|
|
Post by judyc on Oct 19, 2014 18:57:08 GMT
I was wondering if there are any scrappers out there that used to take a long time to complete pages, but now they can complete a pretty good page in under 2 hours. I haven't timed myself, but suspect I'm in the 4-hours-a-page range, if I include the time I spend going through my stash to pick out stuff, going back through when I decide I don't like what I initially decided on, and cutting out on the Silhouette or Cricut. If you've sped up your process, what did you change?
If you're slow like me, would you like to be a faster scrapper? At one point I had resigned myself to just being slow, but now I've decided I would really like to have more photos in scrapbooks and less in boxes and pc storage. |
|
|
|
Post by meganliane on Oct 19, 2014 19:11:22 GMT
Yes - I used to be super slow. Now pages take me around an hour - some 45 minutes and some closer to 2 hours if I use techniques or do a lot of embellishing. The key for me was to not be such a perfectionist and just know if this page isn't "perfect", it is ok. I don't have to share it and the next one will probably be better:). Beyond that, starting with a kit of supplies has helped me as well as organizing my stash in a way I can find it and use it. I typically start with a kit and then add to it as needed. It has also helped to do a few pages or more starting with the same kit. That way I don't have to spend too much time cleaning up and already know in my head what I want to use.
For me, I have found my enjoyment comes more and more from making pages vs perfect pages. I just like playing with the pretty papers and embellishments!
|
|
|
|
Post by meganliane on Oct 19, 2014 19:13:50 GMT
Also another thing you can do to speed up the process is to think out several layouts and go ahead and cut what you need from your electronic cutter before you get started - so batch cutting. I will just cut in white and use ink, markers or water colors to make it the color I want.
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,451 
|
Post by scrapnnana on Oct 19, 2014 19:16:33 GMT
I am still incredibly slow most of the time, but occasionally, a layout does come together faster for me. The last time it went really quick, I just happened to have the right papers and pictures that went perfectly together.
One thing that I tried which also helped with another layout, was to use Kiwi Lane templates. I can't use them very often, because my layouts would all look the same, but that was another layout that came together really fast.
|
|
|
|
Post by lovestocreate on Oct 19, 2014 19:26:02 GMT
I am still so painfully slow even after all these years of scrapping. I rarely finish anything in one sitting!
|
|
|
|
Post by redshoes on Oct 19, 2014 20:01:23 GMT
I used to spend a 3-4 hours on a 2-pg layout as well, agonizing about paper, how to arrange the pictures, which/how many embellishments and then frustrated because a.) I still have to do a title! and b.) journaling!!! Some things that have helped me tremendously...
1. Use a collection kit for multiple LO events, such as Christmas. I add buttons, ribbon, twine, etc from my own stash.
2. Pre-gathering the items in 1 above so it is ready to go whenever I'm in the mood to scrap.
3. My LO's are stored chronologically, but I don't stress about scrapping Christmas 2012 before Easter 2012...I try to let my mood direct me.
4. I scrap mostly 2 page LO's with a lot of pictures (8-12+) so I arrange those first and let paper and embellishments follow. And, while I like looking at galleries, many of the ideas out there are designed for 1-2 photos for each LO and that doesn't translate well for me. So I typically skip the sketches and just come up with a picture arrangement that works for me.
5. I do not use mists, I rarely ink or stickle glue anything, etc.. Those techniques make the process longer for me.
6. Some layouts I don't even title or journal (insert GASP)!!
7. I typically use 2 patterns and 1-2 solid card stock for my LO's, and minimal layering, minimal matting etc. Too many options = takes longer for me!
8. I try to start my scrapping time with a single page LO (I do some, but not a lot) and that helps me get something done quicker so I feel the sense of accomplishment to keep going! I get most of my scrapping at a couple of weekend retreats each year, so when I do have time at home, a single page LO works better for me.
Sorry, that got a little long! Hope it helps!
|
|
|
|
Post by Scrapthology on Oct 19, 2014 20:14:07 GMT
I'm super slow, but that's cool with me as long as I like the end result, afterall it's fun not a chore.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Oct 19, 2014 20:35:56 GMT
I am probably a normal paced scrapper, but I scrap with a young lady, 26, who is very slow. She puts amazing detail not every page. Love her work.
|
|
|
|
Post by myboysnme on Oct 20, 2014 12:36:12 GMT
I am a very fast scrapper as I have said many times, but I have a friend who used to be published quite a bit and she would agonize over those layouts. Now that she no longer submits them anyplace, she has stopped agonizing quite as much. We went to a crop this weekend and she probably finished one layout an hour, and some were 2 pagers and used lots of embellies.
Some of them don't have the same focus on techniques that she used to be into; now they are more about using product that she has stashed over many years. She has finished several albums in the past year and for her that is amazing! She is using more photos per layout and more premade stuff; not really stamping, and doing her own journalling.
|
|
Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,688
|
Post by Elsabelle on Oct 20, 2014 16:18:03 GMT
I've found that I've shifted towards a more clean and simple scrapping style. I like grids and use a lot less embellishments these days. I find a sketch and that helps, too. I used to really agonize over every layout and make them detailed and use lots of tools and techniques on each one. These days I feel like I want to avoid the agony and just have a finished layout for my family and I to enjoy. I'm not just slapping them together, though. I want to be happy with my layouts. I pick one or two embellishments instead of several. One technique instead of three. I'm keeping it simple and I'm happy with that.
|
|
|
|
Post by streetscrapper on Oct 20, 2014 19:01:05 GMT
Unfortunately I am still painfully slow, but like someone has already said, I'm okay with it as long as I like the end result. For me there is no reason to whip through a layout. I just enjoy the process. Lately though I've been using my Silhouette software to design my page and it seems to make things run a lot smoother. Half of the stuff I use for a layout is cut from my Cameo so I suppose that kind of makes sense. Plus there are no "size" surprises. I used to draw sketches and often found that I had something far to small or far to big and that cause a lot of wasted time.
|
|
angsandy
Junior Member
Posts: 58
|
Post by angsandy on Oct 20, 2014 23:11:45 GMT
I'm definitely a slow scrapper, ultra slow. That said I enjoy taking my time creating  |
|
|
|
Post by 0612 on Oct 21, 2014 0:46:34 GMT
I'm very slow. I'm been scrapping for about 15 years now but I'm still slow.
|
|
|
|
Post by karensay on Oct 21, 2014 3:07:00 GMT
I'm super slow, but that's cool with me as long as I like the end result, afterall it's fun not a chore. You said it! |
|
mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
|
Post by mallie on Oct 21, 2014 16:29:28 GMT
What really sped up my process was making kits for my bigger projects.
|
|
|
|
Post by love2scrap on Oct 21, 2014 19:01:54 GMT
I've gotten faster since I started using sketches about two years ago. Now I can do a layout 2 pages or 1 page in about an hour (that is if I don't get entertained looking through my stuff)
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 22, 2014 4:29:10 GMT
Nope, I'm still slow. Part of me wishes I could get more layouts done, but a bigger part of me isn't willing to sacrifice my happiness with the finished product just to get more pages made.
One thing that will help speed me up will be getting my studio done. I have so much crap packed away that it just frustrates me to know that I have something I want to use but don't have a clue which moving box it's in. Knowing the perfect thing is here *somewhere* gnaws at me until I start looking for it, and once I start looking for things I might as well just be done.
I'm going to an all day crop this coming Saturday. In a perfect world, I would have all of the photos I want to scrap with printed, sketches chosen, materials narrowed down, titles cut, etc. But since we're being real that will NOT happen. Instead I think I'm just going to bring my laptop and Selphy, throw my copy of Page Maps 2 in my bag and bring several bins full of crap with me and pray that something (okay, ANYTHING!) gets done!
|
|
|
|
Post by judyc on Oct 25, 2014 3:56:00 GMT
Thanks for you input, so here's the results:
5 of you said you had speeded up as a result of: using kits, using sketches, being organized, fewer techniques/not doing the artsy stuff, fewer embellishments, and just plain quit agonizing (avoid perfectionism).
9 slow and ok with it.
So it sounds like there are things I can do to speed up, and if that doesn't work, I can decide to be o.k. with being slow.
Adding:
Now 10 'slow and o.k with it' -- 2 to 1 that slow is o.k. |
|
|
|
Post by karensay on Oct 25, 2014 15:03:00 GMT
I'd rather be slow and be O.K. with it than get stressed out because I am not as fast as the next person. I haven't done any pages at all in the past two months! Hopefully, November will pick up. OH, I have been working on a Christmas Tag Swap and Christmas Cards, so that has been taking up some of my creativity time.
|
|
