How in the world do you find time to scrapbook with kids, lol?

Kellie - posted on 08/24/2011

That is exactly why I went digital :D

Danielle - posted on 08/02/2011

I don't...yet, but I'm trying...I probably could right now, but honestly I don't wanna pull it all out ATM :P

Marsha - posted on 07/06/2011

My scrapbook table is set up in my daughter's play room, now. WHen she was little I scrapped when she napped and it was a pain to haul everything out to work for 45 minutes to then have to put it away before she woke up. AND I only got to do that during summer vacation. She's good about not touching Mommys' things. And she also has her own supplies of construction paper, cool stickers, safety scissors and glue sticks. A girlfriend of mine sells CM and we scrap once a month at a local restaurant. During the school year (because she's a teacher too) we only scrap from 5-8. During the summer we scrap from 1-8. There's a group of us that meet. My daughter comes with me, on the night ones and either scraps or does a craft my Mom or Aunt brings. On the all day crops I try to get a teenage cousin of mine to take her to the local free waterpark or playground for 2-3 hours. They like playing with her, she with them, and I get my free time. I babysat them for free as a teen, and their Mom babysat me, as my mom babysat her, so it's ALL good !!

Paula - posted on 07/05/2011

My biggest hang up is the paper to use!! Going to my sisters this wk-end & am taking a BIG stack of pixs & my paper! Once I get that done, I go gang busters! Don't why the paper is such a hang up for me! We turned our 4 th bedroom upstairs into my scrap booking so I can leave things out. I am an early riser, so on wk-ends head up there.

Paula - posted on 07/05/2011

My biggest hang up is the paper to use!! Going to my sisters this wk-end & am taking a BIG stack of pixs & my paper! Once I get that done, I go gang busters! Don't why the paper is such a hang up for me! We turned our 4 th bedroom upstairs into my scrap booking so I can leave things out. I am an early riser, so on wk-ends head up there.

Michele - posted on 01/29/2010

try settimg a goal of so many pages a day! Even if it's just one< it's one more than you had yesterday!

Tina - posted on 01/28/2010

Holy crap, well done. I am going away with some girls I usually get together for friday crops, but this time we are going to florida, lol. Just beach and peace.

Ingrid - posted on 01/10/2010

Since I gave birth to my DD 8 yrs. ago, I been pretty current on albums. Sometimes I do some cropping from 9pm to 3am. However going to an all-day crop from 10am to 10pm at my local scrapbooking store makes it easier to get a lot done without my family bugging me. 12hrs. to socialize and getting out of the house.

Melissa - posted on 01/10/2010

I set up a "Scrap Night" for once a month. Send out emails to friends & family with scheduled dates/times for future nights. We would also have potluck scrap nights were everyone brought an item to share (food or drink). Have the scrap nights at someone else's house each month that way it gives everyone a chance to be a hostess. This also gives hubby or a sitter a chance to watch the kids for a few hours.

Angela - posted on 01/09/2010

My LO is 4 months old and I have put scrapbooking aside for a few months....."sigh"

Jodi - posted on 01/07/2010

I always have ambitions to scrap after my LO goes to sleep for the night, but I usually get sidetracked by dishes and laundry and what not...by the time I'm done with that stuff...I'm too tired to see the pages straight anymore! So I don't know either! But I REALLY like the suggestion of scrapbooking with a glass of wine...mmm...that sounds VERY relaxing!

Elizabeth - posted on 01/07/2010

while they're taking naps, at friend's house, whenever you have a free moment. if you have the space to have a table set up with your scrapbooking things out at all times, it's not so bad. i wasn't so lucky when my son was little. i had to use the kitchen table but he also was a sleepy head and took long naps. now that he's a teenager it's easier to find time. but i've never been the type to be still with one thing for long so sometimes i would only do a couple pages at a time. i was surprised to find scrapbooking as a stress reliever a lot of times. it kind of mellowed me out i guess. lol

Jessica - posted on 01/06/2010

At my house nap time is scrap time. I was really behind in my scrapping until I started scrapping while my son was taking his hour nap. Now that he doesn't take a nap I usually try to scrap at least one page while he watches a movie or eats lunch.

Keerstin - posted on 01/06/2010

My daughter is a little older than some of the posts, but there are two things I do to scrapbook. The first one is, my daughter's elementary school often holds scrapbooking events prior to their PTO meeting. That way parents can attend both. The second is playdates. Almost every Friday, my daughter has a playdate with one of her friends. The mother of this child also scrapbooks, so while they play we scrapbook. Also, my daughter likes to scrapbook and they sell little kids scrapbook stuff so they can do there own.

Shannon - posted on 01/05/2010

can you work on it when he is sleeping? i work on mine when the kids are at school, or while they are asleep, maybe you can get him his own paper to rip up? or you could have your hubby watch him so you can have time to yourself.......?

Graciela - posted on 01/05/2010

I scrapbook in the evening after they go to bed, turn up my ipod with a glass of wine :-)

Alisha - posted on 01/05/2010

Im also bummed that I havent scrapped since my first baby was born 5 mos ago. Ive made some cards but thats about it. My only solution is getting together with my sister in laws for a couple hours devoted to scrapping and catching up in the mean time. We do what we can while the guys are watching the kids. That usually gives us about 4-5 hours of us time.

Eula - posted on 01/04/2010

I usually scrap book when chase goes to bed. I do a page or two.

Vira - posted on 01/04/2010

i don't think that we will ever find the time...what, with two boys under 2 yrs? lol I think that is why i started dabbling in digital scrapbooking. Don't get me wrong, i still love to paper scrapbook but my older boy just loves to get into all my supplies. I think ever since i started doing the digi, i have completed more layouts than i would have with paper scrapping. hopefully one day soon, i will return to my beloved paper scrapping. for now the digi will do. btw, i am having so much fun with it!

SanDee - posted on 01/04/2010

Quoting Cherice:

If you don't mind me asking when you plan your layouts do you get most of your ideas from yourself or do you have websites, books or get ideas from friends. I get stuck most of the time on planning so thats why i get behind and right now Im so far behind that i dont know where to start anymore. ~Thank you~

   I just do a page at a time lol and I do them themed Like yesterday i did a pic of my daughter playing the piano and i found a pretty scarp page with music notes on it... I just right down the pics I have and the theme for the page I want to do that way I don't ever over buy :) magazines give me good ideas and sometimes i just browse online for a general idea!

Dawn - posted on 01/04/2010

I have three kids (6.5 years, almost 4 years and 21 months) and one on the way...and they all have their own books. I am a bit behind, but I am trying my best to catch up before #4 arrives. I am lucky enough to have a designated area that I don't have to clean up every time, but it can be difficult to keep the kids out of it.

The time I find to scrapbook is pretty much after the kids go to bed! I also scrapbook a couple of times a week at nap time for the 21 month old. My almost 4 year old is willing to draw near me, or play on the computer. And, sometimes, I can sneak a few hours in on a weekend when Dad is with the kids. Believe it or not, it all adds up and I am getting caught up slowly but surely. I think the key is to focus on what you are doing in that moment, not everything you still need to get to.

It is actually kind of fun catching up and I will definitely have a HUGE sense of accomplishment once I am caught up...and absolutely no idea what is on tv anymore :).

Tonya - posted on 01/04/2010

I scrapbook after my daughter is in bed but she is 13....with smaller kids sometimes you just have to say to your husband....."I need time to myself can you watch the kids." and baracade yourself in the room and lock the door and do what you can.

Ashley - posted on 01/04/2010

I used to feel the same way.. But I recently made it a goal to just get it done! And have fun while doing it! I even started my own site.. everydaymomdesigns.com I sell premade scrapbook pages.. And to think only a year ago, I thought I'd never scrapbook again.. I even bought premade scrapbook pages about a year ago, b/c I still wanted a scrapbook... Honestly, try to make the time, or for now, buy some premade pages so that you can still stay afloat, instead of getting way too far behind and never being able to catch up.. Good luck!

Heather - posted on 01/04/2010

I have the same problem. My daughter is 4 and loves to get into everything! The easiest thing for me is wait until she is in bed or give her some crafty things of her own and work together and let her feel like she is being like mommy.

Marissa - posted on 01/03/2010

I have a 9 yr. old and she has been given scrapbook kits as gifts and I also pick up small punches and stickers for her. I make sure I have extra pictures for her and we both sit down and work on our scrapbooks together. I am WAY behind but it's fun time that we spend together when we can find the time. I also have a craft room in the works which will help me be able to leave my stuff out and ready for the next chance to get back at it.

Cherice - posted on 01/03/2010

If you don't mind me asking when you plan your layouts do you get most of your ideas from yourself or do you have websites, books or get ideas from friends. I get stuck most of the time on planning so thats why i get behind and right now Im so far behind that i dont know where to start anymore. ~Thank you~

Missy - posted on 01/03/2010

I go away on scrapbooking weekends about 3 times a year. Go away for 3-4 days with a group of ladies and scrap like crazy! I try to get some layouts planned ahead of time and then just print out those pictures you will be using. This way you're not trying to figure things out and waste time while you're there. You get a lot done doing this time away. I have 4 kids ages 12 to 2 and am caught up to Halloween 09.

Cherice - posted on 01/03/2010

My daughter is turning 8yrs old in 2 weeks and I have learned to balance my scrapbooking time around her. Since I'm a stay at home mom, I will get everything I done that I need to get done while she is at school and when she comes home its my time with her, than I put her to bed and do my scrapbooking. Another trick i found easy to do was to buy pouchs and put the items im using for the page paper, pics, stickers etc..and get them set up so that I have them ready to go which saves lots of time. Even though Im the 1st to admit that I'm so far behind on my scrapbooking that it may take another year for me to get caught up, I always try new things to help me balance my scrapbooking time.

SanDee - posted on 01/03/2010

I set up playdates with friends we scrap while the kids play for hours! it works out perfect haha

Mandy - posted on 01/03/2010

I have 4 sons that are a little older and they scrapbook right along with me! When my son was 3 I bought him some stick glue and safety scissors and he would love to sit on the floor and just glue my scraps to a piece of paper and add stickers. He is now 13 and his art from then is still hanging on everyones walls.

Irene - posted on 01/03/2010

remember you deserve a "My Time". If you don't get it you can burn yourself out. There is a time for family-a time for kids-a time for yourself.Don't feel guilty.Put them down for a nap-then chill out yourself.Join a Scrapbook group and go off and spend some time with friends and enjoy your scrapbooking. I wish you the best.

Ashley - posted on 01/02/2010

I do it when somebody else is taking care of her during her naps or during her feeding time on her own. late at night when she goes to bed i do the listening to music thing..

Melissa - posted on 01/02/2010

When my kids were younger, I would scrap during their naps and late at night.

Luci - posted on 01/01/2010

Take the kids to the park during the day and wear them out. Then put them to bed a half hour early that night. Go to your room, Spend an hour organizing your room or more if you feel like it. Then. Do it again on another day on a weekend. Vow to stay up a little longer than usual and go into your room, turn on some good up beat music and then go to town. If you keep your photos organized and spend even 5 min a day on that. Then you can easily make up plans when your kids go to bed. Make sure your room is organized and clean so that when you are ready to do projects you can get rigth to them quicker. Thats' what's helped me.

Allison - posted on 12/31/2009

lol...I feel your pain. And I was actually considering taking on that Project 365 where you document the entire year. lol. I dug out all my supplies but its very overwhelming. My two girls are 4 & 2...redheads..and I can't do anything without them wanting to "help". I actually think I'm going to try the new Simple Stories system from MemoryWorks when it comes out...have you heard of it? Apparently you can get an entire scrapbook together documenting the Project 365 without any adhesives, cropping or expensive embellishments. There's been a bunch of buzz about it and I think I could actually tackle my "digital mountain" of photos that I've been stocking up on too. Here's the link for more info, if you want to look into it http://www.mysimplestories.com