Monday Momentum

I went to a crop on Saturday night at the Scrapbook Barn in Carrollton, TX. If you're local, I highly recommend it! My friend and I had a blast and got quite a bit done. We also met some very nice ladies and got some great inspiration along the way.

However, it really took me all day just to get organized for the evening. Part of it was because I had stashed some of my pictures and had trouble finding it, but part of it was because I'm not used to packing up to go to a crop. If I do a crop, I'm usually sponsoring it, so I have ALL of my stuff with me. But this one was different; I wasn't selling there so I didn't need to bring any inventory, I wasn't doing any demonstrations, so I really could just bring what I wanted to work on. Yikes! Decisions - Decisions.

But it wasn't just me. My friend had the same problem. She wasn't sure what to bring either, so I thought it might be useful to go through a brief on what to take to a crop.

It really depends on your purpose and the length of the crop and you have to decide a few things. You could use the crop to sort your pictures, make basic pictureless layouts - ready for pictures later, embellish, title, or journal your building layouts or create layouts from start to finish.

I'll make the assumption that your crop is like mine was - short (6 hours) - and I wanted to complete some layouts from start to finish. You'll need a basic kit of cutters and adhesives and once you have collected all the necessities, you can choose the other important things, starting with pictures. Don't try to scrapbook all of them, just choose 3-5 events to bring along. (Notice I didn't get so detailed as to suggest you choose all your specific pictures, yet) If you can get 5 double page layouts completed in 5 or 6 hours, you are officially in the super-scrapper league!

Then, you need to choose your paper. It is best if you choose design paper (CTMH calls it Background and Texture paper or B&T for short) that will enhance the colors and event found in your pictures.

I was working on a set of swim pictures, a set of Christmas pictures, some snow pics, and a set of field trip photos to the Dallas Arboretum. I used the "Rustic Trails" set for the swim pictures, but I substituted a design page from the "Laid Back" packet instead of using the fishing paper. The Christmas paper was easier. Some of my photos were very bright and bouncy, while others were more formal. Luckily I have 2 different Christmas packages, one retired CTMH package that is animated and bright and a current one called "Everlasting" that has traditional colors and a Victorian feel to it. For the snow pictures, I chose the berry and ocean combination in the "Just Chillin'" set. Finally, I chose the muted shades of "Lazy Days of Summer" to use with my Arboretum pictures. I felt like the colors wouldn't compete with the vivid colors of my pictures.

***Allow me a short commercial. You can collect papers from all over like I used to do. I would see this precious pattern and that one and then try to match them up. I would even wander through the scrapbooking section of my favorite craft store (Hobby Lobby) trying to find 2 or 3 design papers that really complimented each other. Have you ever been in that situation??? Then I would try to find cardstock to coordinate with the design papers that I had chosen. Blah! I LOVE paper, but that SSSSSLLLLOOOOOOWWWWW process would weary me so badly that after spending an hour searching for the perfect collection I was SICK of looking at it and put it up as soon as I got home! Well, I cast off that stressful burden when I begin using CTMH "My Reflections" Paper Packs. Each one contains 6 different design papers (B&T's) and I get 2 of each. It also contains 10 cardstocks in 4 coordinating colors and if I want, I can buy card-weight stickers (called Stickease) to match! Everything goes together in perfect harmony! I LOVE THAT!***

Anyway, after choosing your papers, you can add embellishments to your case. These should match the motif of you papers and pictures, so you don't over-pack, and can include ribbons, fibers, brads, eyelets, buttons, glitter, bottle caps and anything else you might have on hand. I bring chipboard objects and my coluzzle cutting system, inks in matching colors, and at least one alphabet stamp set. I also bring some stamp sets that will go with my paper packs. For Saturday night, I packed several CTMH stamp sets: the January word puzzle for the snow pages, the August word puzzle for the swim pages, and Jingle Borders, Ho Ho Ho, and Gift of Love for the Christmas pages.

So in a nutshell here are the absolutes when packing:

• 12-inch paper trimmer
• adhesives - bring refills!
• scissorspictures (organized by events)
• paper (bagged with the pictures they will go with, if you can)

Without these items, you can't crop at all. Then you have the "really should have" items:

• magazines, sketchbooks, or guidebooks for ideas and instructions (I would recommend the books from CTMH: Cherish, Imagine, and Reflection).
• ruler
• paper piercer
• Alphabet stampsets
• Ink pads that match your papers
• CTMH Distressing Kit or sandpaper, sponges, and brushes

Now you can crop without the list above, but having these items will help you complete your pages. Finally you have the "completely optional, but will give your pages a finished look" list:

• chipboard pieces (CTMH calls these "Dimensional Elements)
• decorative stamp sets
• brads, eyelets buttons and other accents
• fibers, ribbon, hemp
• paint, stickles, glitter, CTMH's Liquid Glass, Fun Flock, or Sculpting Foam

Also, bring tickets, programs, drawings, postcards, notes, etc. from the event you are scrap-booking.

I've shared the layouts that I actually finished this weekend, and I have a great favor to ask of you. As I said at the beginning, my experience with crops are rather limited. What do YOU do to prepare for a crop. Please comment on this post and share your ideas as well. And if you're reading this post, make sure you read the comments!