I have taken approximately 3,256 photos since Charlie was born four-and-a-half months ago. Many of them are crap (what did we do before digital? was I actually picky about the photos I took?)
I am an organizer. I am a scrapbooker. And I needed to figure out a way to make these two things work together. So here's what I do:
-Throughout the month as I edit photos, I put them in a "develop" folder in iphoto
-At the end of the month, I upload that month's photos to scrapbookpictures.com
-I pick which ones I will truly "scrapbook" (as in, spend more than 10 minutes with) and get them developed 4x6, 5x7, or even 8.5x11 for those full-page layouts. I am not a paid spokesperson (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night): scrapbook pictures is REALLY reasonable. And really good. My photos arrive within just a few days looking like the photos I actually uploaded. That's not always the case, I've found.
-The rest I have developed as wallet size, and I have developed the template above to scrapbook all of them. The text on the right describes the photos. The background patterned paper will change, the stamp will change, and the date will change. That's it.
-I have purchased every Heidi Swapp glossy chipboard heart package I could find in the whole world wide web. If you have any and are willing to sell, I could potentially part with my first born for them.
-I also fulfilled my nine year-old-self-office-playing-dork's fantasy and purchased a big-girl laminator. So far I have laminated some of the paperwork from the hospital, and all of Charlie's growth sheets from the pediatrician. I am a laminating fool. Pretty soon I might laminate Charlie.
-And that's it. Earth shattering, right?
(Page is copyright 2peas in a Bucket)
well crap. now i'm wanting a laminator...
Posted by: melanie | 18 September 2009 at 08:50 PM
HAHAHA. We got it off Amazon - it was like $60.
I know you played librarian too, didn't you? :)
I forgot my blog post today. UGH. I thought about it at like 10:45 last night and I thought, "Should I stay up?" LOL.
On Sep 18, 2009, at 8:50 PM, [email protected] wrote:
Posted by: laurakurz | 18 September 2009 at 08:52 PM
This is a brilliant idea. I like how you think. :)
Beautiful page!
Posted by: melanie | 18 September 2009 at 09:53 PM
Nice! great way to get it all organized! Way to go! :)
Posted by: Kasey Laughlin | 18 September 2009 at 10:09 PM
I truly *heart* Laura.
Seriously, there must be a checklist of all the pre-existing tendencies for becoming a scrapbooker... playing office as a child being right up there at the top... My grandma's card table and big black rotary phone were my favorite toys at her house. A laminator?!? Something new for my Christmas wish list.
: )
Oh, and I second Scrapbook Pictures... they are my favorite, hands-down.
Posted by: elizabeth | 18 September 2009 at 11:17 PM
I third scrapbook pictures......
Posted by: Missy | 19 September 2009 at 12:00 AM
i love your sweet & simple style, laura! thank you for sharing a glimpse into your tips & tricks! ;)
*
Posted by: lauren | 19 September 2009 at 06:40 AM
Laura, if you were selling, I'd be buying :)
I have never been able to think of a way to get that many pictures on a page and have the page really work. I've used the different divided page protectors [the ones by We R Memory Keepers] but I usually got frustrated because I didn't love the end result.
Can't wait to give this a try. Thank you!
Posted by: heather | 19 September 2009 at 10:00 AM
p.s. I think I have some of the pink hearts if you are interested in those.
Posted by: heather | 19 September 2009 at 10:01 AM
haha! too funny about the laminating.
love your strategy. i take a bunch of random photos too. then when i get them printed, sometimes i look back and i'm like "what the heck was i thinking?!" i need to check out scrapbook pictures in more detail. i need to find some place that will develop a photo into just ONE wallet photo instead of a set of four.
Posted by: Laura | 19 September 2009 at 05:38 PM
considering all the brain cells i've lost with 4 children, this is revolutionary. i love the wallet size idea...and i'll check the stash for some hs hearts. :)
Posted by: melanie | 20 September 2009 at 06:26 PM
you are an organizing goddess, my friend. LOVE the wallet photo idea :)
Posted by: Lisa DIckinson | 21 September 2009 at 10:11 AM
Just found your blog and I LOVE your style. All of your pages are so simple, but striking and beautiful.
Thanks for sharing! :)
Posted by: Rachel | 21 September 2009 at 12:04 PM
Thought I'd mention I bought a laminator today. I wasn't looking for it, but we had a truck sale at work this weekend, and it was calling my name at $29.99, complete with a ton of bonus sheets of all sizes. I was thrilled, and thought of you, lol.
Let the laminating begin!
Posted by: melanie | 22 September 2009 at 09:08 PM
I have quite a few of those red hearts if you were interested. Definitely willing to part with them for someone who gives me inspiration all of the time : )
Charlie is getting so big and looks so cute with his "fuzz"
Posted by: Lexi | 26 September 2009 at 02:55 PM
you crack me up. :)
love the laminator. :)
Posted by: bridgette | 26 September 2009 at 05:30 PM