A layout and organizing my photos

I thought I'd share my system for organizing my photos....

First step, sort my photos. I try to do this when I get my new photos back from Walmart, but the last year or so, I've been a little slack, and I was missing photos, so I decided to reorganize them.

I make piles according to events. "Portrait-type" photos go in separate piles, according to the subject.

Then, I take several sheets of computer paper and fold it over like this. I cut these into 1.5" strips.

On the top of each strip, I write either the event or the idea I have for a title for scrapbooking them. I don't have to stick to the title-- it just reminds me what I'd been thinking when I printed the photos.

Then I place the photos in the fold of the slip of paper.

Sometimes, I'll even make a little sketch for the photos.

Then, they get placed in chronological order in my photo box.

Sometimes, I'll have some ephemera that I'll want to include, so if that fits in the box, I'll add it in with the photos. Here, it's the booklet that Jonah wrote in at winter camp.

At the back, behind the most current photos, I have four sections of photos for portraits: one for me and for each of my kids. This way, if I have a "moment" I want to scrapbook, I can find a photo to suit it.

It was such a great feeling to get these all organized last night! And now, I'm inspired to scrapbook them. Of course, they probably won't all make it to a layout, but I'll try. ;)

And, now, my layout that I wanted to share today...

When I was stamping the cardstock background for this card that I posted yesterday, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Double Time Bleach Stamping, I stamped a large 6x8"  piece of cardstock. I had a strip left over, so I decided to use it for a layout. Sage wears quite a bit of purple, but I always seem to struggle with finding purple patterned paper to coordinate. This matched well for these photos, I thought.

I used PTI stamps (the sweet life, on the farm), buttons, twine and dies (limitless layers ovals 2.25", edger's #5, script alphabet). I also used Echo Park (background) and Crate Paper (off white) patterned paper.

Here's a close-up of the first part of my journaling:

And of the rest of my journaling, which I tucked behind one of the photos:

Thanks for looking!