How to find time?!

Gwen - posted on 04/18/2009

Quoting Jennifer:

The last Sunday of each month is my "Scrapbookin' Sunday." I have a big dining room table and all my friends who are scrapbookers know they are welcome to come over and scrap from 1 pm until 5 or so. My husband know he's on baby duty for those four hours. I don't have a lot of my son's scrapbook done, but it's a start.

I love this idea--always setting aside 1 day a month--I have 4 girls twins that are 7 a 4 year old and a 7 month old--busy at our house too--it so funny how we are ALL in the same situation--I agree with Jennifer that you need to set time aside and stick to it--so often our men in our lives have hobbies and it doesn't seem to bother them to leave--hunting, fishing, pool etc--us Moms need to do the same thing!! It is exhausting taking care of children--that is one reason I like to scrapbook- I love to look at all the pictures of them---after I get done doing a couple pages or even sorting photos it makes me remember why I love being a Mom--even if some days I question it LOL!!

Jennifer - posted on 04/18/2009

The last Sunday of each month is my "Scrapbookin' Sunday." I have a big dining room table and all my friends who are scrapbookers know they are welcome to come over and scrap from 1 pm until 5 or so. My husband know he's on baby duty for those four hours. I don't have a lot of my son's scrapbook done, but it's a start.

Maran - posted on 04/17/2009

little by little. Don't try to do it all at once. I get overwhelmed too quickly. Set goals that you can reach and whittle away at your projects.

Andrea - posted on 04/17/2009

My birthday is coming up so I think I am going to tell my hubby that I want a "me" day for my day...a day where I can crop and organize my room and he can keep the baby for me. Maybe that will get me going again! We'll have to see how much we've actually been able to get caught back up on next month...

Lisa - posted on 04/17/2009

good idea..that is exactly my plan. To set one night a week or month to doing my pages. At least maybe I can start to get caught up!!

Maran - posted on 04/17/2009

I've struggled to find the time with a toddler and 6 mo. old---whose album I haven't started yet. But a couple of ideas to try are: set aside one evening a week to work for two or more hours. Surely hubby can help out for that long. . . Also, I go to a crop one night a month where a small group of scrapbookers (4-6) get together and crop from 7-11pm. Keeps the pages rolling even if you never get to crop any other time.

Lisa - posted on 04/17/2009

I too am still nursing, so that is another very time consuming reason I haven't started my book of him yet or even begun to finish all the other kid's pics. I was just telling my best friend the other day that if I want to get it done then I will have to do it around midnight. I would sit up for hours late at night scrapping before little one came along. Now I am so tired when he does go to sleep I don't have the creativity left. I'm about to the point of doing it again now that he is sleeping a little better.

Andrea - posted on 04/17/2009

I am in the same situation and logged in to post the same question...pre-baby, I had visions of spending hours in my crop room while he dozed and working on my various projects I haven't finished...YEAH RIGHT! Unfortunately, reality is here and he's cute as a button, and I haven't had time to work on his book or any of my other projects either, with less than four weeks left of my maternity leave. I've done digi scrapbooking, especially for gifts, but I really love the hands-on method of cropping and creating something (it's about the only crafty thing I am comfortable doing!). Trying to figure out just how to get started with my little guy still nursing every 2-2 1/2 hrs...extra time mgmt tips would be grand. Have you come up with anything that is working well for you?

Lisa - posted on 04/17/2009

I don't know that I would like the digital scrapbooking either. I love to use my puches, stencils, etc. When the kids were in bed is when I use to scrap also, but my 9 month old never seems to want to sleep. Also, I think when I have a friend to come and scrap with me, I seem to be more assertive at getting it done!

Sarah - posted on 04/17/2009

I honestly do not like the digital scrapbooking...I love the fact I can create what I want with the supplies I have.....in regards to the time, I just set aside a couple hours each week; perhaps before bed or in the morning, when I can be alone - while kids are napping or in bed or something....when I order pictures, I immediately organize them in the way I want the book and when I have some free time, I just sit down and scrap a page or two! It is a lot easier when you have your 'own space' - this will allow you to already have some supplies out and you don't have to worry about having all of your boxes unloaded and then scrapping!

Lisa - posted on 04/17/2009

I know how you feel. I have 5 kids and 4 stepkids. One being 9 months old. I haven't done the first page since he was born. I use to be good at sitting down at night when the kids went to bed and do a few pages. He is so demanding with my time that I haven't even tried to sit down to scrap. I think we just have to set aside a time to dedicate to it and just do it!!!!!!

Jennifer - posted on 04/17/2009

I agree with Holly that the thing enjoy about scrapbooking is the paper creative part with all the tools. I recently set up an area in the basement with a desk and some shelves that have all my scrapbook stuff in one area that is easy to get to. The bottom drawer in my desk is for my kids only - their scrapbooking area with extra stickers and glue sticks so they can do their own thing while I work on the albums. Also, with having it all in one area that is ready to go, I find it a lot easier just to go down and crank out a few pages after they go to bed. No guilt about having to set aside a whole day to scrapbook, easy to stay caught up, and no time spent dragging it all out and putting it back away.

Robin - posted on 04/16/2009

Yeah I agree. I wanted to get a babysitter tomorrow at the last minute and its impossbile to track a babysitter down noone even returned my phone calls to tell me if they could or not.. So yes I understand. I like taking care of others kids then they can do something.

Rhonda - posted on 04/16/2009

The problem is you never will find the time. You just have to make the time and hope that someone will help out with the kids while you do so.

Robin - posted on 04/15/2009

that's great.

Jennifer - posted on 04/15/2009

I have soo much stuff I don't know if I ever will get it all used up. It would take me forever. I think once my kids are a little older I will probably try to do the scarpbooking the paper way b/c I really do enjoy it but also do the digital.

Robin - posted on 04/15/2009

that's great I've heard really good things about digital I just don't want to go there until I get all my stuff used up.

Jennifer - posted on 04/15/2009

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I started using Photoshop elements and I seem to like it.

Robin - posted on 04/14/2009

I just cut them in the car while traveling filing them when I have time between things..

Holly - posted on 04/14/2009

I don't know about ya'll but i personally am on a computer all day and I really enjoy doin the cutting and ripping and putting pieces together myself..isn't that the point of scrapbooking?? Having it on the computer i think makes it less you and more computerized! But that's just me i guess! I have three boys..ages 5, 3 and 2 and they love to get into my stickers and stamps and everything...i usually try to work on mine after they've gone to bed and I'm right there with ya Jennifer..mine have gotten behind but that's because there is so much more to do with kids around then there was before they got here! lol

Julie - posted on 04/11/2009

digital would be a good way to go.  I have been digi scrapping for about 5 years.  You can use Gimp (free) to start.  I use photoshop, but I know many beginners start with Gimp and then move on to 'bigger and better' once they 'get' digital scrapbooking and have a bit of money to invest in a different more versatile program.  (photoshop elements is around 75.00 if you can find it on sale-I have seen it cheaper actually).

I like Heritage Makers and it is great for the beginner but once you are more advanced it is to limiting-but you can still upload your own stuff and get quality prints and such-but you may not want to design using it once you become more advanced.

There is TONS of free (for personal use) digital scrapbooking items out there so if you do Gimp and look for free digi-scrapping items you can do it for *nearly* free (you will have a printing fee if you decide to print them)

HTH!

~Julie

Lenetha - posted on 04/11/2009

Is there a fee to digital scrabooking? This sounds a lot easier that pulling all my stuff down and then having to put it all away so my son can't get into it.

Martha - posted on 04/11/2009

Sorry my spelling was a bit off in my message.

Martha - posted on 04/11/2009

Hi Laura,

Have you tried digital scrapbooking? I have found a company where the only supplies you need are your computer and internet access. So that will cut down on some of your time getting out supplies and putting them away.  You simply upload your digital phots and start creating, it will save everyting and you can come back to it later. It is so easy to use.

Please visit my website at mcreton@execulink.com and I can give you more information.

Martha

Jennifer - posted on 04/10/2009

I am new to this group, my name is Jennifer, and I was wondering the same thing too. I have a 21 month old, a 9 month old and pregnant and due in Aug. I also have a 8 year old step son. I am so far behind on my scrapbooks I haven't even started one for the new baby yet :(