect..i'm so excited.. I hope you figure everything out for LSS crop.. I wish our michaels/hobby lobby. did crops. heh.

Ally

 Man, I wish I could help you, but, I'm in the same predicament.

I have bunch of half-finished pages from the last crop.  In the last few days I took time at home to make some more elaborate titles cut-outs with my Quickutz tools so I can finish some of those pages at the crop this weekend.  But, I, too, have trouble deciding what else to take.  I usually take out from my packed tote whatever I am pretty sure I won't use and go with that. 

I'll let you know if it works or if I run out of things to do again.

 Well I have 2 of the 12x12 expandable files that I keep current projects in.  The pics, paper, and sticker/rubon sheets all together in that. 

My luggage consist of 3 pieces. 
1. A roller tote which holds the expandable files, the cardstick, letters, tape, stapler, etc...
2. Then I have a tote that my brads, eyelets, ribbons etc is in and sits on top of the roller tote. 
3. Then I have a regular tote that i use to carry my scrapbook if I am taking it or whatever needs to be in it if I don't take the book.

 When I go to a crop I talk to friends and we share some things such as tools

I bought a bunch of those Iris carts that have drawers and put a project in a drawer.   I have lots of albums in the works so if I have a few crops coming up I'll leave things for that project in a tote.  WHen I pack I leave things like my ATG and cutters at the top so I can access them at home.

craftyfool wrote: Well...I'm going to tell you what I do.  But it sounds like it might not work for you for THIS crop.  It takes some time at home.

I make kits.  I know lots of people do, and I think everyone probably does them a little differently, but here's what I do:

1)  Choose pictures I want to scrap, sort them into what goes together/what I want on one LO or a 2pg LO. 

2)  I print off several sheets of my "kit labels" on CS.  It's a file I created in Excel that has 6 to a sheet...and I cut them up.  I number each "kit" and these little notecard sized notes stay with the pictures.

3)  I choose a sketch or SL or jot down my own idea to go with the 1st set of pics. 

4)  Choose paper (both CS & PP) to go with my pictures/sketch and label 'em with the "kit #" on a little sticky flag.

5)  Choose embellishments, title, cut anything needed with my cricut and/or cuttlebug, etc.  I put all this in a little ziplock bag with another little sticky flag and the kit # on it. 

6) Any embellishment I don't want to pack in that bag (paint, stickles, glimmer mist...anything that could be used again & again...not like a brad, for instance), I jot on a list that I just keep by my side while I'm making kits.  I put the kit # and what the item is.

I put all my photos in my photo storage box, separated by their kit label and a cut out of the sketch or SL if it's not jotted on the kit label.  My paper all goes in a little 12x12 plastic envelope/bag, sorted by kit #. And my little baggies go in a rubbermaid bin.  Then I just take those 3 things, all my adhesive and cutting tools and everything on my list (from #6).  Sometimes I take my scrap paper folder too, just in case.

Does that make sense?

Like I said...it does take time to do though and you kinda have to have everything out so I'm not sure it helps for THIS Saturday. 

Hi - if you aren't too busy, could you just come to my house and get this set up for me????????

AWESOME organization ~  I am jealous

 I've never been to a crop - but I do put things together to make a kit.  I use the clear craft envelopes or the sheet protector for my page LO and insert all paper and pics for that LO along with any embellishments and ribbon etc.  I file these sleeves in my scraproom so I can grab one if I feel like working on something. 

Then I have a small tote with adhesive, pens, ink etc. and a larger tote for bigger supplies. 

 I pretty much do what Craftyfool does (since she got me to doing it in the first place).  

1 - Put the pictures in a little baggie (like a sandwich baggie) with a note on what LO/SL/Idea I'm using for the page.

2- Pick out the paper I plan to use, any sticker or other embellishments (I generally put smaller stuff in with pics). 

3 - Use loose album pages as dividers between the different "kits" and put everything in a clear storage box. 

When I go to crops, I take the storage box with the kits and then I pack all my cutting tools, adhesive, pens, idea books/sheets, etc in my tote. 

Like craftyfool said, it's a lot of work, but it's sooo nice not to have to pack up my whole scrapbook room everytime I go to a crop.  Plus it make me more willing/wanting to go! 

 Great Ideas

 I have a Sterilite 3 drawer bin that I put most of my tools in.  It goes with me everywhere.  It's about 12" by 11".  The top drawer has a little bit of everything in it, like a quote book, sandpaper, my favorite writing pens for journaling, some rags for inking my paper, etc.
The 2nd drawer has cutting tools in it.  ie: CM circles and ovals, and the cutting blades, an xacto knife, hole punch, corner punch, and replacement blades for my 12" cutter and my scissors.
The bottom drawer has all my adhesives in it.  ie: runners, dots, vellum tape, dry adhesive, pop dots, and refills for my tape runner.  I love having this, because it takes up less space on the table then just having your adhesives and cutters everywhere, or having to dig for everything, and I never have to unpack it.  I just simply move it from the top of my desk to the car, and from the car to the table. 

I have a 12x12 project bin that I fill with pictures and papers that I coordinate with them.  I also try to pull whatever stickers I have that would work with the theme (especially since I have soo many stickers, and they are piling up, cause I dont use them as much as I should).  Then I fill the rest of the bag with matching ribbon, ink, chalk, embellishments, etc that I might use.  I really dont plan out my pages completely.  I will also bring magazines or copies of the great work done here at ACOT for inspiration.  And what ever I havent brought with me, just gives me a reason to go shopping!  (I usually crop at the LSS).  Hope that helps.

I do pretty much what Jan does....I use the 12x12 clear plastic craft pouches and put together kits with everything I might want to use on the layout. I don't really plan the whole thing out just put together some coordinating stuff to go with the pictures I have chosen. Then if I have to go to a crop I just grab some of the pouches and I ready. I usually keep the basics like adhesives, pens, cutter, scissors, ruler all in a separte tote  so they're ready to go too.This works well for an evening or one day crop. Let's face it girls....we do like to chat when we meet up with fellow scrappers so no sense hauling tons.....and maybe if you need something you forgot, someone else there may have it to share!

 I make kits - otherwise I'm impossible about bringing everything! I pick the photo/s for a LO and put them in one of those big 12x12 plastic folders along with a few pp's, a cs or two, some scraps that coordinate and some embellies that coordinate too. Usually some stickers or rubons, buttons, ribbon/ricrac,flowers, brads etc. I make about one kit per hour I'll be cropping. Then I bring my tools tray - a desk organizer where I keep my scissors, pens, glue dots, and other bits and pieces and tools that I like to have on hand (I usually throw in a few of my most used inks), my old plastic margerine container that I use for scrap disposal and my trimmer. Then it's just my cricut and carts if I decide to bring them. Otherwise I will include alpha stickers in with the kits. HTH