So I hear you’re thinking about LOAD (also known as Layout A Day). But you just aren’t sure if you can keep up with it all. Well some friends and I are doing a little blog hop today to give you our best tips and tricks. If you’ve been hopping along you came here from Lisa’s blog. You could start at the beginning if you’d like or just hop along from here.
February 2012 begins the next LOAD experience. The theme of this LOAD is Past Perfect. I’ve done two LOADs. My first LOAD was in May of 2011 and then I signed up for Lain’s class The Mother LOAD over at Big Picture Classes in September of 2011. Here’s a peek at the layouts I created during September’s LOAD.
The goal of September’s LOAD was to create 28 layouts. If you count the photos above I only have 18 (I actually made two more that I forgot to include in the above image). So that’s 20 layouts done. I didn’t complete the last 8…which leads me to my favorite tips and tricks…
- Don’t stress! There will be no LOAD police checking that you’ve uploaded a layout every day. Whether or not you complete all 29 days I promise you this…you’ll have more layouts done than you would have if you’d never signed up for LOAD at all!
- Stock up on basics! You’ll want to have plenty of adhesive, cardstock, and paper cutter blades. It’s easier to complete a page a day if you don’t have to run to the store to purchase supplies.
- Keep it simple! For me this meant going digi on a few pages. If you are digi don’t be afraid to use templates or even quick pages. If digi is not your thing use sketches or scraplift. Whatever it takes to get the story told!
- Use Lain’s prompts! At least some of the time. Some of my favorite layouts ever were inspired by Lain’s prompts. (And remember, I got a sneak peek at a few of Lain’s prompts for February when I created 10 sample pages for her). I promise they are good!
- Make a list! Because sometimes Lain’s prompt may not work for you. I’ve found it helpful to know ahead of time what layouts I want to do. Sometimes I even jot down a few ideas for the journaling.
Have I convinced you yet? If you haven’t yet signed up for LOAD it’s not too late! You can find out more information about February’s Layout A Day here.
Next up on the blog hop is Kimberly! I’ve linked up all the blogs below in case you get lost along the way. Have fun hopping!
Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
Kelli http://www.scrapbookgirl71.blogspot.com/
Jennifer http://atthebluebarn.blogspot.com/
Lisa http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com/
ME
Kimberly http://www.kimberlykalil.com
Eileen http://thinkinkpaperscissors.weebly.com/
Danielle http://acoffeeaddict.com
Pam http://dailypamage.blogspot.com/
Katrina http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com
Cate http://www.lifebehindthepurpledoor.com/
Gayle http://www.lifeonlilypadlane.blogspot.com
Heather http://heathersdragonsden.blogspot.com/
Gina http://randomthoughtsmindlessmusings.blogspot.com
Kristie http://kristiesloan.com
Janet http://khashabfamilymusings.blogspot.com
Lydia http://lydiaink.wordpress.com
Yes – Don’t stress!!!
See you on Flickr!
Jennifer
@atthebluebarn
Great tips. Good reminder–there are no scrapbooking police. Only you can tell if you’re doing it right!
That’s so true! In so many ways!
Love the idea of making a list of stories I might want to tell in case the prompt doesn’t work for me. I haven’t done that before past LOADs, but I think I might do that this time around. Thanks for sharing.
Glad that helped Kimberly! I’m a list kind of girl so it seems second nature to me.
he he! The LOAD police! That made me giggle out loud. My sister and I always used to joke about the scrapbooking police checking us out if we didn’t follow the rules! LOL! All good tips and the tip about Lain’s prompts is also great – I agree that some of my fave layouts from recent years have been from prompts that I had to think twice about! See you in the gallery!
Glad I could bring a smile to your face Lisa!
Thanks for the tips. How cool that you got to have a sneak peek!
It was cool. And such a compliment that Lain asked me to make pages for February’s LOAD!
Don’t stress – great advice for so many things! That will be a little hard for me because after a number of ‘just for fun’ LOADs, I’m going for gold this time. See you on Flickr!
I’m at the same place Lydia! Hoping to actually complete LOAD this time around.
Your blog is so bright and cheery! I think we can all use reminders that it’s okay to use templates and quick pages or scraplift! They all look so different when we are done, and that’s part of the goal to get them done! Are you sure there are no LOAD police?
Thanks for the giggle!
Ah thanks Kristie! If there is a LOAD police they’ve missed me in the last year! Ha!
I always make a list pre-LOAD but I do every challenge… It is just extra inspiring to find ways to fit the stories you want to tell with the prompts. thanks for sharing. wonderful pages. can’t wait to scrap together.
That’s so true Pam! Finding ways to fit the stories from your list into Lain’s prompts is super fun too!
Monica – Great tips! I’ve evaded the LOAD police for years, so I agree, it CAN be done. As I often say though, just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD
lol. ha. I am trying to actually DO a LOAD this time. (I feel like I cry wolf because I think I’ve said that for the last 3 times –I didn’t do the Mother LOAD last fall–…but I prefer to call it “eternally optimistic”) 
See you in the gallery! Heidi (move4life)
Me and you girl! If we can get away from them anyone can! But I agree, this year I’m going to try to finish.
Wow, Monica I’m so relieved that there will be no scrapbooking police coming to my door, I couldn’t help but have a little laugh. I love this blog hop, never done one before, it is so helpful and what everyone is sharing me a great deal thanks.
Monica – thanks for the great tips. I like the idea of having a list of things I want to scrapbook just in case one of the prompts doesn’t speak to me. I think I should start keeping a list of all those scrapbook pages I want to create regardless of LOAD or not – great idea. That way when I’m not feeling inspired by one, I can move onto another that inspires me then. Great idea. I look forward to seeing your pages on the board.
I often have a list going. I find it really helps me focus when I want to create, but I’m not sure what to make!
Great tips! I’ve almost always followed Lain’s prompts and usually end up sharing photos and stories that I never thought I would scrap. I’m really excited for Past Perfect…I KNOW she’ll get me thinkin’!
It’s so true! I love using Lain’s prompts. Even the simple ones make me think of stories I probably wouldn’t have told otherwise.
Love that you talk about using the prompts! I agree with you there
Can’t wait to get started!!
I can’t wait either Danielle!
Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the fun!
Me too!
Great advice. I like what you said about the prompts. It’s always fun to push ourselves creatively. Good to know that it’s not the end if we can’t make one day work, though. See you in the gallery.
Thank you for the fantastic advice! YOU ROCK! So excited you’re participating and sharing your talents for LOAD.
Ah thanks Lain! Thanks for stopping by!
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Don’t Stress. Don’t Stress. Don’t Stress. As a new LOADster, this will be my mantra.
You can do it Heather! No stress, just fun!