How to stay on top of challenge deadlines?

Laura R.

Laura R.

New member
Hello! I have never been good at being able to keep up with these big scrapping challenges and all of the deadlines. I recently completed the Summer Scrap-A-Thon warm up challenges. I want to do the summer double feature challenge.

So how are you able to stay on top of all the different deadlines and challenges? Do you have a system? Have the deadlines and challenge themes written down?

Any suggestions would be great.
Thank you!
 
My biggest one is to put the perfectionist down :rolleyes: If I find myself fiddling a lot and moving things around and never being satisfied, I have to just call it "good enough" and move on. Nor sure if that's what you were thinking, but I can't be the only one that spends sooo much time like that.
 
Thankfully most of the deadlines are for the end of the month... so I have a spreadsheet in which I list the challenges and then I add my layout name next to it to know it's done... like a tracker.... and so long as I am done by the last day of the month then I know I am sorted.

It it's a shorter turnaround then I try to do the layout as quickly as possible after seeing the challenge... procrastination is not good for me.
 
I like to write the challenges in my planner and then highlight or check them off as I complete them. I think it helps that I also do similar for my CT duties so it's an ongoing system for me, whether I'm doing challenges or not.

(I'm always good about this for Summer Scrap-a-Thon but have been doing terribly with the Connect & Create challenges, probably because it's not the "do this and then check it off" approach)
 
I'm a list girl too- something so satisfying about marking it completed (sometimes I check off when I'm done and other times I like to cross it all the way out!) ;) Also when you have a bunch that you can tackle, I try to do the easiest first- either easy as in challenge itself easy, or easily inspired. That way the scrapping juices get flowing & I then tackle the harder challenges.
 
For SSAT I try to create my layout as soon as possible, the tracker in the main thread helps me to see what needs to be finished. Good thing the only deadline is the end of the month.
If deadlines are shorter, like for the warming-up challenges, I try to create them within the week.
The C&C challenges (and this has happened with other monthly challenges before as well) I seem to do most of them at the end of the month.
I think I work best when the deadline is closer...
Sometimes I do write things down, sometimes I just use the tracker here in the forum.
 
Meliora said:
My biggest one is to put the perfectionist down :rolleyes: If I find myself fiddling a lot and moving things around and never being satisfied, I have to just call it "good enough" and move on. Nor sure if that's what you were thinking, but I can't be the only one that spends sooo much time like that.
Click to expand...
I feel the same way, its why I have bursts of productivity when I can beat the perfectionist side down!
 
Like some of the others, I physically write things down! I have a notebook that I keep next to my computer. I put any rules or guidelines for the challenges, the date or prompt of the challenge. Then I write down any and all kits, templates etc that I used for that challenge. I will write ideas for pages or the title of the layout when finished in the margin of the notebook. Then I put a check mark so that I know it is finished! I do this for monthly challenges, special challenges and CT work. If it's an ongoing one that I know will take up a few pages, I will put the month or challenge title at the very top of the page. Sometimes I will put the due date or amount of challenges I need to finish in order to win % off or price.

It's a system. You have to find what works for you! Some like the spreadsheet on the computer, but I am old school and prefer pen and paper!

It also helps to put your thread where you post your challenges, into a new tab on your computer. I pull it up every time I post a layout, and then post my layout there also. Helps me keep on track of posting. If it needs to be posted in 2 places, find the other place in the forum at the same time you are posting.
 
Same here. I have it all listed down and I mark along as I do. For connect and create, I list everything in two column and draw lines connecting each side as I make the layout. If I get an idea, I note it down in pencil.

Paper and pen, highlighers...lol!
 
I have lots of systems, I wrote about them in more detail here, but for the scrap-a-thon the best way for me was to write them all down on a printable that I made.

I would put the date & then the choice & my page idea/topic, and cross them off as I go.

So like:
July 2 - Barbie - ballet recital
July 4 - XYZ - abc
July 6 - Lorem ipsum - Dolor Sit Amet

I also had a few square spaces for doodling layout ideas as they came to me.

But the best system is the one that works for you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top