Ali Edwards's Blog, page 5

Storyteller 02 | Special Guest Jen Wong

Hi, friends! I’m excited to share another project made with the Q&A Storyteller Kit. One of my favorite papers in the kit was the 7” x 8.25” paper with the half circle question and answer spaces. When I saw it, I immediately wondered if I could somehow make an interactive element out of it.

For my daughter’s birthday this year, I created an escape room for her and her friends, and I’m working on a mini book to document all of the puzzles and the experience. This circle page was the perfect pattern page to hold the story of one of the puzzles, with the revealed solution underneath the flaps.

To create a second interactive element and hold a few more photos, I put some extra photos from the puzzle onto a film strip, which can be pulled out from behind the photo on the left. I used a film strip from my stash, but there are similar ones in the Frames Scrapbook Kit (https://aliedwards.com/shop/scrapbook...). I stamped the “details” stamp from the May Stamps are Fun kit (https://aliedwards.com/subscribe/stam...) on the tab. Those sentiments fit perfectly on the labels!

For some extra security (and another interactive element!), I added some twine to hold the two flaps together.

You can watch me make these pages and hear more about my thought process in the video below.

I love how these pages turned out and hope I was able to inspire you! Please let me know if you have any questions. You can find me on Instagram (@circleplusarrow).

In Case You Missed It | June 13

Happy Friday, friends! Welcome to the latest
In Case You Missed It. Just a reminder that this is a quick post that will happen every Friday afternoon with all the updates and links that have happened throughout the week.  So, let's get to it:

NEW JUNE KITS AVAILABLE

Our June kits are here! The week we revealed our newest kit and stamps. In addition to our Stamps Are Fun Kits, we also have a brand new Stories By The Month™ and One Little Word Mini kits, as well as the next edition in our Alphas Are Awesome series. ⁠Head to the blog for Ali's post with all the details about this month’s release.⁠

NEW 2025 WEEK IN THE LIFE LAYERED TEMPLATES ARE HERE

The wait is over! Our 2025 Week In The Life™ layered templates are available in the shop.  Ali has put together 10 new designs, available in both 10x8 and 6x8 sizes to help you tell your stories. Each template features the colors + fonts used throughout this year’s collection. We can’t wait to see how you make these your own!

2025 WEEK IN THE LIFE COLLECTION NOW AVAILABLE

The all new Week In The Life™ products for 2025 are now available! We have a new album, our journal, a gorgeous main kit, an incredibly fun themed mini kit, and a collection of coordinating Week in the Life™ products. ⁠ ⁠All of the products are in the warehouse and ready to ship! ⁠This year Ali will be documenting her week beginning Monday, June 2nd, 2025. Don't forget Ali's Storytelling With Week In The Life™⁠ class is discounted until 4/30. ⁠
⁠
Our collection digitals for Week In The Life™ will be available on Friday, May 2nd. Layered templates will be coming to the shop closer to the documenting day. ⁠
⁠⁠ 

ALI'S WEEK IN THE LIFE ALBUM SET-UP

Ali is over on the blog sharing her set-up + design formula for her 2025 Week In The Life™ album. Head there now to see how it came together. 

MAY KITS ARE HERE

Our May kits are here! In addition to our second Storyteller and Stamps Are Fun Kits, we also have a brand new Stories By The Month™ kit and the next edition in our Alphas Are Awesome series. ⁠Head to  the blog for Ali's post with all the details about this month’s release.⁠

SHOP STORY PLAY NOW

Shop our 
new Story Play collection now! This year's four themed kits can be purchased individually or in a bundle. Here are a list of the themes and the month's we will be inviting you to join us in documenting this year: ⁠Day In The Life™, Dogs + Cats, Watch + Listen, and Gratitude⁠. Documenting dates will be shared soon!⁠
⁠
Digital kits (including stamps) are available now. Once these kits sell out, they will not be restocked. ⁠Documenting Weeks have not been finalized. We will share that information as soon as we have it.   

TENTATIVE 2025 PROJECT + PRODUCT SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE

Earlier this week on the blog Ali shared our 2025 project schedule. Recently we've been encountering some unexpected delays in manufacturing which is inviting us to be more fluid in our release/project scheduling (the reason why we've been holding off on sharing a more concrete schedule). Head there now for our rough schedule and a few general notes. We’re excited about the year ahead!

MAY DIGITALS 

The first Friday of every month we have a new digital release available in the shop. That mean's Week In The Life™ digitals are available now!  Play with scale, recolor objects, add journaling, print multiples…the sky is the limit when playing with digitals. Shop digitals here. 

As always, we’re so grateful to have you all as members of this community! Thanks for joining me today and have a great weekend!

Week In The Life™ 2025 | Special Guest Jill Drangsholt

Hi friends! Jill here with a full walk through of my finished 2025 Week in the Life album. I actually did my documenting during the week of April 28th - May 4th so it took me about a month to finish this album. So if it is taking you that long (or longer!) don't be discouraged. Just keep chipping away at it. But I do hope seeing what I did for my album makes the process faster for you!

Okay let's get to the album. Below I have two process videos. The first one is a quick 3 minute flip through with no voice over if you just want an overview of my album. However, if you want to hear about how I put it together and hear me get chatty about some of my photos, then head to the 1 hour full album walk through below. 

After the videos I have included some photos to try to include all the different ways I used the products in my album. Enjoy! 

QUICK FLIP THROUGH WITH NO VOICE OVER:

FULL WALK THROUGH:

Here are a few photos from my album to give you a better idea of the design formula I used and a peek at some of my photos. I have included descriptions of how I used the products below each photo. 

My title page is very similar to Ali's, except I used a paper from the Grit Story Kit. 

On the back of my title page, I included a simple page to identify the main characters in my documenting week along with our ages and photos. I used a paper from the Fun Storyteller Kit as my base paired with the paper numbers from the Numbers kit and stamped names using the new stencil alpha stamp.  

I took way more morning photos than I needed this year, so I decided to include a 2x2 pocket page insert to include some of those extras. I also challenged myself to find a way to use the wood veneer hearts on this page. I ended up cutting out 2x2 blocks from one of the patterned papers that coordinated with the colors of the hearts and then stamping on those using the 7 Days 4x6 set in matching colors to create a really fun tone on tone look. I love how it turned out!  

I started off each day with the color blocked transparency dividers with a tab attached to them. I created the tab using the 2 inch Avery index tabs and the days of the week stamps from the 7 Days 4x6 stamp set. 

After my divider, I included 2 full page photos and often embellished them with the plastic half circle or the chip board pieces. I loved the half circles so much that I used up almost all 50 of them! 

Next up I have my 3x4 pocket page divider. On the front I have my vellum half circles holding a 2.5 inch circle (punched from one of the patterned papers) that holds a life in numbers prompt. I glued on the plastic prompts using Scotch permanent glue sticks and made a washi tape ribbon for the top (see my set up blog post for how I did that). Inside the pocket I put this flower transparency piece from my stash. 

I also sacrificed the quote on the plastic quote pieces to hold another photo.  

I sandwiched the solid colored half circles with the black hand written ones to layer under the cute circle chipboard days of the week letters. 

On the back of the 3x4 page protector, I attached the numbered circles from the Numbers Mini Kit to the back of where the vellum circles are. I repeat stamped the date to fill the blank white space and added a sticker over the prompt that was there already. I also used the scalloped day of the week journal card as a home for another photo.  

For my main journaling each day, I cut down the color blocked scallop inserts to 5.5 inches wide so that there is a bit peeking out from the next page. Then I printed out a block of journaling on white cardstock to layer on top so that just a bit of the scallop is showing on the left side. Before attaching it, I stapled the half circles with the day of the week on them on top of my journaling to create a title. 

On the back of the scalloped pages, I included a newspaper front page from that day followed by a page protector with 4x6 photos. 

I created a place to record what I spent my money on for the week by combining a 2x2 page protector with the pink die cut numbers page. I first cut off the right column of pockets (leaving 1/4 inch to use to attach the numbers), then stapled the plast $ onto alternating pockets, then stitched on the numbers that I had cut off the original die cut page to the edge of my page protector. Then I filled in the remaining pockets with the 2x2 journal cards that I had attached print outs of my spending to. 

I used the 4x6 journaling cards to hold a few of the prompt stickers that came in the kit. I love the multicolor look of them, and that I was able to customize my "ing" words to each day and only use the ones that worked best for me. 

I also added an additional 3x4 pocket page to some of the days for extra photos. When I did that, I created a filler card with the date on it using the "life in numbers" ovals, the die cut numbers and some patterned papers from the last two storyteller kits. 

For a few of the days I only needed room for a couple more photos so I decided to cut my 3x4 page protector in half and sew it to some vellum just for fun! This vellum is from the Fun Storyteller Kit. 

On the back of my second 3x4 page protector, I made a photo frame by cutting down the 10x4 papers from the paper pack and adding the mini tag chipboard on top. 

Like Ali did, sewed my 3x8 scalloped cards to the coordinating patterned paper. I cut mine down to be 6.75 inches in width so that the divider from the next day could peek through. On most days I added extra photos onto it (see previous photo), but for 2 days I added the "loving" and the "feeling" stickers to capture those feelings for the entire week. 

On the back of that scalloped page I added one more full page photo. This one is my favorite photo of the wild turkey that I came across during a walk and chased down the path for a photo. LOL

Since I didn't have an extra page protector for this day I added the date oval directly onto my photo. 

I hope you enjoyed this peek into my finished album! You can follow along with my other crafting adventures on Instagram (@jill.drangsholt).

Stamps Are Fun 06 | Ali's Project

I've been excitedly waiting for this new stamp set to arrive! The idea of being able to create bouquets with text and embellishments and photos and words - in any combination - sounds super fun to me. I'm in progress with another idea using this stamp set in my mixed media adventures that I'll share soon. 

Here's a look how I used Stamps Are Fun 06 to capture a season with Anna: 

Here are additional images of this project: 

This stamp set includes two vases that can be layered on top of each other or used individually. I love the mixture of text stems and plain stems and leaves. This set is also super great to mix with embellishments you may already have in your stash.

SUPPLIES

Stamps Are Fun 06
AED Inks
Stamps Are Fun 03
2 Inch Circle Punch 
One Little Word® Mini Kit #1 (2025)
Storyteller Kit 01 (Fun)
Embroidery Floss
Uniball Deluxe Micro Pen
1 Inch Circle PunchFoam Adhesive 

Alphas Are Awesome 27 | Project Idea

Today I'm sharing a look at a simple project idea featuring a full page photo, a prompt paper from the Grow Scrapbook Kit, and our newest Alphas Are Awesome stamp set (27). 

Here's a look at the process:

Here's an image of the completed project: 

SUPPLIES
Alphas Are Awesome 27Picked Raspberry Ink Grow Scrapbook KitRolling Date StampUniball Deluxe Micro Pen 

New Releases | June 2025

Welcome to an overview post of our new subscription + shop releases! 

MONTHLY STAMPS ARE FUN | 06

Stamps Are Fun features a 6x8 Stamp Set designed by Ali and shipped to you each month. 

SIGN UP HERE

This subscription does not include class content but will be supported through blog posts sharing ideas for using the stamp sets each month. Some months the stamp set may be aligned with the theme of the Storyteller Kit but mostly they will be a fun, random assortment of words and shapes. This monthly physical stamp subscription includes the digital version of the stamp. 

Here's the pricing for this monthly subscription: 

$20.99 - 12 month commitment 
$23.99 - 6 month commitment

$28.99 - month commitment

*Digital version of the stamp is included in subscription price.

Ali will be sharing a process video for this project later this week on the blog. 

Let's play together! 

A little shipping update for Stories By The Month and the One Little Word® Mini Kit. We are running into a variety of challenges in this season and appreciate your patience, support and understanding. 

STORIES BY THE MONTH | MAY 2025

This subscription includes 4x6 and 3x4 cards in paper and vellum, chipboard, sticker sheet, and an embellishment. It also includes access to a classroom. 

SIGN UP HERE

Here's an overview of the kit this month: 

INSPIRATION BY THE MONTH (DIGITAL KIT + CLASS)

If digital is more for you in this season we've got you covered. This subscription includes the digital Stories By The Month kit and access to the SBTM classroom. 

SIGN UP HERE

This kit is also available to physical Stories By The Month™ kit subscribers as an Add On.

ALSO NEW THIS MONTH | ALPHAS + NUMBERS ARE AWESOME

We've got a new Alphas Are Awesome (#27) and this year we are also offering a coordinating 4x6 Numbers Are Awesome set (#6). 

Physical kit subscribers can add these to their box for no additional shipping. They are available to Add On (for physical kit subscribers) and are also now available in the shop. 

Ali will be sharing a process video and blog post for this project later this week on the blog. 

SHOP 6x8 ALPHA STAMP

SHOP 4x6 NUMBER STAMP

QUARTERLY STORYTELLER KIT (PHYSICAL KIT + CLASS)

Details about this kit: 

Four kits per year releasing in January, April, July, and October. When you sign up you are committing to the four kits (or however many are left in the year).
Includes classroom + content from Ali and contributors that will be spread out over three months. 
Shipping is $1 domestic + $5 international (same as Story Kits). You can also shop the Add On subscriber section and add to your box during the Add On period for no additional shipping (on the 10th + 11th each month). 
Physical kit subscribers can add the digital kit for $14.99 during the Add On period. 
We are unable to offer a "skip" option with our quarterly kits

SIGN UP HERE

QUARTERLY STORYTELLER CLASS (DIGITAL KIT + CLASS)

If you are looking for a digital only subscription that gives you access to digital Storyteller kit and the classroom content then the 
Storyteller Class is for you. 

This is $24.99 and is a quarter to quarter commitment (
you don't have to commit to all four kits but if you want to cancel you need to reach out to our Customer Service Team). 

SIGN UP HERE

ONE LITTLE WORD® MINI KIT

Here's a video overview of this kit: 

Week In The Life™ 2025 | Ali's Sunday

We did it! We documented another Week In The Life™! 

This was my 20th time embarking on this project and it continues to hold such a special place in my heart! I've got to pivot to a couple other projects during the first half of this week and then I hope to start getting my photos into my album.

When we are home in this season, Sunday's are often for puttering and resetting and resting. Loved capturing it as a part of my week. 

Here's a look at my day:

We've been experiencing a heatwave this past week so that means extra watering. I hand water all my pots along with a few other spots in the yard. I actually love starting my day this way. I'm most often accompanied by Sam (a cat) and Betty.

On Saturday I took out some more sweet pea seeds and soaked them overnight before tucking them into a spot next to the shed. I've got sweet peas coming up in a few other spots in the yard (almost ready to bloom) so I'm excited to have a second planting. This year I'm growing sweet pea seeds from Johnny's.

I've got two strawberry pots that the squirrels have been enjoying!

Cleaning out the fridge on Sunday is one of those tasks I don't mind doing - especially when I'm in a puttering mood. With older kids who often make their own food I get to find all kinds of interesting things in the fridge when I clean it out. Something has always been forgotten as the go about their week.

On Sunday's I water my inside plants.

Love this spot.

Sunday's are for cutting fruit to make it an easy snack for the week ahead.

Last year I went crazy planting nasturtium around the yard and I'm here for all the volunteers this year (along with a few seeds I might have popped in here and there). They just make me happy.

After puttering for most of the morning it was time for painting. I signed up for an online class from Helen Wells called Joy Filled Flowers: Mixed Media Sketchbook and started going through the first lessons. I love the invitation to play and experiment and not have it be perfect. I love learning.

I went out into the yard and collected a few things as a visual for one of the lessons.

And then there was more resting: long chit-chat bath with Aaron, smoothies, starting Heartwood (which is catching my attention right from the start).

Here's a look in my notebook:

Thank you so much for coming along on this documenting adventure. 

Week In The Life™ 2025 | Ali's Saturday

Welcome to my Saturday words + photos post for Week In The Life™ 2025. 

It was one of those magical, hot early summer Saturday's where the possibilities of the season feel endless. 

One more day of documenting for this project! We've got this!

Here's a look at my Saturday: 

In this season, Saturday's are sometimes for sleeping in and sometimes for club volleyball. 

In this season, most mornings begin outside. 

In this season there are lots of watering needs and I enjoy the task (until the end of the summer when I'm burned out). I like experimenting in the yard and this time I'm trying some dahlias in a raised bed along the house. 

In every season Betty is a fan of peanut butter. 

And swimming. 

On Saturday I set up a little inflatable pool for the next couple of months. I love sitting out there in the late afternoon on really hot days. 

In this season, Saturday was for the yard and for art. My friend Sarah came over to work on crafting projects. She was making some invites and I was doing more watercolors. We love sitting together and chatting. Our first spot got too sunny so we moved over to a table behind the garage by the shed. 

Thankful, always thankful. 

I love how this photo is a combo of yard + art. 

Simon sent this one of him recreating an iconic scene from the movie Goonies. He's in Astoria this weekend where most of the movie was filmed for a big Goonies weekend celebration. Love this for him. 

After a morning of art it was time for an afternoon doing almost noting either in this little pool or on an outdoor couch I moved over into the grass (for shade). 

The magnolias are showing off. 

It was a really nice, relaxing day. Much needed. 

Betty looked for shade too. It was 88 yesterday. I also love the peekaboo into the other areas of the yard through the giant wisteria that made me want to buy this house even more back in 2010. 

And in this season, and for the last number of years, this is one of my favorite views. It means I'm laying down on a couch or in the little pool just looking up to the blue sky and watching the branches dance in the breeze. 

And here's a look at my notebook: 

Week In The Life™ 2025 | Ali's Friday

We made it to Friday and the weekend! Yay! We are having a string of awesome weather where all I want to do is be outside! 

Here's a look at my Friday via photos for Week In The Life™ 2025: 

Anna + Libby taking off in the morning on their way to a last day of school friend breakfast. They have finals next week. 

How fun to have a last day of school breakfast. Love it. 

Working on my blog post yesterday and a few other items on my list in the office. But really all I wanted to do was go outside. 

It was time to get Betty's nails trimmed so I used that as a transition between desk work and outside work. She's going great getting her nails trimmed at the groomer these days and I'm so glad. She's gets a treat like a pigs ear after and I think she now associates that with the the word "trims." Also, she sits like a person in the car and doesn't make a single sound. 

Seeing what seeds I have that I might want to get outside. 

Watering and planting a second round of zinnia seeds in random places around the yard. I love working outside. Putting around is my favorite. 

That's a peony. 

One of my current favorite spots. Roses + peonies! 

Adding a layer of straw to some of my roses - testing it out to see if it helps keep some moisture in there on these hot days. 

The magnolia tree is also blooming. 

And then I took a late afternoon nap. 

So close to being ready! 

My favorite little section of ground cover that is growing. It smells like mint. 

Bath before date night! 

I always love taking a couple outside looking in shots during Week In The Life. 

Here's a look in my notebook: 

In Case You Missed It | May 9

Happy Friday, friends! Welcome to the latest
In Case You Missed It. Just a reminder that this is a quick post that will happen every Friday afternoon with all the updates and links that have happened throughout the week.  So, let's get to it:

2025 WEEK IN THE LIFE COLLECTION NOW AVAILABLE

The all new Week In The Life™ products for 2025 are now available! We have a new album, our journal, a gorgeous main kit, an incredibly fun themed mini kit, and a collection of coordinating Week in the Life™ products. ⁠ ⁠All of the products are in the warehouse and ready to ship! ⁠This year Ali will be documenting her week beginning Monday, June 2nd, 2025. Don't forget Ali's Storytelling With Week In The Life™⁠ class is discounted until 4/30. ⁠
⁠
Our collection digitals for Week In The Life™ will be available on Friday, May 2nd. Layered templates will be coming to the shop closer to the documenting day. ⁠
⁠⁠ 

ALI'S WEEK IN THE LIFE ALBUM SET-UP

Ali is over on the blog sharing her set-up + design formula for her 2025 Week In The Life™ album. Head there now to see how it came together. 

APRIL KITS ARE HERE

Our April kits are here! In addition to our second Storyteller and Stamps Are Fun Kits, we also have a brand new Stories By The Month™ kit and the next edition in our Alphas Are Awesome series. ⁠Head to  the blog for Ali's post with all the details about this month’s release.⁠

SHOP STORY PLAY NOW

Shop our 
new Story Play collection now! This year's four themed kits can be purchased individually or in a bundle. Here are a list of the themes and the month's we will be inviting you to join us in documenting this year: ⁠Day In The Life™, Dogs + Cats, Watch + Listen, and Gratitude⁠. Documenting dates will be shared soon!⁠
⁠
Digital kits (including stamps) are available now. Once these kits sell out, they will not be restocked. ⁠Documenting Weeks have not been finalized. We will share that information as soon as we have it.   

TENTATIVE 2025 PROJECT + PRODUCT SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE

Earlier this week on the blog Ali shared our 2025 project schedule. Recently we've been encountering some unexpected delays in manufacturing which is inviting us to be more fluid in our release/project scheduling (the reason why we've been holding off on sharing a more concrete schedule). Head there now for our rough schedule and a few general notes. We’re excited about the year ahead!

MAY DIGITALS 

The first Friday of every month we have a new digital release available in the shop. That mean's Week In The Life™ digitals are available now!  Play with scale, recolor objects, add journaling, print multiples…the sky is the limit when playing with digitals. Shop digitals here. 

As always, we’re so grateful to have you all as members of this community! Thanks for joining me today and have a great weekend!