Seven Ways to Prepare for a Scrapbook Party

One of the joys of scrapping is getting together with friends and sharing pictures while you complete your albums. This is a great Girls Night Out!

But who wants to spend the whole evening hauling scrapbook tools and your precious photos in to the layout tables?  Who wants to fiddle with finding a place for tools or locating a lost favorite printed paper?

If you finally have find time for a GNO, you want to be protective of your time.

Those who plan ahead can get the most out of a scrapbook evening with friends.

These ideas will help:

• Start thinking about your scrapbook outing a week ahead of time. What subjects will you cover? Will it be a soccer album or a baby album? Set aside photos, stickers, and embellishments on other topics for another day.
• Collect your pictures. This may mean making prints on a home photo printer or taking film or a digital card to a commercial printer or a kiosk in a store for quick printing. You will especially have to plan ahead for historical pictures of your ancestors, which may require special treatment. You don't want to create a page with a box where a photo should have been, replaced by the words "Photo not available."
• Gather embellishments. Do you have appropriate stickers, die-cuts, lettering that you spent money on, knowing you would use them to enhance this album page someday. Now that the day is here, don't drop the ball.
• Pre-journal about the topics on which you will be creating your page or album. For you, this may mean actually writing the words ahead of time, or it might mean simply getting your thinking geared toward memories of that cheerleading season or family vacation. If you are writing your words down ahead of time, you can either do it on notebook paper and transcribe them at the scrapbooking party or you can find a bit of time to write your memories on journaling paper.
• Decide what tools you will bring. Many scrappers have too many tools to be completely portable. Pick and choose the most indispensable for your outing. You will need scissors and adhesive, for sure. But which punches will you need? What crop tools will be best? Which lettering tools? Ideally you will pack them in a tote designed for scrapbooking. This is to protect the tools and to make sure that you can efficiently bring what you need.
• Be aware that some scrapbook parties are great opportunities to purchase a last-minute die-cut, pen, or a needed tool. Be pro-active and check with your hostess to see if there is a catalog available and plan any purchases that will enhance your scrapbook experience. Do not feel compelled to buy, however.
• Say "cheese." Go to the party to have fun. Leave your cares at home. It's great to complete 10 pages but only if you're creating another set of good memories with your scrapbook sisters. Better to come home with only two complete pages and renewed interest in making and sharing memories!