Ali Edwards's Blog, page 106
November 24, 2020
Ceiling Mounted Camera Details
A question I've often received over the last few years is about my ceiling mount set up for over-my-work-table filming.
This was my Christmas present from Aaron a few years ago and it's really been an awesome investment and made filming simpler without a tripod getting in the way.
This set up includes two different pieces: (1) a ceiling mount + (2) the arm that connects the ceiling mount to the camera.
ARM : Manfrotto 396B-3 Section Double Articulated Arm with Camera Bracket CEILING MOUNT : GTX Grip GP 1037
The camera I have connected is a Canon 6D. It easily snaps in + out securely to the arm.
In the photo above you can also see the studio lights + standing ring light that are also part of my office set up. Lockers are vintage from a sale many years ago and are still one of my favorite things. My art wall includes pieces from Mati Rose, Pam Garrison, Colleen Attara, a print about staying in your lane that Brene Brown offered at some point in the past if I remember right, Erin Gregory, a wall collage I made, a photo about living the length + the width, and a picture Anna drew of herself a few years back.
Here's another view from the other side of my work tables:
For more from my office check out my 2019 Office Tour (looks pretty much the same currently) or my archive of posts + the evolution of this room over the last few years.
AE Creative Team | November 2020 Stories By The Month™ Digital Kit
We love how our Creative Team captured their stories of gratitude and thankfulness using the November 2020 Stories by the Month™ Digital Kit!
November 19, 2020
AE Creative Team | December 2020 Stories by the Month™ Physical Kit
Stories of merry moments. Stories of finding joy. Stories of being thankful for the journey. Today we are delighted to share some creative inspiration from our awesome Creative Team using the December 2020 Stories By The Month™ Physical Kit. (Note: This kit is currently sold out, so if you are interested in this subscription, be sure to join the waitlist.)
There are so many storytelling possibilities in this little pouch of products. As always, we are so grateful to our Creative Team for sharing their stories and creative inspiration with all of us!
November 18, 2020
Storytelling Basics Collection + Stories By The Year Preview
Our first
Storytelling Basics Collection + Stories By The Year kit is coming to the shop this Friday, November 20th at 9am Pacific.
As always we will be offering a digital versions of these products, along with a set of "this month" cards for those of you who might want that option. Digital products will be available on the first Friday in December.
We had hoped to offer a new 9x12 grey linen album option with this release but due to covid-related shipping delays that will need to happen once they arrive in the warehouse (December/January). We'll keep you posted when those become available.
For this release we have restocked our greige and black 6x8 pleather albums and have a limited restock of the 9x12 black albums (more of these will be coming with the new 9x12 albums). Those will be available when this new collection goes live on Friday.
SHIPPING SPECIAL: Flat rate international ($15) + free domestic with a $75 purchase using the code SHIPITFREE.
Here's a video overview of the Basics Collection:
Look below for still images of each of the options in this collection.
We are so excited to bring you a brand new Stories By The Year kit. The cards included in this kit will be great for both annual documenting (weekly or monthly - we are offering "this month" cards digitally) or just for general storytelling throughout the year. We've packaged it in a fun, custom plastic container that will hold all the 4x6 and 3x4 cards.
Included in this kit you'll find the following:
52, 4x6 Single-sided "this week" Cards 100, 3x4 Single-sided Journal Cards (25 designs repeated 4 times) 50, 4x6 Single-sided Journal Cards (25 designs repeated 2 times) 1 - 9.5" x 4.5" x 1.5" Plastic Box
We will also be making the plastic box available for $5.99 for those of you who might want a few more of those for storing other cards + embellishments.
Also just a note that this is not a subscription and we will continue offering our Stories By The Month kits as we have been previously.
Here's a look at the individual designs (remember there are multiples of each card):
I think this is going to be such a fun foundation for an annual project and can't wait to see how you guys use these for documenting your stories.
NEW STAMP SETS6x8 Ali Uppercase // $24.99
4x6 Ali Numbers // $15.99
6x8 Uppercase Alpha // $24.99
4x6 Numbers // $15.99
4x6 Stamp Block // $15.99
Prompts 4x6 Stamp Set // $15.99
What Today Looked Like 4x6 Stamp // $15.99
Weekly 4x6 Stamp Set // $15.99
The Bundled Basics Kit includes all the following (each will also be available separately). It's a fun collection of alphas and number sets in chipboard + puffy material, along with chipboard asterisks, puffy + cork hearts + stars, and some label and tab stockers.
Label Stickers // $4.99
Thank you so much for your continued support! Let me know if you have questions in the comments below.
November 13, 2020
Together Story Kit + December 2020 Stories By The Month
This month we are focusing on stories related to the theme of
Together.
Here are a few thoughts about this particular theme:
Working together, playing together, adventuring together, learning together, listening together - so many things in our lives are done with other people. This month we are taking the opportunity to document some of those stories of togetherness.
Initial story ideas for this theme include:
Who do you get together with most in your life right now?
When was a time you truly were “better together” vs. on your own?
Make a list of your best times together with family or friends.
The
Story Kit™ includes:
Here's a video overview of the
Story Kit™ and Add-On options this month:
STORY STAMP™
The
Stamp Set:
Here's a video overview of the Story Stamp:
DIGITAL STORY KIT™ (Included with the STORY CLASS)
Your digital kit and the classroom and any Add-Ons purchased will be available to you on the 15th once your card has been charged for the month.
Here's a look at what's included in the Digital Story Kit™:
And a couple peeks at the layouts I created with the kits this month in addition to the one featured at the top of this post (
full details, including process videos and how-to handout, are included with subscription):
Again, thanks so much for subscribing and/or considering my
Story Subscription program! If you have any questions about this program please let me know below in the comments.
Stories By The Month™ kits include 4x6 chipboard, 3x4 and 4x6 cards, a 3x4 stamp, a sticker sheet, and an embellishment (wood veneer, cork, etc). Stories By The Month™ Kits are all based on the designs we offered digitally each month throughout 2019.
Here is a full look at the kit:
And a video overview:
This subscription is a great option for those who are looking to tell more calendar/everyday life sorts of stories.
Add On options are available to all Story Kit™, Story Stamp™, and Stories By The Month™ subscribers
(this excludes Digital Story Kit/Story Class subscribers since you don't have any part of your subscription shipped already). Please note that the Crafters Ink pad option will only be available to Story Stamp™ subscribers.
Current and new subscribers can select + purchase Add-On's via your new drop-down menu access under your user name in the top right corner of the site.
Depending on product availability subscribers may be able to purchase the Add-On's after the Add-On period has ended and regular shop shipping rates will apply because they will ship separately from the kit.
November 11, 2020
2021 Creative Team Call
2021 is quickly approaching and with that comes time to select a few new members for our Creative Team. We are excited that all of our 2020 team members will be returning again next year and we hope to add a few new faces for next year.
For 2021 we are looking for memory keepers who are interested in using Ali's digital + physical products on their projects. We place a priority on memory keepers who prominently include journaling/words in their projects as that is core to the Ali Edwards Design Inc. brand.
In addition to having a passion for storytelling, we look for contributors who are:
Competent, comfortable, and creative using digital + physical products Adept at photographing, recording, + editing video of their projects Willing to have their work appear on this blog and on all Ali Edwards Design Inc social media channels Responsible with meeting deadlines + following directions
If this describes you and your work, please email Katie (katie@aliedwards.com) the following:
2-3 project examples Links to your blog and any social media outlets your currently use A list of any other design teams you are currently on
Please put
"2021 AE Creative Team" in the subject of the email.
Deadline to submit is Friday, November 25, 2020.
November 10, 2020
AE Creative Team | COZY Story Kit™
This past month we have been telling stories about how we create and enjoy cozy moments. And today we are delighted to share with you the projects that our Creative Team made using the COZY Story Kit™.
And just as a reminder, Thursday, November 12th, is the last day to subscribe and receive the COZY-themed products.
As always, we are so grateful to our Creative Team for sharing their stories and creative inspiration with all of us!
November 2, 2020
Stories Revisited Happening Now
The Stories Revisited Sale is going on now through 11/09/20 at 9:59pm Pacific.
Twice a year we offer a Stories Revisited event where we bring back any inventory we have available from past Story Kits™, Story Stamps™, Stories By The Month™ kits, Add Ons, and kit components (excludes the past three kit themes). Quantities are limited because we are simply bringing back products that were originally offered to subscribers. In addition we make all past Digital Story Kits™ and Digital Add Ons available (that means all the way back to the beginning - close to 60 different themes). ⠀
This is a great time to grab something you missed, something you might want more of, or give my products a try if you've never purchased anything and wonder what the kits are all about. My goal in product design is to create intentional products that invite and encourage you to tell your stories. ⠀
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During this event we also make available a bundle of past Story Kit™ Classrooms. This time the classroom bundle includes the following themes: Adventure, Learn, Light, Seasons and Tech. . Each classroom includes 4 process videos where I take you step by step through my process of creating projects, a presentation video where I talk through story ideas, and a PDF handout with those story ideas and step by step project directions. Please note that no products are included with the purchase of the classroom bundle but you could always pick up the Digital Kits during this event. ⠀
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For more information on my subscriptions click here:
Story Kit™, Story Stamp™, Stories By The Month™, and Story Class (this includes the kit classroom + the digital kit).
To check out images of past kits go here.
Past Story Kits™ Available:
RoamKindnessWeProgressFriendsYouGratitudeWatchPlayJourneyMoveListen BreatheDesignPiecesHabitRest SeasonsLearnTech
Past Story Stamps™ available:
Roam KindnessWeListCelebrate GratitudeWatchFamilyPlayMoveListen BreatheDesignPiecesHabitJoyRestSeasons LightTechTypeFabricUpWildOld & NewCheerSpark
Stories By The Month™ Kits available:
August 2020July 2020June 2020May 2020April 2020December 2019November 2019October 2019September 2019August 2019July 2019June 2019May 2019April 2019March 2019
For The Love Of Books | September + October 2020
Here's what I read in September + October 2020:
A Room Called Earth by Madeline Ryan | People’s minds are fascinating places. I truly loved this look into the main character’s mind as she prepared for, attended, and left at party. I loved that it occurs over the span of a day/evening and all the pieces of her mind + heart that were captured in that time frame. Our inner worlds are unique and interesting and diverse and that greatly impacts our experience of the outer world. The fact that the writer + main character are autistic was extra meaningful to me.
Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam | I had a hard time putting this one down. I was into the descriptive writing style (I can see that it was a little over the top for some people) + appreciated how that contributed to the overall feeling I was getting from the story. The whole book felt unlike anything I’ve read before.
The New Wilderness by Diane Cook | Stayed up late finishing this one last night. Captivating story about a future time where there is very little wilderness area left + a group of people who are part of a study who inhabit it (a mother + a daughter are main characters). I was moved multiple times by themes surrounding what it means to be wild + what it means to be human.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant | I re-read this book for my local book club. I remember being deeply touched by this story when I read it the first time many, many years ago. My experience this time was different.
The Girl In The Mirror by Rose Carlyle | Read this entire book in on a Saturday and it was just the kind of mystery/thriller that I needed to get me reading again. It's always the thrillers that do this for me + I'm so thankful. Fun read.
Carry: A Memoir Of Survival On Stolen Land by Toni Jensen | Bring on all the memoirs. Bring on stories of different life experiences than my own. Bring on words to process our lives. I'll be looking for the second half of her story someday.
To see all my past reading over the last few years check out my For The Love Of Books archive.
October 28, 2020
December Daily® 2020 | Foundation Pages
I'm super excited to share a look at my starting place for my 2020 December Daily® album.
Many of the pages I'm sharing below are part of this year's
December Daily® Product Play 4 workshop which begins on November 3rd. I designed nine specific pages using triangles, texture, and transparency for that class which includes video tutorials and additional information on how I created those pages. The workshop also includes projects from contributors so you can see how other people are playing with the products (and it also includes a digital package).
Most of the products I'm using this year are from my 2020
December Daily® collection. I've also added a couple things from from other collections as I do every year. I also generally incorporate a variety of random basic supplies which are listed at the bottom of this post.
If you are brand new to December Daily® I highly recommend checking out my
Storytelling With December Daily® workshop. It will absolutely help you get to the heart of the matter + the project for yourself and help you get your head and your heart aligned for how you want to approach this project.
General yearly reminders:
I tell one story per day from December 1 through December 25. Just one. One is more than enough for me. Some days it's something meaningful and other days it's something silly and other days it's just something really random. Remember that the beauty in this project is that it's the sum of all the days coming together vs. any individual story that is most awesome. YOU DO YOU. Your stories, your motivation, your enjoyment, your time constraints, your products might be totally different than mine and that is awesome. Don't feel like you have to be something you are not in this project - there's generally enough of those kinds of feelings already in the world. This is a project for you. This is not a competition or an invitation/permission to figure out a way to feel bad about yourself. Make the process and your stories work for you and your own life right now.
My rhythm for the last few years has been to establish these general page ideas in advance of the month and fill in the words + photos during December. I love that a lot of the "thinking" related to the design has been done in advance.
This year I'm holding off adding most of the numbers which gives me flexibility in moving things around. Some years I add more in advance and find that works just fine for me as well. Figure out what works best for you this year and do that.
As always, I will more than likely move some things around. What I love about doing Foundation Pages is that the process gives me a starting place. I've done a bunch of work already which allows me to focus more on the stories and the photos in December itself. I will be sharing my pages daily here on my blog just as I've done in years past.
Let's dive in!
For my inside cover (I don't usually decorate the outside of my album) I paired two of the Bronze Foil Chipboard letters (E = Edwards and M = McKercher) + the large plastic tree + a gold star from the Main Kit. I also printed out a strip of paper that says "Edwards + McKercher : Stories Of December : Twenty twenty.
I loved how the 3x8 transparencies turned out so I used the black one as the first page in my album. Along the outside edge I used my sewing machine to stitch on the fun green trim.
Next up is my "reason why" page for 2020. This year I'm focusing on "simple joys" and used the new alpha stamp set to literally spell that out.
Details about this page will be found in the Product Play 4 workshop (includes a template).
On the back of my "reason why" page I'm planning to include a family photo (I love to take that around my birthday each year - in November).
Details on Day 1 will be shared during my page idea hour on Saturday, November 7th during the December Daily® Prep Day (my page idea will include a cut file + png download). I used a star transparency to create a pocket on top of a printed transparency (laser printer transparency) I ran through my Minc machine using rose gold foil. On top of the transparency I adhered one of the felt numbers and gold stars.
This page will have some additional stuff happening as I'm waiting for a new Silhouette blade to arrive.
For the next day I'm planning to use a 2x2 page protector with the last row cut off. Inside the pockets right now I've got a few 2x2 pattern paper squares along with the Half Circle Fabric Phrases + one of the Pleather Circles. I'll be adding those onto the 2x2 squares when I pair this page with a story + photos.
For story #3 I'm using one of the 3x8 paper pockets (from the Main Kit) paired with a 3x8 shipping tag. On top of the pocket I adhered the large felt 3 and on top of that three I added one of the Tim Holtz Christmas Tokens (held on there with embroidery floss).
Details on this page will be found in the Product Play 4 workshop. Loved pairing a 3x8 transparencies + circle transparencies + journal cards from the Main Kit.
Details on this page will be found in Product Play 4. Paired a 3x8 transparency + a 2x3 transparency and a cut file to create shaker windows.
Circles are always a good idea. Details on this page will be found in Product Play 4. Main Kit journal cards paired with texture paste + embellishments.
Next up is a 1/2 circle die cut page which will likely pair nicely with the back of the previous page.
For Day 9 I created a fun little booklet using two of the wood veneer tags from the Main Kit.
The white text plastic pocket is from last year's pocket bundle that I pulled from my stash. I cut off the top to create an open pocket to hold my little booklet and adhered the felt number on top using red line tape. On top of the "9" I added the "merry little Christmas" fabric circle from the Main Kit.
On the outside of the wood veneer tag I added one of the Tim Holtz Countdown Brads.
Inside the little booklet I added a piece of 12 inch x 4 inch white cardstock. I used a bone folder to fold the cardstock to fit between the two wood veneer tags and then trimmed the edges + punched the hole for ribbon. On the inside front of the booklet I added the "love these moments" journal card from the Main Kit.
The tree wood veneer tag was adhered to the back. This will be a fun one to fill in during the month.
A how-to for this page will be found in Product Play 4. I love how it turned out using a variety of paper textures + the chipboard alpha from the Main Kit.
I know I will encounter stories during the month where I can use this journal card as the jumping off point for my story. I love taking 4x6 journal cards like this and punching holes in order to add them right to my album.
Details on this page will be found in Product Play 4. Loved playing with pattern vellum + Main Kit pattern paper + stitching + large plastic circles.
Next I added the 4x6 plastic envelope (I added more holes in order to be able to have it live in the center of my page.
Inside the envelope I added the 4x6 transparent journal cards.
Next up is another paper pocket from the Main Kit paired with a 3x8 tag. I also added in a couple of "loved this" tags from the Day In The Life tag set into the pocket.
Details on this page will be found in Product Play 4.
Details on this page will be found in Product Play 4. The numbers haven't been added in permanently yet but I'm considering including them with this page when I tell the story of the day.
Details on this page will be found in Product Play 4. Loved building up a bunch of texture on top of this paper die cut and can't wait to likely pair this with a full page photo.
Details on this page will be found in Product Play 4. Loved using the triangle stamp + a full page transparency + a large circle download (ran it through the Minc too) + a tab sticker.
I know I want to use the large felt "2" and the "0" together for Day 20. I stitched them together using just a bit of machine stitching where they overlap. Right now I'm considering pairing my "20" with the 3x8 tree transparency.
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I added in a couple of the 4x6 Kraft tags. These make a great starting place for a story-home.
Details on this page will be found in Product Play 4. Shapes create shapes. Always love this idea.
Currently for Christmas Day I've got this page set up. I also have the large plastic "25" in a page protector to make sure I remember to use it on Christmas Day too.
Here's a video walkthrough:
SUPPLIES
White cardstock Washi tape 6 Hole Punch Power Punch Rolling Adhesive Tiny Attacher Crate Paper Hey Santa Printed Vellum Washi Tape or Sewing Machine Bone Folder Main Kit 3x8 Transparency + Journal Card Set Word Phrase Sticker Sheet Die Cut Variety Bundle Textured Papers (cork, linen, vellum, felt, etc) 6x8 Transparency Bronze Glitter Paper Triangle Stamp or pattern paper Embossing Ink Embossing Powders May Arts Adhesive Backed Trim Embossing Heat Gun Minc (for optional foil) Tab Stickers Transparency Journal Card Set Grafix Plastic Sheets Confetti Stars (similar) Green + White Twine Green Washi Tape 6x8 Transparency Sheet Transparent Circles Die Cut Paper Inserts Texture or Modeling Paste Die Cut Paper Inserts Gesso or White Paint Tim Holtz Star Stencil Titan Green Pale Golden Acrylic Paint Gold Glitter Star Brads (similar) Mini Wood Veneer Stars (similar) Felt Hearts Chipboard Sheet Bundle Die Cut Bundle Embroidery Floss + Needle Felt Gelli Plate Green Acrylic Paint Star Stencil Tiny Dot Stencil Dot Stencil Green Embossing Powder (similar) Tag Stamp Set Bronze Glitter Paper Felt Hearts Star Die (similar) Die Cutting Machine (for dies - similar) Word Phrase Stickers Star Transparency Cork Paper Green Pom Trim Tim Holtz Metal Christmas Tokens Tim Holtz Countdown Brads 4x6 Kraft Tags
Registration is open for our second annual
12 Hours | December Daily® Online Prep Day 2020. This year it's being hosted by Creative Team members Tazhiana Gordon + Krystal Iduante. They are so excited to bring you a fun day of ideas + inspiration on November 7th. Get all the details here. Videos will be archived for later viewing (you don't nee to be online on the particular day to watch all the videos + access the downloads).
