Lots of people would do a scrapbook crop at home if they knew more about how to make them fun events. I know that the first ones I held were harrowing affairs, biting my nails and hoping that everything would turn out well. I am now able to organize one quite quickly and easily, without too much nerve! See if my checklist helps you decide to keep some home crops, too.

1.Before the Event:

  • I like to give plenty of notices as to when my crops will take place. This gives people a chance to think about what they are going to work on and what to pack to go. Allow a couple of weeks notice if you can, and keep in touch with people about the day during that time. Speak it. Say what you are going to do and ask your friends what they are thinking of working on so that they think about bringing only the necessary supplies to work on their particular projects.

When you first think about inviting friends to work with you on your scrapbooks, it’s important to think carefully about where and how people might work together:

  • Do you have a large dining table or a picnic table? Think about the size of a trestle table. Most junk dealers are comfortable with half a trestle table. How many half trestle table tops could you provide in your home? Try to set things up so that everyone can see face to face and feel part of a circle of friends. I have three trestle tables and a dining table, so I set up the trestles in a ‘U’ shape and make my dining table a shared space for tools.
  • Once you know how many people you could accommodate, try to invite that many people for a day or night of scrapping with you. My crops usually go from 10 am to 4 pm with people coming and going as they can.
  • Provide some trash bins for people to use during scrapping. The small ones will do: a clean ice cream container or a plastic container can work well between two people. Or if space is tight, tape small plastic bags to the edges of tables for people to store their leftovers. Keep an eye on bins while people are working and empty them quietly when necessary.

2. The Tools

  • Offer heavy tools like paper punches, cutters, heat guns, Sizzix or Cuttlebug machines, sewing machines, etc., so your friends don’t bring all these items to your house. Or ask if people will bring a particular tool with the understanding that it will be shared by everyone that day. How nice to be able to share die cuts and allow people to take home some freshly embossed or die cut images! Ask them to label their gear before they arrive so everyone knows what belongs to whom when it’s time to pack up.

3. The food

  • Are you going to have food in the day? Make sure your food choices are scrapbook friendly and don’t cause messy problems for someone’s projects. It helps to put out towels, baby wipes, or paper towels for people to use. Also consider asking people to bring a food item to share, to reduce the expense of feeding everyone yourself, if that is an issue. I often serve crackers and cheese, olives, sliced ​​vegetables and dip, non-sticky sweets like wrapped hard candy or jelly beans or mints, sliced ​​fruit, etc. For lunch, chicken or deli meats and salad with biscuits is quick, easy, and not too complicated or difficult to prepare. (Many don’t want to spend too much waste time sitting down to a three-course meal, but it depends on the group.)

4. When friends arrive

  • When your friends arrive, be ready to help with the bulky items in their car. Provide them with glasses of water, tea and coffee. Scrapping can be thirsty work! I always take out empty glasses and coasters before my friends come over. If you can provide a small area for people to make their own drinks, this will also free you up for longer scrap. Oh, and make sure everyone knows where the ‘facilities’ are at the start of harvest.

5. During cultivation

  • Depending on the group, you might organize a small joint project, such as making a place card, name tag, or ATC when people arrive. Take a vote on which one is the cutest and award a small prize, such as a pack of crystal ornaments or an ornament you made yourself. Or ask people to make a set of small decorations to trade with others that day.
  • Let people know that they can bring things to trade that day. We all have an item or two that we know we just won’t be using, it could be someone else’s treasure! Share books or magazines too.
  • Play some background music. People could bring their own music to share.
  • Encourage people to show their albums, cards, and projects off the Page so everyone has a chance to share their ideas. Be encouraging! Scrapping is a personal matter and I think there is no wrong way to do it as long as the scrapper is happy with the result. It always amazes me that so many people are intimidated by the abilities of others. Cheering your friends on with their scrapping can help them enjoy their craft more freely.
  • If someone in the group is an expert in a technique, consider asking them to demonstrate it to their other friends.

6. At the end of the day:

  • When it’s time to leave, help people return their bulky items to their cars.
  • Thank everyone for coming and maybe set a tentative date for your next harvest!

A well-organized scrapbook crop can be relaxing, fun, and a source of great new ideas for everyone. Enjoy your crops!