Welcome to our second month of organizing fun! – I am always working on organizing when it comes to Digital Scrapbooking. Whether it’s tagging files, putting files away, figuring out what needs to be scrapped, uploaded, deleted, backed up etc – it’s an ongoing process. I’ll be popping in here, on theStudio blog, on the first Saturday of each month to provide a few tips and a little monthly ‘to do’ list to help us all clean up our digi-stashes, organize our files and clear up some space on our computers. There will be some carry over from month to month, as well as tips or suggestions and a mini-tutorial of something we’ll be learning to do specifically each month! This process will grow as we share tips and tricks and learn how others do their organizing!

This month we’ll be adding to our monthly task list, another fun tip will be learned and I’ll share how I handle Blog Trains!
Monthly Tasks: 
1. Make sure you have downloaded and un-zipped all of your purchases from the last month. You don’t want any downloads to expire, and you want to make sure that all of your files unzip correctly so you don’t miss anything important!
2. Clean up your downloads folder. For me, cleaning out and putting away everything from my downloads folder at least once a month helps me feel on top of things.
3. Delete Duplicate Files (see June’s Get Organized post)
4. This tip was shared in the comments last month, and it’s quick, easy and oh so important! Empty your trash bin/recycle bin.
5. Check your coupons list, delete expired coupons and add any new ones! (see June’s Get Organized post)
6. Follow along with July’s Tip – create your ‘to scrap list’ of June’s photos!
7. (optional) Organize some of your blog train collections. At least one!
Blog Trains – From Chaos to Organized! 
Organizing blog trains, especially ones with tons of designers can be a challenge. You need to figure out what works best for you. Here is my way, and an alternate way of organizing blog trains! I hope you can find a way that works for you!
My Way: Much like I do with my regular kits, I create a folder and name it Blog Train by Store/Group Designers inside I have a folder  for elements, papers and alphas (and sometimes another folder if there is something else that goes with the kit like clusters or word art) and one for TOU. I separate each designers part into these folders. I then go through the TOU and quickly do a text document reminding me each designers initials so I can easily give credit. The document looks something like this:
NS – Nibbles Skribbles (PU/S4H)
djfs – Flower Scraps (PU/S4H)
PS – Piggy Scraps (PU/S4H)
If I find I use a little bit from everyone, I sometimes just credit the train as a whole. “Layout created using bits and pieces from many designers who participated in the Blog Train Name”  I do it this way, because i like to see all of my options for papers or elements when I open a folder, in the other method I’ll talk about, you can’t do that.
Another Way: Create a folder called Blog Train by Store/Group inside put the folders for each designer (checking, of course for extra/unneeded files and coupons). This way you can be sure to credit each designer individually and have their TOU with their portion of the project.

 July’s Tip: Create “To Scrap” lists 
I find that over the course of a month I take so many pictures! I don’t always get them all scrapped, and over time I tend to forget details, the little things and the stories that go with some of the pictures. I try and keep organized by creating a list of things to scrap. This way, when the scrapping bug hits me, I can look at my list and be ready to go! I use the old fashioned way, paper and pen to make my lists, but you may find that a document on your computer is better for you. Some people even create folders with the pictures they want to scrap so all they have do to is pick a folder and the pictures are ready to go.
Here’s my system, but like always, tweak it to fit your needs!
I have a number of different “to scrap” lists, for each year I keep one for each of my kids, and a family one. Plus, I have lists for specific events like my wedding (4 years ago, someone help me!) and vacations. Each month I {try to} go through the pictures I took (as I’m putting them away and backing them up) and make my list. It’s very bullet-y – but it does the trick! I think a picture is a better way to share it with you!

 

I simply list each month (highlighting the month), the date and a brief description of what it is I want to scrap “4th of July,” “sleeping on couch.” If there is a fun story, I type it up in a text document and save it right with the pictures to make my journaling easier! For events, like my wedding, I listed out the major events I wanted to scrap, like getting ready, exchanging vows and our first dance.It feels so good to be able to cross out an item, and even better when an entire month is finished and crossed out! As you can see, I will be playing along, I’m a couple of months behind in my 2012 “to scrap” list!
Assignment: Go through June’s photos and make a list of some kind of what you want to scrap. Type up any journaling or stories you want to remember and save it with the pictures!
Share in the comments: How do you keep track of what needs to be scrapped?
See you next month!
Other Tutorials that might help in your adventure of Digi-Stash Clean Up and Organization:
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