Packing for a Crop - Part 2

As I promised yesterday, today I am sharing with you my packing list for the 2-day crop that I am attending this weekend.

I've divided my things into categories:

Bags/containers

Rolling craft tote

Craft caddy

Grocery bag/tote

12x12 paper bin x 2

Page protectors

Tools

Cutting mat

Craft mat

Rulers

Scissors:  for paper, ribbon, adhesives (non-stick), all-purpose/regular

Paper trimmer

Photo trimmer

Craft knife and replacement blade

Cricut spatula

Cricut piercing tool

Pencil

Eraser

Paper and adhesives

Patterned paper

Solid cardstock - 12 x 12, 8-1/2 x 11, and white

Adhesives:  wet glue, 2-way glue pens, foam tape, glue dots, regular tape, ATG gun, ATG refills

Photos

Page maps - the page maps that I use came from a book (photo below):

Scrapbook Page Maps: Sketches For Creative Layouts

I think this will be awesome for when I get "scrapper's block" (I don't know if that is a real term, I may be making that up).  You know, that feeling when you just draw a blank when you're trying to plan a page or figuring out how the different components of your layouts fit together?  This comes in a book form, and then in the middle of the book are tear-out page map cards.  You can keep the cards in the box that comes with the book (you assemble the box, and ta-da -- handy-dandy page maps that you can take anywhere with you).  I love, love, love this.

Stamps and inks

Stamps: alphabet, baby/family stamps

Stamp scrubbing pad and spray

Dye ink pads

Chalk ink pads

Pigment ink pads

Distress ink pads

Sponge daubers

Die-cutting

Cricut cartridges in ArtBin

Cricut mats x 2

Framelits

Personal comfort

iPad

Pop-up trash bin

Ott lite

Pillow

Headphones

In case anyone is curious, this is how these things are packed right now:

And in case you want to know what's inside the bags/cases:

The extension cord, and the cords/charges for all of my electronics are in the side pockets.

I think I'm all packed!!!  I hope this is helpful to someone.

Thanks for looking, and a great day!

Packing for a Two-Day Crop - Part 1

Since signing up for a crop a few days ago, I thought about how I'm going to have everything ready in time.

I want to share with you my thought process, and I'm hoping that it will help first-time crop-pers, and maybe even seasoned crop-pers, in figuring out what to bring.

Plan your project.  Since I have taken a crafting hiatus, I really have no on-going projects right now.  I've Googled tips on how to plan for a crop to make the most out of my time there, and saw that most experienced crop-pers plan their pages and their layouts in advance (if they are scrapbooking) or their card projects (if they are card-making).

I know I'm going to be working on r's baby scrapbook, but since I signed up late for this crop, I will not have the time to plan layouts, paper packs, embellishments, and photos for each page.  I've managed to choose some photos I've managed to scrapbook, and will bring what I need for them.

Make a list.  I'm a fan of making lists (I stick it in my planner and check things off as I go).  For this crop, I've made a list of things to bring, which I will share with you in more detail in my next post.  In order to avoid bringing my whole craft room with me, I focused on things that I think I will need to complete r's baby scrapbook.  Making a list helps me figure out what supplies I already have, and what supplies I need to buy.

Buy the things you need.  With little time left until Friday afternoon (when the crop begins), and with little time to go to the craft store (gasp!!!), I turn to the ever trusty Amazon.  With the supplies that I do have in abundance, I needed to buy:

Lawn Fawn Clear Stamps-Riley's ABCs

I could not believe that I had no alphabet stamps for labels, journals, etc!!!  I've been eyeing this set from Lawn Fawn for a while, but am resisting the urge to buy all the alphabet stamps they have available (and trust me, they have plenty).  Does that sound familiar?  Needing to buy one thing, and then ending up buying ten times more than you originally planned to do?

Tonic Studios Mini Guillotine Paper Trimmer, 6-Inch

I am bringing a paper trimmer, but I plan to use this to trim photos.  I have a full sized trimmer that I use for photos in the craft room but I wanted a smaller, more portable one for crops.  The trimmer I have had been discontinued, but I think this may be similar (maybe a little smaller).

Hopkins TRASH-BLA Pop Up Trash Can

I saw this at one of the Youtube videos that I've been watching (you can search "How to pack for crops" in Youtube).  The lady in the video said she uses this for trash at her table in a crop, so she won't need to keep getting up, especially if the trash can is in the other side of the room).  This folds down, so it's very compact and lightweight. 

 ArtBin Super Satchel Cartridge & Tool Storage

I'm planning to bring a few Cricut cartridges with some "baby" images.  They will have Cricut machines at the crop, but since they may not have the cartridges that I will need for r's scrapbook, I've decided to just bring my own.  I'm going to take the cartridges out of their boxes for the crop, since packing them in their boxes will take up so much room.  Unfortunately, my Gypsy had died on me -- that would have been ideal for this crop.

The best part -- I have Amazon Prime!  I've had it since I gave birth to r, and it was very, very convenient.  My orders get to my door in two days, free!  Woo-hoo!

Pack your things in bags/containers that will do the job.  Even if I'm trying to keep the supplies that I'm bringing to a manageable amount, I still have a lot of supplies and things that I will be bringing with me.  I think it will be important that my things are organized, so I know where to find them in my bag.  I have this bag:

      

Crop In Style XXL Rolling Tote, Black

It is the Big Mama of scrapbooking/craft bag, but it's sturdy, holds a lot, has a lot of compartments, and it rolls.  I think it will do the job very nicely.

I will also be bringing with me this caddy, for my tools and my most reached-for things:

Mackinac Moon Mackinac Moon Open Top Craft Tote, 14-Inch by 10-Inch by 8-Inch, Black with Pink Animal Print

Having a game plan/strategy for this crop is helpful.  I feel like I am more prepared (all things considered), and hopefully have a decent chance at getting tons of scrapbooking done.

I'll share more photos of what I've packed in my next post.

Thanks for looking, and have a great day!!!

I'm Still Here!!!

And I'm going to a crop this weekend!  Woo-hoo!

Excuse the exuberance.  I've been away from my blog, and paper crafting in general, that my supplies have gathered dust.  Well, not really.  Every now and then I went to my craft room to "play," but I had been overwhelmed with my responsibilities with family and work that crafting and "me" time had been pushed to the back burner.

In any case, I've arrived at some realizations:
1.  If something is important to me, then I have to make time for it.
2.  I need to have some time for myself, so that I can be a better wife, mom, and person.
3.  r is already 2 and a half years old, and I still haven't completed my pregnancy album.  I've yet to scrapbook so many of our life's moments that came when r was born.
4.  To jump start my creative mojo, I need to surround myself with like-minded people.

Enter the crop.  Ta-da.

I stumbled upon this crop's website less than 2 weeks before the event itself.  I just completed my registration today, which gives me:  Three.  Days. To plan/pack.

Did I mention that I have a family and work that both keep me fully occupied?

Whoa.

Review resolutions #1 to 4.  Okay, I can do this.  I'll go for now, I have to plan/pack.  Note to self:  "I can do this.  It's not impossible.  I can do this.  Go, C!!!"

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!