... Big Picture Scrapbooking ...

[ Molly ] Hello! I always like to arrive early :D)
[ Amy Ulen ] I've missed all the other chats, so I wanted to arrive early, too! I'm not missing this one!
[ scrapbookgirl71 ] Gotta go read to the kiddos. Just want to be able to follow from the beginning.
[ Becky C ] I'm ready too.
[ Molly ] Has anyone had a chance to listen to this weeks audio?
[ Becky C ] I see that they changed the way the posts are
[ Becky C ] Yes I listened to the audios
[ Amy Ulen ] Listening right now.
[ Molly ] Wouldn't it be fun if we could all listen to the audio at one time and make comments?
[ Sabine H ] Hi ladies.. I haven't listened to audio yet either. Just quickly read the opening message from Stacy.
[ pennyscraps ] Hi! I just finished listening to the longer one.
[ Becky C ] we will be busy again these next two weeks
[ MelissaTX ] Hi from Texas! I listened to one of the audios today and read the transcript for the other one.
[ artiste ] oh... do we have two weeks to do this lesson, too?
[ Becky C ] yes we do have 2 weeks again
[ pennyscraps ] Yay for Becky reading her syllabus! ;-)
[ Becky C ] lol... i"m just so excited to be doing this class this time
[ pennyscraps ] So do ya'll have your 5 years printed and in SB's?
[ Becky C ] no I don't have them in SB yet
[ txpns54 ] No. It will take a while to get them printed.
[ Buglet ] I am getting there but still have a few hundred photos in stacks on my table!
[ Sabine H ] Yes... I've got 10 years in storage binders. Yay! But they were printed already and already in order in photo boxes with my notes etc... so that was a HUGE help.
[ artiste ] my storage binders are arriving tomorrow :-)
[ nessa b. ] hello from IL. glad to be here!
[ pennyscraps ] I am making progress, too. Life and work just seem to get in the way! ;-)
[ Scrapbook_Girl ] I've gotten through about 6 months worth of digital, it's taking forever!
[ Molly ] Sabine that's terrific!
[ pennyscraps ] 10 years? Go crazy!
[ artiste ] wow... good job sabine
[ JeriP ] I still have a long way to go but I know what to do and how to do it!
[ MelissaTX ] I'm sort of there - I have one SB that holds my photos from 1969-1987, so that counts as a lot of years, but it's not really that many photos. I have 2009 in SB and my 2008 prints will arrive tomorrow. 2008 & 2009 were digital and I now have my hightlights printed and will all be in SB by the weekend.
[ pennyscraps ] Hi teacher!
[ txpns54 ] I'm working on my highlights folders still.
[ Scrapperann ] Yeah!!! It's Stacy!
[ Molly ] Pennyscraps - Life does get busy.
[ stacy julian ] Hello everyone -- I can see that several of you are ready for lesson 3. How exciting! I'm here -- let's chat!
[ Sabine H ] thanks ladies... luckily (or crazily) I spend several weeks back in 2003/2004 getting them in order. It took hours and hours ... Now for the digital that didn't quite make it to print. That will be a challenge. One step and 15 minutes at a time. Thats my plan.
[ artiste ] hi stacy
[ stacy julian ] JeriP - great attitude, "lots to do, but you know what to do!"
[ pennyscraps ] Stacy, I'll ask a Q. If I don't have 5 years unscrapped, do I still strive to get great photos "highlighted" and printed so I have the 5 years of memories to pull from?
[ Becky C ] me too.... I'm waiting for my photos to come and then get them into sb
[ mb2009 ] I'm excited to organize pictures from envelopes I haven't seen in years.
[ stacy julian ] "penny, 
how lucky are you! Yes, get your BEST pictures in binders and we'll move forward with what you have. You'll have a chance in lesson 4 to revisit any duplicates you have of the photos you've already scrapped -- more info soon!"
[ Gloriak ] I haven't been able to listen to the audio yet but have read through lesson 3 and am i correct in that now we pull photos out of the binders we just put them in and re categorize them again?!! What if they haven't been scrapped?
[ stacy julian ] mb2009 -- isn't great? Seriously, just seeing your pictures again is HUGE.
[ pennyscraps ] Okay thanks - I will go back and pick up 2006. Wasn't sure on duplicating that year....but it was scrapped chronologically. I am so great at being an over-achiever, I am trying to just do what you tell me. ;-)
[ pennyscraps ] My teenagers were in here last night, loving flipping through the SB's. It really is an eye-opener on getting the digital pix OFF the computer and into our hands.
[ stacy julian ] "GloriaK, 
I do talk a bit about this in one of the audio messages. Yes, your assignment this week is to slowly look through all of your storage binders and see if you can recognize up to 100 that could be used outside of their chronological context to help you illustrate a different kind of memory ..."
[ MelissaTX ] All this sorting and viewing photos has kept me awake at night! :>) Actually in a GOOD way - I have so many ideas running through my head for pages and mini albums that I had to actually turn on the light and write them down on the tablet by my bed last night so I could go to sleep. :>)
[ artiste ] something is bothering me... isn't the idea behind the SBs to be able to SEE the photos? but taking them out and putting them in category drawers, we won't be able to see them anymore. i don't understand
[ pennyscraps ] How exciting, Melissa!
[ nessa b. ] I was like that too MelissaTX after reading PF the first time!
[ Steph in No Cal ] MelissaTX--Great idea keeping a notebook by your bed for late-night notes. Thanks for the tip.
[ Kali ] I love seeing the pictures again.
[ stacy julian ] Let's say you come across a great relationship photo of two siblings taken at the beach on your summer vacation. Yes, you could keep this photo in your storage binder because your "summer vacation beach page" isn't made it, but ... you could be brave and know that you have lots of summer/beach photos available to you, so you'd like to pull (or triage) that relationship photo and put it in your US bin -- make sense?
[ Gloriak ] I'm with artiste on this one..confused. We just got these photos organized and in a place to view them and now we are going to box them up? Are we supposed to scrapbook these 100 photos right away?
[ artiste ] how will we remember what's in there?
[ pennyscraps ] It's so scary for us chrono's! ;-)
[ Amy Ulen ] I'm so excited about triaging my photos! I'm a theme scrapbooker anyway, so this is what I've been waiting for!
[ Scrapperann ] As an alumni--you "just remember" because it is such a meaningful photo
[ MelissaTX ] I am excited too about the triage because it will help me break out of my usual even scrapping!
[ sleepyhead ] me too, I'm very visual. I can't even bring myself to stack photos in SBs = I want to see them
[ stacy julian ] "artiste, 
You are right that you cannot see pictures in your category drawers like you can in your binders, but ... you are tucking a very small percentage away and hopefully, I'll have you looking through these drawers often enough that you'll be somewhat familiar with which photos are tucked away for future connections. Plus, you'll have plenty of other photos to keep you busy scrapbooking!"
[ ShawnaB ] Thanks Stacey - I was also confused - but your explanation was great ... I get it now!!
[ Sabine H ] Stacy... as I put photos in my SB I found a few envelopes filled with notes I'd made about pages I want to do that do not have pictures (and won't - my intent was just a 'journalling' page for these ones) - would you suggest I place these in my SB or keep them seperate? I had them in my photo boxes in chronological order and was planning to put them where they fit chronologically... but now of course I'm moving away from that. What do you suggest?
[ midwestgirl ] Stacy, do you ever do photo triage on your computer or do you stick to triaging (is that a word?) with printed photos only?
[ artiste ] ok, that helps. thanks
[ JeriP ] I'm very excited for this. Scrapbook event photos are dry history with just dates and facts too often. The connections are what make family history fun and interesting.
[ stacy julian ] It's so funny how each year, there are so many who in one breath say 'I can't wait' to fully embrace this system and in the next breath say, I don't know about this -- you really want me to take photos back out of my binders? Yes, I do. I guess you'll just have to trust me and try it!
[ Molly ] JeriP - I agree! Who wants to memorize dates?
[ txpns54 ] Before taking digital photos, I used to get duplicates made and then distributed the 2nd set between my children. I would put them in a photo storage box behind labels of school, scouts, sports, pets, friends, holidays, etc. I wish I had done that with my set, too.
[ sleepyhead ] typical Mom - always putting the kids first, right txpns54?
[ stacy julian ] "Sabine, 
I'll help you know what to do with these notes (for journaling pages only) in a few weeks (lesson six) -- I bet with category drawers you might even discover some cool ways to illustrate these pages/stories with photos!"
[ Gloriak ] So say I have this really great photo, its in my photo software, chronological and my highlights folder, printed in my binder and now in a category box? Why so many places? It feels like I am having to deal with each photo so many times and in so many ways before I even get to the scrapbooking.
[ MelissaTX ] Here's something I've done that is sort of triaging but not waiting to put in the category drawers. Going through my old photos I saw several photos of skates - yes roller skates - and I got a great idea for a page about roller skating because my parents met at a skating rink way back. As a family we have skated together for years, so I am already pulling the skating photos as I go and sticking them in a page protector for a page.
[ Sabine H ] thanks Stacy - I'll keep my notes aside til then...
[ artiste ] good question, gloria
[ sleepyhead ] hmm Melissa sounds like you may need materials files - I think Stacy likes those LOL
[ stacy julian ] "midwestgirl, 
I do minimal triage (tagging) on my computer. Mostly I use the facial recognition tool to create a folder of my favorites for each person in my immediate family. I have several other folders, but I'm not very consistent with my triaging for those."
[ Molly ] MelissaTX - You got it!! That is exactly the type of connections Stacy is talking about.
[ nessa b. ] yep, I think MelissaTX is on the right track
[ Steph in No Cal ] I have to resist putting too many photos into my category drawers. I think that seeing pictures of so many meaningful, storytelling layouts in Stacy's books, blog, and BPS, I am inspired to look at one of our photos and just picture a meaningful layout coming from it.
[ Gloriak ] I have really enjoyed the binders and am a visual person and really couldn't I just make notes about the connections I see or pages I am inspired to make?
[ MelissaTX ] Yes, material files . . . I remember now from the PhotoFreedom book. I also have one set up for two mini albums that I want to do and am sticking photos in as I go.
[ stacy julian ] "MelissaTX 
I support you in acting on this kind of inspiration. As you progress through LOM you'll discover several ways that you can track these kinds of stories without separating out the photos --but for now, do what makes the most sense to you and by all means, create that page and post it in our gallery!"
[ midwestgirl ] Thanks, Stacy for answering my computer question.
[ MelissaTX ] Thanks for the comments - it's nice to hear that I'm on the right track and I'm certainly open to adjusting the way I'm doing things as we go along.
[ Candace Ann ] I seem to have the opposite problem of everyone else. I am a "purger". I like to purge. But I'm afraid I may have purged some photos that I couldn't originally see scrapbooking but now with this new system and having category drawers...they could have been used for other pages! :(
[ stacy julian ] "Steph, 
It is important to resist putting too many pictures in your category drawers right off the bat. This is why I've limited your triaging to just 100 photos this week. Take your time and browse your storage binders slowly and carefully. I have learned the hard way when it comes to too many photos in my drawers -- the slower they fill up the better they work!"
[ stacy julian ] "Candace Ann, 
Don't worry about over-purging. You'll get a chance in two weeks to revisit your purge pile with the purpose of triage in mind. Wait ... it will be worth it!"
[ Molly ] Great advice Stacy! "The slower the category drawers fill up, the better they work."
[ MonicaMcNeill ] My drawers are still pretty sparse even after a few years :)
[ sleepyhead ] So wait, are we supposed to be saving our purge pile?
[ stacy julian ] This is good Monica!
[ KimberlyAnn ] Stacy - how many of a particular tradition photo do you triage? For example, you mentioned your halloween pictures. Do you put one per child per year into your category drawer? I'm thinking of other yearly traditions and how many photos you could collect of those.
[ Candace Ann ] I'm afraid when I purged...I purged for good. Going...Going...Gone.
[ nessa b. ] I didn't purge much if any ( I don't think), when I did the 80's in my sb. now I'll take that time and look for "category draw worthy pics"
[ Gloriak ] This is starting to feel labor intensive to me and by that I mean just the photo locating. I have a story I want to tell and in order to find the photos to go along with it I will have to check numerous places (computer - chronological and/or highlights, my binders, category drawers and maybe even cold storage) Seems like alot of time and energy before I can even get to the paper and glue.
[ Molly ] Sleepyhead - I'm like you - I like to purge. I tossed tons of photos my first year, but you'll see as you go through Lesson 3 that you still have plenty of photos to use in your category drawers. Isn't that why we're here? We all have TOO MANY photos?
[ stacy julian ] "GloriaK, 
Yes ... make lots of notes, as ideas come to you. I keep lists of potential layouts all the time. Just don't pull photos until you are ready to scrap the page (in most cases) as you'll keep yourself open to evolving ideas. You'll also be able to find your photos in your binders!"
[ artiste ] amen, gloria
[ stacy julian ] nessa b -- love this plan!
[ stacy julian ] "GloriaK, 
Right now we are buiding your system. You are not expected to know how to use it just yet and you are making it far to difficult. Just stay the course my friend!"
[ nessa b. ] thank you
[ MelissaTX ] ((Candace Ann)) remember though that even though you've purged a lot of photos, you kept the BEST photos and will still be able to make many connections!
[ stacy julian ] sleepyhead -- it's OK if you didn't save your purge pile. Many people did -- I rarely do!
[ sleepyhead ] I've lost 23 pounds already! {of photos that is}
[ NonaZ ] Digital dilemma- have photos on computer, uploaded to site, printed two or three, have them on CD's scrapbooked some of them. Can I delete them off the computer- get rid of copies/ What now?
[ nessa b. ] too funny!
[ pennyscraps ] You know we are pretty proprietary over our memories. Lots invested into them. We WANT to end up with a good system. Sometimes, though, as the MOM and COO of the house, it's hard to turn over something really valuable to someone else when we don't know exactly where we are going. Hard to be an indian when you're used to being the chief! ;-) But I trust you...I do.
[ Candace Ann ] Thanks, Melissa! I feel better.
[ Gloriak ] So we aren't supposed to pull photos into category drawers until we are ready to scrap? I'm getting more confused here, and I'm really not trying to make it harder than it is. I just know that I am not going to have time to scrap in the next while and I don't want to forget about those photos.
[ Scrapperann ] GloriaK-Keep going because it really makes sense--especially if you have a child and they need a certain picture for a certain school project--I can go straight to that storage binder and find the photo.
[ stacy julian ] "KimberlyAnn, 
You know,it's hard to say how many pictures I pull for tradition photos. I don't keep track. I might pull one photo per child one year, but the next just one of Trey and Taft and the next year, just one of the front door and Addie -- over time, these add up. The trick is to NOT think too hard."
[ Gloriak ] Scrapperann - so if yu can go right to the binder, why the category drawers?
[ stacy julian ] sleepyhead -- seriously, did you weigh your toss pile? That's awesome if you did!
[ midwestgirl ] So we print photos we love and want to scrapbook, not worrying about whether they will stay in storage binders or be moved to category drawers, is that right?
[ pennyscraps ] I think Gloria if you read the handout and listen to the audio it might clarify the order some for you. ;-) I know I try to do just what the handouts say and in their suggested order....
[ AprilFL ] GloriaK - I track the stories I want to tell by using that idea binder. I trust myself to know where to look for photos that will work when I'm ready to do that layout, because I have a system in place.
[ NonaZ ] Oh, yes, I have made photo books from some of them too. I have some in category drawers and in binders.
[ Kali ] The system is starting to make sense but I am still resisting taking the photos out of date order.
[ Gloriak ] Should you print doubles of the photos so you can put them in both the binders and the category drawers?
[ AprilFL ] midwestgirl - that's right
[ stacy julian ] "NonaZ, 
Have you created any highlights folders? Where are you in the process of the pre-class assignments and lesson two? I'd be happy to help you with specific next steps on the Ask Stacy forum!"
[ nessa b. ] sounds like the way I understand it midwestgirl.
[ Molly ] Kali - This is when you have to trust Stacy.
[ midwestgirl ] Thanks, April
[ sleepyhead ] Yes, I did - I needed some motivation to keep going :-) Plus I wanted to figure out how much it's been costing me to move all these extra photos around with me as motivation to continue to purge and stay on top of it!
[ stacy julian ] "Penny, 
It's so true - thanks for your trust!I won't let you down."
[ MonicaMcNeill ] midwest girl - you've got it!!
[ Scrapperann ] GloriaK- Stacy can explain the category drawers better-but find them as the best of the best or I am moved by them emotionally.
[ Steph in No Cal ] Gloriak: I should mention that I started LOM on my own back in 2007 when I first bought Stacy's books. Believe me, I didn't set up my storage binders and category drawers in the last three weeks. It is such a fun process, and what's neat is that you don't have to finish the process in order to begin scrapping your memories. It's been a very rewarding work in progress for me. Hope this helps.
[ pennyscraps ] I know girl. You are the bomb.
[ stacy julian ] midwestgirl -- that is right. If you love a photo and know you want to scrapbook it at some point, then you will. The vast majority of these BEST photos will live in your storage binders while a few will be planted as 'seedlings' of future connections. It works!
[ sleepyhead ] I love how I'm already starting to make connections as I'm looking through photos...really looking forward to all of the lessons to come!
[ NonaZ ] Thanks Stacy. I have created albums or folders with photos with dates or titles. No, no highlight folders but I have printed a lot of my photos. I will post more on your Ask Stacy place
[ pennyscraps ] SO - answer me this please. If I read your book and already started Category Drawers, should I go through what I already have in there or just add to it....??
[ stacy julian ] OK NonaZ -- I'll watch for your post. For now, you could just focus on your collection of printed photos -- that is a great place to start. Pick the very BEST and slip them into storage binders!
[ sleepyhead ] Ditto pennyscraps - I've been following Kayla's tutorials for my digi pics - so I already have some in Category Drawers with the 2 star+
[ NonaZ ] I did make a great layout of my g'son's 1st birthday and his 9th. It was fun and it was easy because of the category drawers. I am an alum and the binders are set up and I keep putting photos in them. I am behind in scrapping.
[ MelissaTX ] I think it is so important to remember that this is not a static system, it is always moving/evolving/rotating/changing. I love that Stacy always reinforces that we can change things up after we've lived with the system a while, so I'm not worrying about it being perfect this time around. I'm just enjoying spending time with my photos and making pages as I'm inspired. [Don't tell my famil that though, they think everything I do is perfect as I was Born Organized! LOL]
[ Buglet ] Stacy-- I thougth at one point you said not to worry about labeling (dating) the photos. If we put them in category drawers though and pull them away from other photos that help me "date" them in my head, how will we remember when they were taken if we use them years from now? Do you date the back of them?
[ stacy julian ] "pennyscraps, 
I find that most people (in the beginning) put too many photos in their category drawers. I don't know if this is the case with you or not, but you could spend some time this week looking through all of your tabs -- just get reacquainted with your triaged photos and perhaps do some scrapbooking if you find you have too many behind a particular tab. Does that make sense?"
[ nessa b. ] sleepyhead- would that be "virtual" or physical category drawers?
[ midwestgirl ] Pennyscraps, I went back through my Category Drawers and did some tweaking.
[ sleepyhead ] virtual
[ txpns54 ] I look at the SB as a place to look when I want to scrap an event and the Category drawers as a place to go when I want to scrap about a relationship/connection.
[ pennyscraps ] Yes, thank you. I know I have photos in there outside of the 5 years and that is exciting. But some of them may not be "the best". Hard to let go of them - but I am definitely 1,000% improved from where I was 4 weeks ago. ;-)
[ AprilFL ] This was a big mistake for me. I tried to maxout my number of photos that Stacy recommended each week . . . so just a word of caution . . . because now I have a few full sections and they don't really "call" me to scrapbook them now. I'm thinking of purging some.
[ nessa b. ] Buglet- I've been using a photo labeling pencil on the back of some of mine
[ sleepyhead ] april - would you purge them completely or purge them back to your SB?
[ stacy julian ] "Buglet, 
This is where I reveal my true and ultra non-chronological core. Most of the time I do NOT date the backs of my photos when I triage them. I have two reasons: 
1. Newer prints have a date on them from the Shutterfly lab 
2. When you pull photos from category drawers to tell a story, the date isn't important. Connections pages rarely require a date -- they go much deeper than that. Sometimes I guess and that is always good enough!"
[ nessa b. ] thanks, sleepyhead. I guess I need to spend more time on the digital boards :-)
[ AprilFL ] I'm likely purging them completely. If they're not calling me to scrapbook them in my cataegory drawers, then I'm not going to find myself scrapbooking them in storage binders. I may put some in my cold storage if they're of my children in their younger years, but not many.
[ Buglet ] That is serioulsy cool! Thanks Stacy!
[ Molly ] txpns54 - That is exactly how I look at my system as well!
[ sleepyhead ] nessa - kayla's tuts are awesome, definitely check them out
[ AprilFL ] dates are one of the many reasons I love shutterfly :)
[ pennyscraps ] I did notice on my last batch of scrapbookpictures.com that the ALBUM NAME is on the back - therefore I know exactly the 3 month period and year of any photo!!! WONDERFUL!!
[ MelissaTX ] I really like the worksheets for this week so us newbies can begin to think about the tabs for our category drawers before we set them up! I was all prepared to have to set up some tabs this week, but love the idea of just pulling photos for the main categories and seeing what comes from there.
[ Buglet ] I don't think that my photos have dates. does Costco do that?
[ sleepyhead ] i love them even more now that they have an iphone app!
[ NonaZ ] After scrapping like crazy for a couple of months, I am knitting now. I am eager to get back to making pages and whatever I have done with LOM from last year has helped so much.
[ stacy julian ] On the date thing. If this bugs you and you really want a date on the back of a triaged photo, then by all means, write the date on the back.
[ midwestgirl ] I would be very interested in learning more about knowing when it is time to scrap from Category Drawers. (although I think it might be whenever you feel inspired to do so) Will that come in future weeks?
[ stacy julian ] "Buglet, 
most photo printers have the add a date option, but sometimes it's hard to find. You can always ask. That's what I did several years ago, I asked the Shutterfly help line."
[ nmkaren ] I am really enjoying reading all the emotions associated with this entire process. Isn't it grand how scrapbooking reaches to our inner core without even putting a picture on a page. I learn alot about myself just by listening to how I am approaching the process. Interesting!
[ stacy julian ] "midwestgirl, 
Yes .. this is coming in future lessons and yes, anytime you feel inspired is also a great litmus, but ... you will need to learn to go to your category drawers often! I think the biggest learning curve with LOM is learning how to keep the flow going, but visiting and revisiting the various entry points (does that make sense?) I address this during the last two lessons!"
[ Buglet ] I think I am worried about the date because if something happens to me before I get all of the photo scrapped- no one will really know when they were taken. I am dealing with this with photos that my grandma gave me from 1880 to present and she doesn't know when all of them were taken. If I don't get them somewhat organized before she's gone (she's almost 94), I won't have a clue and I hate to do that to my kids/grandskids (OK- my kids are really young- but still)!
[ stacy julian ] yay for Melissa, I totally believe if you take things slow and complete the lists and the worksheets in lesson 4 you will end up with tabs better suited to your life and memories!
[ Molly ] Stacy - Do you have any "old" family photos in Category Drawers?
[ Material Mama ] Shutterfly has an iPhone App? Awesome!
[ MonicaMcNeill ] Buglet - if this is a large concern then maybe you could get a year stamp and some staz on ink to date them
[ sleepyhead ] yep, just downloaded today - LOVE it!
[ nmkaren ] Buglet - I sat down with my grandmother who is 100 and went through photos with a video camera on and she just talked about all of them. This is awesome for me and I can take my time getting them all labeled and sorted and what is really cool is I have stories told by grandma
[ MelissaTX ] Buglet - my thoughts are that many of my photos and layouts will have dates. However, many of the photos I have from my grandmother (who is now gone) don't have dates. That doesn't bother me because I just enjoy having the photos. I may use a photo of her when she was young and scrap about a story she told me, but I'm really not concerned if they match.
[ pennyscraps ] What does the iPhone app do?
[ nessa b. ] I appreciate everyone's posts. it helps quite some of my fears about this process
[ stacy julian ] "Buglet, 
Get stories from your grandma, not dates. I mean you get can dates, but I have dates and very few stories. Your kids won't care a bit about undated photos if they have a library of stories and other great projects that celebrate your life. Focus on what you have time for and let go of the worries!"
[ txpns54 ] I thought the meta data from the camera would take care of the date issue and some cameras have GPS technology, so the location issue could be taken care of as well.
[ Buglet ] I just got one from Staples but it only has 2010-2015 on it! I will use it for anything I print now (if I don't find that date option) and continue the search for a stamp that will let me chose the year.
[ Sabine H ] Buglet .. my friend has an album of photos from way back then as well - it has the dates but nothing else. She'd rather have the stories and the who, what, when where and why....
[ sleepyhead ] the app lets you look at the pics u have uploaded to sfly - i think you can even order prints and move stuff around on it too
[ midwestgirl ] Yes, Stacy, it does make sense. I have a little confusion about letting pictures age, while still going to the Category Drawers to scrap. Not sure of the balance of this yet. Looking forward to your further instruction!
[ Material Mama ] I started a little late, due to the flu. I'm trying to cover or decorate my clipboard. It's been SO long since I've used anything 'scrappy' I have no idea how to attach paper to it. Can I attach fabric? That is my main passion, and I have some favorite I'd like to add. Or will this make it too bulky?
[ pennyscraps ] Material Mama, I didn't even decorate mine. I am trying to be SIMPLE and am really enjoying the old school feel to it...
[ stacy julian ] "midwestgirl, 
Its crazy how you do find the balance between aging photos and scrapping photos from your category drawers -- it just works and I'm not even sure how. When I collect about an inch of photos behind any one tab, then I pull them out and scrapbook something (page, mini book) I always leave some older photos and some newer ones and somehow I just sense when it's time to use a photo or not -- you'll get there!"
[ nessa b. ] Material Mama- I used YES glue when I did my clipboard. it's works great with paper but I don't know about fabric
[ midwestgirl ] I didn't decorate my clipboard, either.
[ Material Mama ] OH and on the 'letting pictures age' - I thought this meant the crinkling and walnut ink that was so popular a few years back. I never wanted my pictures to start out looking old. So I'm glad you cleared that up in your podcast today :)
[ stacy julian ] "MaterialMama, 
Fabric -- go for it. Absolutely!"
[ Buglet ] "@nmkaren- that is a great idea! I have some video -- somewhere. When she moves up here I will do that. 
Stacy--I have a ton of family history (LOVE geneaolgy) and have recorded stories which will really help."
[ stacy julian ] Buglet -- Oh good!
[ MonicaMcNeill ] Regarding fear about the unscrapped pictures that we may leave behind. Whatever we do accomplish will be cherished by our loved ones. Especially, if the stories we are telling & the memories we are honoring were important to us. It will be good enough, I believe this.
[ scrapbunny ] ah keep forgetting how early the chat starts
[ Material Mama ] Cool thanks Stacy -- What kind of glue or adhesive for fabric? Will that YES glue work? Or just spray on glue?
[ stacy julian ] MaterialMama -- LOL. Isn't it interesting how differently we understand some things. Makes perfect sense that mistook age for distress. I'd better find another word I can use sometimes!
[ LizL ] My biggest take away tonight: whatever I'm doing is good enough! It's better than doing nothing at all!!
[ sleepyhead ] go LizL!
[ Material Mama ] We have video tapes of my grandmother talking about her life (now burned to DVD), and a long letter/short book my other grandmother wrote about her life. They are more precious and dear to me than anything. My great great grandfather kept a civil war journal too, so I guess it runs in the family LOL
[ nmkaren ] Absolutely - whatever is done is good!
[ Scrapperann ] SJ-How about "mature"
[ midwestgirl ] Oh, Stacy, that sounds so great! (regarding Category Drawers)
[ stacy julian ] LizL -- you got it babe!
[ txpns54 ] Amen, LizL!
[ stacy julian ] I like mature. I'm not very mature, but I like that for my photos :)
[ sleepyhead ] funny!
[ stacy julian ] "MaterialMama, 
Not sure about fabric, although I've run fabric through my Xyron before and that works great!"
[ Buglet ] Thanks everyone for the advice. I will try to jut let it be and work the system. At this point, organizing is a huge lifesaver. I have been wanting to do this for eaons now but didn't really know what to do. So far (even though I have a lot of work left and will be one of those organizing for weeks/months)this class has been great!
[ Material Mama ] Oh, I feel so much better about where I am now. I just keep going between Picassa (LOVE it!) for my digital pictures from 2004 to present and my older photos in boxes with the adorable tags. The flu was good for sitting and sorting LOL.
[ MonicaMcNeill ] Glad you are feeling better Material Mama :)
[ nessa b. ] keep up the good attitude Material Mama!
[ stacy julian ] Any final questions for our last 5 minutes together?
[ Material Mama ] Thanks Stacy, I've always thought about getting a Xyron for making cute applique for my kids and always wondered if it would work. No one in the sewing world seems to know so I'll take your recommendation. Did you interface the fabric first?
[ nmkaren ] Have a great night everyone and dream connections!
[ sleepyhead ] do 2 star digi photos in HL folders count toward the 100 triaged photos?
[ nessa b. ] no question. I just wanted to say "thanks" for the daily emails. I enjoyed each one of them!
[ stacy julian ] Material Mama -- careful. I'm no seamstress. I just use my Xyron to add fabric to paper. I used to use Wonder Under in my pre-scrapbook days. Loved that -- anyone still use that?
[ txpns54 ] No questions tonight. Thank you, Stacy, for taking the time to chat with us.
[ Molly ] Material Mama - Definetely interface the fabric first, then run it through the Xyron. Before removing the top Xyron film run a brayer over the fabric so that the adhesive will adhere firmly.
[ Gloriak ] Everyone seems to be doing so well and I still just feel overwhelmed and really frustrated. I am not sure what I expected and I really want to keep trying but I just come away from every session,be it chat or organizing or just reading the forums feeling lost and like I want to cry. Anyone else like this the first year? It will get easier right? I just want to scrapbook again.
[ ckytang ] Should we start triaging right away? I thought we need to age them?
[ Material Mama ] No worries Stacy! There is iron on wonder under that I use, and it works like a charm.
[ scrapbunny ] stacy I have a group of photos from a trip to dc when I was in high school. i'm thinking of just doing a photo album scrapbook. should i put them in a storage binder first or just set them aside until i find an album?
[ pennyscraps ] I loved the daily emails, too. Thanks for all your time, suggestions, energy and ideas!! This IS big. ;-)
[ artiste ] gloria, i'm right there with you. but not giving up.
[ sleepyhead ] gloria - just hang in there, I'm a newbie too - I'm sure it will all come together
[ Sabine H ] I have one... for digital HL folders - Christmas seems to fall into the FALL HL folder, which seems a bit odd to me. For digital do you just tag your christmas photos or do you create a seperate HL folder? I take so many at christmas and was just wondering...
[ MonicaMcNeill ] Gloriak Please post specific questions to the coaches forum. Ask in small chunks & we can do our best to give short concise answers to help you along :)
[ Molly ] GloriaK - Do you know of anyone who lives close to you that's doing LOM? Maybe it would help to have an LOM buddy.
[ stacy julian ] sleepyhead -- YES, 2 stars and key words. I'd love to see you just play around and sort photos by keywords, so you can see them in collections. You might even want to create one additional rating for the BEST of the BEST in each keyword category -- just to enable you to see fewer photos and make more connections!
[ midwestgirl ] Molly, great idea! I would do that.
[ Buglet ] GloriaK- I feel like that sometimes too! I hope that soon I won't feel like I am behind. I seem to be pulled in so many directions and don't have a lot of time to do the work.
[ sleepyhead ] I understand the first part - but not sure where exactly I would create the add'l rating for the best of the best - please clarify?
[ nessa b. ] excellent idea for GloriaK, Molly
[ Material Mama ] Thanks to everyone, this has been my first and BEST online class ever. I know it takes a lot of time, so thank you!!! I love the e-mails I am so excited when they come through each day. Not to mention the audio recordings. Just Perfect! Thank you to SJ and everyone who is participating, administrating and helping out. It's already changed my outlook on my picture taking.
[ txpns54 ] GloriaK-I am behind as far as class assignments go, and I don't expect to get everything done this time around. Just hang in there.
[ stacy julian ] "GloriaK, 
I can't seem to read your whole question, but I can see several responses. Please hop onto the Ask Stacy forum and let me guide you there -- OK? You'll be able to work things out, I'm sure of it!"
[ Gloriak ] I don't know. I am in the south eastern corner of NE.
[ Scrapperann ] night everyone
[ pennyscraps ] Nite! Thanks Coaches and Stacy!
[ MelissaTX ] Thanks Stacy & everyone for participating tonight. I really want to just go scrap a page but it's bedtime here and I have a busy day tomorrow!
[ MonicaMcNeill ] Goodnight everyone :) I'm about to teeter over from exhaustion tonight!!
[ Material Mama ] Gloria, just take a deep breath and do a little at a time. I think that SJ's comments about setting a timer for 15 minutes is great. Very much like the FLY lady decluttering experience. Little by little it gets easier until it's second nature.
[ Molly ] GloriaK - Post something on the Let's Chat forum and see if you can locate others. My first year, I spent hours on the phone with another LOM newbie just talking about the system - it totally helped!!
[ nessa b. ] me too MonicamcNeil, had my 14 mo. old grandson all day. whew! nite all
[ AprilFL ] Goodnight everyone!
[ Gloriak ] Thanks everyone.
[ midwestgirl ] I know I'll sleep better tonight. I was too excited last night because of Lesson 3 being available this morning!
[ pennyscraps ] LOL Midwest. I DO find it awfully hard to work on Thursdays ;-)
[ Material Mama ] Nighty Night, thanks for answering my questions so clearly :) Off to tag some more or maybe fancy up my clipboard :)
[ AprilFL ] GloriaK - let's all talk more on the message boards.
[ stacy julian ] "sleepyhead, 
I'll have to run this by Kayla -- to see if it's a good idea to pass one, but I actually just select my FAVS from a keyword collection and add BEST to each. Then anytime I'm looking at a highlights folder or a category based on key words, I can search for BEST also -- does that make sense? I'm not sure this is the correct way to do this -- again, let's check with the digital divas!"
[ sleepyhead ] I think I get it now, thanks - I've been adding a Photos I Love tag - maybe that'll work
[ Amy Ulen ] Stacy, thanks for adding the song to your slide show this week! I loved it!
[ txpns54 ] Yes! Loved the song!
[ stacy julian ] sleepyhead -- that will work!
[ sleepyhead ] Just keeps getting better :-)
[ stacy julian ] "You're welcome for the song -- I love all my LOMers a bushel and a peck. 
Thanks for coming tonight. 
Please post questions that did not get answered on the forums and watch for a transcript next week!"
[ Gloriak ] It's late here for me and I am in that place where I am not even sure I could articulate a decent questions but I will try and post some tomorrow. Thanks again.
[ Molly ] Thank you Stacy!!
[ KimberlyAnn ] Thanks Stacey! I'm sure we'll have more questions on Saturday :)
[ Sabine H ] Thanks Stacy - you and your team are awesome!!
[ txpns54 ] Good night, everyone! Sweet dreams.

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