Only a couple of weeks to go!

...Until retreat time!!!  It has been so long, over a year, and I can't waaaaaaaait ;)  I have already started prepping so I can get LOTS done between all the great food and fun times with the ladies!

Here's what I do, and it works pretty well for me...

I start by sorting my photos.  I group them by the layout they will be going on. 




Then I go through my sketch file on the computer.  I have them sorted into folders by how many pics are on the LO, 1 pic, 2 pics, etc.  Ok, this next part makes perfect sense to me, so hopefully I can explain it!  I go through my photos and pick the first group.  If it has 4 photos, I go to my '4 photos' file and pick a sketch I like.  I 'copy' the sketch file and 'paste' it into a new folder on my computer, this one I called "April 2010 Retreat".  I rename the sketch to '#1', and then repeat until I am done with my pics.  I have 54 sketches and 54 groups of pics, and that is my goal for the retreat.

Once I have all the sketches picked out and in the new folder, I print them out.  What works best for me is to print them four on a page, going down one side.  Then I have room for the next step, which is to write down what is in the pics and how many papers I need.  I write down how many patterened papers (pp) and how much cardstock (cs) I need for each LO.





Then the fun begins!  I set up right next to my papers with the supplies I need.  I have my clipboard with the printed sketches and all my notes, a pen and a pad of Post-It notes, paperclips, and a box to put my completed 'page kits' in.



Starting with my first group of photos, I check my clipboard and see what sketch goes with them.  My notes next to the sketch say how many papers I need, so I look at my photos and decide what color/theme the papers are going to be.  For this one, I needed two sheets of cs, and one pp.



Same for this one.




Once I pick out my papers, I label them with a Post-It and the coresponding sketch number.  I make sure the sticky part of the note is along the side, so when I fold it over it grips the front and back of the group of papers.  If I have a certain tag or other embellie to use with the papers, I include it, and put a paperclip over the sticky note.  If it is just the papers, I don't put a paperclip.


Then into the box it goes.  This box is totally random, but about 3 years ago I started using it becase it was the only thing I had the right size.  All the 12x12 containers I had were either too small or too big, so I still just use this box.  It sits right next to me on the floor at the retreat, and I just reach down and grab the next set of papers when I finish a LO.






Phew, ok!  So as I am typing this out and going through my step-by-step process, it has occured to me that it sounds a mite anal!  Oh well ;)  It works for me, and I am able to get a lot done.  

Like I said, the process of getting started is the hard part for me.  This way I just grab and go, and I hit the ground running.  Once I have a clear jumping-off point (the sketches), I can start creating.  Also, I don't have to decide what papers to pack and then consequently waste time deciding which ones to use.  That part of the equation is already completed and I can focus on the fun part, creating something meaningful and pretty ;)  Almost everytime I go to one of these retreats, I have a few of these LO kits that don't quite 'work' for me when I am there, but that's ok.  It is maybe only 3 or 4, so overall it is a pretty efficient way to get organized.  For me is anyway ;)

This sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but it is easily broken down into bite-sized pieces.  I don't do it all at once!  Sorting the pics is pretty quick and doesn't take a lot of time.  I typically do this in the evenings after the kids go to bed, and my hubs and I are watching a program or two.  I think it only took one night to sort them.  Then probably 4-5 nights of picking sketches to go with the pics.  I have my laptop in the livingroom so I can do a bit of mulit-tasking ;)  Once that is done, printing them out takes only a few minutes and another night or 2 of writing notes along side of them.  The part that takes the longest is sitting down and pulling the papers together.  That is why I start now!  I have a little less than 4 weeks until the retreat, so I want to make sure I have enough time to finish the pre-planning part and then start packing.

Once I get all that done, packing the rest is a cinch.  I bring my tools, a stack of extra cardstock for matting and cutting titles, and whatever embellies I need.

For tools, this includes my Cricut and cartridges, other cutting tools like a craft knife, circle cutter, etc., Cuttlebug and dies/folders/plates, stamps, blocks and ink pads, cutting and craft mat, adhesive and refills, and all that stuff.  For extra cardstock, I bring an assortment of 12x12 sheets in black, white, and a bunch of different colors, plus a ton of the mat stacks from DCWV.  I love the ones that are 4.5 x 6.5, because they are perfect for punching, die cutting and cutting titles on Cricut, and I can pack a lot of different colors in a smaller space.

As for embellies...  Well this is where I get a little carried away!  Just ask anyone who has been to a retreat with me ;)  But I can, because I was so efficient in packing my paper, so now I have LOTS of extra room for the fun stuff!  I bring pretty much anything I think I will use.  Letter stickers, Thickers, ribbon, bling, felt, brads, you name it.  This is where my creative process comes in.  I took all the spontaneous elements out of the equation by pre-planning my paper choices, so now I need room to groove with my embellie choices.  This is where I take my time to decide what to use, so I bring it all.  I bring all my ribbon, all my brads and eyelets, all my flowers.  ...And I have a lot of flowers, don't I ladies??

Yep, all of it.  I can't help myself, and I know that if I didn't do it this way, I would be wishing I would have brought that one thing I need to finish my page.   I even bring a small shelving unit to put behind me so I can easily access my supplies and have everything in reach.  I use one of the wire cube shelf sets I got at Target for like $15. The unassembled sets are pretty cheap!  I can put it together in about 10 minutes, so it is super portable and convenient to use.  A few of the regular ladies I retreat with have taken to doing the same thing ;)  Space is pretty limited so I make the most of it, and there is nothing worse than having to dig through a bunch of stuff to find that one thing you need!

So there is a peek into my process, hope it helps someone ;)