Ali Edwards's Blog, page 224
April 1, 2014
Personalized Stationery From Minted
Ah, correspondence.
My Mom is the best at letter writing.
Often it’s a thank you note but many times it’s also just a hello, how’s it going or thinking of you message.
It’s thoughtful and kind and personal and I’ve kept many of them over the years.
I’ve also had a few friends who are awesome at writing notes or letters and really make an effort (specifically Paolo and Kelly Rae). It matters and it gets noticed – especially these days where it’s so easy to send a text message or some other technical correspondence.
Jotting out a few kind words to let someone know you are thinking about them is just cool.
There’s even a TED talk on the lost art of letter writing. And you know I loved how she talks about the legacy of handwriting.
Today we’re sharing the two pieces of personalized stationary we recently received from Minted as part of their 6th Birthday Celebration. We’ve partnered with Minted in the past for Christmas cards and wall art and we’re big fans of their quality and service.
Katie picked the Hello Darling package and I went with the Chic Memo set. We both went for simple black and white designs but there are color options available as well.
TIPS FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN
ONE | Have your stationery out and available. It’s kind of like my sewing machine. When it was put away I barely ever used it but once I had it out and more accessible in my office it gets used all the time.
TWO | Have a pen you love. My favorite everyday pen is a Uni-ball Vision Elite.
THREE | Know that just a short note is perfect. It doesn’t have to be a novel or something extravagant or a special occasion or perfectly crafted. Just a simple hey, you crossed my mind today can be all that’s needed to lift someone’s spirits or brighten their day.
FOUR | Pick up some fun stamps. My personal favorites right now are the ferns and the vintage seed packets (both are forever stamps).
Do you guys write letters or receive letters from someone special?
Minted is celebrating 6 years of unique indie design with a very big sale. 15% off everything – including limited edition art and custom art for kids & adults. Sale runs from today until April 8th.
March 31, 2014
Joy | Scrapbook Layout
Here’s a two-page, 8.5×11 layout using Studio Calico’s Bluegrass Farm Scrapbook Kit.
When I opened up this month’s kit the first thing that blew me away were the circle patches (!!!). They are almost too cool to add to a layout. They should be on a hat or a backpack or something like that (I might just add one of the other ones to a hat). But I sucked it up and used one because there are three of them and I love the idea of adding some fabric stuff to my pages again.
Here’s what I ended up with:
I knew I wanted to cut a large word using the Silhouette from the wood grain pattern paper and that I wanted to pair that with a large photo on the second page of the spread.
The photo was printed to 8 inches x 10.5 inches (I brought three photos together in photoshop before printing).
I used the font Blackout to cut the title.
Behind the die cut cardstock I added a sheet of yellow vellum from this set before adhering the yellow pattern paper behind it.
After I had all that in place I used a Precision Pen to outline each of the letters (which would be matched with some handwriting on the second page) and then added one of the label stickers below.
I stitched the patch in the middle of the “O” using my Brother sewing machine.
On the second page I added a few little sentiment strips that included phrases about Anna and joy. I printed those on white cardstock and used Heidi’s Gold Color Shine on top before cutting and stapling to the background pattern paper.
To bring it all together I added the bit of hand-journaling along the bottom and the black border around the edge of the photo and the date using a rolling date stamp.
SUPPLIES | JOY
Click on the images to link to the products.
InLinkz.com
Looking for more layout creation inspiration including a lot of video overviews that walk you through my own personal process? Check out my 12-week workshop coming in April to Big Picture Classes: Hello Story (if you took this workshop last summer the content is exactly the same).
March 30, 2014
Spring Break Guest | Teresa Collins
While on vacation this week we’ve invited a few of our friends to share their favorite layout of all time + why it is so special to them.
Say hello to Teresa Collins
I am so honored to be asked to be a guest designer for my friend Ali. I have always connected with her and her passion for telling a story. My journey as a crafter started with my back ground in interior design.
I have always loved to decorate but I never scrapbooked until 2002. I started to scrapbook when my mother died suddently from a brain aneurysm at the age of 53. As you can imagine, I was devastated and I felt the most profound loss.
I realized that I had not asked and written down so many things about her… her life… and
things about me and my life. I had lost the opportunity and it was so hard for me. My world as a designer evolved into a scrapbooker after my mother passed away.
I found a big plastic container of photos. There was hundreds of photos in the box. There was not anything to tell me- WHO? (is in the photos) WHEN? (when was this taken) WHY? (what was going on, what is the story… the meaning). I felt such a loss and I knew I needed to “tell her story.”
I never knew my design background would translate into eventually owning my own crafting/paper company.
So my favorite projects are always those that “tell the story.”
I have seven amazing children and a cute husband that I love and adore.
My husband is fighting cancer right now and I am MORE than ever passionate and so aware of how important it is to be my “family historian.” I love to “decorate” my pages… but more than that I want to truly capture the love, the moments and make sure that the memory will be remembered.
I take non-stop photos and I truly am just so thankful for each and everyday… I am thankful the sweet simple moments. I love being able to design products that help others to tell the story too.
CONNECT WITH TERESA | Blog | Website | Facebook | Intsagram
March 29, 2014
Digital Product Releases | 03.29.13
Three new products available from me this weekend at Designer Digitals.
First up is Awesome Memory Starbursts.
Have a great weekend!
Spring Break Guest | Amy Tan
While on vacation this week we’ve invited a few of our friends to share their favorite layout of all time + why it is so special to them.
Say hello to Amy Tan.
It’s hard to choose a favorite layout of all time, but this is definitely up there.
It’s from 2009 or 2010 when I took a white piece of cardstock and splashed on some watercolors for the background.
I love the photos from our first international trip together to Brazil, just months after we had met.
This layout also is symbolic as the style has carried through to my collections with American Crafts – colorful and fun, with a bit of a twist.
ABOUT AMY | It’s hard for Amy Tan to imagine where her life would be had she not fallen in love with scrapbooking in 2007. This hobby has afforded her so many amazing opportunities – including a signature line with American Crafts, many of her projects published in a variety of magazines, and the chance to meet so many inspiring people – that she is endlessly grateful for. When she’s not at home in Venice, California with boyfriend and two Jack Russell Terriers, she is traveling across the country, finding great places to eat, and doing her best to enjoy every moment. All while Instagramming everything along the way.
Amy’s newest collection, Plus One, is now available at Two Peas In a Bucket and Simon Says Stamp!
March 28, 2014
And the giveaway goes to…
GIVEAWAY | ONE (1) winner will win 1 pair of shoes of their choice from ShoeMint. United States and Canadian residents only please.
#25 | Kelli Gill said…It’s a tough choice, but I LOVE the Melissa Doris Special for a flat, and the classic pump for heel. Thanks for the chance to win!
Congratulations Kelli! Please email Katie with your contact information.
March 27, 2014
Project Life® 2014 | Week Eleven (Studio Calico Project Life® Kit)
Welcome to Project Life® 2014 | Week Eleven (March 10th through March 16th).
Each month during 2014 one of my Project Life® weeks will be using the Studio Calico Project Life® kit.
You can check out all the new kits for April (called Bluegrass Farm) over at Studio Calico here: Scrapbook Kit | Project Life® Kit | Card Kit
Here’s a look at Week 11:
Lots of handwritten journaling and Silhoutte cuts this week.
I used a bunch of the different digital/cut file sets that are available this month at Studio Calico to go along with the Bluegrass Farm kits. I used both the positive and negative spaces as elements and journal cards.
Simple list of things that made me happy this week.
The “you” was cut with the Silhouette and then stitched onto the photo using a Brother sewing machine.
More of the same on this side of the spread: handwritten journaling on journal cards and on photos + stitched titles.
I did add a little piece of yellow vellum behind that heart.
“Noted” was cut with the Silhouette and will be a see-through to the next week.
Loved this last 4×6 journal card of the clouds. A perfect way to end the week.
SUPPLIES | 2014 | WEEK ELEVEN
Click on the images to link to the products.
InLinkz.com
Project Life® is a product and a system and a lifestyle created by Becky Higgins. It can be anything you want it to be. The core pieces used in my album are available here. If you live outside the US check Becky’s site for more information on sources. View all my posts about Project Life® here.
Spring Break Guest | Becky Higgins
While on vacation this week we’ve invited a few of our friends to share their favorite layout of all time + why it is so special to them.
Say hello to Becky Higgins.
Hi guys! Big hug to Ali and Katie for inviting me to be a guest here on the blog today. I am personally so delighted by what they’re both doing with our Project Life® system, and continue to be inspired by the way they document life on a regular basis.
When they asked me to share my favorite layout of all time + why it’s so special to me, my first thought was, That’s like asking which of my children is our favorite. Can’t do it. No way. Impossible!
There are so many layouts that I would categorize as my “favorites”. I’ve been scrapbooking since 1994. So instead of pegging “the one” as “the favorite” I decided to practically throw a dart (flip through an album) and see where I landed. Today I’m sharing with you one of my favorites.
Some of you may assume I would share a recent Project Life layout. Of course this is my favorite way to do scrapbooks. But just for fun … I’m shaking things up today. I’m going back in time. In fact, I’m going back several years and I’m choosing to share a “traditional” creative layout. For old times’ sakes. ; )
This randomly selected layout is one I created 11 years ago, actually. It’s one of my favorites for several reasons: Most of all, it features everyday details about our kitchen in Ohio when we lived there. That’s no longer our kitchen of course, and so these pictures really take me back. I love that.
Besides the more important photos and story of course, here are my top 4 creative features about the layout:
ONE | I love color and include a lot of color in my scrapbooks … so this neutral color palette is incredibly refreshing to my eyes.
TWO | There’s a little book plate label holder for the sub title. As a long-time scrapbooker, I’ve evolved over the years and have seen my share of trends that come and go. The little label holders that fasten to the page with brads are still awesome, in my opinion. Such a clever little detail. I have fond memories of fastening label holders to my pages.
THREE | Ribbon. I loved using ribbon and in this case, the thinnest strip of ribbon was a lovely edge around my matting. Sometimes I can hardly believe I spent this much time on a layout – but at the same time, I love that I did that. I love everything about evolution.
FOUR | Sewing machine? Check. White thread? Check. Yep – I totally sewed on my pages and I still think that’s such a cool finishing touch. I don’t do it anymore. I have completely simplified my whole scrapbooking mentality and process thank goodness, but boy do I love little details like this when I look back.
Okay – So I know I’m only supposed to share one favorite layout, but I came across another one that I just have to share, and this is why: It’s such a time capsule for our family. The theme is Costco staples. The pictures and the story are about the typical stuff we picked up at Costco seven years ago. We still shop at Costco. Some things still remain as our staples today. Other things, not so much. I absolutely love documenting seemingly mundane things like this to tell the story of who we are, how we live, what we do, and all the little in betweens like bread and tissues.
ABOUT | Becky Higgins is the creator of the original, ultra-simple, solution-based, pocket scrapbooking system called Project Life®. Everything she creates and shares ties into her personal philosophy that we should “cultivate a good life and record it”. She believes that the process of documenting life can be simple and hassle-free. BeckyHiggins.com is home base for learning about Project Life. Between her blog, facebook, twitter, and instragram, there is a constant flow of inspiration at any given time.
CONNECT | Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
March 26, 2014
Spring Break Guest | Elizabeth Kartchner
While on vacation this week we’ve invited a few of our friends to share their favorite layout of all time + why it is so special to them.
Say hello to Elizabeth Kartchner.
It has been 18 years since my father passed away. I was fifteen years old and I can vividly remember that day. One of the most shocking things about losing a loved one is that it hasn’t gotten easier for me.
I definitely have more good days than bad now but the hurt is still as deep and sharp… as shocking and sacred.
Scrapbooking about him can be difficult because it brings up emotions and sadness but at the same time it is healing. It mends my heart to record memories and share stories that I don’t want to fade away. The journaling for this layout answers the question, “What would we do if we had one more day together?” …and we would walk.
My dad was legally blind so many of my fondest memories are walking together somewhere. Just me and him. Knowing with all my heart I’ll see him again and walk together gets me through the times when I miss him.
I chose this as my favorite layout because the journaling is very real and personal to me. It’s a page that I will treasure the words as much, if not more, as the photos.
It’s also something that I want my children to read someday and get to know more about their Papa Kevin in heaven. Plus, I feel connected to my dad when I tell his story and share my insights of his legacy.
ABOUT | When I am not chasing my kiddos, or doing those “mom” things that would make my 16 year old self laugh, you can find me in my studio. Definitely my escape where I am creating, blogging or working on my newest Dear Lizzy line of products. I’ve scrapbooked since I was a little girl and technically started my first album in 5th grade… and it’s grand. Just in time to document boy crushes and soccer games. But I would have never pictured that I would get to do such great things with this incredible hobby. I started by winning Creating Keepsakes’s Scrapbooker of the Year in 2007. From there, I starTing writing a monthly article in CK called “Dear Lizzy” and a published book 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges. In 2012, I released another book through the Signature Series. I have been blessed to meet scrapbookers all over the world through traveling and my blog: Dear Lizzy. This hobby is definitely so much more to me than paper and glue.
I married my first date and best friend, Collin, almost eleven years ago. I am a mother to three darling girls and I just got my boy this past April. I’m pretty much obsessed with him. I also enjoy photography, fashion and being with my family.
CONNECT | Blog | Twitter | Instagram
