The first weekend of June and the first official day of summer vacation for my two older kids … seemed the perfect time to tackle a project that has been lurking in my guilty subconscious for years now.
Those school year scrapbooks.
I have been diligently saving every little scrap of school-related memorabilia for each of my kids since the day they could first hold a crayon. And I’ve planned all along to create a year-by-year album for each kid with all that great stuff. But that’s about as far as I’ve gotten. I had great intentions last summer of at least getting my oldest son’s K-8 album done before he started high school in the fall.
Didn’t even touch it.
So this year we’re trying a new approach, which I’m calling my Summer Project 2010. A few simple rules, some very realistic expectations and an audience. That’s my new formula for actually getting this project moving along.
My Rules:
- Break the project into very small, very manageable pieces. Though summer always seems like the perfect time to tackle bigger projects, the reality is that I end up having even less time than usual to do things like this. So rather than try to do albums for both Karstin (15) and Kody (12) at once, I’m going to just focus on Karstin’s album this summer. Plus, I’ve done a little planning and broken the project into 10 steps, each of which can be done in little chunks of time. In addition, rather than attempting to do the entire album, I am instead focusing on getting just his First Grade year actually completed this summer while laying the groundwork for the rest of the project.
- Lower my standards. Always the perfectionist, my visions of the “perfect” album has totally paralyzed me. So my motto for this project is going to be “something is better than nothing!” Getting this DONE has become more important to me than making it the “best school album ever” … lol. I’ve also lowered my standards on how I share this project here on the blog. Rather than attempting to create elaborate, detailed posts each week, this will be more of a pictorial journey with just a few notes to explain each week’s focus.
- Schedule time. If I wait until I find time, this project will never happen. So I’ve already mapped out all 10 steps and allocated the next 10 weekends in my editorial calendar to this project. Each week I’ll work on my next step, then share my progress with you. The result will be an informal tutorial series, so if you have a similar project, I invite you to come along with me as this journey progresses
Summer Project 2010: Karstin’s School Year Album
Week #1: Figuring out what to save … sort & purge.
One of the best things I did a few years ago was set up this set of storage drawers for memorabilia. One drawer per child, labeled and just a few feet from my desk where I spend a lot of my time. As soon as the “stuff” comes into my office (which it always does), it goes into the appropriate drawer … report cards, art projects, concert programs, ticket stubs, party invites … you name it.
I don’t save every single piece of school work (though I used to). Instead, now I’m a bit better about tossing things before they ever hit the drawer. But if there’s even a sliver of a chance I might want to use it, it stays … until the step I’ve tackled this week: sorting and tossing the stuff that, when I really think about it, really isn’t interesting enough to save.
So I’ve sorted everything into general categories – first, to get an idea of what I have; and second, to make it easier to toss stuff. When I see that I have 15 examples of my First Grader’s handwriting, it’s a bit easier to toss a few of them. My goal is a representative collection of my child’s year … not an archive of every single piece of work he’s ever done. (Harder than it sounds!)
My categories included awards, notes from the teacher, report cards and other “official” type paperwork in one pile.
Print photos … class pictures, photos other people have given me, some that I happened to actually get printed. (Digital photos and videos will be tackled later on.)
Art projects … perhaps the most difficult thing to part with sometimes but also the biggest pain to save. I will eventually narrow this collection down further and save just a handful of actual pieces, then photograph the rest.
School work samples. I try to keep just a few samples from various areas, depending on the grade. Developing handwriting, creative writing, major projects, illustrated stories, papers with cool comments from teachers … that sort of thing.
Random stuff that shares my kiddo’s personality … in this case, teacher notes with funny comments he made, love notes to mommy, handmade cards, doodles and drawings (when he was probably supposed to be paying attention…lol).
And then there’s always the miscellaneous cards and other items, especially since I am physically incapable of discarding a greeting card. I’m sure there are more of these that I must have stashed somewhere else, so I’ll have to keep that in mind when I’m making space in the album.
Once everything’s sorted, it goes into a basket I’ve designated for this project which is sitting right out in my office where I can see it and will be tempted to play with it. If I wasn’t working on this collection of goodies, they would go into a document-sized manila envelope like the one below, labeled with my kid’s name, year, grade and teacher. I actually sat down about three years ago and managed to get all of my two older kids’ stuff sorted out this way…
Then all of those envelopes go into a big old box … one box per child.
Ideally, I will reach a point with these albums that I won’t have a big box sitting around for each kid and instead will complete each year’s memory-keeping before the next year begins.
But realistically, this works for now and is something I can continue.
Next week: Tackling the digital memorabilia.
If I’ve inspired you to follow along and tackle your own school or other project, I’d love to hear about it!!
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Comments
Posted On
Jul 30, 2010Posted By
Holly A.What great advice! I have been crippled by the sheer mountains of memorobilia that I just CANNOT dispose of. I have found that time creates a distance that allows me to narrow the field of stuff I must keep but your ideas seem so very possible to get done! I’m off to find manila envelopes right now! And for the first time since I started scrapping (over 10 years ago) I know I’m really NOT alone! My kids are 3 to 9, so I actually feel like I’m not as behind as I thought. Thanks for sharing and helping us all with the inspiration! Blessings!
Posted On
Jul 30, 2010Posted By
Holly A.What great advice! I have been crippled by the sheer mountains of memorobilia that I just CANNOT dispose of. I have found that time creates a distance that allows me to narrow the field of stuff I must keep but your ideas seem so very possible to get done! I’m off to find manila envelopes right now! And for the first time since I started scrapping (over 10 years ago) I know I’m really NOT alone! My kids are 3 to 9, so I actually feel like I’m not as behind as I thought. Thanks for sharing and helping us all with the inspiration! Blessings!
Posted On
Jun 27, 2010Posted By
SueI just found your site via Ali Edwards blog, even tho it’s 6/27, summer vacation has not started yet for my kids (2 more days) and I had already started sorting and organizing into page protectors my twin girl’s 2yo – preschool artwork and have their school stuff so far in manila env. so I am really excited to see where this is going to go because maybe I can actually get an album DONE!!
THANKS for the inspiration!!
Posted On
Jun 28, 2010Posted By
SueI just found your site via Ali Edwards blog, even tho it’s 6/27, summer vacation has not started yet for my kids (2 more days) and I had already started sorting and organizing into page protectors my twin girl’s 2yo – preschool artwork and have their school stuff so far in manila env. so I am really excited to see where this is going to go because maybe I can actually get an album DONE!!
THANKS for the inspiration!!
Posted On
Jun 09, 2010Posted By
AleciaKristen,
I don’t know you, but I love you! A woman who saves things like I do, greeting cards included
I was just searching for answers this morning and came across your post. Ran out and bought myself a few packs of 10×13 brown envelopes, grabbed my fine tip black sharpie and I’m off. Thank you soooooooo much!
Posted On
Jun 09, 2010Posted By
AleciaKristen,
I don’t know you, but I love you! A woman who saves things like I do, greeting cards included
I was just searching for answers this morning and came across your post. Ran out and bought myself a few packs of 10×13 brown envelopes, grabbed my fine tip black sharpie and I’m off. Thank you soooooooo much!
Posted On
Jun 07, 2010Posted By
LiesGramMeterr (Terri) has been mentioning that she is anxious to work on this project and I have been working on my oldest son’s album for years and never have made it more than an occasional page here and there. It would be awesome to be able to complete this album esp now that he is having medical difficulties and has been in and out of the hospital about 7 times in the past 4 months. He was admitted again last night and I will have some scrapping time in the evenings without the stress of him being at home. I will be joining the group too!!
Posted On
Jun 07, 2010Posted By
LiesGramMeterr (Terri) has been mentioning that she is anxious to work on this project and I have been working on my oldest son’s album for years and never have made it more than an occasional page here and there. It would be awesome to be able to complete this album esp now that he is having medical difficulties and has been in and out of the hospital about 7 times in the past 4 months. He was admitted again last night and I will have some scrapping time in the evenings without the stress of him being at home. I will be joining the group too!!
Posted On
Jun 06, 2010Posted By
meterrI have been doing this a while, and I use Rubbermaid totes in case of water damage. I even fit the clay ashtrays the kids made through the years in the tote. My 20 and 19 yrs olds totes are in the attic now, and im now starting a new one for my kindergartner!
Posted On
Jun 06, 2010Posted By
meterrI have been doing this a while, and I use Rubbermaid totes in case of water damage. I even fit the clay ashtrays the kids made through the years in the tote. My 20 and 19 yrs olds totes are in the attic now, and im now starting a new one for my kindergartner!
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
sarahbhbKristin..wow you’re so organized! All of Liz’s stuff is totally thrown into a moving box…really needs to be sorted and put into albums. It’s crazy. I really need to get cracking on this. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted On
Jun 06, 2010Posted By
sarahbhbKristin..wow you’re so organized! All of Liz’s stuff is totally thrown into a moving box…really needs to be sorted and put into albums. It’s crazy. I really need to get cracking on this. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
DawnLooks like you are off to a great start! Mine is grown and out of the house, and once I find all the stuff I have in storage, I will be starting my own, although it will be her school years all in one album, since I don’t think I have all that much stuff after all these years. I will be following along with you learning as you go along!
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
Kristin RuttenLOL Dawn… that’s how I was a few years ago. Had all the stuff in all these boxes – unsorted – after moving several times. Finally sorted out all the boys stuff, so now it seems more manageable. And this will all go into one album for each school career too … one “chapter” or section per grade.
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
DawnLooks like you are off to a great start! Mine is grown and out of the house, and once I find all the stuff I have in storage, I will be starting my own, although it will be her school years all in one album, since I don’t think I have all that much stuff after all these years. I will be following along with you learning as you go along!
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
Kristin RuttenLOL Dawn… that’s how I was a few years ago. Had all the stuff in all these boxes – unsorted – after moving several times. Finally sorted out all the boys stuff, so now it seems more manageable. And this will all go into one album for each school career too … one “chapter” or section per grade.
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
OrianaVianeyOh I love it!
I’m on time since my kid is in pre-k so I’ll start organizing the “stuff” LOL
Great project!
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
Kristin RuttenPerfect time to start!! I have one that just finished her first year of preK and another that hasn’t started yet, so I’m hoping this will help me be more prepared for them too … and avoid a couple more big boxes!!!
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
OrianaVianeyOh I love it!
I’m on time since my kid is in pre-k so I’ll start organizing the “stuff” LOL
Great project!
Posted On
Jun 05, 2010Posted By
Kristin RuttenPerfect time to start!! I have one that just finished her first year of preK and another that hasn’t started yet, so I’m hoping this will help me be more prepared for them too … and avoid a couple more big boxes!!!