Ali Edwards's Blog, page 200

Spring Sale | 40% Off All Digital, 55% Off Week In The Life™ Kits, 25% Off Alphabet Stickers

Happy Monday! 

I'm excited to let you know that I'm having a Spring Sale - my first sale here on the new site - and it's underway now. 

For the next 2 days:

All Digital Products are 40% off Week In The Life™ Kits are 55% off (you can see all my posts working with this kit here) - once these are gone they are goneAlphabet Stickers are 25% off 

Shop the full sale here. 

Give Sunday | 12

We made it home safe and sound from our RV Spring Break adventure - I'll share more about that later this week. 

This year, in honor of my 2015
One Little Word® "give," I'm sharing a hand-drawn quote each Sunday here on my blog.

I've been repeating the phrase "inhabit your life" to myself again lately - it's one of the things I do when I find myself shying away from living the length and the width. I've been finding myself operating with a shorter fuse than I'd like and have been fairly consistently over-reacting to little problems (making them way bigger than necessary). So I'm working through it and making lists of things to be thankful for and thinking I might get myself some help. Because, my friends, it often takes a village not just to raise our kids but to evolve ourselves. 

Bring on the soul dancing.  

Also, I updated the file from last week that was having an issue. You can click on over to that post to re-download the file. 

Click here to read my initial post and download the #givesunday word art title and checklist for helping you to give a little something today. You can also view all the past #givesunday quotes via the archives. 

Click here to download the #givesunday 12 quote. Please note: If you are reading this post via email you need to click through to the actual blog post to download the file. 

You're invited to join me. What will you
give today?

Have a wonderful Sunday. 

Type | New 12-Week Workshop Now Open For Registration

I'm super excited to let you guys know that registration is now open for my new 12-week workshop: Type. 

This workshop begins Monday, April 20th and will cover a whole bunch of fun and informative topics/ideas/inspirations related to working with type (alphabet stickers, letter stamps, hand lettering, and fonts) in your memory keeping projects. 

As with most of my workshops, content will be delivered in the form full-color handouts, keynote presentations that cover the main topic, and live video where I share my process for creating projects. There will also be a message board and gallery for sharing the things you create during the length of the workshop. 

As with all my workshops, you are able to continue accessing the information after the live class portion has ended. 

Here's an 8-min overview of the topics that are included over the 12-week workshop (this is also available on the shop page for the class): 

Early Bird Discount | 20% off if you sign up between March 20th and April 6th. 

I have to tell you that I'm super excited about the content for this workshop and I love the idea of focusing on type and experimenting with different ways to get our words onto our projects. 

Check out the weekly topic schedule along with a bit more information and sign-up here. 

You're invited! Hope to see you in class. 

Give Sunday | 11

This year, in honor of my
One Little Word® "give," I'm sharing a hand-drawn quote each Sunday here on my blog.

Sometimes what we need most is to simply stop. Such a great reminder for all of us as we move into the next season.

Click here to read my initial post and download the #givesunday word art title and checklist for helping you to give a little something today. You can also view all the past #givesunday quotes via the archives. 

Click here to download the #givesunday 11 quote. Please note: If you are reading this post via email you need to click through to the actual blog post to download the file. 

You're invited to join me. What will you
give today?

Have a wonderful Sunday. 

Project Life® 2015 | Week Seven

This week I decided to do one of those Project Life spreads where I create a bunch of journal cards and repeat them across the two (or more) pages to tell the story of the week. 

Super happy how it turned out. Read on to learn about the process: 

For the cards I used a combination of the gold paint + story screen print from the new Magic Story Kit™ + these awesome number stamps from Tim Holtz with the Grey Flannel Memento Ink. 

And, good news, the Magic Story Kits™ have been restocked so all of you who were on the waiting list should be getting a notification that the kit is shipping. If you'd like to begin your Story Subscription with the Magic Kit™ you can do so here. 

Here's a look at the individual pieces of the week: 

For this week I started by printing out all the photos I wanted to use and slipping them into the pockets. I decided that I wasn't going to add many, if any, embellishments to my photos this week and let the journal cards do their job. 

You'll see that I varied the placement of the screenprint and the numbers on the journal cards - no right or wrong, just how I felt like putting them together this week. 

In addition to "story" and the numbers I also added the date with a rolling date stamp and on most of them I also added a sentiment stamp from one of my other stamp sets such as the Week In The Life™ set, the Photos set, and the Celebrate set. I used Morocco Orange Memento Luxe Ink with those. 

Dear Anna, you keep bringing home the artwork and I'll keep using it as my date cards. Love, Mom. 

Here's a look at my tabletop while I was working on those cards. You do need to clean the screenprints between each use otherwise it doesn't work as great. 

Ah, repetition, I love you.

THE INSERT

I did include an insert this week because once I printed out all the photos I wanted to use I could tell I needed a bit more space. I chose to go with a divided 6x8 page protector - yep, they fit right into the 12x12 rings. And as usual, I added a 2-inch Avery Index label along the edge. 

Here's what it looks like out of the album:

I considered a bunch of different things for that other pocket but went with the super simple option of one wood veneer star. I stitched along the top to keep it inside the pocket. 

On the second page of the spread I added a couple more photos that went along with the journaling plus one of those gold foil letterpress cards from the Studio Calico calendar. 

And because I'm thinking a lot about magic this month with the Story Kit™, I loved adding this simple chipboard piece from the kit to the photo in the fog. I posted this photo on Instagram a few weeks back. I drive by this spot just about everyday when taking Simon to school. The fog isn't an everyday thing, but it's not abnormal either. There have been so many times when I've driven by this place and thought to myself that I wanted to stop and take a photo. This was the day I did just that. 

SUPPLIES
Tim Holtz Number Stamps (Amazon or also available at  Simon Says Stamp )Magic Story Kit™ (gold paint, story silkscreen, chipboard accent)Gray Flannel Memento Luxe InkMorocco Orange Memento Luxe InkAli Edwards' Celebrate Stamp SetAli Edwards' Photos Stamp SetWeek In The Life™ Stamp Set6x8 Divided Page ProtectorsWood Veneer StarBrother Sewing Machine

AE Digital Creative Team | Layout Inspiration

Here's a look at this week's inspiration from the AE Digital Creative Team using designs from my digital shop. Remember, many of these awesome women are paper scrapbookers who use these projects in conjunction with their paper projects. 

First up: Awesome Story 3x4 Cards

When I designed these cards I envisioned that people would use them with the Silhouette and I loved seeing that happen for real. 

Cristina C. (linked to layout) | I'm totally loving this 2-page layout from Cristina where she layered patterns behind the "so totally awesome" word art card. I also love how she incorporated some of my other word art files in her journaling. I think she took those from these Love Notes Cards. 

Want to know how to trace and cut my PNG files with a Silhouette? I've got a tutorial for you on how to do that here. 

Donya Gjerdingen | Donya also cut a file with a Silhouette and backed it with pattern papers. I love how both of them took it as an opportunity to add in some color. On the second page Donya is documenting some quotes from her Pinterest board. 

Emily Webster | Emily documented a girl's trip using this card set plus some of my other products including: Gathering Digital Story Kit™, Firsts Digital Story Kit™, and Everyday Labels.

Ginny Hughes | Ginny created this awesome 6x12 page, again using the Silhouette but this time using the letters vs. the outside of the cut like the others did above. Love how she stitched them right to her layout. 

Paige Taylor Evans (linked to layout) | Click on Paige's name to visit her blog and read about her process for this awesome hand-stitched layout. She is the master. 

Next up: Love Notes 3x4 Journal Cards

These were created with a couple things in mind. First, I thought they would be cool to add to my kids lunches or to tape to the bathroom mirror or leave on their pillow. Just a little something - a little hello, a little love, a little goodness. Second, I know they would look cool on layouts or in Project Life. 

Pam Baldwin (linked to layout) | Pam's 6x8 layout makes me so, so happy. Bright, fun, interactive and inspired by a pillow. Click on over to her blog to read about her inspiration and process. 

Sasha Farina (linked to layout) | Click on over to Sasha's blog to read more about how she put this page together - I love that she printed the digital part directly onto the pattern paper and then built her page up around it. Super cool. And I love yellow stitching. 

Teresa Victor | Love that Teresa showed how easy one of these cards is to add to Project Life. 

Next up: The Story Of Today 3x4 Cards + Stamps

This set is awesome for a couple reasons. One: I can never have enough products with the days of the week included. Two: This set includes both the word art brushes and the PNG files for the card and a printable PDF for simple printing. 

Celine Navarro (linked to layout) | One thing I love about having a Creative Team is that they make the products work for their stories and their creative strengths. I love how Celine went BIG with the word art from this set and paired it with the plastic "gather" word from the Gatherings Story Kit™. It's such a cool double-page, full photo spread. Click on her name to read more about her process. 

Kelly Schmidt (linked to layout) | This is one of the ways I imagined using this set - one card for each day of the week. Simple & easy. I also like how she mixed the word art option in - adding "Friday" to one of her photos vs. just adding in the full card. Kelly added other products from past Digital Story Kits™. 

Lindsay Bateman | Love the series of photos Lindsay shares here and also how she used a repeated TODAY card (from the AM/PM Story Kit™) to create a pattern along the bottom of her page. 

Trisha Harrison (linked to layout) | Click on over to Trisha's blog to read more about her process for putting together this spread - she's working 9x12. She added word art from this set directly to the photo of her in the 4x6 slot. 

Thanks for being here - hope you have an awesome day!

New Story Theme Now Available | Magic

I'm excited to announce that a new
Story Theme is now available for my Story Subscription Program: Magic.

This month we are exploring stories related to magic: the big and the small moments, the everyday stuff, where you find it, and how you make it happen for yourself. I bet you've got some stories just waiting to be told that are wonderful examples of magic showing up in your life. 

If you are already a subscriber to you can now access the content in the classroom (make sure you are logged in to your account). 

If you are new to the Story Subscription program, check out all the details here. 

Please know that there is currently a waiting list to subscribe to the Story Kit™. 

Here's a look at the Story Kit™ contents:

And the Story Stamp™:

We also have a 
Digital Story Kit™ subscription available that includes access to the classroom content. 

Here's a look at what's included for
Magic:

Here's a video overview of the products included in the kits this month: 

And a couple peeks at the layouts I created with the kits this month (
full details, including video and how-to handout, are included with subscription): 

Let's tell stories together!

Give Sunday | 10

This year, in honor of my
One Little Word® "give," I'm sharing a hand-drawn quote each Sunday here on my blog.

I was re-introduced to this quote this past week when someone (thanks Barb) linked to an article via my Facebook page. The phrase listen to your life has been on my mind and heart a lot lately - I included it as one part of my presentation in Story Community (for Story Kit™ and Story Stamp™ subscribers) about the ways in which we find/identify magic in our lives. And it's something I'm always trying to do around here - listening for what is needed for each one of us in my family in this season. 

Click here to read my initial post and download the #givesunday word art title and checklist for helping you to give a little something today. You can also view all the past #givesunday quotes via the archives. 

Click here to download the #givesunday 10 quote. Please note: If you are reading this post via email you need to click through to the actual blog post to download the file. 

You're invited to join me. What will you
give today?

Have a wonderful Sunday. 

7AM and 7PM

In this month's Story Subscription classroom I invited everyone to document their 7AM and 7PM on March 10th with a couple photos and some words. 

Nothing intense, nothing overly involved - simple and easy. Set your timer, snap a photo, jot down a few words. Real life my friends. 

At 7AM I was already working in my office. My kids were sleeping in because we had a 9AM dentist appointment. After reading The Fringe Hours recently I've really been thinking about how I use little pockets of time. I used that morning time to get my Project Life® spread done that I posted yesterday. 

At 7PM I was helping Anna with her homework. I noted in the journaling that it's easy to help her because she is so excited to be learning and to be showing me what she's learning. Simon was taking a bath during this time. 

Here's the layout I ended up creating with my content: 

This one seemed tough to get the colors right when I photographed it, but I think you get the idea. 

Here's a run down of the process: 

I started with a blank piece of white cardstock (8.5 x 11) and I added just a bit of Heidi Swapp Color Shine spray ink to the top and the bottom (Mint and Mustard).  I cropped and paired each of my photos with the tranasparnet 7AM and 7PM cards (included with the AM/PM Story Kit™) and adhered them onto another piece of white cardstock that I used as a mat and home for the photos and journaling. Where the photos and the transparent squares meet I layered the "day/night" chipboard diamond and the "this is life/hello everyday" chipboard phrase strip.  Below I added "the story of this morning" and "the story of this evening" stamps along with my simple journaling about what was happening around here at those times.  A little strip of star vellum from Crate Paper peeks out from the bottom and I ran the whole thing through my sewing machine to add a stitched border around the main content.  I finished it off by stamping the date in red ink along the top edge.

Big thanks to those of you who played along. Also a big thank you to those of you who have decided to subscribe to either/and the Story Stamps™ or the Story Kits™ - I appreciate you and hope that it's working to help you get more of your stories told!

The AM/PM Story Kit™ and Story Stamp™ is available for just a few more days before the new theme is released on the 15th.

Project Life® 2015 | Week Six

Have I mentioned how freeing it is that I'm not thinking one little bit about whether the corners are round or square? 

It's awesome. 

A quick reminder that the AM/PM Story Kit™ and Story Stamp™ are available for just a few more days if you were hoping to begin a subscription with that theme. The next theme coming up on March 15th is Magic. 

Sharing a look at my 2015 Week Six: 

This was Anna's birthday week so I included a 6x12 insert to hold additional journal cards (printed text) and photos. It was also the weekend that Aaron and I camped in my car at Washburne State Park. I'm adding just 1-2 photos of that here as I'm creating a layout with many more of them and my journaling from this post using the next Story Kit™. 

Let's take a close-up look at the birthday insert first: 

For Anna's birthday story I took journaling directly from this post. I can't tell you enough how much I like writing up those stories, posting them here, and then being able to add those stories to layouts or to Project Life®. Separating the tasks of writing and crafting results in longer stories being told. 

Here's a look at the front and the back of the 6x12 insert: 

That black and white dot card at the top was included with the Cirque Project Life Kit. There was a circle printed on the design (that I think said February) as well but I decided to use a circle punch to cut the photo of Anna blowing out the candles and adhere that on top. 

For the journaling I spilt up the words onto 2, 4x6 cards and printed on photo paper. Right at the top of the first card I stamped a phrase from my Birthday Stamp Set. 

On the back side of the insert I included three more photos - one with a bit of writing directly on the photo. 

The white letter stickers you see throughout this post are from the Cirque Project Life Kit. I also have a similar sets available in my shop here. 

Here's a look at the spread again with the insert turned: 

I really like taking one product from a kit - in this case the letter stickers - and spreading them across the week. 

The left side of the spread: 

A simple go-to that I continue to employ is cutting up journaling cards and placing a portion of them on the photo as a home for journaling. 

Continuing the use of cropped art cards made by Anna for the date. 

Love that the letter stickers include quotation marks. 

The right side of the spread: 

Lots of chipboard hearts and a couple stars. Never enough. 

I loved those chipboard white and pink words from the Far Far Away Project Life Kit. I also love the simple idea of mixing a phrase like that with letter stickers for the final word. 

Yep. Always. 

The other card seen here is from the Studio Calico gold letterpress calendar. I cut it at the end of the month (Feb) and then added a lined journal card below (stitched to keep in place). 

SUPPLIES
Far Far Away Project Life Kit Cirque Project Life Kit Avery 2 Inch Index Tab Brother Sewing Machine Epson PictureMate Show Printer Birthday Stamp SetDesign A Page Protectors6 x 12 Page Protector