Ali Edwards's Blog, page 138
November 30, 2018
Day In The Life™ | November 2018
Earlier this week I documented a Day In The Life™ via the lens of gratitude. I loved, loved, loved using this lens to look for stories over the course of the day.
I shared my images + words on Instagram and ended up with 8 photos + stories.
Here's a look at how I took those words + photos and added them to my Project Life® album. I used the Day In The Life™ kit and a Design F page protector to hold the overall story of the day:
Here's the back:
I printed all my photos 3x4 and then cut them to fit within the space on the cards. I love that I could use the cards to hold the words or hold the photos. On top of the photos I added a small chipboard circle from the kit.
You might notice that I ended up with 8 rather than 10 - it's just where I happened to stop for the day.
For my journaling I decided to copy and paste the words I added to my Instagram posts and give them each their own 3x4 card. I used a similar light pink color to what is found in the kit for the background and printed these on photo paper.
Loved bringing this all together in this way. Thanks for playing along with Day In The Life™ this year. We have a fun new take on it that we will be sharing in 2019.
November 28, 2018
December Daily® 2017 | Completed Album Overview
As we get even closer to December I wanted to share a full walk-through of my 2017 December Daily® album. You can view individual posts from last year, along with how-to videos, via my blog archives here: December Daily® blog posts + videos.
Bring on the storytelling!
November 27, 2018
One Little Word® 2019 | Product Preview + Workshop Registration
Today I'm excited to let you know that the Order Selection Period for One Little Word® products and registration for the 2019 One Little Word® Workshop will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, November 28th at 9am Pacific. Links will be active after that time. Today's post is a preview of what you'll find available tomorrow.
One Little Word® custom products are now available. In addition to acrylic words and necklaces (including a new style that allows you to add multiple word charms to a chain) we are also offering custom digital words. You can order a custom digital word here.
For our main shop collection this year we are trying something new and using a box-ordering system/Order Selection Period along the lines of what we used this year for
December Daily®. The Order Selection Period will open tomorrow (Wednesday, November 28th at 9am Pacific) and will close on December 14th with shipping to begin the week after. Shipping this year will happen just about a week later than last year. We are aware of the challenges for many of our international customers and will be getting these products on their way to you as soon as we can.
New to One Little Word®? Here's a video description:
For those of you who might be new to the idea of an Order Selection Period, here's a look at what you will find in the shop tomorrow:
One Little Word® products will be broken down into three categories during this Order Selection Period. Each category will have their own tab across the top of your browser window:
My Box, Albums + Kit, Stamps + Embellishments, and Paper + Lifestyle.
My Box: This is where your products will appear after you have checked out using the box in the top right.
Albums + Kit: Includes albums, kit, and transparencies.
Stamps + Embellishments: Includes chipboard, stamps, stickers, rubber, etc.
Paper + Lifestyle: Monthly Journal, prompt pages, calendar, t-shirt, decals, paper pads, etc.
Checkout: Once you have added any items to your box a fifth tab will appear in red. You can click this to checkout or use the red button under your box in the top right corner. You will also be able to check out via the red box icon on the top right corner.
You will be able to click on any product image and will be taken to a product page that includes a description and additional product details. You will also be able to add to your box from the main shopping page or from the individual product page.
The above screen shot shows where your "OLW cart" is located while you are shopping the One Little Word® products. You will not be able to add products from my regular shop to this cart - it is a completely separate cart for One Little Word® during the Order Selection Period. After the Order Selection Period ends the products will move into the regular shop and regular shop shipping rates will apply.
You can adjust the amount of the item you want to order or remove the item from your box (only before checking out) in this area. Please make sure to double-check your quantities before checking out.
Once you have clicked "checkout" and gone through that process your products will then appear under the "My Box" tab.
Above is a screenshot of the checkout page for desktop users. With our simplified shipping this year (flat rate $5 for domestic and $15 international) you will be charged this flat fee the first time you check out. After that it will note "PAID" in green for "Box Bundle Shipping" on any future checkouts.
The Order Selection Period for One Little Word® will begin on Wednesday, November 28th at 9am Pacific end on December 14th, 2018. After the Order Selection Period closes we will box up your order and ship it to you in mid December.
Once you have checked out you CAN NOT remove products from your box or edit your order. Customer Service will not be able to make adjustments to your order after you have checked out. Please verify the numbers of product placed beforechecking out - you will be able to see an adjust the quantity of an item before you check out via the box icon on the top right of your page.
The project will always be more important than the products.
The Box Shipping rates will be as follows: $5 Domestic Flat Rate and $15 International Flat Rate. This will be charged on your first "checkout" and that will be the only time you are charged shipping. After that if you checkout again under "Box Bundle Shipping" it will say "PAID."
Custom acrylic words and necklaces are not part of the Order Selection Period and ship separately.
Questions on all this? Some of you are veterans of this process and for others this might be completely new. Please let me know in the comments below if you have questions.
Now let's move on to what we have available for you this year!
A few years ago we offered a small One Little Word® Journal with some additional suggestions of ways to connect with your word. This year we invited our friend
Liz Tamanaha of Paislee Press to design a One Little Word® Monthly Journal using a collection of my ideas from past One Little Word® projects.
I totally love how this came together. Each month includes a calendar spread, a section for monthly goals/reflections, and then a prompt or two that is different from what we will be doing in the workshop. This journal can work on it's own or it can be a lovely companion to the work you are doing to connect with your word via the online workshop. My hope is that this journal can be a way to deepen your experience with your word and should be an awesome addition for those of you who are looking for
more when it comes to connecting with your word.
Here's a video overview of the new
One Little Word® Monthly Journal:
ONE LITTLE WORD® 2019 KIT, ALBUMS, TRANSPARENCIES, + PROMPT PAGES
As in past years we are offering a One Little Word® Main Kit to help you make your word visible throughout the year. I will be using these products throughout the year in my album for the One Little Word® workshop.
Here's a look at what's included in the Main Kit for 2019:
In addition to the Main Kit we are also offering 3 album options, transparency dividers in both 6x8 and 3x8 sizes, and prompt pages in both the 6x8 and 3x8 sizes.
2, 6x8 albums with 2.5 inch spines and 1, 3x8 linen album with a One Little Word® pattern on the inside.
Transparencies include label stickers to customize the tabs.
And here are the prompt page options in either 6x8 or 3x8:
Each of the pages has either a grid pattern on the other side or a continuation of the prompt.
Here's an overview video that takes a closer look at the albums,
Main Kit, transparencies, and prompt pages:
ADDITIONAL ONE LITTLE WORD® PRODUCTS
From
stamps to chipboard bundles to notepads to an inspirational wall calendar, we've got you covered with products to help you make your word visible in 2019. In addition to the Main Kit, albums, transparencies, prompt pages, and the Monthly Journal shown above we've got a fun collection of other items you might want to use to help you tell the story of your word in the coming year.
Here's a video overview of the rest of the products we are offering during the
One Little Word® release this year:
ONE LITTLE WORD® WORKSHOP 2019
Registration for my annual 12-month One Little Word® workshop will also open tomorrow, Wednesday, November 28th at 9am Pacific. Register before December 31, 2017 to receive the early-bird price of $26 (after December 31st the price is $31).
The workshop will operate much like it has for the past eight years (started in 2011) - monthly creative prompts to encourage you to connect with your word via writing, photography, and collage. This year I'll be working in the 6x8 format.
Past students have reported learning about celebrating progress rather than perfection, about the power of focusing on a single word and the impact that can have in your life, about how many little moments make up the patterns of our lives, about thinking of your future self as you make decisions today, about how your own journey is important, about how to step back into the story of your own life as an active participant, about learning what you most need from yourself, and about the power of coming back again and again to your original intentions as a means of reflection and forward movement.
In addition this year we are offering a gifting option if you would like to give the gift of this workshop. On the workshop shop page you'll find a link to "Gift This Class" under the orange "Add To Cart" button. After clicking through to purchase you will receive an email with a PDF that includes a one-time use code and link for your recipient to gain access to the classroom. Giving the gift of education is fun and meaningful and lasts all throughout the year.
As an enrollment bonus we will be including the One Little Word® Digital Main Kit + Prompt Pages with your workshop purchase (
details about the physical kit can be found above). Just a heads up that this digital kit includes PNG files, not PDF files. This kit will be available to you in the classroom before the end of December.
Learn more and register here.
November 26, 2018
What I Hope People Learn From My Story Subscription
Did you know that if you subscribe to the Story Kit™, Story Stamp™, or Digital Story Kit™ you receive access to a new classroom each month that includes process videos for each of my projects using the kit/stamp and a presentation video that talks through story ideas for each theme?
A few months ago I shared the below thoughts in the Story Classroom for my Story Subscription and I wanted to share that with you here as well.
One of my personal core values is education and life-long learning (one of the reasons I love to read so much). I believe strongly in providing meaningful content that encourages reflection and gives practical ideas for getting your stories told.
Here are five things I hope you take away from being part of my Story Subscription:
I hope you learn to stretch beyond the obvious story ideas to potentially go deeper or to simply connect with stories that are less obvious. Words have layers of meaning and there’s so much beauty in looking beyond the literal meaning of a particular word (when possible). Many words can be taken super literally at first - give yourself the gift of thinking through other story options based on more figurative meanings of some words.
I hope you learn that stories have layers. There tends to be a surface story comprised often of the who, what, where, when, and how. The next layer often includes an investigation into the why - which is often feelings vs. fact based. I hope you learn that including both of those - the facts and the feelings - leads to a more complete picture of your life.
I hope you learn that your stories are valuable and that making time to tell them is worth it.
Just this. It is always true.
I hope you learn a variety of practical and inspiring ways to get your stories told vs. just storing the product for a “someday” project or a “perfect” story. These products are designed to be used up in the process of documenting your life. Some stories are short and some are long and some are silly and some are serious and really tough. And this whole process of memory keeping doesn't' have to be complicated at all. Life is combination of so many different kinds of stories.
My greatest hope is that this subscription and the process of telling your stories brings actual value to your life. This should not be stressful or be an opportunity for guilt.
To check out the current Story Theme click here . Remember, subscriptions make wonderful gifts.
November 21, 2018
We Hosted A December Daily® Prep Party And It Was So Darn Fun
Earlier this month we held our first December Daily® Prep Party here in Eugene, Oregon.
We loved it. I think the people who were there liked it too.
As with all our events, Katie was in charge. She's good at being in-charge of these in person events and it's part of what makes us a great team. She puts so much work and heart into bringing people together. I'm so thankful for her.
The goal for this event was to give people an opportunity to come together in person to work on past or present December Daily® projects, to encourage community, and to share some inspiration along the way via presentations throughout the event from me and members of our Creative Team.
Big thanks to Creative Team members who shared their photos with me for this post.
This event was held at a local hotel The Valley River Inn which has a bigger space available than The Inn At The 5th where we hold Story Camp.
For this event we had our friend Sarah from The Creative Makery come and set up shop.
She also brought in this super cute set up from our friends at Rescued Living.
I bought along a bunch of my albums, including most of my past December Daily® albums.
We were so excited to try out this concept.
As people began arriving it all started to come together. So many hugs and friend reunions and new friends made.
Each morning I gave an hour-long presentation. The first morning I talked about December Daily® and the second day I talked about owning your story.
Our sweet friend Pam Garrison came to hang out and we all wanted to take photos of the notes she took during the presentations. The mini kit she designed for December Daily® a couple years ago is still one of my personal favorites (digital version here).
It was so awesome to walk around the room and see what people were working on - past and present projects.
What I loved most is that a lot of people really did the work. Many left with either a finished past album or foundation pages close to completion for 2018.
A bunch of people brought their laptops or iPads and spent some time watching December Daily® Product Play 2 how-to videos from this year's class (and last year's class as is the case in this photo) before starting on their own.
In the afternoon each day three of my Creative Team members gave presentations that included their December Daily® story along with some tips and ideas for storytelling. I loved hearing them share their ideas and favorite spreads/stories.
Most of all I loved watching people make new friends and connections with one another.
My Mom was here for this event and she loved speaking with each person. She loves this project too.
Many people brought past projects to share with one another as well. There is nothing quite like getting to flip through albums in person. So good.
It was awesome having so many members of the Creative Team in attendance too. We missed those who weren't able to attend.
I am so lucky to have these women as friends as well as members of our team.
I'm super thankful for all the people that showed up for this event. Hearts were warmed, friends were made, pages were set up, and stories were told. I can't really ask for anything more than that.
Love you guys.
November 18, 2018
Stories Revisited + Black Friday Sales
We have a lot of fun and exciting things happening around here this week and we wanted to make sure to give all of the details! *Please note that links will not be live until their coordinating sale start date and time.
The Stories Revisited sale starts tomorrow morning November 19th, 2018 at 10am ET and runs through November 23rd, 2018 at 11:59pm ET (here's a link to a time converter for you to figure out the time where you live).
Twice a year we offer you the opportunity to purchase any remaining inventory we have of past
Story Kits™ and past Story Stamps™. We also make all past Digital Story Kits™ available for sale during this time as well. Also, for the first time ever we will have select Stories By The Month Kits available for purchase.
Please note that no educational content is included with any of these purchases except the Stories Revisited Classroom Bundle.
Here is a list of the themes we will have available in this sale (some quantities are very limited and will sell out quickly). All past Story Kits™, Story Stamps™ and Digital Story Kits™ will be $14.99 each:
STORY KIT™ // $14.99
Up
Changes
Fabric
Home
Grow
Tech
Adventure
STORY STAMP™ // $14.99
Up
Changes
Fabric
Home
Type
Grow
Tech
Adventure
STORIES BY THE MONTH // $9.99 (offered for the first time ever outside of a subscription)
January
February
March
May
July
STORIES REVISITED CLASSROOM BUNDLE // $40
As we have been doing during the last few sales we will be offering a bundle of past theme classrooms. This time the bundle we are offering will include the following themes: Up, Surprise, Review, Numbers, and Bond. Purchasing this bundle gives you access to those theme classrooms. No physical or digital products are included with the purchase of the classrooms - you are just purchasing the education content.
Sale ends November 23rd, 2018 at 11:59 ET.
To view a list of all past themes check out
this page.
A select number of past December Daily® Kits, December Daily® Kit components, shop items, and albums will be for available as part of our December Daily® Flash Sale.
This two day sale begins on Saturday 11/24//18 at 9am ET and runs through 11/25/18 at 11:59pm ET.
CYBER MONDAY
For Cyber Monday (11/26/17) we are offering 30% off classes and digitals*. This is a one day sale that begins at 9am ET and ends at 11:59 ET.
*This sale excludes December Daily® Product Play 2, Stories Revisited Classroom Bundle, all 2018 December Daily® Digitals, and Digital Story Kits™.
Wishing everyone in the US a very Happy Thanksgiving this week! We are forever grateful for the love and support we feel from this community on a daily basis.
November 15, 2018
One Year Later | Wedding Photos
One year ago today, on a rainy Wednesday, Aaron and I made it official here at our home with just our kids and a friend/officiant in attendance.
I often tell people that some stories aren't ready to tell right after you live them. They don't have to just be hard stories - sometimes they are simply the most meaningful and you might just want to hold it closer for awhile. For me this is one of those stories. I'm so happy to share this piece of our life here with you today.
Everything we did for this day, everything we chose, was on purpose.
We got married in Aaron's music room that he built in our garage with twinkling lights covering one wall. Those lights are still in there now and they make me so happy every time I spend time in his space. We had talked about going somewhere and having a destination wedding but in the end we decided our house would be the best spot (and we put our money into our familymoon).
We invited my wonderful friend Tara Whitney to come and capture the day for us. There is no one else I could have imagined capturing the spirit of this day for us in our home. I wanted her to capture us just as we are - which is her gift. I loved having her here to capture our hearts.
We incorporated a whole lot of glitter confetti and we still find it around the house from time to time.
We hired a local caterer to come to our house and cook us a Thanksgiving dinner since we were taking off the next morning for our familymoon and would be gone on the actual holiday. It was so awesome and made the entire celebration that much more special.
The whole thing was very "us" - and more than anything it was really about us. It was about the seven of us coming together. It was about the seven of us celebrating our new beginning. We sent flowers to our families saying thank you for their love and support. I would completely do it this way all over again in a heartbeat.
Side note: My wedding to Chris was big and so, so fun. We were the first of our group of college friends to get married and what we wanted most at that time in our lives was to have a big party. This time I wanted something different. Both were awesome in their own space and time . Both are a part of my story.
Thank you for cheering us on. The last year has been even better than I imagined - so much growth all around.
Here's a look at November 15th, 2017:
GETTING READY
Aaron bought a bunch of fun pairs of socks and let the boys pick which ones they wanted to wear.
The best story about me putting on my own makeup is the text that Katie sent me telling me exactly how to use all the things I had bought the day before from Target on her recommendation.
She's good like that.
We decided to drive just down the street to take some photos outside.
Simon walked me into the room to a song by Dave Matthews (of course) called Loving Wings.
Magic is where you make it.
The kids requested Shirley Temples as their drink.
I loved having this at our house. LOVED IT. It was comfortable and fun and just so very us.
Love wins.
November 13, 2018
Rest Story Kit™ + Story Stamp™ + December Stories By The Month™
In the Story Classroom this month we are focusing on stories related to the theme of Rest.
Here are a few thoughts about this particular theme:
Rest is a super important piece of an overall healthy life. When thinking about my own relationship with the term “rest” I wanted to take a closer look at the ways I approach “rest” and what stories come from that investigation. This month we are looking for and telling stories about the ways we rest in our lives.
Initial story ideas for the Rest theme include:
How do you rest? What is your favorite way to rest?
Consider documenting the ways you rest over the course of seven days. Tell that story.
What is the story you are telling yourself about “rest” in relation to your own life? Do you put it first or last?
If you are new to the Story Subscription program, check out all the details
here.
If you are already a subscriber the content in the classroom will be available to you on the 15th.
Here's a look at
the
Story Kit™ contents for Rest:
ADD ON OPTIONS | 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. If you subscribe to more than one you will have a Box for each subscription and the ability to purchase Add-On's for each one. 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.
Here are the optional Add-Ons for subscribers of the Rest
Story Kit™ theme. All three of these products are exclusive to subscribers at this time (but may be added to the shop in the future).
Here's a video overview of the
Story Kit™ and Add-On options this month:
The Rest
Stamp Set:
The
Story Stamp™ also has Add-On options available to subscribers:
Here's a video overview of the Story Stamp™ and Add-On options this month:
DIGITAL STORY KIT™
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™ for Rest:
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.
Currently each
Stories By The Month™ kit includes chipboard, 3x4 and 4x6 cards, and a 3x4 stamp. These are all based on the designs we offered digitally each month throughout 2017.
Here is a full look at the kit for December:
Here's a look at the Add-On options for Stories By The Month™ subscribers this month:
And a video overview:
This subscription is a great option for those who are looking to tell more calendar/everyday life sorts of stories.
Check out
this post for more information about this new subscription, including differences between the subscription options offered.
November 1, 2018
December Daily® 2018 | Foundation Pages
Welcome to December Daily® 2018. Today I'm sharing a look at what I'm doing in my album in advance of December.
Many of the pages I'm sharing below are part of this year's December Daily® Product Play 2 workshop which begins next week on November 6th. I designed nine specific pages using tags, titles/type, and trees for that class which includes video tutorials and additional information on how I created those pages. That workshop also includes projects from contributors so you can see how other people are playing with the products and a digital package.
Most of the products I'm using this year are from my December Daily® collection. The Main Kit + albums are still available here if you are just learning about this project or if you decide you'd like to have those to help you get your stories told this holiday season. I've also added a couple things from Tim Holtz and a few things from the Merry Days Collection from Crate Paper. 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.
So why do this before December when I don't know exactly the stories I will be telling?
In my experience I love have something to start from vs. nothing. I also welcome the creative constraint that comes from having done a little something in advance. This is totally a personal preference and you won't know if this does or doesn't work for you until you try it. In the very beginning I used to number all my pages in advance. I don't really do that anymore but I do generally slip some things/numbers into pockets so I have a general idea of the flow of the album. I enjoy spending time before December playing with some of the products and giving myself a chance to set myself up for storytelling success. In the case of this year, creating the Traveler's Notebook (thanks to Jess Forster for that suggestion) for the days we will be traveling gives me a specific home to hold those stories that's all ready for our adventure. As someone who is working on this project daily in December and sharing on my blog daily, having more done in the beginning helps speed up my own personal process during the month.
A couple other general reminders as we get started:
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.
This year I'm giving myself some structure but also keeping it loose in order to make adjustments as I go based on my stories.
Let's start with the inside cover.
This year I'm adding a tag book to the inside of my cover. I'm using an older Story Kit™ envelope with the flap cut off as a home. The envelope is secured in the album using red line tape. More information about this tag book will be included in the December Daily® Product Play 2 workshop.
This year I'm starting off my album with the 6x8 tree pattern transparency with the rubber 25 adhered to the front with red line tape. My first page after that is the December calendar that's included in the Main Kit. As you'll see in the image above, I was able to stamp up until December 25th which works for me because I stop documenting on that day. If you'd like to go through the entire month I've updated the design of the calendar and it's available here for you to download (it includes a PDF, PNG, and JPG):
Download the updated December calendar here (includes an additional row).
I used my rolling date stamp to add the days and have so far just added a couple things I know we are planning on for sure. I will add more as we go throughout the month.
After the calendar page I'm stating my reason why/intention for 2018. I love doing this as a way to set the tone for the upcoming season. It's a great way to begin your album.
For the front of Day 1 I used a large cork #1 and the star stencil + modeling paste to create the pattern. You can read more about that idea here.
On the top of my intention/reason why I added the plastic "merry" from the Main Kit using a Tiny Attacher stapler. The font I used is Mom's Typewriter.
Here's what I wrote for this year:
Ah December, welcome back.
As I begin working on this project for twenty-eighteen I'm thinking so much about savoring this season of life. This time when we are all here together in the house (even if it's not all the time) as I know it will not always be this way. I'm loving this season for what it is: activities, and personalities and voices and opinions and "stuff" and laughter.
What I hope for this season of the gift of paying attention - of seeing each one of these hearts for who they are and celebrating each one of them and loving them hard. I want to remember and focus on the true, wholehearted gifts of time and attention.
This year I'm also super excited about a special trip with Simon & Elliott & Katie & my Mom & Jessica & Gabrielle to New York City in the beginning of the month. Bring on the life-long memories that will be made from this adventure. Remembering that magic is something we make.
As always I look forward to the twinkle and the magic and the cozy and the jolly and all the things I love about December. Bring on the little moments and the bigger ones - planned and spontaneous. Bring on the hot cocoa and the fires in the fireplace and the Christmas movies and the daily storytelling.
Tis the season.
For Day One I'm planning to include a full page photo with journaling on top - possibly using one of my December Daily® 2018 6x8 Layered Templates. It might be a story about going to see Star Wars at the symphony or I might use a photo that we take of all of us before then. I may tell the Star Wars story on Day 2. Flexibility is totally welcome in this project.
For Day 2 right now I've got one of the pattern papers from the Main Kit paired with the white chipboard #2. I will either add photos or embellishments or words inside those circles once I have established my story. The back of Day 1 will likely be a home for a full page photo.
Full page photos are my favorite.
For Day 3 right now I've got one of the plastic circles from the Main Kit + the chipboard 3. The next page is a 3-pocket page with 2, 3x4's and 1, 4x6. Right now I've got a couple 3x4 cards in those pockets.
Some days I do a spread (across two pages) and other days I do a single page for the day. It really depends on the story and what I want to work with.
Day 4 right now just includes one of the Main Kit cards and the #4 chipboard. We will be leaving for our trip on the 5th so I imagine this day will be getting ready to head out of town.
This year, as I mentioned above, I will be traveling from the 5th through the 9th. To document our story during travel I made a traveler's notebook vs. needing to bring along my 6x8 album (after an awesome suggestion from my friend Jess).
To hold my handmade travelers notebook I am using one of my Story Kit™ envelopes - the new envelopes are taller now and it's the perfect size to hold my notebook. I added gold number stickers on top of the plastic envelope for the days we will be traveling and used Tim Holtz Loop Pins to add the envelope to my album - I didn't punch holes because the traveler's notebook was too wide after I added the index tabs.
Here's a look at both pieces:
The cover of my travelers notebook is 9 x 8.25 and the interior pages are 8.5 x 8.25 and folded. The pattern paper I used for the cover is My Mind's Eye Joyful Collection Starry Night. On top of the cover I added one of the red label stickers from the December Daily® Sticker Bundle and am holding the whole thing together with some ribbon from Micheals.
For the first page of my album I used my Mixed Alpha Stamp Set and green (Willamette) ink + a rolling date stamp to create the title.
Green washi tape was used on the front and back of the folded seam on each page. I didn't start out with this but ended up using that after I attempted to staple the inside in the wrong place. The washi is covering up the mis-stapled holes - a mistake that turned out just fine.
I used regular weight printer paper for my inside pages. I wanted to have enough to have 4 pages per day along with a few more at the end. I used Avery Index Tabs to mark each day alongside the outside edge.
When I get back from this trip and I have everything in the place I will staple the inside together. Right now they are just individual pages laying inside each other. I'm good with that for now and for while I'm traveling. I will most likely be adding a single 3x8 photo for each day.
For each day I stamped the day number using the Large Number Stamps + Willamette ink + the December stamp from the Paislee Press Wish List Stamp Set. I love the simple repetition of this set up.
Each day has four pages total. Below I'm just showing you images of the dated pages:
There are a few extra blank pages after Day 9.
I used an old 3-rectangle stamp from my stash to create a last page that can hold "pieces" of papers that I pick up while traveling.
Will I be doing other documentation for this trip? Maybe. I might create a photobook and have it printed from Artifact Uprising when I get home and will likely add some photos to my Project Life® album. I will not be doing a separate travel album for this trip.
I'm sure I'll be tired when we get home. Ha. That will likely be my Day 10 story. Right now I've got the chipboard #10 in the 4x6 pocket and two 3x4 cards waiting for that days story.
Day 11 includes the "so great" journal card from the Main Kit and the chipboard #11. I may use the star tag for Day 11 or I might use it for Day 12.
Day 12 is something I'm sharing more about in Product Play 2.
Day 13 will likely be a full page photo.
I've got one of the 3x8 transparencies between Day 13 and Day 14. I might move that around or might use that right there.
Day 14 is a 2-pocket page protector.
The majority of the following days are all featured in the new Product Play 2 workshop.
A flip-up for Day 15 with journaling underneath.
Day 16 will tell a who, what, where, when, why story using the 2x2 page protector.
Day 17 will likely include both the back of Day 16 and a bold, type-based background.
Day 18 will likely feature a full page photo story and Day 19 uses tags from the Main Kit + stamps from this Making Spirits Bright set + red embossing powder + ribbon.
Day 20 will be on the back of the tags and the next day will feature the forest I created using a variety of trees.
For this page I'll be adding more small tags with photos + stories.
I added in a 4-pocket 3x4 page protector for Day 22.
On the back I will likely feature my Day 23 story or that might flow into the next page which is a tree I created and added to a transparency. Again, more details are in the Product Play 2 workshop.
Right now in my album I have a couple of full-page Silhouette pages - these are included in the digital package for Product Play 2 - for the next couple of days. More likely than not I'll spread these out a bit more but I know, after years of doing this project, that by this point in the month things will have been moved around and I'm totally okay with that. Having these in here and ready to go works for me.
Working on this makes me so excited for the holiday season.
WALKTHROUGH VIDEOSUPPLIES
December Daily® 2018 Main KitDecember Daily® 2018 6x8 Christmas Phrases Album
December Daily® Large Cork Numbers
December Daily® Gold Number Stickers
December Daily® Sticker Bundle
December Daily® Wish List Paislee Press StampDecember Daily® Silkscreen + Stencil BundleDecember Daily® Making Sprits Bright Stamp
AED Mixed Alpha Stamp Set
Red Line Tape
Story Kit™ Envelopes
Inks: Willamette (green), StazOn Black
Tim Holtz Loop Pins (to attach the Story Kit™ envelope to the binder rings)
Tim Holtz Typed Tokens (metal circle)
Pattern Paper for Traveler's Notebook Cover: My Mind's Eye Joyful Collection Starry Night
Typecast Typewriter
Merry Days Collection from Crate Paper: Tag Kit With Glitter Accents, Epoxy Paper Clips,
Avery Index Tags
Rolling Date Stamp
Tiny Attacher
Ranger Texture Paste
White Cardstock
Ribbon
Green Stripe Washi Tape (similar)
Red Embossing Powder6 Hole Punch
October 29, 2018
Anna's "Honk Jr." Experience
Anna's activity this fall was to participate in Rose Children's Theatre production of Honk Jr. (essentially the story of the ugly duckling). She had done a couple summer camps with them in the past but this was her first time doing a full play.
It was a big time commitment for her and she chose to do it over playing soccer (doing both would be too much). She had practices Monday - Thursday nights for a couple hours for a number of weeks. She never complained about it once and was always excited to go to rehearsals.
She had two roles in the play - first as a hen and second as Penny (she's a swan who is the love interest of the ugly duckling).
After a number of weeks practicing the crew finally started Tech Week at the Wildish Theatre where they practiced with mics and in costume.
Her first couple of performances (there were 8 or 9 total over two weekends) happened during the same time as Story Camp so Chris + Tiffany + Simon and other family members and friends attended those first few. Audrey and I went to the Sunday performance and we were seriously so proud of Anna.
Here she is in her hen costume.
I can't tell you how awesome it was to see her enjoying this so much. I don't have any history of being in performances like this so all of it was new to both of us. I loved how she loved it.
For the second weekend of shows I volunteered backstage during the performances which is by far the best way to document the experience.
The adults involved in this production were fantastic - a really wonderful combination of fun and professional. I loved watching them interact with the kids.
My volunteer responsibilities were in the "green room" supervising the kids when they weren't on stage.
It was so fun to listen to their conversations and to watch them flow in and out of the show and their costume changes.
In the green room there was one big table where kids colored and laughed and played games while they were waiting for their turn on stage.
Anna's "Penny" the swan costume.
One of the things I loved about this experience were the new photo subjects I found in front of me. I loved witnessing life backstage.
Anna in the dressing room standing in front of her costumes.
The organization and prep that goes into these productions was amazing.
I love seeing a community of people come together to make it all happen.
Anna on stage with her fellow performers.
Between the first and second shows on Saturday they had a cast party.
Make up was a "big thing" for these kids and they loved applying and reapplying.
I am so proud of her for trying something new. She was awesome.
Last week she told me that she was really missing play practices. I'm pretty sure she's planning to try out for their next production and I will be cheering her on the entire way.
