A lot of people have told me that they want to scrapbook, but they don’t know where to start. I use to be like that until I found a method that worked for me. I have been using this method for the past few years and it has truly helped me to get albums completed faster. In November 2007 I was working on May 2005 when I realized that 2008 was just around the corner, so I set a goal for myself. My goal was to get my albums for 2005, 2006, and 2007 done by June 2008. Well it took me a month longer than I had hoped, but I did it, six 12 x 12 albums (a family album and an album for my son for each year) in seven months! I currently have January-June 2008 done in my son’s album, and I have January-May 2008 for my family album laid out and ready to go. I also have all of the pictures I want to scrapbook for 2008 printed and sorted.

Here’s how I did it:
1. Pick a project: Decide what album you want to do. I do one year at a time, but some people do a theme for example a holiday, school, vacation, or wedding album.
2. Get organized: Get all of the pictures you want to put in the album printed (or developed if you still use film), and only print the pictures you want to put in your album. Then sort the pictures by month of the year or event. Also organize your paper, stickers, and other memorabilia for the album you are working on.
3. Crop your pictures: Your goal is to make the best picture possible. Albums get completed in 5 minute consistent increments. Make your cropping process so simple that it takes up 12 inches of space and leave it out!! The busy moms who are getting it done are doing it this way. Journaling is easily done here too!!
4. Next I use Creative Memories® Power Layouts Kit to layout the album. The kit is a sturdy box with 15 guides the size of a 12 x 12 page. In between each guide I put a 12 x 12 page and then on each page I put the pictures I want on that page in the order I want them. This allows me to see if I need to crop the pictures more and if I have enough pages (if not I add some). The guides also allow me to layout the front and back of a page and keep the pictures where I want them.
5. Then I mount the pictures and any paper I want to use on each page.
6. The last things I do to an album are journal, and add any stickers to decorate the page. I like to journal last because I can take my time and think about what I want to write. Now the album is done!

To get this done I leave the following things set out (I use the end of my dining room table, but find a space in your home that works for you) so when I have time to scrapbook everything I need is out and ready to go.
1. Power Layouts Kit – with pages, stickers, and memorabilia for the album I am working on in it.
2. Mini Power sort box- a photo organization box (it has three compartments that hold 200 pictures each)
3. Personal Trimmer and Cutting system
4. Tape runner
5. Corner rounder
6. Pens

Now that I have these things out I can crop a stack of pictures or journal on a few pages while dinner is in the oven, my son is watching a show, or when he goes to bed.

What has also helped me reach this goal is getting together with my friends Veronique, Wendy, and Chantal once a week to scrapbook. Setting that time aside has been a big help. I also host workshops once a month and go to other consultants workshops when I get the chance.

If you would like me to help you start scrapbooking you can attend one of my monthly workshops, or I can come to your home for a one-on-one session. You can reach me by email err17@hotmail.com or through my website www.mycmsite.com/ebonyrtaylor