Busy Busy

I can't believe it's been nearly a month since my last post! I've been thinking of blogging, even having titles and content all mapped out. But I guess it just never made it to the page.

I have been scrapping away! I have been faithful to my Project 365 and I have over 30 layouts. I'm even thinking about printing them out and making books out of them, one for each month. That would be fun to look back and go over the year in photos.

So I've basically just been doing my P365 daily and maybe once a week another layout. I have tons of photos but I spend all my time at Gotta Pixel browsing the store! Like I really need any more kits right now. If I didn't buy any more kits for a year, I'd be fine. The good thing is that no one really knows how much stash I have since it's all on my hard drive. No looks from hubby telling me to use what I already have (like knitting!) Guess scrapping has turned into an obsession.

I've been re-organizing my files. It's a mess. I started with a plan but then I changed it. One of  the things I wish I knew, and really stuck to, is organizing files by designer. I'm going one step further and made a folder for the store I bought the kit from as well. I have made Gotta Pixel my home base so it helps to know where all my stuff is if I want to jump in on a challenge using Gotta Pixel products. It takes too much time to try and figure out what I have that I got from there, unless it's  there already. Now I have to organize everything else!

To save newbies with this dilemma, I suggest setting up a file system from the get go. I tried using AcDSee. I even took the time to tag each paper and element (it took nearly three days!) but I never really used it. I am a kit scrapper. Maybe later on I'll be more comfortable mixing papers and elements, but as a beginner myself it's just easier to have it all go together.  So I didn't buy AcDSee and am restructuring my files.
I will make folders for the stores I purchase kits from, and subfolders in that folder with the designer (in case they leave the store, and can be moved over).  I found a lot of kits that  I forgot I bought.

And that brings me to another dilemma. When I first started out, I bought subscriptions to stores that I really don't like anymore (they are not up to quality standards or what I really want. I didn't know that when I first started). I know I will have to take a loss on the money, that is no problem. But do I delete the kits that I downloaded in a beginner frenzy? I kind of hate to see them go...I will have to think on it and look at them a little closer.

Like I said already, I've been spending a lot of time on Gotta Pixel. I discovered them through the Daily Digi (captivated Visions was the designer) and I have not looked back. I really like all the designers and since Captivated Visions is now gone, I will have to find another favorite, which is not hard to do. There are so many talented designers there, and I like the challenges, especially the Speed Scraps. I only participated in one, but I like the idea. They give you about 7 "rules" to create a layout, and then you post your finished layout to the gallery. It's fun and challenging and a way to get the creative juices flowing.
Here's a layout I did for a September speed scrap:

I used Captivated Visions kit "Happy Snapper" for this one. 
Another challenge I participated in was "Show me the mini" where you are given a mini kit and have to use all the pieces in the layout. You can use the regular kit too if you want. Here's mine:

The mini kit was Everyday With You by Trixie Scraps. Nice, huh?

I am getting better. I've tried new things and still have some things I want to learn. It will all come eventually and I will be a master scrapper. Right now I'm enjoying the ride and the sense of satisfaction I get when I save a finished layout.