A Matter of Memories: :REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Time to Scrapbook from Ella Publishing [CONTEST CLOSED]

Monday, August 9, 2010

:REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Time to Scrapbook from Ella Publishing [CONTEST CLOSED]

There was quite a bit of excitement and buildup this past month at Ella leading up to the announcement of The Most Influential Scrapbookers of 2010.

Once the big announcement was made, they also announced their newest eBook - Time to Scrapbook! - which just so happens to be authored by those 9 most influential ladies:

Jenni Bowlin
Maggie Holmes
Noell Hyman
Stacy Julian
Shimelle Laine
Renee Pearson
Margie Romney-Aslett
Jessica Sprague
Cathy Zielske

This particular eBook focuses on the issue that so many of us have that love this wonderful (yet sometimes time-consuming) hobby...finding time for it!

These nine ladies each share and discuss their top three tips for fitting scrapbooking into busy lifestyles. While some tips contradict each other (and this is recognized in the introduction), this only brings authenticity to the work as they are simply sharing what works for them.

Personally, I found several tips that I consider my own tried and true strategies such as 'choose a few go-to designs' (Noell Hyman) and 'order photos in batches' (Shimelle Laine) and some that made me stop a think a bit...ones that I almost consider a challenge such as 'make 'I don't care' pages' (Stacy Julian).

Each contributors three tips are also accompanied by a personal layout on the theme 'ten things I love about my life right now' for a great compilation of styles and techniques...further enforcing that there really is no 'right way' to share your memories and record what's important to you.

GIVEAWAY:
Now, for the giveaway!

I have one free download of Time to Scrapbook! available for one lucky reader. Simply tell me YOUR top tip for fitting scrapbooking into your busy schedule by Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 5 p.m. (CST) and you'll be entered for your chance!

Random.org will choose and I'll announce the winner on Friday!

GOOD LUCK!

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Julie · 764 weeks ago

I try to get the design figured out-then in little bits and pieces throughout the day when I have 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there I work on one element. Before you know it the layout is done-even though I didn't have a large block of time to get it done.

perfectpapershop@gmail.com

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@BTHM1 · 764 weeks ago

i try to keep all souvenoirs and pix together in a scrap envelope til I can get to those pages. this way it's all there, I just need to grab background pages and embellishments, makes it easier when I only have a 1/2 hr to scrap!

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Sassy · 764 weeks ago

I grew up being told constantly... you make time for what is important to you.... so, if you really want to scrapbook, the time is there, take advantage of it... Otherwise, I would say... process pics in a timely manner, take notes, keep a journal with you at all times to right things down

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Connie · 764 weeks ago

I schedule time to scrapbook. Every Thursday I head to the scrapbook store during school hours and scrapbook 10am-3pm. It's amazing how much I can get done.

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Emily C · 764 weeks ago

I am a night owl so I stay up late while everyone else sleeps to scrapbook. I also think about how I want things to look while I am making dinner or sitting with the kids watching tv.

Emily C

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Clmk523 · 764 weeks ago

Friends and I have a weekly scrap night. It is the same night each week so everyone in the family can plan on it. We don't all make it each week, but scheduling ahead makes it easier!

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Anne · 764 weeks ago

My tip is don't try to do it all at once. I try to to all the "pre-work" before my actual scrapping time in smaller tasks. I might look for photos one day, do a sketch or look for a design another day (while watching tv or when I have down time), and then my favorite part - try to put together my own kit with all the pp and coordinating goodies. I keep each "kit" or page with the design and photos. Then when I'm ready to scrap (usually over the weekend), I have several layouts ready and I'm good to go.

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Jen McLaughlin · 764 weeks ago

My tip is to scrap with a buddy. It gives you a time and a reason to sit down and work. The first hour you usually gather and share ideas, look through pic's and then the next 4 or 5 it's quiet with creating. I find I get more done with a friend than by myself.

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Debra · 764 weeks ago

Friends and I schedule weekend getaways - 3-4 times a year. We schedule everything else in our lives - why not scrapping? We have a great time, and it helps get motived to scrap at home also.

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Vicki Hunter · 764 weeks ago

I had always ONLY been a late night scrapper until about 5 years ago when I was able to stay home and care for my family and home. But I found I was feeling too guilty during the day to scrapbook! So now I reward myself with 15 mins of play time every 3 hours or so after getting lots done! The reward system. :-) I STILL love my night owl scrapping too!

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Kasondra · 764 weeks ago

I try to take at least fifteen minutes a day and do something scrappy related, such making page kits, journaling, just something to make it easier on myself for the days I do have more time to spend playing!

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Christy S. · 764 weeks ago

I try to keep things organized so i can find them quickly. I also find that having a place to scrap makes it easier for me to pop in and out. sometimes I scrap for hours, while other times I can pop into my space and work for 10 minutes.

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Tina Mc · 764 weeks ago

I work in spurts, one day I may go through photos and sort them into page protectors, next time I will pick out colors and accents that match each of those pile of pictures. Then I'm to put them together. I pull out a page protector, lay everything out, design it and put it all together. I may end up not using something I put in there or changing a picture or a color, but for the most part I have everything I need already done. Right now I'm trying to scrap all the pages I have planned before I go through my pictures box again, it almost as if I rather plan them sometimes then scrap them lol.

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Miwa · 764 weeks ago

It really helps when both kids are in school. =) But aside from that, it helps to use sketches, keep the workspace (and photos) organized - and utilize time when hubby takes the kids outside in the evenings to play. Even 20-30 minutes of scrapping in peace is like heaven!

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gilroygal · 764 weeks ago

The evenings are my scrap time! We are 'empty-nesters' now, so it is much easier to find time. That, and I have my own scraproom so I can leave things out and in process.

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Andrea Johnson · 764 weeks ago

I have an understanding family that lets me leave stuff all over the table :-)

And sometimes you just gotta ignore the housework -- it'll be there later.

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jennifer hamilton · 764 weeks ago

Every minute counts. If I only have a few minutes I will do litlle pieces of a bigger project til one day it is all complete. (plus I bribe my 7 yr old daughter to play with her brother for 20 minutes each day and that helps :)

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Carla G. · 764 weeks ago

I have been scrapping with my 3 and 5 year old this summer. It lets us spend time together and they're enjoying putting things together. While I still need "me" time for scrapbooking, working together has still helped me feel productive through the summer and helped us make lasting memories as a family.

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Sherry K. · 764 weeks ago

I have a scrapbook area set up in my bedroom where I can leave a layout in progress and work on it whenever I have a few minutes. I like to choose the pictures and lay them out in one session, then go back another time and choose papers and possible embellishments to go with them. I stack these in a 12 x 12 box on my table so I have several layouts with photos and papers already chosen and that makes me a lot more productive when I have time to sit down and scrap.

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Tina Phillips · 764 weeks ago

Ohhh I have really been wanting this!!! Scrapping forme is more than a creative outlet, it is also a stress buster! I often scrap when the kids are in bed as my way of uwinding from a hard day :)

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Colleen · 764 weeks ago

I try to spend some time each day with scrapbooking related things. Organize pics, do one page, look at other layouts, look at other blogs, etc. There is so much scrap related things to do, and sometimes I get side-tracked looking at other kits, blogs, etc. There is always such cool ideas from others to explore!

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christina lakes · 764 weeks ago

I try to schedule time each week and go in with a plan. I also schedule monthly crops with my friends. I get soooo much done in 5-6 hours!

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sandy sh. · 764 weeks ago

I much prefer to scrap with a friend. I find that it helps w/ the creativity to have someone to bounce ideas off of, or to help you figure out what that "little something extra" is needed on your page. Since my husband travels, I try to do my scrapping when he is gone. Helps keep me busy so I don't miss him as much.

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Melinda Wilson · 764 weeks ago

I seem to get more done when I am with friends so we all pick two days a month beforehand that we place on our calender and stick to it. We get lots done most of the time!

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Marty · 764 weeks ago

I have a scrapbook "room" which just means I can leave stuff out! I try to work in snippets of time, either organizing or planning or starting to pick things to go together.

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