TYS May 30 Prompt: getting away from it all

When I've scrapped vacations, I'm a theme scrapper all the way. Disney gets Disney everything on every single page. Beach get sand and waves. Camping gets tents and smores.

I love, love, love any topic that I can throw into a well defined theme. Makes scrapbooking a thousand times easier.

I definitely use real ephemera. Love business cards, post cards, brochures, receipts, ticket stubs, etc.

I like to scrap the trip within a couple of months of going. It is often nearly as much fun for me as actually going on the trip itself.

Do you journal while gone to help you remember the highlights? 

I keep a notepad and jot down highlights and stuff from each day. Could be funny things said, places we visited, restaurants we ate at, etc. I also  make note of special photos taken that day, and not to be forgotten during the scrapping process.

Do you vacation the same place every year? Or do you do the same activity, like camping? If so, how do you make your new pages fresh? 

Well, not a vacation, but I have a science museum membership this year, and we've visited several times already. To make it fresh, I'm not trying to take all the same photos each time. My goal is just a couple really interesting pics each visit. A pic of my dd at an interesting angle. Trying to see something I've seen over & over again in a new way. And I make sure to go whenever they bring in a new traveling exhibit.

Outdoor activities are tough to capture, with people spread out and lots of movement. Indoor venues often have lighting not conducive to photography, and you may not be near enough to the main event to get a clear shot. How do you handle these hurdles? 

  Well, I definitely try to capture what I can. I also rely on professional photos, and photos that other people at the event have uploaded to Flickr and Facebook.

For Disney I try to use a lot of themed elements (since I can't resist buying them) but I don't really use a lot of themed papers. I sometimes make my own themed embellishments. It always takes me a while to get the photos from my camera to my computer and then to Costco to print. I'm always behind, but I always have plenty to scrap.

I love scrapping vacations!  I usually use an 8x8 album and I love the whole process of choosing which pictures I'll use and planning which layout they'll go on.  I usually draw up a little sketch for each layout so I know exactly what to do once I get the pictures.  Sometimes I'll use themed supplies, but I'll usually just go with a paper pad and matching embellishments so I know I'll have enough for the whole album.  

The next one I'll be working on is our recent trip to Disneyland and I'm so looking forward to reliving our vacation while scrapping it.  DD1 and I turned into total Disney fanatics during this trip and can't wait to go back next year.  I'll be using a 12x12 album this time and I have a good amount of Say Cheese and Say Cheese II ready to go.  I have the layouts planned out and sketches pinned for inspiration.  That'll probably be in the next batch of pictures I edit. For that trip I had a list of things I wanted pictures of.  Characters, rides, food, the castle, Blue Bayou, etc. That's the only time I've had a list ahead of time. 

For other trips I take a picture every time I get a feeling inside that tells me I'll want to remember that moment.  For camping it's usually DH making breakfast, everyone around the campfire, lounging by the lake, people laughing and looking relaxed, and camping food.  Speaking of camping, this reminds me that I need to look for a place that still has spots open.  Thanks for the reminder!