Why won't they just stay in bed? Don't they know it's more comfortable there?

David and I were headed to bed around midnight last night and just as we were about to go upstairs, this is what we find.



She knows to stay in bed. She knows this. But she so desperately wants to hang out with us late at night. So this is Claire's way of finding a happy medium. She can be kind of close, kind of able to hear us ... kind of like she's hanging out with us in a way, right? And yet, we have no clue. So she doesn't get in trouble.

Brilliant, really.

And makes for a nice picture that will become a classic in her childhood. This is sooo her. Are you taking pictures of your loved ones that truly tell a story? I'm not talking about the posed, smiley type of pictures. (Although those are nice too.)

As for the end-result here ... yes, it's a vertical photo presented in a horizontal orientation for my Project 365. This is how I choose to display my vertical photos in the horizontal pockets most of the time. (I take mostly horizontal pictures, like most of you.) I did this in Photoshop. Quick stuff. Colored background. Cropped & resized the picture. Dropped it on the canvas. Added a border, drop shadow, and some text. Done.

PS - If you're in a soupy kind of mood, I posted a new recipe.

misc. 365 questions

Noticing a few more questions about Project 365 (specifically about the kit this time, not just the concept).

Q: What's the ribbon for?

A: Anything you want! Just a fun extra that we added to the kit so that you can incorporate it throughout the album if you want. This is what I'm doing with it once in a while -- cut a short piece, fold it over the top edge, and staple:



Q: Any other ideas for how to include multiple pictures when you just can't choose one photo for a particular day?

A: A fellow blog reader (Amy Z I think?) shared a brilliant idea in the comments at some point. I'd love to share this with you, along with a visual to help you grasp the concept. (Thanks, Amy.) Just re-size a few pictures to fit the tri-fold journaling blocks that are in the kit. (For this example, my photo size is 2.25" W x 2.75" T.)



Q: What's your approach for journaling each day? (This great question really is more about the concept and doesn't have anything to do with the product.)

A: Sometimes I do a blow-by-blow for the day and make a list of the happenings. In this case, the picture for that day usually comes from one of the things I listed. Or sometimes I focus my journaling completely on the thoughts/feelings/details/information about just the picture I'm highlighting. I don't feel like I need to have the exact same approach to journaling every single day. I enjoy mixing it up a bit. Keeps it interesting.

PRODUCT TIP: In case you haven't already figured it out (I'm not sure if I mentioned this or not) ... those 4x6 transparencies that came in the kit ... they have a protective film on them. You should peel this off before using it as a photo overlay.



Added note: Same goes for the monthly bookmark-style dividers. Peel off the protective film!

MORE TIPS: If you haven't checked out the KOTM blog lately, the past few posts have been awesome tips. I just learned about a new gadget I'd never seen before!

RANDOM SHOUT-OUT: Just wanted to say a very special HELLO to Mary Kadry, who did something ultra kind for Alyson, who is now able to do Project 365 because of YOU. : )

customer service

I continue to get comments & e-mails about customer service issues (mostly regarding Project 365 and my baby kit from last fall). I know many of you want answers to some of your burning questions. I want to be sure you know who to contact for the most efficient & helpful service. I can not personally help you with your product-related questions.

I want to add that someone new has taken over the customer service, and we are realigning our expectations for customer service. They are committed to improving the current processes and will be paying special attention to your e-mails.

I do not know for sure about a Project 365 re-print. I wish I did. At this point, I wouldn't count on it. We're already a month into this now (for those who started with the first of the year), so if you missed out on my kit, it's up to you whether or not you still want to do your own version of the picture-a-day concept. Just in case you missed it ... check my Jan. 10th post for the free downloads that may be able to help you put together your own Project 365. The concept alone is just so fun. : )

So ... back to getting your questions answered ...

1. If you have ordered a baby kit & haven't seen it yet, call Customer Service.

2. If you are on back-order for a Project 365 kit & are wondering about your order, call Customer Service.

3. If you have a general concern about KOTM, e-mail Customer Service.

4. If you have a defective piece of your baby kit, e-mail vgrothe@ckmedia.com. (Some of you have noticed a misspelled journaling block or something similar. That error happened somewhere in the production stage -- still baffles me HOW it happened & I'm very sorry about that.)

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Customer Service contact information:

E-mail: CreatingKeepsakesCS@Holdenmss.com
Domestic calls: 800.453.1173
International calls: 720.374.3628
[Phone line hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. MST, M-F]

evidence of someone

Do you have evidence of someone's existence in your home? This photo, submitted by Abby W., is evidence of a certain cutie little person in her family.



And this piece of evidence was submitted by Denise:



And Kristen took a picture of something that might even be a familiar piece of evidence in your home:



Look around to find little evidences that you just may want to photograph today.

photo display

I'm tending to a couple of your "most frequently asked" questions lately. First, many of you are looking for a new recipe. Sorry I haven't posted one in a while! Okay - it's done. Here you go. : )

The other request is for more information about the display of photos in our home office. It's a simple project.



1. Got the wall shelf from IKEA (I can't put my finger on the exact shelf, but click here for a similar product).

2. Got the frameless clip frames from Pier 1 Imports (not able to find them on their web site but click here to see them on IKEA's web site. Looks like they have all the sizes too. And holy cow, they're cheap!).

3. Printed some favorite family photos, all in black & white, in various sizes to fit the frames.



This is a close-up of what the frameless clip frames look like:

what you see on your TV

Speaking of taking a picture of the TV, here are a couple more photo ideas to turn the wheels in your head and get you thinking about different ways to document your life.

Fellow blog reader, Keri G took this:



And this one is from Debi B:



Neither one of these pictures really needs explanation. Whether your TV is used for the daily news, your favorite drama series, or a game system, snap a picture of what you see.

today's picture

A historical day. Some of you are celebrating, some of you are absolutely dreading the changes to come, some of you are indifferent. However you look at it ... it is what it is. Historical.



Remember: Project 365 can be about anything & everything. Paint the full picture. The little details in your life (what you eat for breakfast, potty-training triumphs, shoveling the snow, running a carpool) are important. Don't forget the bigger picture too. We are living history. Current events will help you paint the picture of your life with even more colors than otherwise.

continued 365 ideas

As I think of, or hear of, more ideas to inspire those of you that are involved in doing Project 365 ... I will share them. Here are today's thoughts from fellow readers:

1. Kolette Hall is giving her Project 365 a twist on gratitude. You will be inspired reading & seeing her approach here.

2. "Heather" is going to give each family member a week in the project. They will take their pictures with every other person in the family and have them write something they love about that person. Heather illustrates an example: "During Lily's week I will take a picture of her with her dad, me, Ashton, Bailey, Daisy, probably one with just Lily and maybe a picture of some of the things she is in to right now. In the journaling I will have her tell me something she loves about each person."

3. "Briana" says that she is a teacher and a parent asked her to take a photo of her child during class and e-mail it to her. She says, "I was more than happy to! I thought it was funny that we were both doing the project! You could also send a camera with your kiddo to school and have them document what they do on a daily basis." Note to self: I am sending a camera to school with Porter soon. Love this idea.

4. "Amy" shared how her husband's grandfather passed away recently. She got a picture of him from her stash that best fits him, to use as the picture of the day. Then she took one of the tri-fold journaling cards and had family members write memories or things they would remember most about him. Amy loves that a piece of him and his legacy, is now a part of their family's Project 365.

more photo ideas

I know that most of you reading this are in a bit of a cold & snowy climate at the moment. (So I'll refrain from telling you how warm it's been here this week!) Here's a photo idea for anyone who thinks this is an awfully familiar scene:



Whether you have to shovel twice in a whole Winter, or you are busting out the snowblower on a daily basis, snap a picture of the action. I took this shot of David clearing our driveway in Cleveland some four years ago. The angle? I squatted down to get as close to the ground as possible. I'm not exactly missing Cleveland winters right now.

And if you haven't already read the comments from yesterday's post, it's worth breezing through to get other photo ideas. Thanks to all who chimed in. And thank you for the e-mails with more photo ideas! I can't take time to personally respond to each one, but I'm going to be posting an inspiring picture here & there from your fellow blog readers (maybe one will be yours?).

This photo is from Heather C. Her daughter (in Kindergarten) likes to pretend to teach school to her younger sister & dolls, and this is a sample of her writing, along with Heather's interpretation added to the print.

photo ideas for today

A quick note: I am still getting asked if there will be a re-order on the Project 365 kits. We still don't know that answer. I promise that as soon as I do know, you guys (my blog readers) will be the first to know.

You will notice that I will be sharing more photo ideas here on my blog. If you're involved in Project 365, perhaps you'll be inspired for one of your daily shots. Even if you're not doing Project 365, you may get ideas for ways to capture your life on "film".

Here's idea #1 for today:



It is what it is. Cereal. Do you eat the same thing for breakfast each morning? Take a picture of it. This is part of your everyday life. How appropriate to include it somewhere in your 365!

Idea #2 for today comes from my friend, Nanci. She was driving down the road and it was such a gorgeous day that it made her think of her trip to Hawaii when she was 17 years old. Great memories. Why not put a photo from that trip and include it in her Project 365? She says, "It would be fun to throw a couple of reminiscent photos and journaling in our 365 if we find ourselves daydreaming of another time and place!" I could not agree with Nanci more. Who says your picture of the day has to be taken that day?



(That's a little flashback to my childhood slumber parties. My grandma made that giant doll for me.) If you have a picture of the "memory" that you think about on a particular day, scan it, print it to size, and include it in your 365 album. If you don't have a picture to accompany the memory, just write whatever you feel like writing about the memory and that can take the place of that day's picture spot.

So how cool is that? Your Project 365 is not only a representation of what happens in your life this year, but also includes some of your reminiscing of past happenings. I love that. Go Nanci.

Do you have a great photo idea that is sure to inspire others? E-mail the photo to me (bhiggins@ckmedia.com) with a brief explanation and I'll share a few of those here on my blog.

completed layouts

Wanted to share some completed layouts from Project 365. These come from the lovely & talented Maggie Holmes.







One thing I noticed about Maggie's use of products (from the kit) is that she's putting the black day-of-the-week stickers over the photos, and the clear letter stickers (that coincide with each day of the week) on the journaling blocks, over color. It looks awesome. I happen to be doing the opposite of that, but maybe I'll switch it up once in a while.

I also want to point out a few other things:

1. She included vertical shots in the horizontal pockets (two 3x4 images, side-by-side)
2. She rounded her photo corners with a punch (to match the journaling blocks)
3. She got herself in front of the camera!

I love seeing different approaches to Project 365 ... with the kit, without the kit, paper-based or digital, journaling in the 4x6 spots (instead of photos) ... you name it. People are doing it.

involve the kids

One thing I'm loving about Project 365 is that this is already feeling like more of a "family effort" than the traditional theme-based or event-based scrapbooking that I've been doing for our family all these years. It's so easy for your kids to "chime in" to Project 365 for a day here & there.

The other day, some friends were over at our house and Porter took my point & shoot camera around the house and took some random pictures. I looked through the pictures with him later, let him choose which one he wanted to be the "picture of the day", and this was his pick:



Totally loving that it's his perspective ... blurry and all. (By the way, that's me and Karolyn chatting in the office while the kids were playing.)

Porter took the picture, so it is absolutely appropriate that he writes on that day's journaling block:



So let your kids participate, no matter their age. Pass over the camera and let them take the shots. Let them write some journaling, in their own words. Ask them to contribute a little art once in a while (which can replace a picture). If you have a few kids, you could even set up a rotation where each kid gets to do the "picture of the day" on a regular basis (once a week or whatever).

And chances are ... it'll mean the world to them that you're inviting them be a part of the project.

isn't she lovely?

I don't know about you, but once in a while I'll come across a photograph that just makes me gasp.



This was one of those. This is my friend Sarah, who is expecting a baby in the next few weeks. Isn't she just lovely? Isn't this just one of the most beautiful prego pics you've ever seen? I just wanted to share it, in case it inspires anyone else, like it inspired me. (Kudos to her friend, Michelle, who took the picture.)

What makes me love the picture even more, is what you can't see. Sarah was having an emotional, stressful day ... feeling like a run-down mom (you'd never guess that this is her 5th baby!). Late in the afternoon, she and Michelle just stepped outside in the 10-degree weather for about 10 minutes and this is what they got. Like Sarah says, "It's amazing what a little hair fluff with the fingers, some lip gloss, and a cute dress can do".

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Completely unrelated (but speaking of being inspired) ... I've got some catching-up to do on some idea books. Here are a few of the latest releases from CK that I am looking forward to reading through:

1. Month by Month Scrapbooking by Amanda Probst
2. Get Creative with Type by Brian Tippetts
3. 101 Expert Solutions for Scrapbooking



I always enjoy browsing through a new idea book, hot off the press.

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It seems as though MOST of you are having great success in using the files from the free download that I posted (in the last post). That is terrific! If your luck wasn't that great (yet), try clicking on that link again. It should work just fine for PC and Mac. Sometimes the download gets interrupted or something. Or if you have a friend who got it okay, have her e-mail the file to you. If it's still not working, and since I'm not able to (individually) help you trouble-shoot, please ask your husband, sister-in-law, co-worker, ANYone that has some "techy" skills, to help you. I want you to be able to use these, if it can help you.

FREE DOWNLOAD for Project 365

Ready for this infomercial-style post? Here we go!

Imagine that I'm yelling this from your TV: Are you bummed that you didn't get the Project 365 kit? Do you have a friend who could really benefit from doing Project 365, especially since there is no "scrapbooking" involved? Do you wish that you could at least have those cute journaling cards from the kit? We have the solution for YOU!

Okay, seriously. No more infomercial. I'm just so happy that we can share this with you ... a FREE DOWNLOAD of some of the designs from the kit.

Clickhere.

When you click on that link, you'll notice that a file is immediately downloading onto your computer. When you open the folder (called "Project 365"), you will notice a folder of JPGs and a folder with a PDF in it. There are some title page (and ending page) cards, some "week of" cards, some journaling cards, and a couple designer cards (to use as a background when you have smaller memorabilia on some days, instead of a photo). This certainly isn't everything from the kit, but it is definitely enough to help you do Project 365. You'll need to get some 4" x 6" divided page protectors, a 12" x 12" binder, and you're good to go. See the post just below this one for resources.

I realize that everyone has different levels of being tech-saavy, so I'll explain this as clearly as possible so as to not scare anyone away. : )

[ PDF ]

When you open the PDF, you'll notice 7 pages for you to print. For best results, print on a color laser jet printer. Don't have one? Try your local copy shop. When you go to print, the most important thing is to notice that you have the option to change the scale of what you're printing. It's probably set on some default setting right now, like "fit to page" or "shrink to printable area" or something along those lines. You don't want any of these. CLICK ON "NONE". Then print, cut, and use! Of course you'll only need one print-out of the title blocks. Since you'll want several of the "week of" cards and the journaling blocks, just print those specific pages however many times you want. Once you cut everything to the appropriate size (4" x 6"), these will slip right into any 4" x 6" photo album or page protectors (see previous post for people's recommendations on where to find these).

[ JPG ]

For those of you who are a little bit more digital-saavy, and you have some photo-editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop), you're going to love these JPGs. First of all you can print the title cards just as they are. You'll have photo-quality cards and you'll be saving your own ink (printer ink is expensive!). As for the "week of" and journaling cards, simply open the file you want to use in Photoshop, add your text (whatever font & size you want), save it as a JPG, and print it just as you would print any other picture that's a JPG!

Where to print? Most photo-printing services (such as Shutterfly, Snapfish, Scrapbook Pictures, and Costco) will mail your prints right to you. Here's one of the journaling cards, so you can see what to expect, and then a sample of journaling that I did on one of the JPGs:





So you would print this out and then stick it in one of the 4" x 6" slots on the same page as those 2 days' worth of photos. Make sense? Plus -- you could also just print out the JPG journaling blocks as photos, and use a photo-safe pen to handwrite your journaling (instead of typing it in Photoshop).

If you have questions about these downloads, please leave a comment here. If you have alternative suggestions for Project 365, please leave them in the Comments of the LAST post so that those looking for ideas will see yours there.

Just a few more notes before I leave you alone. : )

1. I've never posted a zip file on my blog before, so I'm not sure how this will go. It's also quite possible that my blog will be slammed with many of you getting this file all at the same time. If there are any technical problems getting this file from my blog to your computer, just try again at a later time. Or if we see that it's more than just "high traffic" issues, we'll see what needs to be done differently. Okie-dokie?

2. I know many of you are still wondering if we're going to reprint the kit. I wish I knew. We're still working on that possibility, but it takes time. The answer right now is: I just don't know. SO ... since that means that there is a chance at getting the Project 365 kit in the future, you may want to just print journaling blocks a week or two at a time until we know for sure. That way, if we DO a reprint, then these journaling blocks you are printing & journaling on will go right into those page protectors in the kit.

3. As I've mentioned before, there are many people working behind the scenes on Project 365 ... to correct mistakes, to work on solutions, to help make this work for you. The graphic designer behind this project is someone I truly enjoy working with and her name is Lori. She not only interpreted my ideas into the perfect output of colors & patterns that are just so fun in this kit ... but she's the one that pulled together these PDF and JPG files for you to use. I'm just so grateful to her, and so many others that have contributed to helping ALL of us this past week. : )

alternatives to Project 365

Many of you have been sharing your ideas of how you're going to approach Project 365 without the kit. One obvious choice is to do it completely digital. There are a LOT of online services that offer photo storage & organization, blogs, etc. Remember the "blog to book" concept I mentioned a while back? Check out Bloggled.com for more information. Some of you have mentioned ShutterCal as an option; that looks cool too.

If you have other great online resources that you're using for Project 365, please share in the Comments for others to see.

Jessica Turner blogged about her alternative solution here. Jessica is in good company, as I'm noticing so many of you taking a similar approach: You are purchasing the divided page protectors to slip in your 4" x 6" photos and getting pre-designed 4" x 6" journaling cards for your daily notes. She includes some helpful links on her blog.

If you have good resources (especially online) for purchasing divided page protectors, share that with us in the Comments, too! Any other alternatives? Could you share something that will benefit others to know about? Let us know! (If you shared an idea or approach in an older post, you may want to post your comment again here.)

So this post's comments are dedicated to idea-sharing. Have at it! This just may get the wheels in your head turning.

NOTE: We also have another possible solution that you'll want to hear about. Just fine-tuning some details and will be in touch very soon with that.

1.8.09

Just sharing a little photo idea. A self-portrait in the driver seat.



This was my picture for today, taken somewhere between a doctor's appointment and Costco this afternoon. Yes, I took it myself and yes, Mom, I was safe. I was completely stopped. To get this shot, I held the point and shoot right up by the rear-view mirror and since I could see the picture I was about to take, even at arm's length (gotta love digital), it was easy to set up the shot and make sure I didn't see the actual camera in the mirror.

I have a feeling some of you need to include this type of picture as part of your Project 365, as many of you spend a lot of time playing "taxi mom" or commuting to work. Just be sure you're at a red light when you do it. : ) And let this be a reminder to put yourself IN the pictures once in a while. Don't always hide behind the camera.

share your links

I hate to start on a crappy note, but I want to get this part over-with because there are so many better, cooler, more fun things to focus on right now. But I am a girl of my word, and that's why I'm bringing this up at all.

International friends: I promised to get to the bottom of something for you, and I did. Simply put, that international phone number that you were given to place your order? There was no one answering those phones on January 1. Due to poor communication between CK and our fulfillment partner, people really did take that day off. The worst part is that the recording indicating that they were on holiday was never turned on.

We, as a KOTM team, cannot express how sorry we are for this mistake. My personal note? I absolutely can't believe the oversight. I know you can't believe it either. I am deeply, deeply sorry that many of you waited on hold for nothing. And I regret to tell you that nothing will be done to reimburse you for your phone bill from that day. I tried. Please don't lay into me on this one, as I really have done all I can. Those concerns would be more appropriately addressed to wworner@ckmedia.com.

I do, however, have something that can help make it up to you. In fact, it will benefit everyone who missed out on the kit. I'll come back to that in a little bit (just wrapping up the details now).

We have to move on and get past human error. We need to stay focused on the details and abundant blessings that each of us has, every single day. Project 365 is helping us to be more aware of those blessings. Thank you so much for your comments and e-mails, sharing your personal experiences with how Project 365 has been a turning point, a revolution, a liberating and eye-opening experience for you. I love sharing this experience with you.

Since several of you have been sharing links to your personal blogs, where you are tracking your own Project 365, I would like to open the comments on this post, specifically for you to share your links. Anyone and everyone who wants to share, post your link in the Comments of this post at your own free will. For those looking for photo inspiration, check out the blogs and be inspired!

correction.

Ahhh. Some of you noticed my mistake from the last post. Good catch. And good question.

That wasn't photo #7 of my Project 365! Day 7 of the calendar year, yes. But since I started my album on Dec. 28th (again, doing the whole Sunday to Saturday thing) ... the washcloth picture was technically photo #10 of my Project 365. Most of you won't care about that detail, but for those of you figuring out how you want to approach your own 365 organization ... well, there you go. I'll show you a couple full layouts soon. That'll help with the big picture.

Just had to share today's picture.



Crew was thoroughly entertained (no, seriously ... doesn't he look so entertained?) looking at black & white pictures in our office while he sat in his Bumbo beside me. For those of you with young babies, you know about the Bumbo, right? Got ours here and love, love, love it. Who knew a 3-month-old could sit up, right?

Oh, and YAY for some of you already receiving your kits in the mail! Thanks for telling me. That is such good news. Man, I love good news these days. : )

I'm a busy blogger these days, so you'll be hearing from me again soon. We're still going to get to the whole how-to-do-project-365-without-a-kit thing. I'll be inviting your input & ideas, so get ready to share.

wednesday morning.

Hello Wednesday. This is likely going to be my picture for day #7 out of 365. I picked up something new and happy at Target and it just makes me smile.



$2.99 for a fresh batch of washcloths. As seasons change, so do my kitchen rags. It's my little tradition. With Valentines Day around the corner, these now have a new home on my kitchen counter.

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I kind of feel the need to re-cap a little bit. I sense that some of you reading this right now are new to my blog. For whatever reason, you happened upon my little corner of the world wide web. And you're reading about some drama. So for the sake of shedding a little light, and sparing you wasted hours that you could spend "reading all about it", here's a summary:

I design scrapbook kits for people who want to scrapbook, but also don't have the time or desire for all the artistic things that often go hand-in-hand with this hobby. I've been part of the Kit of the Month program with Creating Keepsakes, where we have been providing these kits on a monthly basis. It has had its ups & downs, but overall -- it's been a really fun experience for me, personally.

On January 1st, my newest kit, Project 365, went on sale. Things didn't go well with the launch. Thousands of people didn't get what they wanted, the web site crashed, customer service was less than stellar, and as a result, so many people (customers as well as those of us within the walls of CK) were in a state of total frustration. It was chaos. Emotions were thrown about, and that's why the "drama".

So the past (almost) week has been a little nuts. You have been sharing your thoughts on the matter, we have been working hard behind the scenes to get answers and solutions, and I've been doing my best to stay in touch with you throughout it all. Hence the excess posting. (Oftentimes with one hand, while I feed my 3-month-old baby with the other hand.)

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. I usually post a lot more fun, thoughtful, creative, idea-based entries. Things will be back to "normal" around here soon. I will likely be in touch again, with an update (related to Project 365) before the day is over.

3 in 1

It's a record day here on my blog. Three posts in one day. How about that. : )

I love, love, love the positive vibes that are coming around again. The sun is peeking through the clouds. I love that so many of you are sticking with Project 365. For those of you who are not sure if you'll continue with the project because you may not get the kit, I encourage you to still take a picture a day.

There are alternative solutions and ways to keep your 365 pictures. SO many ideas. Sure, my kit absolutely makes it so easy, but it's not the only way. After all, I did this last year (a LOT of people did this last year and in years past) without a kit of any kind. So just keep snapping and I'm going to specifically address those alternative solutions very soon. That will definitely be a fun blog-reading and blog-posting day. : )

So, seriously ... keep snapping those daily pictures and stick with me on this.

And by the way, don't forget that Project 365 is not necessarily a January - December thing. Sure, it's a natural fit to fill a full calendar year. But you can also start on another significant day (your birthday, a holiday, the day you start that diet, or whatever type of turning-point-type-of-day comes up). OR ... any random day in the year. It doesn't matter. It's still a full year of your life (or your family's life).

Okay. With all this posting, the contact information just may get lost in the shuffle. So as a reminder, if you have questions about your specific order, it looks like the folks at Customer Service are answering questions, looking up accounts, and getting things straightened out. In case anyone needs that contact info:

E-mail: CreatingKeepsakesCS@Holdenmss.com
Domestic calls: 800.453.1173
International calls: 720.374.3628
[Phone line hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. MST, M-F]

I am adding another line of communication, should you feel the need to write and express concerns surrounding Project 365. Please remember that a Customer Service representative can help you with your specific order, and this is a means to communicate with management. You can send a note to Mr. Worner at wworner@ckmedia.com. He is, by the way, the Senior Manager of Fulfillment/Distribution.

monday's picture-of-the-day

I don't want my blog to be a place of gloom. Because there has been a lot of frustration floating around, it's just a little less cheery here in Becky Blog Land. So while we are all awaiting answers & solutions surrounding Project 365, let me just interject with a slight distraction.

This is yesterday's picture.



I'm trying to capture real life as it happens. That's my personal goal with Project 365. And this picture very much represents the reality of our Monday. I didn't have an ounce of energy to make a wholesome meal for my family. That's life. You can ALL relate to "pizza night" at your house; I'm sure of that. Plus, my kids loved the pizza ... and watching their mom stand on the chair for the sake of a new angle. : )

I am still keeping up with Project 365. And if you are on-board with the concept (kit or no kit), I know that you're keeping up with taking a picture every day too.

Becky Blog Land will be a happy little corner on the web once again. I promise.

tuesday.

In an effort to prevent anyone from assuming how I spend my time, let me assure you that just because I did not post in the past 24 hours, does not mean I "took a break" from this fiasco. It would be tempting to make that assumption because who wouldn't want to ignore this!? But I care way too much about what's going on, and how each of you are affected by this mess.

I assure you that yesterday was one of the most frustrating days I have ever had in my career. I have been loyal to Creating Keepsakes for 12 years. ("Loyal" being the key word here.) I hope you don't mind me being candid here. I'm not in a happy mood. Without going into detail, you must understand that I am doing everything that I can at this point. Everything. And please know that I'm not alone. There are many hard-working people trying their best to resolve the issues.

I would LOVE to post again today, but unless I have any answers or solutions to present, I'm not sure that's very productive. In the meantime, there are some questions being answered over at the KOTM blog. It still doesn't change anything, but I know that getting some response on the issues you're wondering about, can help. So check it out.

For the record, I am totally fine that you vent and ask questions here. I'm not tickled pink about some rudeness going back and forth between some people. To those of you have been kind enough to express your concern for me during this difficult time, I really appreciate your respect and your loyalty, but rest assured I am not taking any negative comments personally. At all. You are (rightfully) ticked off. I am ticked off. Don't take it out on each other. It really is counter-productive. I'm listening to you. I'm working hard for you. Direct your comments to me, not to each other.

my take on this

I want to be candid and honest with you. I'm pretty up-to-date on most of the comments and there are a couple of issues, in particular, that I want to address before I call it a night.

The whole "getting real answers" thing? Well as I'm writing this, it's still a weekend. People aren't at work. I hope to make a lot more progress with a new work week. But before I can get any more additional "information", I can at least vent a little, right?

Issue #1: International customers.

It sounds like a lot of you international customers were on "hold" for way too long (and eventually gave up) trying to place an order, right? You may be wondering if anyone was even there taking calls on the 1st, right? Guess what? I have no idea. There's honesty for you. I have no idea if someone was there to answer your call or if everyone working at that call center had the day off.

You know what? I work hard doing what I do and I expect the same from others. If there was seriously no one there to take your phone calls, that is inexcusable. Period. I'm so mad about the very thought of that possibility, I'm not sure how to articulate it. I truly feel your frustration.

Remember: I do not know the truth at this point. I do not know if the international phones were being manned on January 1. Maybe those folks really were working that day. I don't know. I am absolutely going to bat for you on this. I don't know what we can do about it at this point, but It makes me sick to think of so many of you sitting on the phone for nothing that day. I don't know what else to say. I am looking for answers just like you.

Personally, good customer service for me is HUGE. That's what I love about Costco. One of my biggest pet-peeves in life is poor customer service. So again -- I get it. I'm not making any excuses for them.

Issue #2: Why did we not make enough kits?

A lot of comments are being made about "how could CK not see this coming?" and if I were a customer, I'd think that very same way. After all, this is awfully reminiscent of my school kit last year that sold out mega fast. How could we not be prepared, right? How could we not produce enough to meet the demand? Why create all the hype only to fail on the delivery?

I get it. I know where you're coming from. Now let me explain the other side of the story. The school kit wasn't my last kit. I've done a couple others since that one and guess what? Not so successful. They didn't even come close to selling out. I believe they're great products (I'm speaking about the Baby kit and the Christmas card kit), but as we are ALL seeing lately ... the economy is crap right now. Most of you are really feeling that first-hand. So as we've watched the sales go down for the kits we're producing, I for one don't blame the consumer for saving their hard-earned money. It's harder times. We need to be more frugal. I totally get why people aren't buying the kits.

What I'm saying is, we let the numbers do the talking. Numbers have been down. Period. So when the order for Project 365 was placed months ago ...... do you get where I'm going with this? The company didn't want to over-estimate because we can't afford to be sitting on too much inventory. Makes sense, right?

So fast-forward to last month when I'm starting to talk about Project 365 on my blog. I notice some increased traffic, I'm hearing that there's some good buzz about it. Great. Wonderful. I'm excited that it seems like this kit will do better than the last several months' worth.

Fast-forward to TWO days before the product is released. Two days. That's when I announced a random drawing to win a free kit and holy cow, did you guys respond! Again -- great. Wonderful. I felt so excited that people were excited about this concept and were showing interest in the kit. Starting to wonder if more should have been ordered (which, by the way, is not something that I have a say in). But remember -- this is 2 days before it goes on sale. Think we can make a phone call and say "Hey, we'd like a few more thousand of Project 365. And could you overnight those?"

No, of course not. It doesn't work that way. So then it came. January 1st. I can promise you that there was no celebrating of a quick sell-out. I don't need to state that it all became a big mess at this point.

I don't blame those of you who are sorely disappointed in there not being enough kits to go around. But I hope you can understand - at least a little bit - how it could even be possible to underestimate. (PS - Did any of you try to get a Wii at Christmas time?) And while I'm venting, I think some are misled and think that I own this company or have a say in how the company is run.

I am strictly an employee. I am a designer. My job is to design kits. I am not running a business or making any kind of executive decisions or controlling Customer Service. I am changing diapers and car-pooling and wiping noses and serving in my church and meeting work deadlines. And trying my best to balance it all. Just like you. Many of you are working so, so hard and deserve a much better experience in what should be just a simple product order.

I know you want answers about this fiasco. I want answers just as bad as you do. The ball has been dropped. I don't disagree with that for a second.

sunday update

It feels like forever since I've had something VISUAL on my blog.



Ahhh. That's better. : ) There was a really cool fog that feel upon Santa Monica, California while we were there visiting a friend last month. That's what this is.

Okay. Before we head into a new work week (and customer service being available again), I wanted to drop in with as much of an update as I have.

Those of you who were able to place an order (for the Project 365 kit, in case you haven't been here in a little while) should have received an e-mail from Creating Keepsakes over the weekend. If something is not correct with this most recent confirmation, or if you placed an order but did not receive confirmation, please contact Customer Service:

E-mail: CreatingKeepsakesCS@Holdenmss.com
Domestic calls: 800.453.1173
International calls: 720.374.3628
[Phone line hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. MST, M-F]

I know there are so many of you with questions and if I had the time or ability to address them all, I would. I am pleased that Customer Service will be up & running again Monday morning. They have access to your individual orders. I do not. My job is to stay focused on working with our team on a solution for those of you that still really want this kit. It is honestly so much more complicated that anyone may realize. "Just order more!" is a common request. I wish it were that simple. I'll say it again & again: We are working hard on our end to resolve this.

The good news is that there are many, many of you who will be receiving your Project 365 kit very soon. I am told these will begin shipping on Tuesday.

Here are a couple common questions/concerns. Again, if you have a question about your specific order, please call Customer Service so they can look up your account and help you.

Q: Why are different customers being given different/inconsistent information from Customer Service?
A: Unfortunately, the Creating Keepsakes online store and the customer service teams were experiencing technical difficulties, and were not communicating properly. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. We are working to bridge the gap between the two servicing units, and will resolve any issues you may have.

Q: Why did I get $0 in my confirmation e-mail?
A: The $0 confirmation means that your order has been placed, but it is considered a pre-order. When you placed your order our system was struggling to manage the traffic influx and errors were made. Your card will not be charged until your order is ready to be ship.

Bit by bit, we are trying to respond to the concerns and questions. I know there are still some issues to be addressed. Please understand that it's hard to make a lot of progress over a weekend. I'll continue to stay in touch with more answers and updates this week.

2/365

Wow. Day 2 of 365 and what a day yesterday was, right?

Because I know that so many of you are checking back here frequently, in search of answers & solutions, I wanted to drop you a note. I do not have definite answers yet. But I want to ensure you that the issues at hand are being addressed. This is a very high priority to our team and we're not taking it lightly. The past couple of days have been intense.

We will give you answers as soon as we have them.

And when I asked you to "stay committed to Project 365" yesterday, I want to explain what I mean by that. Project 365 is an exciting and liberating approach to capturing your life this year. You are obviously interested in the concept or you wouldn't be checking my blog. So even though we are faced with technical issues in actually obtaining this kit right now, I know that so many of you still value this concept.

Focus on the concept.

To put a practical spin on this, what I mean is ... still take a picture every day. Keep a folder on your computer for all of your daily pictures, and if some of your days are going to be memorabilia instead of a photograph, keep those in a physical folder or baggie or wherever you want. The second part of this project is the journaling. Doesn't have to be much. But go ahead and keep a notebook (or Word document) with your daily notes of journaling that you don't want to forget. Journaling "in the moment" each day is part of the beauty of this concept.

My point is, even if we don't yet have the solution for getting the product in your hands, I don't want you to give up on the project. It will be an incredible record of your life. Your family's life. Your world. Your values and your habits and your happenings.

In the meantime, please accept my sincere apologies for the headache this is causing some of you. I am deeply saddened and frustrated that this has become a big mess.

i hear you.

We have been incredibly overwhelmed with the demand of Project 365. Okay, that's an understatement. This is wonderful in one way, and unfortunately frustrating in another way. The large volume of orders and traffic on the ck site all at once has led to technical difficulties, causing our website to crash. At this time, we are sold out of the kits. We ARE working on a game plan to get more ordered and will, of course, keep you posted. It's too soon to promise anything.

On a more personal note, so many of you are being wonderfully positive and so understanding about the fact that I am doing all I can do on my end. (And don't forget that there are several others working hard behind the scenes to trouble-shoot right now). I especially appreciate those of you who have a sense of humor with the given situation. I know many of you are going to have a similar picture of the day for Jan. 1 -- your computer screen, or you sitting at your computer. : )

I am trying to keep up with your comments and while I can not possibly address everyone's individual situation, I am aware of the issues, working with the team on a solution, and -- on a brighter note -- so very pleased with those who have had success placing an order.

You know I will be back in touch with updates. In the meantime, take a deep breath. ENJOY bringing in the New Year. Go be with those you love. Know that we are working hard on our end. And don't forget to take a picture today (and tomorrow and the next day and the next...).

Stay committed to Project 365. You won't regret it.

$0 total

I appreciate your continued patience.

As of this very moment, we are not sold out. Keep trying. It's working better now, just a little slow for some.

For those of you who have placed your order and your total says $0, that's because your credit card will not be charged until the product has shipped to you.

we're working on it.

Looks like some of you have been successful in placing an order and some of you are still not able to get onto the site. In fact, it's not even working for me, as I'm trying to place an order as well. Just want you to know that you're not alone. Our team is working hard to trouble-shoot. The web site just got slammed at 9:00. Thank you for your patience. I will most certainly keep you updated.

winners!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Before the kit goes on sale this morning, I'm pleased to announce 3 of you that were randomly chosen to win the Project 365 kit:

1. Shannon in Tigard, OR
2. Brenda in Dennison, IL
3. Chia Yuan Hou in New York, NY

Note to the winners: Out of 3,500 names you ladies must be feeling pretty lucky right now. Yay for you! ; ) You need to e-mail your full shipping address & phone number to vgrothe@ckmedia.com.

As for the rest of you ... on your mark, get set, GO ORDER! (9 am MST)