It’s a double-post type of day. Several things I want to address.
[ amazon timing update ]
We were expecting our Project Life inventory to reach Amazon by tomorrow. I was notified today that Amazon has requested a Monday delivery instead. Ugh. Come on. Do they really think that there are other products that are a higher priority than Project Life? Don’t they know that you guys have been patiently waiting for these kits to become available again? Seriously though, I’m sorry for the delay. I wish there were something I could do about it. At least I can update you so you know what to expect. Once Amazon actually receives the products, they can possibly be available for purchase that same day or sometimes it can take a day or two.
Some of you have expressed that you’re nervous the kits will sell out. I’m pretty sure we’ll have enough inventory, but if sales go through the roof (then YAY for that), please know that we’ll most certainly consider a reprint immediately. NOTE: I promise to announce as soon as it’s available on Amazon. If you insist on absolute immediacy (and it’s okay if you do) … then follow me on Facebook or Twitter. That’s the next best thing to me personally sending you a text message or an email.
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[ digital update ]
The latest on launching the digital site for Project Life is that it’s looking like Monday. We’re working very, very hard to make everything just right for you.
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[ compare & contrast information ]
If you’re not able to hear the audio on my video clip for any reason, I will have all that information in the form of a comparison chart soon.
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[ price explanation on the Project Life kit ]
We launched Project Life back in November with the introductory price of $39.95, plus shipping (which was roughly $13 for most locations in the U.S.). Now with the fulfillment change, the price on Amazon will be $49.99, but this price includes shipping. So the final price is just a few bucks less now.
Note: In the land of Amazon, if you spend $25 or more on anything fulfilled by Amazon (like our Project Life kits), the shipping is free for you, but paid by us (the vendor). Amazon gets better shipping rates than the shipper we used at first. That’s why it’s a few dollars cheaper on Amazon.
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Now on to more deep stuff.
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[ what about my 2008 albums? ]
A fellow blog reader, Kelli, asked a great question after I posted my about my ah-ha moment yesterday. She asked, How does this digital 2008 monthly scrapbook differ from your 12×12 albums for 2008? Or did you not do 12×12 pages that year?
And that’s just it, Kelli. I had a list of layouts-to-do. I always have. And, like many of you, I have gotten pretty “behind” on the scrapbooking that I wanted to do. So while I did a handful of layouts in 2008, I still had plenty of “catching up” to do in our family album and the kids’ albums. So now that I have my little family yearbook for 2008, I’m not worried about creating those layouts. So liberating! I was telling a friend yesterday how I’m going to ceremoniously burn that layouts-to-do list. And when I do, I’ll share the picture with you guys. : )
Kelli went on to ask, Do you have any issues with the digital books being a different size than your other albums? I am trying to decide what will work best for me and my order-driven ways make me think I’d like all 12×12 albums, although I love the digital idea.
Another great question. To each her own. My personal answer is that I am so over it. I’m so stoked about these easy-to-create digital books and their small, skinny size. Seriously. Do you guys know how many full-size albums we have in our house? Too many. Specifically, 52. No joke. And that’s not including smaller “theme” albums.
So trust me, I am really, really ready for these little books.
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[ what about your sketches? ]
Teresa asked another great question: What about all of your sketches? Are you ditching all of that for digital PL concepts? Really?
Yes … and no. I’ll explain.
Welcome to my personal evolution. I’ve been heavily involved in the hobby of picture-taking and memory-keeping since I was a child. And my approach & strategy & theory has evolved over time. It’s natural. And I love it. I’ve loved every stage. This happens to be my current approach to scrapbooking. it’s liberating & exciting for not only me, but clearly many of you too. I am so solution-minded these days. It’s what I care about. Creating solutions that help you & me both.
As for the “no” part of my answer … No, I’m not ditching the sketches. I am so happy that my sketches have helped so many of you in your scrapbooking over the years. And they’ve helped me too. And I will continue to refer to my sketches when doing layouts for the kids’ baby books and other creative projects.
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[ But does Project Life really help tell our family's story accurately? ]
Teresa continues with a good point: As much as I like the PL and P365, I’m not sure I will be doing this each and every year. I don’t think it adequately highlights each of my children’s accomplishments, stages, changes, etc.
Very valid concern and perhaps some of you share Teresa’s concern. My response is this: Based on my experience of traditional scrapbooking for many, many years and my new approach of taking a picture-a-day … our family’s story is being told so much more accurately and completely than any other scrapbooking I have ever done. (Remember, I have 52+ albums FULL of story-telling, memory-keeping scrapbook pages.)
Now think of how many friends and family members you have that are not doing anything with their pictures. From what you know about Project Life and the flexibility to either do a picture-a-day or a picture-a-week or a few favorite shots each month, or however you want to use it … can you see how Project Life will help people to actually do something with their pictures?
And last time I checked, something is better than nothing.
That said, Project Life is an option. There are lots of options for memory-preserving, picture-displaying, family history-keeping, and story-telling. I offer Project Life as a possible solution for you. And your friends.
You’ve got to read this post from Lisa, a fellow Project Lifer. She shares her thoughts on how the picture-a-day approach has been an eye-opening way to see daily blessings in her life.
Again, I thank you for asking such thoughtful questions.
