What is a crop?  It's where a group of people get together and work on their scrapbooking projects.  They can be held at someone's home, a church, or even at your local scrapbook/craft store.   They usually last 3-5 hours.  Super crops will last 6+ hours.  Crops are great opportunities to get away from distractions and get some serious scrapbooking done.  They're lots of fun, but if you don't know what you're in for, read on.

What to Bring
In the past, before I would go to a crop, I would spend hours just figuring out what to bring.  After setting up at the crop site, I'd realize that I had forgotten some important tools and not be able to do my best work.  Very frustrating!  Fortunately for you, I have a check list  so you don't get caught without during your precious scrapbooking time.

Tools - obviously you would need your tools. 

Make sure you have plenty of adhesive.  Nothing is worse than getting halfway through a project and just as you're really getting into it, you run out of glue.  Don't let this happen.  Have backups for your backup supply. 

Bring paper cutters.  I bring a large 12 x 12" one and a smaller 11 x 4".  The large one is obviously for the 12 x 12" sheets that can't be cut any other way.  The smaller one is a more convenient size to be used more frequently.  Scissors are also a must.  If you like the decorative type then bring those, but remember to always have a straight edged pair of scissors.  I keep a small but very sharp pair just for scrapbooking

Paper - of course bring paper!

Embellishments - If you are into embellishments you'll need those, too.  Bring ribbons, stickers, brads, whatever you're in to.  Bring your hole punch and eyelet setter.  Don't forget your eyelets!

Photos - You can make layouts and add the photos later, but it's much easier to have the picture there on hand.

Snacks - It's easy to work up a snack attack while working on layouts for hours on end.  Have some granola bars, crackers, sodas, or whatever on hand to tide you over so you can concentrate on your work.

Inspiration - Nothing is worse than getting "Scrapper's Block" while at a crop.  You have invested time in showing up and to just sit there with no creative juices flowing can be frustrating.  I suggest you bring magazines, other scrapbooks or a scrapbook journal to have something to get your mind working

Extra Cash - If you are at a scrapbook store, they might offer a deal (a percentage off all merchandise) for those involved in the crop.  This is a great time to stock up on stuff you need at a discount.  You also might see something you need that you forgot to bring.

How Much to Bring
Now you know what to bring, it can be tricky figuring out how much.  This takes some prep work in advance but it will make your crop experience go much more smoothly.

Double Up on Supplies - So you're not running around at the last minute looking for your scissors or glue runner, have two sets of most of your tools.  One for home, the other for crops.  Keep your "crop tools" in your packs or totes and only use them on crop nights.  You'll never be without and you'll be confident as you head out the door.

Have a "Crop Project" - This is a great time saver.  Have everything you need for one project.  Figure out what colors, patterned paper, embellishments, have your journaling printed up, and photos ready.  Then resist the urge to finish the layout right then and save it for crop nights only.  Have several "crop projects" ready to take.  I keep them separated by having all the project parts in a clear plastic page protectors.  You can also use a handy device called the Croppin' Companion which has pockets and folders to keep all of your supplies at hand.

                                                        

Be Organized - If you are planning on attending crops regularly (once a week, month, etc.) you will need to purchase a travel organizer.  There are many totes that are made specifically for scrapbookers, but you can improvise with what you have.  The easiest carriers to use are the ones with wheels.  They have these at scrapbook and craft stores.  Just to name a few there is the Crop In Syle tote from JoAnn.com and the Vituri Urban Roller Bag from All My Memories.
                                        

I have a specialty scrapbook tote like the ones you see above, but they are pretty expensive.  An alternative to this would be to use a backpack, a plastic storage tote with handles and a lid, or a roller carry-on suitcase.  The easier it is to transport your supplies, the more time you'll have for scrapping, and it's less stressful.

What to Expect
Okay, the vast majority of scrapbookers are women.  That means the crop nights are most likely full of women taking time away from their stressful lives to relax and be creative.  Now this is undocumented research but in my experience, as predictable as gravity, the conversation WILL include the following (in no particular order):  kids, husbands, and childbirth.  If these topics are too sensitive, personal or not relevant to you, you don't have to participate in the conversation.  I was scrapbooking while I was single so crop nights kept me silent.  I have since gotten married and have a child so I can now participate in the conversations.  Crops are fun either way.  Don't feel unwelcome or out of place due to the "lady talk."

Going with a friend can be a great bonding experience.  Many come with people they know.  If you go solo, don't worry, you're still in the club and are very welcome.  However, I recommend going with friends because then you can share tools, stories, and have someone to praise your creativity.

Now you're ready to go out there and crop it up!  Don't be nervous if it's your first time going.  Just relax and think of it as a safe haven for creativity, free of distractions.  Have fun and get scrappin'!  Good luck!

Do you have a great idea to add to Tips and Tricks? Email me at heidi@mycroproom.com and we'll see about publishing your idea right here on My Crop Room. 

I know there is an article already about having a scrapbook nook, but I wanted to show you what can be done if you have a whole room to yourself.  Granted my scrapbook room is not very big.  It's something like 8 x 8 feet.  That's an estimation, but trust me it's small.  Anyway, I've got to put all of my ideas into action and really create a space just for me.  We've just moved into a new home and there was an extra room that I got to claim as my own.  Yay!  Anyway, I wanted to show you what a real scrapbook room looks like.  You'll never see this kind of room in a magazine.  It's cluttery, it's full of second hand stuff, it's also a storage room, but it's mine!  It's a REAL room.  So, according to me, here's how you put together a real scrapbook room.

First list your large items that need to fit in your room.  I had the following:

• writing desk
• small TV console
• 2 large paper racks
• plastic drawers
• plastic paper trays
• computer
• office chair
• printer
• large bench with baskets and coat hooks

Okay, I know this sounds like a huge waste of time, but trust me, it will save you a lot of stress from moving stuff around.  Take measurements of all of your large furniture items.  Then convert that to graph paper.  Make every foot count as one square on the paper.  Cut out the shapes of your furniture.  Then take another sheet of graph paper and measure out your room and draw it out on the paper.  Now use your little model shapes and figure out where your furniture is going to fit.  Now you'll be all ready to but in the furniture without the hassle of not getting it right the first time.

Now you're ready to add your gear.  Here's some tips I found helpful:

• Organize your photos with clear plastic page protectors.  Get some binder rings and hang them up with hooks on the wall.  You can see your photos right in front of you, instead of hunting around in a box.
• Use a tackle box for eyelets, brads, snaps, etc.  Any little pieces will fit and you can keep them organized and within an arm's length of your workspace.
• Organize your patterned paper according to color scheme.  Then you can mix and match paper without searching all through your collection.
• Have a comfortable chair.  It's simple and obvious but sometimes can be overlooked.  You need a chair that you can sit comfortably for hours.  I have a wheeled office chair so I can roll back and forth between my computer and work desk.
• If possible, find furniture that can be dual purposed.  My bench works as a photo organizer, the baskets are full of scissors, adhesives, and pens, the top is used for organized paper scraps and the bench opens up for extra storage.  I put my extra scrapbooks in there.
• Stack stuff up!  If you need floorspace, the walls are your solution.

Well, that's my room.  I hope it inspires you to also claim a room as your own.  It doesn't have to be a large room, just enough for you and your gear.  Make it cluttery, make it useful, make it yours!

Do you have a great idea to add to Tips and Tricks? Email me at heidi@mycroproom.com and we'll see about publishing your idea right here on My Crop Room. 

Journaling.  It's such a pain.  I do it out of guilt and obligation for my layouts.  If I could get away with it, I'd leave it out altogether, but my layouts and the preservation of the memories they hold would suffer.  So, (sigh) I journal.

What's journaling?  It's the words that go with the pictures on a layout.  It can be simple like just names and dates, or long, descriptive volumes of a particular date, subject, or (heaven help me!) a feeling.  If you love to journal and go on and on about how you felt on a specific day or while looking at a specific picture, then this post is probably not for you.  If you are someone who is insecure in your journaling for whatever reason, then listen up!

If you're like me, you hate to journal.  I mean, the fun is in the colors, patterns, pictures, and embellishments, right?  Journaling can sometimes be a downer and seem more like homework than a hobby.  I'll let you in on a few tips that make it bearable and sometimes even enjoyable.  Don't believe me?  Keep reading!

Prep Work

A little prep work can make all the difference.  Once you get your pictures printed, write on the back of them clearly and with an acid free pen the date and names of all in the photo.  If you want you can include more details like "Sean and Heidi, Oct. 2004, Pumpkin Farm."  This seems like a waste of effort but you never know when you'll be delayed in your scrapbooking and it could be years before you see these prints again.  You be glad you'll have some info on them instead of trying to fake it.

Also, you can tuck away little phrases, poems, or sayings that would go along with your pictures.  We're not always at our craft table when inspiration strikes, right?  Write stuff down and slip it in your photos next to the corresponding prints or if you categorize your embellishments you can put it with them  For example, if I heard a song with inspirational lyrics that said exactly how I felt about my 1 year old son, I'd look up the lyrics online, print them and put them in with my "Baby" embellishments.  So easy!  Now when you get around to doing the layout you will find that the hard part of figuring out what to write, is already done.

Computer Fonts

Holy cow did I feel stupid when, after 10 years of misspelling and running out of space in the middle of a word, I realized that I could print up my journaling on the computer.  I mean, DUH!!!  You have your spell check, your paragraph sizer, your different perfectly even fonts, and even a dictionary/thesaurus for help.  If you have a color printer, you can even customize the ink color.  Print it up on scrapbook paper and your journaling is ready to go.  Here's a cheat:  If you have journaled and couldn't come up with a whole lot but need to fill up more space.  Just make the letters larger and instant filler!

Handwriting

If you really want to give your layouts a truly personal touch, your own handwriting is an easy solution.  Every beginner is insecure about their handwriting on layouts.  I was and sometimes I still am.  There are several ways to boosting your journaling confidence.

Practice. Practice. Practice.  Sorry for the cliche but I can't give you some magic remedy to make your handwriting be magazine worthy.  It took me years of copying other styles of writing to get to where I can be proud of my handwriting.  Practice writing in a straight line.  Practice printing.  Practice cursive.  Practice new styles of writing. 

Write out the alphabet completely in different ways.  Do both capital and lower case letters.  Put little dots on the edges, make block letters, make each letter out of funky shapes.  The more you do this, the more it will help you gage the space each letter will take.  I bet you'll find that you do a particular style better than the rest.  Keep it up and maybe even have someone copy you someday.

Here's a tip if you are still not sure about your handwriting ability.  Do your journaling on a separate piece of cardstock.  Choose a color that complements your background.  Cut out your journaling and adhere it (or mount it to another color of cardstock if you want) to your layout with glue or brads.  If you mess up, your layout is still unblemished and you can just start over. This is also a great technique for those who frequently run out of space while writing (like me!)

Letter/Word Stickers

I LOVE letter and word stickers!  I love that letter stickers only allow limited words of journaling.  I guess I like that the stickers are easy and colorful (my printer is only black and white) and can add whimsy to a layout.  A single word sticker can be a statement all its own.  I love to group words with similar meanings together and line them up on my layouts.  For example on a baby layout I'd put "Sweet" "Adorable" and "Precious" on separate blocks of cardstock and arrange them in a line on my background.  If you really don't have much to say, or you are all journaled out (like me) then one word summaries are a lifesaver.

Content

I hate it when I finish a layout and find that I have not included anything that describes what the pictures are about.  Yeah, yeah, I know that scrapbooks are all about preserving memories and for posterity blah, blah, blah!  Do you find it hard to come up with good content for journaling your layout?  Are you sick of trying to go on and on about the same subject?  If so, maybe this list of alternatives to personal reflection can help. 

Poems
Song lyrics
Cliches
Quotes
A simple title (such as "Christmas 2001")
A recipe
An interview (this is hilarious with young children!)
An acrostic poem (for example: S is for super.  E is for excellent.  A is for athletic.  N is for Navy officer)
Good ol' standby:  name, date, occasion/age

Personal reflection is great if you can do it.  But I think that layouts tend to get a little pretentious or fake sounding when too much self reflection is applied.  Hopefully I've given you some ideas to keep you scrappin' and now you will not shy away from journaling layouts. Try to pretend that someone who does not know anything about the subjects in the pictures is looking at your layout so describe to them what's going on.  I've given you some tips (and they're really easy too!) now go and try something new!

Do you have a great idea to add to Tips and Tricks? Email me at heidi@mycroproom.com and we'll see about publishing your idea right here on My Crop Room. 

I recently received the following email:

Heidi,
Hello my name is Teri. I have a son who just enlisted in the Navy on May 29th and my heart is broken. So these past couple of weeks I have been going on line to find ideas to scrap about my son. I have never done this and I thought it would be a great way to keep my mind positive and to show him I am proud of him. But I don't know anyone who scrapbooks and it is very hard to find ideas, even at the craft stores about the military. You have done an awesome job and it was though your pages that I have begun to smile. Do you have links to places that carry military papers, stickers,stamps etc. but most of all ideas? I also love your website and you help explain it very well. It's like you're here to help. Thank you for taking the time to help us beginners and also to show a Navy family that there is a way to get through this very scary time. I will keep you and your husband in my prayers and thank God for your positive view of military life.  Thank you and I hope to hear from you.  Teri

Dear Teri,
I am so glad that you stumbled upon my website and it actually did some good. Finding patriotic/military themed supplies can be a little difficult in the craft stores (Michael's, JoAnn, Target, WalMart.) However, I have listed a few companies that have a great selection of military scrapbook supplies.

K&Company (Great military specific papers and embellishments)
Karen Foster Designs (Awesome Navy paper and stickers)
NRN Designs (Vintage military paper)
Memories in Uniform (military die cuts)

If you cannot find these companies at your local scrapbook store, then they are available at these online stores.

Scrapbook.com
CreatingMilitaryMemories.com
ScrapYourTrip.com
AmericanCroppers.com

And if you want to just see a bunch of military layouts and feel inspired (both creative and patriotic), check out these website galleries.

TwoPeasinaBucket.com (the layouts made by "shmeethebee" are mine!)
MilitaryScrappers.com
ScrapbookMax.com (digital layouts)

Keep your chin up and be a support for your son. The Navy can be a great but challenging learning experience and adventure (for the family as well!) Scrapbooking military memories is a great way to focus on positive memories, mend your broken heart, and put worry on hold. When your son comes home, not only can you tell him how proud you are, but you'll have a heartfelt keepsake that shows him your pride. God bless you and your family and thank your son for his service and sacrifice.
Good luck!
Heidi

Do you have questions about scrapbooking? Email me at heidi@mycroproom.com and I'll publish the answer right here on My Crop Room. 

Do you wish you could share online photos and video with more pizazz?  Do you want to have a digital scrapbook but need it to be done for you, using your own photos?  Well, look no further, you need Smilebox!  I have tried it out and I must say I am impressed with all that it offers.  It's an application for your computer that allows you to share photos, put them in clever slideshows, make photo cards, and scrapbook layouts.  I bet you're thinking, "That's great, but so do a lot of other programs."  Well, here's the edge that Smilebox has over all of them.  You can add a soundtrack to anything you create.  Better yet, you can send, print, or even blog your creations (soundtrack and all!).  Smilebox is a service that is truly unique among today's online offerings; one that combines photos, video, animation, online cards, and social networking (Blogspot, MySpace, etc.)

Their mission is  to invite people to share their photos and greetings using hundreds of animated Smilebox designs – including e-cards, slideshows, scrapbooks, photobooks, and postcards.

Signing Up
To sign up you create an account with password, no big deal.  Then you download the application to your computer.  This doesn't take long and when you agree with their terms you're ready to go.

I was most impressed with how easy and user-friendly this program is.  It automatically finds your pictures and keeps them in view for you.  Adding photos to you your photo bank is just as simple as clicking "Get Photos".  Your digital pictures will all be put in front of you and you choose which ones you wish to work with.

Choosing a Design
Now comes the fun part.  You choose whether you want create a decorated slideshow, an e-greeting card, or a digital scrapbook layout.  Now these are not just clip-artsy, boring 2-D designs.  Oh, no!  These designs are just like professional layouts you'd see in current scrapbook magazines, featuring Making Memories, Scrap Girls, Erica Becker, Dani, Lisa Henderling, Sara Lugg, Greg Stadler, and more.  As you scroll through the different themes, each layout will tell you what type of design it is (scrapbook, card, etc.) and how many photos you can put in it. This may be the most difficult part of using Smilebox due to the hundreds of great designs to choose from.

eCards/Postcards
These layouts usually have a one page design and you insert your photo(s) and text.  Smilebox has invitations, postcards, and cards for any occasion you can think of.  What a great way to send a quick personal greeting to someone.

Slideshows
These are one page designs that change the photos and labels within it.  Very clever themed layouts are available.

Scrapbooks/Photobooks
You have several pages to interact with in these layouts.  Photobooks are more clean and simple while scrapbooks have lots of cute embellishments added.  You can journal, label, and of course add music.

Creating Your Layouts
Once you choose your design, you start to personalize it.  Your photos are brought up (no browsing or searches!) and you choose which photo (or video) goes where.  Smilebox will automatically select the first photos on your computer and insert them on the layout.  This is helpful because you can see where the pictures are supposed to go.  If you wish to change the selection, just drag and drop a new picture over the intended space.  So easy!

You can also, change the background color (which changes the embellishments as well), and opt out of embellishments.  If you don't wish to have the text Smilebox has provided, you can change it.  Then pick your music (Smilebox provides a few appropriate selections) or have no music.  Before you know it, instant creation!  Now you can save it, send it or blog it.

Go Premium
Smilebox is absolutely free to sign up and use.  There is, however, an option to "go premium."  This will allow you to share your creations without ads on the side in a fullscreen format.  It also allows you to choose from a larger variety of music for your soundtracks.  Premium packages can range from $1.99 - $2.99 per design and you choose which design you want to be premium.  If you plan on creating a lot of premium layouts you might want to consider signing up for Club Smilebox.  This will make all of your creations premium and you pay $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr.  You can even give the Two Week Free Trial a whirl and find out for yourself.  There is no obligation to pay for anything once you sign up.  I love that!  It's more like, "You can make cool stuff with our product for free.  And, if you want, you can also pay a little extra to give your creations a little extra."

Click here to try for FREE. Trust me, you're going to love it!

Here are some of my examples

Make your own | Click to play

Make your own | Click to play

Make your own | Click to play

Make your own | Click to play

The Smilebox service is free and easy to use. With a few clicks, anyone can turn their photos and video into animated, musical wonders. Which makes it no wonder that they're receiving rave reviews from consumers and media alike.
See more rave reviews about Smilebox.

Do you know of a great product worth adding to Tips and Tricks? Email me at heidi@mycroproom.com and we'll see about publishing your idea right here on My Crop Room.