The LOAD Inititive

Let's talk LOAD, or as it's known in certain circles Layout a Day. It's a one month challenge to create... *drumroll* a layout a day! (I bet you'd never have guessed it)

I have the motivation of a hungover student when it comes to classes and challenges, the will is there, but movement is lacking. I did a 7 or 8 LO's in May 2012, 1 in October 2012 and non in February 2013.

This time, I wanted to give it a real go, the Boy is away, there are only so many games I can play and I thought it was the ideal time to have a proper stab *snigger* at it.

This is what my desk looks like halfway through, I tend to tidy so I can work, but that's pretty much it. I'm an 'out-of-sight-out-of-mind' person, if I can't see it, it won't get used.

Now, like most people, my house is moderately tidy, cleaned as and when it gets dirty. I work 9-5 (well, 8-5), I study and I need to wash clothes and eat. This means I need to do a little planning when it comes to LOAD.

I set myself a few 'ground rules'

• Study and dinner come first. I'm grouchy and unproductive if I don't eat and my degree is more important to me than a scrapbook page.
• 1 hour per LO. That's it.
• Stock up on adhesive BEFORE starting. That way, I'm not checking my supply each day and wasting time.

Speaking of stocking up, I have quite alot of stash, so I haven't purchased anything new. I do have a monthly kit subscription, but I want to use what I have, so with the exception of the kit, no shiny new papers for me. I also have scraps, like most people, so they sit on my desk to be fished through.
 

I had one other trick up my sleeve before the 1st May 2013 rolled around. I purged (and I do mean PURGED) my stash. Considering I need to get through 31 layouts, you would have thought I needed all the stash I can get... Sounds extreme? Here's my rational:

I scrap at a desk with my stash behind me, but for me, out of sight, out of mind is quite accurate. It's for this reason I keep a box of paper next to my desk and a box of embellishments on my desk. By purging, I sort through everything. I pull out 'new' papers (and my 'use it or loose it' pile), put lack-lustre ones away (they come back out next time round as 'use it or loose it) and get rid of papers I really don't like anymore (I donate these). The same applies to embellishments. I find that this way, I rotate my stash and there is always something new on my desk and I don't get overwhelmed.
It also meant I could have a huge pile of new goodies to work with ^_^ 

As of Thursday, this is my stack of LO's (minus the first 5 days). Looking good so far...

So... This was the theory... How did I get on..? Find out in a couple of days!