Organizing to Crop with the Scrappack

I’ve got too many supplies. Yes... I do. And that’s not my husband speaking through me. I freely admit that I’m a supply addict, obsessed with having just what I want (not necessarily need) for any given layout theme, occasion or holiday.

Luckily, I have a scrap room (which also doubles as a home school classroom) with is stuffed with paper, cardstock, drawers with spare adhesives and dies for my Sizzix, wire racks with tools and magazines and idea books, nifty organizers that hold everything from stickers and diecuts to every type of pen imaginable, and a large mini-drawer organizer that holds all of the miscellaneous doo-dads and what-nots that I’ve collected.

Of course, I don’t often scrap in my scrap room... no, I’m usually dragging stuff downstairs so I can scrap in the dining room that adjoins the living room where my family is usually hanging out playing games or watching TV.

Soooo... I’m constantly trying to find the most efficient way to take my scrapbooking supplies with me, be it downstairs or to a 4-hour crop at Convention or a 12-hour crop at the LSS.

How I Used To Pack for Crops

To go to a crop, I’d use a XXL, a Creative Memories Carry-All, and a few other small totes. In these totes, I had a few Generations paper holders, a Home Pro Long Reach eyelet setting tool, an Embellicase stuffed with everything from eyelets to fibers to wire and everything else, a Columbia Arts Scrapbook pen holder, a 12x12 album with my current layouts, a trimmer, a Flat Pack with adhesives, scissors, spare adhesives, and more, snacks, a few Crop In Style photo sorting sleeves, and whatever else I MIGHT need while away from my scrap room.

Needless to say, I was not anyone's best friend at the crops because I had to take up room in an aisle for the XXL and then cram the CM tote under the table and THEN find room for everything else. By the time I had everything organized to crop, it was time to go home.

I truly believed there must be an easier way to pack and attend a crop AND just have basic supplies in the dining room to use when I wanted to crop.

Changing How I Think

It took some re-arranging of my personal scrapping beliefs to make this all happen.

First, I had to get over my obsessive desire to complete a layout in one sitting, never to touch it again (except to scan it). Previously, if I pulled out some photos and put together a layout in my head, I’d stick them back in the sorter and move on to another set if I didn't have exactly the color of paper or the perfect embellishment. I decided I can do part of a layout at a crop and just stop when I complete whatever I can, then finish it later at home. At least PART of a layout would be done.

Second, I resolved to take ONLY what I might truly need and leave the rest at home. I knew it could be done, I just needed to figure out how.

Third, I had to convince myself that not every layout had to be a work of art with heat embossed elements and the perfect fiber and eyelets. It's okay to just mount the photos with a simple border and sticker letters... it's the MEMORIES that count.

Fourth, and most importantly, I had to stick with my new method long enough to make it work and not give up after the first outing.

A New Portable Scraping Solution

I found the perfect solution: The Scrappack Ladybug backpack. There are many scrapbooking backpacks on the market and I’ve looked at them all. I love backpacks and have carried them for years as a commuter in the Bay Area and as a diaper bag after my son was born, so using a backpack for scrapbooking was a natural desire for me. But most I found did comfortably accommodate 12x12 paper, wouldn’t hold all of the tools I’d NEED to have with me, had few pockets for little things, or were very uncomfortable on my shoulders.

The Scrappack Ladybug backpack fit all of my needs: holds 12x12 paper and cardstock with room to spare, has many pockets inside and out, great padding on the back so it’s very comfortable, and I can store everything I need to crop, at home or away.

Organizing Supplies in the Scrappack

Once I decided on the Scrappack, I had to narrow down my vision of what supplies I had to have and how to store them in the backpack. Here’s what I did:

Paper:

I bought four 14x13 zippered bags (available at online vendors and many local scrapbook and craft stores) for cardstock and paper.
One has a selection of cardstock, 2-3 sheets of the colors I use most and a few colors I don’t.
The second has a selection of patterned paper in colors to coordinate with the cardstock I’ve chosen.
The third has sticker letter and cardstock letter sheets, a brush lettering book, vellum with computer printed titles and poems for layouts, and other miscellaneous 8.5x11 sheets.
The fourth is there to hold completed layouts but I also put in any specific stickers I might want for the photos I’m packing.
The fifth, which is a Hefty brand zipper bag that is 14x14 and can be found in most supermarkets, has a selection of scraps, both cardstock and patterned paper from my scraps bin.

Tools and Embellishments:

I pulled out two non-compartment plastic storage boxes for tools and embellishments, found at Home Depot.
I pulled out about 10 empty flip-top boxes (similar to Tic-Tac boxes) which I found at Walmart in the beading section.
In each of the flip-top boxes, I’ve put a selection of a particular embellishment (e.g., at least 8 of each color of eyelets, at least 8 of each color of brads, a selection of Scrapyard studs, at least 8 of each color of rivets, etc.)
In one box, I put my craft hammer, universal eyelet setting tools, a needle.

In the second box, I put the flip-top boxes with embellishments, a few packages of Magic Mesh, some metal rimmed tags, and a baggie with a selection of charms.

Fiber and Floss:

I bought some 2” diameter loose-leaf rings at Staples.
I pulled out some 2x2, 3x3, 4x3 and 2x4 ziplock baggies (collected from MANY swaps) and punched holes in one of the upper corners below the ziplock.
I pulled out some floss bobbins I’d received in swaps (you can find these in both cardboard and plastic at Michael’s and other craft stores).
I pulled out a variety of floss and cut off 2 yard lengths.
I wound the floss around the bobbins and put one each in the 2x2 baggies.
I pulled out approximately 2 yards each of a variety of different fibers... different colors and textures.

I wound the fiber around my fingers and tucked each into a different baggie.
I put each of the baggies on the loose-leaf ring.

Packing the Scrappack

Here is how I have it organized in the Scrappack:

In the main inner compartment, I have the 5 large zippered bags with paper and cardstock, my CM mat and my sketchbook. I tuck the Carl trimmer in this section as well.

In front of the main inner compartment is a large pocket with my Coluzzle cutting mat, the plastic box with tools, and my Circle Scissor.

Behind the main inner compartment is a large zippered compartment. I have some EZ2Cut and Coluzzle templates in this compartment, along with a smaller zippered bag with photos for 3-6 layouts (depending on the length of the crop) and thin embellishments (e.g., MM page pebbles or Chatterbox windows).

In the drop-open front section, there’s a zippered pocket in which I put the plastic box with the embellishments. I've also tossed in a baggie with several sets of diecut Sizzix letters I received in a swap and I plan to replenish as I use because it's so handy. (see below)
In front of the zippered pocket are two pockets with Velcro closures. I put my adhesives in these pockets, glue dots and 3M Foam Tape in one and my two Herma Dotto dispensers in the other. (see below)

Next to the pockets is a clip which I assume is to put keys but I had a better idea. I put the loose-leaf ring with the fiber/floss baggies on it. Before zipping up the backpack, I fan the baggies and it adds little bulk at all. (see below)

In the pen loops, I have 3 each of 4 colors of brush/fine point Marvy pens, 2 fine point black pens, a Provo Craft Multi-Tool, a Coluzzle knife, a pencil, and any other pencil-like items I may need.

The flap that closes this section has some loops so I put my scissors there. In the zippered pocket on the flap, I put some business cards and brochures for my business.

There is a front pocket when you close the backpack and two other pockets on the sides. In these I put my wallet, keys, hairbrush and camera, depending on where I'm going and what I need.

Changing How I Scrap

What have I changed about how I scrap using my Scrappack?

I don't take 4 or 5 different totes to crops so I now I only have to make one trip from the car to the store. I have my Scrappack and MAYBE a second plain 'ole tote bag with a book or snacks; one trip, car to store.
I don't complete layouts while I'm out and that's OK! I can do journaling on the computer or diecut titles or complete an embellishment with chalk or beads or embossing later, when I'm home.
I'm using up the supplies I already have. I have not gone supply shopping in the month I've used this technique, though I did pick up a few more zipper bags to store paper.
I've simplified my technique again, getting back to basics that allow me to work easier and I'm actually having fun again!

I've been using my Scrappack for about a month now and I couldn't BE more happy with it! I have it downstairs by the table when I want to scrap at home and I can run upstairs to get something if I need it. It's always there to grab when I go somewhere so I can scrap wherever I go.

For the record, I bought my Scrappack at Craft Warehouse and am not receiving anything for writing this article. I just think it's a great product and my method is a good one. My friend Heather is trying to develop her own method based on mine for her own Scrappack.

==> Kerri Russ, March 2004

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