Do you have a hard time packing for a crop? More than once I’ve packed for a crop, brought SO MUCH STUFF that I could never have used it all in 6 straight months of scrapbooking, showed up and… OOPS! I forgot my paper trimmer! How do you scrapbook without a trimmer? (Yes, I’ve done this more than once!) 🙂
Here’s how to prepare for a crop, so you don’t have an experience, or two, like mine!
How to prepare BEFORE the crop:
- Figure out how much you can normally accomplish in the amount of time you will have at the crop. If you normally spend 5 hours on one layout don’t bring enough supplies for 20 layouts to a 5 hour crop!
- Preplan your pages. These don’t need to be perfect or exact! I recommend planning for the number of layouts you ‘expect’ to scrap, plus one. That way you have a back-up if you are super efficient!
- Develop photos. How many do you really need to bring?
- Call the host of the crop to find out what tools will be available. You won’t need to pack these things, especially if they are big, heavy and bulky!
- Find out if shopping will be available onsite too!
- Grab any idea books with layouts you want to scraplift.
What to pack, the essentials:
- Photos… this means you need to develop them before the crop!
- Paper Trimmer
- Spare blade for the trimmer
- Adhesive: tape runner, glue dots, foam tape, Sookwang tape, liquid adhesive, Xyron
- Scissors
- Journaling pen(s)
- Cardstock
- Pencil and eraser
- Scrap paper for sketching ideas/journaling
- Sanding/distressing tool
- Distressing ink
- Paper piercer
- Craft blade and mat
- Ruler (0r just use the one on your trimmer)
- Memorabilia
- Your journal or notes you use for journaling
- Embellishments you PLAN to use: brads, buttons, glitter gel, ribbon
- Stamping supplies: stamps you PLAN to use, inks, cleaner
- Patterned paper you PLAN to use
- Stickers/Stamps for creating titles
- Cricut mat? Or other personal items to use on machines
- Cup holder? Not an essential but very handy!
- Water Bottle
Oh NO! I wish I had…
It’s inevitable, at the crop you will wish you had brought something from your stash. Oh well! At a crop challenge yourself to FINISH your layouts using only the supplies you have on hand, or can purchase onsite! This will give you a huge sense of accomplishment when you go home, and layouts can almost always be completed without whatever item it was you thought you needed!
ALICE’S TIP: For versatility on my scrapbook pages I always try to use other people’s tools when I’m not at home! Stamp sets, punches, fancy tools that I don’t own, etc. This makes my pages look and feel different without having to spend the money on these tools! Plus it is a great way to test a tool and see if I want to invest in it.
Happy scrappin’!
Alice.
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WOW Alice ! Love your post about packing for a crop. So many scrapbookers take way too much stuff to crops and don’t get anything done. Love your idea of pre-planning and making up some page kits to take! thanks
You’ve inspired me to dig for a photo of me going to my first weekend crop… I took EVERYTHING!! I mean… 5 foot tall rolling Generations shelving, and more!! It was insane and I didn’t use ANY of it! Now I pack smarter because I hate carrying it all!
My first crop I packed a large suitcase with all my stuff. Then didn’t have room for it at the table. I was new to scrapbook ing . We all learn as we go.
I’ll find a photo of the CRAZY amount of stuff I packed to my first crop and I’ll share it… it’s embarrassing! Lol! Thanks for commenting Hellen!
Love this post! Just what I needed, now I feel like I’m on the right track packing for the crop! 🙂 of course I completely forgot to order photos… luckily I can print a bunch at home in a pinch!
Love your list, I have gone to crops as a consultant and just a scrapper and always take to much stuff. Pre-planning is a great way to cut back. Creative Memories used to do a “power layout class”, it had some good ideas for planning your pages out before a crop. I managed to do 40 pages one weekend using that system! Have never been able to do it since, Lol!
I did manage about 25 last crop,but its definitely all about the planning!
Having fun & visiting is important too, sometimes its just about getting away & seeing some new ideas that you can try out when you get back home too!
40 pages, WOW!!
I’ve never been to a crop, but I am “going” to a virtual one tomorrow and I don’t want to be off camera a lot trying to find what I need. This list will help me set up my scrapping area for the virtual crop – I really appreciate it!
Thanks for this post! I signed up for a crop not knowing what to expect at all. Definitely going to try to layout what I will actually need for my project so I am not the new girl bringing her whole craft closet!!
You’re so welcome Kelli! I hope you have a fantastic time. Try to enjoy the opportunity of hanging out with other scrapbookers. Do your best not to compare your scrapbooking to others, but do use their pages to inspire and bring new ideas into your pages. Please let me know if there’s something important you wish you’d brought so I can add it to the list!