A few months ago, I decided that I wanted to stop focusing on past events/highlights and focus on scrapbooking the NOW events and highlights. When I started looking through my pictures, I realized that I did not have any pictures from the last 10 months!!! How sad... but how many others are experiencing the same issue? We LOVE digital cameras because they make picture taking so easy, but how many of us forget to upload the pictures on our computers... and print them?! ME! ME! ME! "I'll do it this weekend." But then something would come up, and I would not get around to it.
Action Step #1: Upload your photos and print them off!
I do not use my own printer for printing pictures; I only use online sites. Play catch up right now... I had to print over 1,000 pictures to catch up! Eventually, you will want to do this about every 3 months (this could vary depending on how many pictures you take each month). That way you will have plenty of pictures to work with for the next three months... until you place your next order. Go ahead and write it down on your calendar so you won't forget. *wink*
(Note: See below a list of sites that you can use to upload your pictures and order them. Each site offers promos for free prints when you sign up. Also, check out retailmenot.com for even more savings! Some sites allow you to stack up coupon codes!!! *smile*)
Action Step #2: Organize your photos by album.
Once you have your photos, organize them into piles; one pile for each album that you are going to use with these pictures.
Which direction do you want to go with your albums? Here are some ideas:
- Theme: holidays, special occasions, vacations
- Chronological Order: an album per year, quarter, etc.
- Gift: perhaps you want to give the gift of an album!
- Others: "About Me," achievements, baby book, top 10
Action Step #3: Organize your photos by page.
Take the stack of photos that you have determined will go into a specific album and then make one pile for each scrapbook page that you plan to create. You may want one pile for a birthday layout, another for a fun day at the park layout, and another pile of pictures for a fun layout with cute, random pictures of your child(ren).
Action Step #4: Store your photos.
Find a shoe box that you have been dying to get out of your closet (c'mon, who doesn't want a little more room in your closet? hehe) and put your organized pictures in there. Use a large index card to separate the pages and/or albums.
Stay tuned for next week's Scrapbooking 101: Basic Supplies. I know that money doesn't grow on trees, so let me show you the MUST HAVES before you get started.
As mentioned above, here is a list of sites where you can order prints:
*CVS
Did you find this helpful? Let me know by leaving a comment! :)
Awesome tips!! I despise scrapbook old photos...I only like the most current ones. I need to print some off before my end of the month crop!! I am getting behind. I try to print a bunch of photos ever 3-4 months.
ReplyDeletegreat tips - before digital I would develop the films and write on the backs of pics with a photo safe pencil any pertinent info (date, place, names of people)and put them chronologically in order. I'm now at least 2 yrs behind. Your post has inspired me to print off pics and get those albums back out. This will help me find those pics I want to scrap! Thanks for the push - I needed it!!
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