Ali Edwards's Blog, page 157
October 10, 2017
My Current Printers
Sometimes, when my list of things “to do” is long, I get really motivated to tackle other projects.
In this case I spent a couple hours last night and this morning printing out all my photos to get up-to-date in Project Life®. The first half of this 2017 (through June) is complete so I was working on printing photos from July through last weekend. They are now all snuggly tucked in their pockets and when my to do list is a little shorter I can start the process of getting down the words. I follow a fairly simple formula each week usually including 7, 4x6 images and at least one or two 3x4 images.
When I shared the above image today on Instagram I got a few questions about what printers I use here at home so I decided to type up a post that I can refer people to in the future when this question comes up.
If you are looking for more in-depth information make sure to check out my Hybrid workshop.
Currently I use three printers for my projects. Do you need to have three printers? Probably not - it really just depends on what kinds of projects you do and the kinds of images you want to print. I print at home for convenience first and foremost vs. needing to wait for images from a service provider to be able to put my projects together. There's not a right or a wrong with this, it's really most about personal preference.
Also, all of these printers are connected to my printer - I don't use the wifi options available on them because I personally haven't had much luck with that here in my house. That means that I don't send photos directly to print from my phone - everything goes through my computer first.
Here's a look at the printers I've been using for the last year or so:
I use an Epson PictureMate PM400 for all my 4x6 images (that's the smaller one you see in the videos). It's hooked up to my computer and I've been happy with it for a few years now. This is the printer I use for pretty much any photo that goes into my Project Life® albums. It does print up to 5x7 but I generally use it just for 4x6 and 3x4. I've got a tutorial here for getting 2, 3x4 images on one 4x6 sheet of photo paper. This printer, and the previous version, have been total workhorses for me.
For this printer I most often use Epson 4x6 Ultra Premium Glossy Photo Paper.
For larger photos up to 8.5x11 I use the Canon Pixma MG7720. I also use this most often for printing digital products. This was recommended to me last year by Julie Love Gagen and it's been a great printer and is a super reasonable price. It also has two trays which would allow you to keep it stocked with 4x6 paper for easy printing of that size. I still go to the PictureMate first for my 4x6 size but this one can totally handle that as well. Most of my 6x8 images are printed on this printer (I print 6x8's on 8.5x11 sheets and print them out).
For printing images I most often use Epson 8.5x11 Ultra Premium Glossy Photo Paper. For printing digital products I use Neenah Bright White Cardstock.
For images up to 13x19 I use an Epson SureColor P400. I use this most often for printing 12x12 or 6x12 (love using that size in Project Life®). I use this printer the least right now just because most of the projects I've been doing recently include images that are 6x8 or smaller. I turned this one on yesterday for the first time in awhile and I definitely needed to do some maintenance on it (head cleaning, etc).
The paper I use for this printer is Epson 13x19 Premium Photo Paper Glossy.
If you aren't interested in printing at home I recommend checking out Persnickety Prints or Artifact Uprising.
Questions? Happy to answer them in the comments below.
October 6, 2017
October 2017 Monthly Digital Release
Happy October!
In January we announced that we are switching things up a bit with our digital products and will be releasing one main themed digital kit at the beginning of each month. These are similar to the Digital Story Kits™ in terms of the products included in the package. They will have journal cards, digital chipboard shapes, a stamp set, quote card, and sometimes other elements that will change from month to month.
We also will be changing our release dates up a bit due to some logistical reasons, and will now be releasing new products on the 1st Friday of each month.
We are absolutely still continuing to offer our Story Kit™ subscription that includes options for a physical kit, a physical stamp set, and a digital kit. This digital kit has nothing to do with the subscription program and is simply a change to the way we are adding projects to our digital shop.
This month's digital kit theme is about all things October: Halloween, pumpkins, Autumn, etc. Our favorite time of year!
This digital kit package includes 12 journal cards, a quote card (in both horizontal + vertical orientations), a "stamp" set, and a set of digital chipboard pieces/shapes. Like this style of kit? Make sure to check out our past monthly digital kits which are still available for purchase here.
We hope you have a great weekend!
October 5, 2017
One More Day In The Life™ Project Day For 2017 | Counting Today
As many of you know, one of the things I'm really into is intentional memory keeping. One of the things that term means to me is that I create products for you to use in specific projects that guide you through the storytelling process and usually (but not always) have a beginning and an end. Day In The Life™ is one of those projects that you can do a few times a year without feeling like you have to be documenting everything in your life on a really regular basis. I love that it's a closer look at one specific day and it's often done alongside others in our community who are telling their story of that same day in their life even when they live on the other side of the world.
I'll be doing my last Day In The Life™ documentation day for 2017 on Thursday, November 2nd.
The story lens for this day of documentation will be "counting" - as in counting the number of steps you take, the number of meltdowns you witness or perform, the number of emails you receive, the number of hours you slept, etc. After doing this project so many times over the years it's fun to have a specific angle to approach the stories of the day.
To help you get your story told I have a new Day In The Life™ kit available for you that includes a 2x3 number stamp set, a set of 24 3x4 cards that include story prompts, and a set of perforated blue + gold foil phrase stickers. The 3x4 cards in the kit will guide you in what you might want to count for the day, the number stamps are designed specifically to fit onto the cards, and the perforated word/phrase strips are a simply accent you can add to your journaling card or to the photos you may take over the course of the day.
Join me!
You can see how I told the stories of my other Day In The Life™ documentation days from earlier this year (and past years) here.
The digital version of this product will be released on October 23rd.
October 4, 2017
2018 AE Creative Team Call
2018 is fast approaching and with that comes time to select a new
Creative Team.
We are super thankful for all the hard work the
2017 team put into their projects this year. We wish them all the best as they continue to craft the stories of their lives.
For 2018 we are looking for a small group of memory keepers who are interested in using my
new products on their projects to be part of my Creative Team. You can be digital or hybrid or traditional - or a mixture of all three - but the most important thing is that you have a passionate commitment to telling your story.
If you are competent, comfortable, and creative using digital/printable products as well as physical products and are interested in having your work seen on aliedwards.com in blog posts, as in-use product examples, and on the Ali Edwards Design Inc (AED) social media channels 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
"AE Creative Team" in the subject of the email.
Deadline to submit is Friday, October 31, 2017.
You can check out all my new digital products here.
October 1, 2017
For The Love Of Books | September 2017
September was a really good book reading month for me! I found myself back in the flow of carving out time to read while waiting for the kids in the car, while eating lunch, and before falling asleep at night.
I started the month off by reading Dan Harris'
10% Happier: How I Tamed The Voice In My Head, Reduced My Stress Without Losing My Edge, And Found Self Help That Actually Works. It had been recommended to me multiple times after posting on Instagram that I was starting to meditate more regularly.
Next up was Emma In The Night - my gauge of a good thriller is am I totally invested in figuring out what happened. I so wanted to know how this one was going to turn out.
After that I picked up Little Fires Everywhere which I also read fairly quickly and enjoyed.
I also got to go up to Portland with Aaron to see my friend Kelly Rae Roberts and to see Brene Brown give a talk about her new book Braving The Wilderness which I devoured quickly. I'll probably read this one again a few more times at least.
And I finished up Sing, Unburied Sing last night. I found this one hard to get into in a good way - I'm challenged by the author's writing style in the way that I remember being challenged by important writers I read in high school and college. Her words are powerful and lyrical and I am so glad I took the time to read it.
Bring on the books!
This post is part of my monthly series "
For The Love Of Books" where I track and share what I've been reading in 2017. I'm also trying to do that on Goodreads as well if you are already into that platform. My hope is to post on or near the first of each month to share what I ended up reading last month and then share what books I'm selecting from Book Of The Month (BOTM) for the next month.
Please Note // This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
Today is October 1 and that means it's time for current
BOTM subscribers to choose books from this month's selections. As a part of their book Ambassador program this month we received an advance copy of Sleeping Beauties by Owen King + Stephen King (current members can preorder this one for $9.99) and Turtles All The Way Down rather than selecting options from the October selections.
You can get Turtles All The Way Down by John Green for free when you sign up for a new BOTM membership (limited time offer). Go here to sign up.
Or you can get Sleeping Beauties for free when you sign up for a two or three month membership using the code KING. Go here to sign up with that promotion.
IN PROGRESS
Started But Haven't Finished // Sometimes I start a book and get part way through and set it down for one reason or another - lately it's been that I've been more excited to read something else:
Secret Garden // I think I have about 1/4 left of this one. Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind The Frantic For A Simpler, More Soulful Way Of Living // Reading this one slowly when I feel like I want/need to read the words. Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood (Kindle) // Loving this one and picking it up here and there between other books. At Home In The World: Reflections On Belonging While Wandering The Globe // A new book from Tsh Oxenreider who runs the site The Art of Simple. This one is a memoir about her family's nine-month traveling adventures. The Power Of Meaning: Crafting A Life That Matters // Savoring this one slowly. Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road To Self-Love And Miracles // Reading this as part of an online workshop I'm currently taking.
READ IN 2017
NOTE:
(BOTM) means the book came from the Book Of the Month Club.
JANUARY
You Will Know Me (BOTM) // First book from BOTM. Read it in a day and a half (suspense). Enjoyed. Lucky You (BOTM) // I remember liking this one as I was reading it but to be honest I can barely remember it now. This is why I'm trying to remember to post some short thoughts on Instagram when I finish each one.
FEBRUARY
Behind Her Eyes (BOTM) // Suspense. Crazy twist. Enjoyed. Perfect Little World (BOTM) // Vacation read. Liked the change of pace on this one (had been reading more suspense). This one was a sweet little story with topics of motherhood and family and tribes of people and how things change. What Alice Forgot (Kindle) // Vacation read. Totally enjoyed this story and imagining what it would be like to experience memory loss in this way. Not suspense.
MARCH
The Twilight Wife // Aaron picked this one out at Target to read while we were on vacation and I read it when he was done. I thought this one was okay - probably had something to do with the fact that I read What Alice Forgot right before this one and they both deal with memory loss (this one is more suspense). The Stranger In The Woods (BOTM) // Non-fiction. This true story about a man living in the woods of Maine for almost 30 years read like a long-form magazine article. I enjoyed the break from the fiction I've been reading. Exit West (BOTM) // This one was a lot different from what I've been reading and I appreciated it for that. Different kind of narrator (omniscient) and subject matter (refugees). Glad I read it. Marlena (BOTM) // Gave this one three stars on Goodreads. I'm going to go with "like" but not "love" on this one. I kinda think, after finishing it, that it might be one that will pop up in my mind as I go about my days (so maybe it should get a better review). I enjoyed the story and she used a few writing techniques that I really liked. Sometimes it felt slow and I just wanted her to get on with the story :). Pachinko (BOTM) // Seriously loved this one and am super glad I picked it up again after putting it down before our Mexico trip. Epic generational tale of Koreans living in Japan (really loved learning more about that).
APRIL
Good As Gone (Kindle) // Definitely stayed interested and engaged with the story and wanted to know what was going to happen. As others have mentioned, the beginning felt stronger than the end. Felt like the author had a unique voice. Glad I read it. Three stars. American War (BOTM) // This book took me longer to read than others recently and sometimes I would forget that it was a future US civil war vs. the past civil war and I wondered more than once where in the world the story was actually heading (and was it actually heading anywhere)? There were days where I felt like I was making myself read it - which I don't always don - but for some reason I wanted to keep reading. There was a certain point in this book, probably more than halfway through the story, where I realized that this was an exceptional book. I finished it today and I think it's one of the best books I've read in awhile. I found the author to be an extremely sophisticated writer/storyteller who was very purposeful and deliberate with his prose - I can't remember the last time I really felt that way about the words I was reading on the page. Into The Water (BOTM) // A super fast, page-turning read for me. At first I felt like it was hard to keep up with all the different narrators but as I got more into it I was able to keep all the characters straight (it was one of those where I needed to keep flipping back and forth to remember who was who). Definitely enjoyed for a quick read!
MAY
Since We Fell (BOTM) // Totally enjoyed this one. Kept my interest with it's twists and definitely wanted to know what was going to happen in the end. As you might tell from most of my reviews, I'm not a super critical reader. If I like it, I like it and I liked this one. Woman No. 17 (BOTM) // This one was a just-okay for me where I definitely felt like I was making myself finish it. Small Great Things (Kindle) // So, so good. Hard and thought-provoking and worth it. Definitely my favorite of the month. The Butterfly Hours: Transforming Memories Into Memoir //Picked this one up randomly at a bookstore. I'm always attracted to books about memoir writing (totally in alignment with my memory keeping endeavors) and this one really filled me up these last few weeks as I was working on some new classroom content. Patty Dann also loves to use one word jumping off points to pull stories from our memories/prompt us to tell more (similar to my 31 Things and 31 More Things workshops) so I loved checking out her writing style and reading her stories. I loved how her writing is fact based but conveys so much meaning and feeling just via the ways she chooses to construct her sentences. Quick and easy read.
JUNE
The Sisters Chase (BOTM) // Loved the story and the characters. Chemistry (BOTM) // I really enjoyed the totally different writing style - basically it's written in snippets of thoughts/memories/etc. Being introduced to different writing styles is definitely one of the things I'm loving from reading so many books right now. I really liked the micro-story approach (a lot like what we do with memory keeping) and I also really liked the weaving of science/chemistry in with the lessons of life and love and moving forward. Super quick read. This Is How It Always Is // Jessica Turner told me I had to read this one next so it jumped to the top of my list after I finished Chemistry. This book was amazing. Basically I feel a whole lot of love for this story. For the characters, for the message of acceptance and inclusion, for the nuances of the middle-path. Highly recommended.
JULY
Final Girls (BOTM) // Great quick mystery. Totally waned to know what happened in the end.
AUGUST
The Blinds (BOTM) // Really ended up enjoying this one. All The Ugly And Wonderful Things (Kindle) // This is one of those ones that was recommended by quite a few people. Brutal. Honest. Challenging. Loved it.
SEPTEMBER
10% Happier // I devoured this book in just a couple sittings. Loved reading about his experience and his perspective as he learned - I laughed out loud a bunch and read passages to Aaron. Loved his honesty and his ability to change his mind about things/people he had initially been judgmental about. It was a good jumpstart for me as I'm getting started cultivating my own meditation practice. Emma In The Night (BOTM) // Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and it definitely kept me interested in wanting to know what in the heck actually happened. I definitely love a good mystery and this one gave me what I wanted! Little Fires Everywhere (BOTM) // My main criteria for enjoyment right now is basically this: do I think about the book during the day and look forward to reading it at night? That totally was the case with this story. Motherhood, art, family dynamics, love, loss - it was all there and weaved together nicely. Braving The Wilderness // This is a timely book and a quick read and something I know I will return to again and again in terms of living in alignment with my personal values. Sing, Unburied Sing (BOTM) // Finished this one last night. I found this one hard to get into in a good way - I'm challenged by the author's writing style in the way that I remember being challenged by important writers I read in high school and college. Her words are powerful and lyrical and I'm glad I took the time to read it.
September 29, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | Original Order Period Ending
Happy Friday!
Just a heads up that the original Order Selection Period for December Daily® is ending tomorrow - Saturday, September 30th at 11:59PM PDT. Packing and shipping will begin soon.
The Second Order Selection Period will remain open for another couple of weeks (with shipping at a later date - at the earliest it would be late October). We will let you know when that Second Order Selection Period will close.
If an item is now listed as "Sold Out" it will not be restocked. If an item says "Notify Me" we will be restocking those.
Thank you for your support of this project!
September 28, 2017
Class Sale Happening Now
Just a heads up that all my current classes are on sale - 25% off - this weekend. Sale ends 9/30/17 at 11:59PM EDT. No promo code is required and sale price is reflected in the shop.
These classes are available to you at this time. When you sign up you have immediate access to all the content and there is no time limit for accessing the content.
As I typed up this post today I took a little walk down memory lane for all the time and heart that went into creating these workshops over the years. Even the ones that were created many years ago now - such as Yesterday & Today - includes timeless content that encourages you to own and tell your own story in the way that makes the most sense to you.
Please let me know if you have any questions about these workshops. If you've already taken them I'd love to hear which were your favorites!
Here's a run down of all the classes currently available:
Type // This workshop is an in depth investigation into working with type/letterforms in memory keeping projects. The focus in this workshop is on finding fun ways to incorporate and emphasize type (letter stickers, letter stamps, fonts, and handwriting) to get your stories told.
Type originally ran as a 12-week workshop and includes the following lessons (and awesome bonus content from Pam Baldwin):
LESSON 01 | Type Basics: This week is all about creating a foundation. Get ready for an intro to the basics of typography.
LESSON 02 | Type In Neat Little Lines And Rows: Say hello to a lesson about body copy and telling longer stories.
BONUS #1 | Bonus Content From Pam Baldwin: Tips from Pam for printing type on 3x4 and 4x6 journal cards.
LESSON 03 | Type Marriages: This week we're investigating best practices for pairing fonts in our projects.
LESSON 04 | Type vs. Type: Contrast between type choices in a title, between a title and text, and within the text itself.
LESSON 05 | Type Play, Round One: In this lesson I introduce 10 of my favorite ideas for playing with type.
BONUS #2 | Bonus Content From Pam Baldwin: Pam shares two awesome project ideas for playing with type.
LESSON 06 | Type Play, Round Two: In this lesson I introduce 10 more ideas for playing with type.
LESSON 07 | Type Stacks: Lesson Seven focuses on stacking type for titles and content organization.
LESSON 08 | Dear Type, I'm Over You: In this lesson we are investigating ways to get type on and in other pieces of type.
BONUS #3 | Bonus Content From Pam Baldwin: This week Pam shares a layout and a Project Life® spread + two videos.
LESSON 09 | Type By Hand: Investigates ways to use handwriting in your projects.
BONUS #4 | Bonus Content From Pam Baldwin: Two layouts + a video tutorial on how to scan and include other's handwriting in your project.
LESSON 10 | Type On Photos: Take a look at ways to include words on photos: computer, type, handwriting, stamping, etc.
LESSON 11 | Type As Art: Appreciate the beauty of letter forms + ways type as art can support our stories.
LESSON 12 | Type Story: Lesson Twelve brings it all together with an emphasis on getting your story told.
Check out the video on the class page to learn more.
Lens Of Joy // Designed with the storyteller in mind, Lens Of Joy is a photography workshop that takes a deep dive into processes related to capturing life through the lens of your camera. I will walk you through my personal workflow from picking up the camera, looking through the lens, establishing the story, experiencing the moment, composing, uploading, organizing, editing, printing and pairing the end result with words to tell a more complete story.
Here's an overview of the lesson flow of this workshop:
LESSON 01-1 | The Art Of Seeing, Part One // Photo Vision: Your Photo Story, The Reason Why, Photo Mantra
LESSON 01-2 | The Art Of Seeing, Part Two // Photo Voice
LESSON 02-1 | Composition & Design // Elements of design and composition as they relate to identifying and expanding your photo voice.
LESSON 02-2 | Ali's Shooting Style Around The House // A 22-minute live video showing some of my favorite places to shoot in my house and my process.
LESSON 03-1 | Photo Workflow: Uploading & Organizing
LESSON 03-2 | Photo Workflow: Choosing Which Photos To Use
LESSON 03-3 | Photo Workflow: Editing
LESSON 03-4 | Photo Workshop: Printing
LESSON 04-1 | Self Portraits // An investigation and detailed walk-through of my self-portrait photo voice.
LESSON 04-2 | Storytelling With Photos // Bringing it all together. A presentation about my thought process related to photos and stories and how they work together.
LESSON 04-3 | Storytelling With Photos // Project Life® Photo Walk-Through
Over the course of the workshop you'll encounter 11 different lessons with over 8 hours of presentation/video content.
More information can be found here.
Hybrid // Join me for a fun, creative online workshop focused on the basics of hybrid scrapbooking. Hybrid scrapbooking pairs printed digital products such embellishments, brushes + layered templates from your computer with traditional scrapbooking products. I'll walk you through my favorite ways to use printed digital products to get more of your stories told.
My goal is to show you how to make digital products a part of your regular memory keeping process. That might mean simply printing a digital embellishment or journal card or it might mean starting your entire layout on the computer and then printing it out and adding physical embellishments on top.
Examples of techniques will include both past projects and new ones centered on showing how to work with specific kinds of digital products. Video tutorials will be all new using Photoshop Elements 14 or Photoshop (depending on the project). When applicable I will also show how to use the digital products in Word. Please know that this is NOT a workshop that will teach you all the ins and outs of either Photoshop program. This workshop, as with all of my workshops, will focus on the ways in which I use my computer and digital products vs. exploring every available technique and option.
Lessons included in this workshop:
LESSON 01 | Basics + Downloading + Opening: A look at the very basics of getting started: program overviews, downloading + opening.
LESSON 02 | Organizing: This lesson focuses on the details of a simple folder organization system for digital supplies.
LESSON 03 | Printing Basics: Printing basics + comparison of papers and printers + printing multiple items on one page.
BONUS | Annette Haring: Going Mobile For Hybrid Projects. Learn from Annette as she shares how she uses mobile apps to create parts of her hybrid projects
LESSON 04 | Brushes Basics: Learn how to load brushes, basic brush settings + watch my start to finish layout process.
LESSON 05 | Brushes As Patterns: Learn how to create both scattered and seamless patterns in Elements & Photoshop.
BONUS | Pam Baldwin: Printing Digital Products On A Variety Of Materials. Pam shows you how to print digital elements on canvas, transparency, vellum + shipping tags.
LESSON 06 | Brushes And The Silhouette: Learn how to trace + cut PNG files with a Silhouette. Also learn more about my "story flow."
Bonus Lesson | Jen Schow: Silhouette Print & Cut. Jen teaches you how to use the Print & Cut function on a Silhouette Machine.
LESSON 07 | Journal Cards: Learn how to recolor pieces, adjust sizes, add type + create your own journal cards.
BONUS | Pam Baldwin: Extracting Elements From Journal Cards. Learn how to extract elements from journal cards in this tutorial from Pam.
Bonus Lesson | Brandi Kincaid Hybrid Process. Come in to learn about Brandi's process for working with digital products on her physical projects.
LESSON 08 | Overlays: Learn about working with overlays both on photos and as journal cards.
BONUS | Pam Baldwin: Playing With Vinyl To Create Overlays + Hand-Stitching BrushesLearn from Pam how to use vinyl to create overlays + hand-stitching using brushes.
LESSON 09 | Intro To Layered Templates: Learn the basics of working with layered templates in Photoshop or Elements.
LESSON 10 | 3x4, 4x6, and 6x12 Layered Templates: In this lesson we are taking a closer look at working with different sizes of layered templates.
LESSON 11 | Photo Collages: Learn how to work with and create your own photo collage.
LESSON 12 | Final Thoughts: Learn a couple more fun techniques suggested by classmates such as wrapping text around an object.
Included in the cost of the workshop is a full digital package of products, similar to what is offered in my Digital Story Kits™ (journal cards, brushes, and embellishments - valued at $19.99), and a sample layered templates and additional digital items as they make sense for specific lessons. This workshop will be especially helpful for people who are subscribers to my Digital Story Kit™and have been wondering how to make the most of their subscription. As always, even with a focus on working with and printing digital products, Ali's projects and ideas will be rooted in stories and her examples will be showing how the products can best support the stories you want to tell.
Click here to learn more about this workshop and view the specific lesson schedule.
Storytelling With Project Life® // Since 2010 I've been loving the process of documenting my life via the pocket scrapbooking method known as Project Life®. I loved it in the beginning and I still love it today. Storytelling with Project Life® is designed to get you in the mood for telling the stories of your life one pocket at a time.
Here's a look at what we'll be covering in this 4-lesson adventure:
LESSON 01 | A look back at all my past Project Life® albums with individual video walk-throughs. The take-away from this lesson is the opportunity to learn from the past and reflect on what's worked and what's not worked to create a plan for right now.
LESSON 02 | Process exploration. Setting expectations, creating a plan for yourself (key word here being "YOU") and setting yourself up for success by establishing a storytelling mindset. This content will be specific to telling stories in Project Life®. Includes two presentation videos on starting with story and two process videos.
LESSON 03 | Story Exploration: Time-Based Stories (Micro Stories), Theme-Based Stories, and Longer Stories (each topic includes it's own presentation)
LESSON 04 | Working with products in Project Life®. Includes four process videos and an office walk-through focused on organization.
More details on this popular workshop is available here.
31 Things + 31 More Things // These two workshops are an invitation to "see into the life of things."
Each workshop includes 31 different story prompts to spark a desire in you to write more/tell more of the story about the life you’re living and then to practice those skills via the process of writing. Upon registering for either or both workshops you’ll have access to all 31 prompts (or 62 if you purchase the bundle) and can immediately get started telling stories from your life.
Each of the prompts includes the following:
A word/phrase as the jumping off pointA writing prompt for that particular word/phrase that includes questions to get you thinking about the different ways you can think about the wordA couple probing questions/tips to encourage you to go deeper with your storyPhoto suggestions/ideas to support the promptMy photo and words to encourage you along the way
These workshops are also available as a bundle here.
Hello Story // What's your story? In this class you'll say hello to a dozen fun strategies for sharing more of your words, and more of yourself, on your scrapbook pages.
Hello Story features 12 storytelling techniques that will bring both creativity and clarity to your documenting process.
Through more than 60 in-depth videos, 36+ layout examples from me designed specially for this workshop (12" x 12" and 8 1/2" x 11" layouts, plus Project Life® inserts), and 12 digital/printable packages, Hello Story will inspire you to take action and give you the tools you need to tell your own stories with confidence.
Are you ready to discover (or rediscover) the fun that comes from the interplay of design and words? By the end of class, you may even enjoy the storytelling process just as much as you love taking photos and playing with paint and paper!
Here is a look at each of the lesson topics (each includes multiple layout ideas and process videos):
LESSON 01 | TimelinesLESSON 02 | Fill In The BlanksLESSON 03 | DirectionLESSON 04 | TimeLESSON 05 | MathematicsLESSON 06 | Six Word StoriesLESSON 07 | Pie ChartsLESSON 08 | MapsLESSON 09 | NumbersLESSON 10 | Who, What, Where, When, WhyLESSON 11 | OppositesLESSON 12 | Rules For Living
Full details available here.
Yesterday & Today // The goal of Yesterday & Today is to help you meaningfully document and celebrate life by looking to the past before approaching the stories of today. The benefit of looking to the past is that we gain perspective. We see things differently after developing an awareness of what we know and what we wished we knew. Looking back, even if we're just viewing old photos of people we don't know, can change the way we approach the photos we take and the stories we tell today.
Topics this workshop addresses:
Where do you begin creating with photos from generations past?
What do you wish you knew about your parents when they were growing up?
How do you document the challenging times in your life?
How do you create layouts that tell special stories when you don't have any photos?
What are the lessons of your life so far?
Lesson topics include (this workshop also includes a bunch of digital tutorials):
LESSON 01 | Establishing a story attitude + emphasizing words and photos. Story brainstorm. Layout/project review. LESSON 02 | Working with older photos: scanning, enlarging, organizing, and choosing.LESSON 03 | Telling the story. Storytelling rhythms. Thoughts on the storytelling process. LESSON 04 | Tackling the challenging stories of life. Attitude of embracing imperfection. LESSON 05 | No photo layouts. Attitude of going with the flow. LESSON 06 | Change & growth, building stories with structure, storytelling prompts. LESSON 07 | Stories that link the past and the present. LESSON 08 | Past Perspective. Cultivating mindfulness in storytelling. LESSON 09 | Everyday life storytelling. LESSON 10 | Documenting life philosophies and life lessons. LESSON 11 | Getting yourself in the photos. Embracing your handwriting. Getting real. LESSON 12 | The stuff of life. Working with divided pockets (this workshop was created before Project Life®).LESSON 13 | Review.
More details can be found here.
Project Classes are different from the above listed classes in their scope. They include step-by-step instructions for creating one specific project.
Book Of Joy // A simple, fun mini book that documents and celebrates the people and things that bring you the most joy in your life.
I Am Tag Book // A playful, fun exercise in painting, misting, embracing imperfection and reflecting on where you are in your life right now. As memory keepers, many of us focus on telling the stories of other people in our lives first and foremost. This simple tag book is an awesome opportunity to get yourself in the story or continuing telling your own story. Join me for an artistic exploration into who we are right now using “I am” statements and fun mixed media tags.
Love You Because // When was the last time you wrote out the many reasons, from silly to serious, why you love someone? Join me as I take you through the process of creating a 6x9 canvas album to hold those reasons why.
Day In The Life™ // Join me as I walk you through the process of creating a 4x4 Day In The Life™ mini album that documents and celebrates one single day from the time you get up to the time you go to bed. This workshop picks up at the point where you have taken your photos over the course of a day and are wondering what to do next.
If you are interested in all four of these project classes there is also a bundle available here .
September 27, 2017
AE Creative Team | September Digital Release
Happy Wednesday!
Today we are sharing projects our
Creative Team made using the September Digital Release. This release is celebrating the end of summer and the transition into a new season. You can read more about how we've changed up how we are releasing digital products this year here.
Hope you all have a great rest of your week!
September 15, 2017
December Daily® 2017 | Workshop Details & Updates
Today I want to give you a heads up about the two December Daily® workshops I'll be offering this year. Check out the details below for when registration opens.
As always I'll be sharing my foundation pages and my completed pages here on my blog for the actual stories I'll be telling this year. I'll begin sharing my foundation pages (my starting point for this project) in late October.
Questions? Let me know in the comments!
DECEMBER DAILY® PRODUCT PLAY
This year I'm offering a brand new 3-week workshop experience that will begin on November 1. In this online class we'll be taking a closer look at playing with three specific shapes in December Daily® documentation: hearts, stars, and circles. These are three of my favorite shapes and there are so many different ways you can creatively play with these kinds of products in your project to compliment your stories. We'll also be talking about the specific design concepts that go into working with these shapes which will be useful for you in any projects going forward (repetition, contrast, focal points, etc). I'll be using products from this year's December Daily® collection (including some digital products) but the products are not required. As always I'll be coming at this with storytelling and simple design at the forefront.
COST: $20.00
REGISTRATION: Opens in mid-October. First delivery of class content will be on Wednesday, November 1.
CONTRIBUTORS: Pam Baldwin, Ingunn Markiewicz, Brandi Kincaid, Laura Wonsik, Jen Schow, and Kelly Ishmael.
INCLUDES: Digital package
Storytelling With December Daily® is definitely the class to take if you are really looking for a deep-dive into getting to the heart of the matter with this project. If you haven't taken this workshop I highly recommend it as a way to really think through how you might want to approach this project and the stories that are most important to you. I put my whole heart and experience into putting this workshop together that first ran in 2015 and I'm happy to bring it back again as a self-paced workshop (same content as the previous versions of this workshop).
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Past Perspective: what's worked and not worked for me in past December Daily® projectsSpecific story ideas for seasonal storytelling that can be incorporated into your own albumPhoto ideas (because photos are often story sparks)Favorite techniques for including stories in my December Daily® albums (including digital, interactive, etc)Encouragement and inspiration for creating your own personal process that is workable for you
COST: $15.00
REGISTRATION: Opens on November 1. This class will be offered as a self-paced experience which means when you purchase the class all the content will be immediately available to you.
INCLUDES: Digital package that includes PNG and cut files
NOTES:
No alumni discount this year. In past years we've included a physical stamp set - we will not be doing that this year which is why the price has been reduced. I will be doing a walk-through of my 2016 album on my blog and YouTube this year. Albums included in the video walk-throughs in this workshop include all my albums through 2015.
I'm so looking forward to seeing you guys in these classrooms this year! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my passion with you.
September 13, 2017
Story Kit™ & Story Stamp™ | Time
In the Story Classroom this month we are focusing on stories related to the theme of Time.
Earlier this year we changed up our kit pages and each subscription now has it's own shop page that you can check out here:
Story Kit™, Story Stamp™, and Digital Story Kit™ (there are links to each one at the bottom of each page). As a subscriber you also have kit pages for each of your subscriptions located under your User Name in the top right corner of the page (this is where you go to select any Add-On purchases to be shipped with your box between now and June 14th at 11:59PM Eastern).
Here are a few thoughts about this particular theme:
Because we check the clock or our watch or our phone as we go about our days. Because at different moments in our lives time passes either slowly and quickly. Because time in a lens through which we plan and review our lives. This month we are telling stories related to the topic of time.
Initial story ideas for the Time theme include:
What is your favorite time of day right now and why?
We have all lived through awesome and very hard times - tell a story that includes both.
Tell the story of a time when you were in the right place at the right time.
Earlier this year we introduced a new option for subscribers to purchase from a limited selection of Add-On products and have those shipped with your monthly subscription. Between the 13th at 12:00am Eastern and the 14th at 12:59pm Eastern, subscribers can add these products to their boxes at no additional shipping cost - based on availability. Check out our
2017 Subscription Update page here for more details. 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.
If you are a current Subscriber you 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.
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 just as in the past.
Here's a look at
the
Story Kit™ contents for Time:
Here are the optional Add-Ons for subscribers of the Time 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). Some months we will have only new theme-based products as part of the Add-On selection and other months we might include a staple item from the shop.
I am super in love with the 3x8 timeline pad - that will go great into the 3x8 page protectors we offer in the shop.
Here's a video overview of the Story Kit™ and Add-On options this month:
STORY STAMP™
The
Time Story Stamp™:
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™
There is also a
Digital Story Kit™ subscription available that includes access to the classroom content.
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 for Lost + Found (which also shows all the designs for the journal cards included in the printed version of the kit):
Digital Story Kit™ subscribers also have four Add-On options available (if you subscribe to both the Story Kit™ and the Story Stamp™ these should also be available to you for purchase):
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.
