*This is the rough draft I started last night. I had hoped to add some photos and spruce it up a bit, but we have a minor family emergency right now and I'm not sure I will be back in time to post, so I thought it was safest to post as is. I hope you enjoy!* UPDATE: All has turned out fine, but it is late night in my part of the world, so I am off to bed.
Welcome to my blog! I'm so glad you've stopped by. Today is all about preparing for the upcoming Layout A Day Challenge beginning on February 1st. If you are not familiar with Layout A Day, be sure to visit Layoutaday.com for more information. The basic jist of the challenge is to complete a scrapbook layout everyday for the entire month and then post it in the Flickr gallery by midnight for a chance to win some fun prizes.
I think this will be the sixth LOAD that I have signed up for. I completed my first three and didn't complete the last three but I still got a lot of scrapbooking done. Either way, it has been a worthwhile endeavor.
HOW DO I PREPARE?
I must be honest and say that I don't really prepare for LOAD much at all. I typically clean off my desk, make sure I have enough adhesive and other basic supplies and then go for it! For me it is all about the commitment. I get mentally prepared. I decide that no matter what I will complete one page before I go to bed each day. I have an advantage because I live 15 hours ahead of the deadline time zone (PST). I start my page on the day it is due in my time zone and if I get really stuck and have time the next day, I can put the finishing touches on it the next day. I only do this rarely and save it for those days when I really need a good night's sleep.
This LOAD I am doing a little more preparation than usual. I am getting out my Book of Stories file that I started in the BigPictureClasses.com class by Karen Grunberg so that I have stories at the ready. I will pull out my Project Life (BeckyHiggins.com) album that only got half way done last year. I am selecting the remaing POTD (pictures of the day) and having them printed & delivered to my house. I'm going through my drawer of memorabilia from the year and pulling out items I want to include in my binder. I'm pulling out paper and product I want to use and placing them in a box under my desk so my supplies are at the ready.
I am doing this for this LOAD for a few reasons:
Less product to choose from
1) saves time
2) challenges my creativity
3) means less to clean up
4) calms my psyche
Ideally, I would pull out some kits I put together myself. But, I am not that organized. I love the idea but I have never gotten around to even try putting together my own kits.
Other ways I make sure I make the daily deadline:
I pull out photos the night before (or in the morning) and ruminate on them until I get a chance to sit down and scrap.
If I have a tight schedule, I will make a digital page using a simple template.
Remember the motto, DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT. I force myself to make decisions in a short period of time remembering that the most important thing is the words I have to say about the photo. The paper and the design will eventually look outdated and perhaps silly to future generations but the words paired with the photo(s) will always have meaning.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope something I've shared will help you in your preparation for LOAD.
I plan to post my layouts here once February begins. I can't promise to post daily, but I will post as often as I can.
Please head on over to snapsandsnippets.blogspot.com to see what wisdom is shared there. If you started here at my blog and want to start from the beginning, go to Lain's blog at Layoutaday.com.
Here is a complete list of blogs participating in todays blog hop!
Lain www.layoutaday.com
Danielle H. scrappindanielle.blogspot.com
Margie www.xnomads.typepad.com
S snapsandsnippets.blogspot.com
Lisa lisahausmann.blogspot.com
Laura www.mom2nick.typepad.com
Rosann brooklyngirlnextdoor.blogspot.com
Gayle lifeonlilypadlane.blogspot.com
Jennifer atthebluebarn.blogspot.com
Heather www.heathersdragonsden.blogspot.com
Tere terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com
Niki thepaperpeddler.blogspot.com
Janet www.khashabfamilymusings.blogspot.com
Lee thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife
Danielle T. dani-adayinthelifeofacoffeeaddict.blogspot.com
Junelle www.yes-and-amen.com
Julie www.juleshollis.com
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to stop back on February 1st for the One Little Word Blog Hop starting right here!
I love how you say "done is better than perfect" - a great philosophy to have during LOAD and with scrapbooking in general. As long as the photos and memories are scrapped, that's all that matters and if the layout looks great, that's just an additional perk. Hope things are well with your family!
Posted by: Danielle @OhioDanielle | January 24, 2011 at 06:45
You are right about it being about "commitment". My first LOAD was the most successful even though I was winging it all month. It is about making it a "must-do" everyday (and getting a little lucky that there aren't any family emergencies too!) I can't wait for LOAD, see you there.
Posted by: S | January 24, 2011 at 07:00
Hope all is ok with your family. Sending you hugs across the miles.
I could kick myself now for not getting on top of my Book of Stories - I was in the class and did a fat zero! How useful must that be for the upcoming month. But thanks for the reminder that this is about the stories as well as the creativity - I think I do about 50/50 but there are so many stories in my head that I really should get a list together. Can't wait to see your wonderful photography featuring on your layouts. See you there!
Posted by: Lisa | January 24, 2011 at 07:12
I find as long as I stick with it, by the end of LOAD, I've made some of my most favourite pages. Creativity leads to more creativity. Looking forward to you inspiring me AGAIN starting February 1st :)
Posted by: Lee | January 24, 2011 at 07:14
Done is better than perfect is so true! I look forward to seeing your February layouts! Glad your emergency turned out OK.
Posted by: Gayle | January 24, 2011 at 07:23
I`m doing it your way:)
All I need to be sure to finish is a new digital kit.
Then I`m ready to go.
Looking forward to be creative with you all.
Posted by: elin janne | January 24, 2011 at 07:49
"Done is better than perfect" Iove it!
Posted by: Tere | January 24, 2011 at 07:57
I am loving all of the blog hop posts!! It makes my heart happy to see that I am not the only who believes that "done is better than perfect". It should be the LOAD slogan. Can't wait to see you over at Flickr!
Posted by: Jules Hollis | January 24, 2011 at 08:02
Thanks for the tips! And I'm happy to see someone doing another class (OLW) as well. I know some of us are. I'm happy to hear that if I'm not completely organized, I'm not a sunk ship, so to speak :) Heidi (aka move4life)
Posted by: Heidi | January 24, 2011 at 08:12
Definitely love "done is better than perfect". It's so true: I used to agonize over paper or embellishment choices but the October LOAD helped me let go of that. In the end, it's more important that the memory or photo is documented rather than the supplies I used to do it with.
Posted by: SusanB | January 24, 2011 at 08:48
Love your comment ... done is better than perfect. Can't wait to see your creations in the gallery.
Posted by: Laura T. | January 24, 2011 at 09:33
I've thought about putting together some kits too, but I'm just not that organized. Every LOAD I've done, I've winged it, and that will work for this time too. See you in February!
Posted by: Heather D | January 24, 2011 at 09:49
done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect done is better than perfect
Posted by: Jennifer McIntyre | January 24, 2011 at 10:48
Thx! I did LOAD in Oct and loved it, but signed up at the last possible moment so had NO PREP - see ya there!
Posted by: LCSmithSAVED | January 24, 2011 at 15:24
Thanks for starting off the blog hop! What a fantastic idea! Love the motto! See you in February!
Posted by: Miss Niki | January 24, 2011 at 16:48
I'm with you my mental preparation far out weighs my physical prep!
Posted by: Danielle | January 24, 2011 at 17:06
I love your approach. Thanks so much for your input! Done is better than perfect - words to live by! :)
Posted by: Lain | January 24, 2011 at 17:26
Glad everything is alright with your family. See you soon in LOAD!! I've hardly scrapped since October. Something about LOAD just works for me.
Posted by: TracyBzz | January 24, 2011 at 18:30
I gotta remember your motto - thanks for sharing your prep work.
Posted by: Marygail | January 24, 2011 at 19:11