Monday, 12 September 2011

Cracking On At My Crop

Every month I attend a local crop.
Every month I prepare to take full advantage of 6 hours of uninterrupted scrapping time.
Every month I print dozens of new photos.
Every month I take along my latest Counterfeit Kit (& often the remains of the previous kit too).
Every month I spend the first hour or so unpacking, admiring pages & purchases ... and chatting.
Every month I spend the next hour or so pushing paper around, eating cake ... and chatting.
Every month I spend the final hour or so wondering where the time's gone, sticking stuff down ...

... and (you guessed it!) chatting!

Every month I come home with two 90% complete pages & at least a dozen un-scrapped photos!

Sometimes I use the photos during the month, sometimes they get taken (along with the newly printed photos) to the next month's crop.  I have had some ready-trimmed photos from a March trip, to Orvieto Cathedral, sitting in my crop bag since May or June ... and despite printing new photos for last Saturday's crop, I decided enough was enough and these pics deserved to make it onto a page!


The weekly challenge over at UKScrappers provided a lovely sketch from Ali Edwards' Cathy Zielske's (thank you Dawn!) Make It Mondays which was unfussy - a prefect foil for the luscious decoration on the front of the cathedral.  I've never been inside, though Hubby tells me that it is relatively plain with black & white striped walls - but the outside is absolutely overwhelming - I find it quite stunning that so much effort has been put into the facade which can't really be appreciated by us mortals on the ground.

Do you have photos that keep getting neglected when you are choosing what to scrap with?  Have you made a start with September's Counterfeit Kit?  Do you have a better crop chatting to scrapping ratio than me?

25 comments:

Sian said...

I've never been to a crop. But I'm sure I would spend quite a bit of time chatting because I simple couldn't scrap for six hours. After an hour my concentration goes and I have to walk away.

That big middle photo in your layout is wonderful. Very striking, and you have found the perfect place to put it

helena said...

Love this layout - everything about it.

Like Sian I've never been to a crop and can't imagine scrapping for 6 hours without plenty of breaks

Dawn said...

Lol I know exactly what you mean about going to crops, I'm going on sunday and If I complete 2 pages I'll be happy. Just so you know it was Cathy Zielske not Ali Edwards who did the sketch.
Love your page, might have to have a go myself

Mary B said...

I have a myriad of photo printed and discarded, either not used at all or reprinted a different size. I chat more than scrap usually but I do as a rule get at least one page done. though last crop I didn't.

Mary B said...

Oops meant to say Lovely LO and the stitching really sets it off.

JulieJ said...

That's a perfect page. I haven't been going to crops very long but I generally get four LOs done (except for last time when I took 7yo DD - I did one, she did 2 and then said I could help her with her third!)
I find this helps with productivity:
1. Take a LO you've started and know where you're going, to get a off to a flying start.
2. Take photos and papers pre-sorted for pages.
I think it helps that we have a sheet of optional challenges too.
Our crop is usually before 5th so no good for the counterfeit challenge, although I am trying it this month for LSNED. Kit is photographed and waiting to post.

happysnapper said...

Like the way u have interpreted the sketch to get horse format photo in born right. Also nice detail shots of pillar.

happysnapper said...

NB horse format is clearly predictive text for horizontal.

Lisa-Jane said...

I can usually get 4-5 done, sometimes with a teeny bit to add but it has taken practise and I do tend to make page kits. Once every 3 months we crop 10-10 and I am always completely wiped out the next day! Great fun though.

Maria Ontiveros said...

LOL! I know exactly what you mean. I went to a two day crop over the weekend,and I have enough stuff packed and prep for three more of those probably.
Rinda

alexa said...

Such a great page - well chosen colours too. I'd be in the chatting cohort - though I can't seem to do that and scrap at the same time!

Rebecca at How I Burb said...

How did you get into my brain? I was just thinking about all the 90%pages I need to complete from a crop 2 weeks ago. Alright, alright, I'll get them done!!!!hahaha

Great page - really like the grid pattern look - may have to scraplift :).

Lisa said...

i go to a crop once or twice a year so it's pretty exciting for me to be around real live scrappers and I spend so much time chatting that it's hard for me to finish anything at all :-) but that's all part of the fun, right? Your layout is just lovely - the MME papers are perfect for the photos. looks so great

scrappysue said...

Great sketch and LO; really focuses on the photos. I have never been to a crop since all I would do is chat, although that would be fun anyway!

Goesturbo said...

Fabulous LO! I LOVE your great intentions at your scrap. :) 2 90% pages are MUCH better than the none I'm currently achieving! :) More power to you! :)

Denise said...

oh my goodness- your 'every month' comments made me chuckle out loud, sooooo familiar! fab layouts x

scrappyjacky said...

Sounds a bit like me when I get the chance to go to a crop. Love your page.

Anonymous said...

No crop for me - but if I did have one I'd be chatting too! Love your grid layout - and the stitching too!

Jen Cro said...

I love your lo. It looks like an ad.

Emily said...

Your photos are amazing and I love the pattern paper you chose to accent them with. I've never been to a crop before, but I know I would not get anything done.

Melissa said...

I only crop with friends once or twice a year, so for me it's all about visiting really. My friends work and have small children, so I spend time helping them with layouts, teaching a pre-teen how to scrap, cutting things with the Cricut for them . . . and chatting and eating and loving every minute of it. I can scrap anytime, but cropping with friends is special.

WendyB said...

I love this layout Jemma, perfect for those photos. I'm not a crop attendee but I think I'd be the same if I were lol

Margie said...

I love the clean lines of this, perfect for those amazing photos!

Tara O said...

Love this page!!!

Susanne said...

Great layout and photos. I've just recently met a new friend who is diligently trying to get me to go to crops - which I haven't done for awhile. Now that I always have a kit ready to go, it should be lots of fun, and productive too.