You guys know I read your comments here. While I can’t possibly respond to every one, I do my best to address your questions from time to time. One that keeps coming up is — When can we see more sketches??
Well I guess today’s the day. Here’s a new sketch!
Look familiar? Allow me to explain.
I’ve been scrapbooking for 17 years. It’s safe to say it’s in my blood. How I go about preserving our memories has changed and twisted and experimented and EVOLVED over the years. Any of you remember back in the mid- to late-nineties when creative lettering was my niche? I l-o-v-e-d creative lettering. I spent years doing plenty of creative artwork and layout design. Most of you are familiar with my sketches. Another niche. You’re the ones wondering when I’m going to share more. : )
Here’s the thing. In my personal evolution, I’ve had babies. I’ve grown busier. I spend more time outside of myself, and more time serving my family as well as those outside my family. I am equally passionate about scrapbooking as I have always been. Only now I am so, so, so much more practical in my approach. I spend way less hours putting together layouts. All the adorable accents, cool gadgets, and detailed techniques? They’re fun, but I simply don’t prioritize that in my life right now.
Bottom line: This is how I scrapbook now: Project Life. (See pictured sketch above.) Drop the pictures in. Add my journaling. Done. Photos and stories. That’s it. That’s the way I like it. I’m very, very comfortable with the system I’ve settled into and kinda wish all my books from the past 17 years were like this. Honestly. Although, believe me — I appreciate all of those stages and niches and all that resulted from thousands of hours pouring my heart into this hobby.
I still sketch. Only it’s not so much for scrapbook page design. It’s more for product design and web design and things like that. I am so grateful to know my sketches have helped in some way. I appreciate your kind notes and requests. I am just not in that mode of artistic scrapbook pages these days.
I’m in the mode of simplifying. I like helping others to simplify as well.
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Alright. Enough of that. Let’s open up this post to more of your questions. Go for it. : )
Tags: Project Life, sketches
love your blog and the organization tips i always pick up when i come here. i’ve read through some of the comments and want to add my own “request” list! hee hee!
1. please do a “day in your life” post–with specific times, etc. showing your routine and how you do it all.
2. recently i’ve been loving thepleatedpoppy.com and her ‘what i wore wednesday’ posts. any chance you could start showing us some of the darling outfits i’m sure you wear everyday?
3. could you please take us on a detailed tour of your home so we can see rooms, paint, furniture, etc?
love project life and hope to do that from now on–but still can’t stop my traditional scrapbooking. i love that too!
(btw, your customer service is AWESOME! i had emailed someone saying the binder of my PL book was rippled–but that it wasn’t a huge deal. they replied that when more were made, i would be sent one. i didn’t think much about it. but a few days ago, i got a replacement binder delivered to me! i just think it really says something about you and your company when things are done professionally and in such a timely fashion. some of these big companies could learn something from your approach! you’ve got a faithful customer here in me–thanks so much!)
Oooooo, I agree with Susanne’s requests. Those would be fun posts to see. I’m especailly into decorating my home right now and freshining things up so any inspiration you can give on that would be sooooo appreciated! You are a really neat person. Thanks for being you.
When I opened your blog this morning, I was elated to see a sketch! Woo hoo! Took me less than 3 seconds to realize that it was Project Life. So much for elation…
Don’t get me wrong. I do like Project Life — I am in the 2nd year of that process, but it in no way replaces my love & desire to create my traditional scrapbooks. If anything, it creates way more photo opps that deserve their own 2-page traditional layout.
So, here are my questions:
1. When you decided to simplify and ditch the traditional, how did you overcome the addiction? A 12-step program?
2. What did you do with your stash? Did you have a big clean-out-the-studio giveaway?
3. What do you do with the big life events such as weddings, graduations, birthdays, holidays, vacations, etc. that simply can’t be narrowed down to 1 photo? If you did decide to document the event with just one photo, how did you pick the one?
4. When you host “scrapbook night” at your house, what does that look like? Do all of your cropping pals all do PL?
5. Do your kids enjoy the PL books as much as they enjoy looking at the traditional?
6. How ’bout a poll for your readers to see how many are here for scrapbooking?
Just call me…persistent.
Hi Becky!
My wish is that you would/could share in GREAT detail how you handle your digital images. How do you sort, label, organize, store, what you print/what you don’t, how often, products you use in managing your digital memories, etc. I am so behind in this area and my pics are stored very haphazardly. I don’t back up often enough and the entire process seems so overwhelming to me. I have no doubt that your system would be the ultimate in simplicity, manageability, and organization and Iwould LOVE to hear how you do it!
I have whole-heartedly embraced Project Life and plan to continue with it for as long as it’s produced. It has changed the way I view my “hobby” and I no longer beat myself up for being “behind”. I love the concept, the design, the colors, the ease of use. Actually, when the first kit came out, I’d ignored my photos and supplies for about 2 years because I just didn’t want the burden of scrapping. Weird. But the project brought out my desire to scrap again.
I still “traditional” scrap here and there. Mostly about a big event, like a birhtday or holiday and I incorporate that somewhat into Project life. I try to use Project life more for the everyday and mundane and then traditional scrap the extraordinary.
I don’t feel like I have to pick one way over another. I can do what works for ME, which is the whole point of the project (I think).
Thank you so much for the inspiration and products that help to record my family’s life. I’m a believer!
Hi,
Just LOVE your blog…thanks for answering questions too, we are all so much more inspired when we know how you “do it”. Done lots of painting this summer:)
I am curious by one of the comments regarding binder being broke from one gal. I talked up Project SO much I convinced a friend of mine to buy one. She did from Amazon and her binder was crushed. She could not get customer service to respond to her at all. I then told her to call Amazon, she had to send the WHOLE kit back then when they got it they would re-send another kit. Apparantly customer service finally did get back with her a week later and said the same thing. Had to send back to Amazon. Just frustrating as she started pictures the day she got it and wanted to start working on it.
I guess the other gal was JUST lucky, as I thought they could just send another binder to my friend also. It is not like she could of done anything with the original…it was totally smashed from delivery.
Don’t mean to complain just dont understand how one gets one sent out and another has a hassle.
Thanks for the ever so inspiring blog:) Really do love.
Lisa
I have noticed your fabulous home-made recipe book and wondered if you could share a little more of it with us…how it’s organized and presented…my son is about to share a house with friends at college and I know he’d love this as a going-away gift!
Thanks so much for everything! (Love the Amazon picks…:))
I totally agree with your post, Becky. My mom scrapbooked for years while I was away in college and in the early years of my marriage. She never really told me much about scrapbooking, though. I then met a lady who did Creative Memories and she shared with me her scrapbooks and I fell in love with this hobby. At the time, we had our oldest son who was around two.
Now I had the first exposure to scrapbooking so I went to Michaels and bought The Joy of Scrapbooking to make sure I was going to really enjoy this before spending money and time doing it. I loved so many of your pages in that book, Becky, and that was when I realized my style…simple, linear, creative (I also l-o-v-e-d creative lettering!).
Anyway, we now have two boys, we homeschool, and we’re very busy; I certainly don’t (won’t/can’t?) spend the time on layouts like I used to. I did Project Life last year and you know, I really miss doing it! So I’ve already ordered and rec’d my kit for 2011 and I can’t wait!
Your evolution has been similar to mine and I truly appreciate your simplifying this for us! My Project Life is mostly the POTD in page protectors with journaling, but I do add in layouts occasionally when it’s a big event and I want to do more with the pictures I took. That’s what I love about this kit, it’s so unique and individual for everyone who uses it.
One more quick thing… Sorry! A close family of ours is hosting an exchange student this year and my friend wanted to do a scrapbook as a surprise for when the student left, next year. She was thinking about trying to do layouts for much of what they would be doing for this year! It was then that I realized how helpful and PERFECT Project Life would be for this and she is doing it! She thanked me the other day and told me how wonderful it’s all working out.
Thanks again, Becky!
Pam
Hi Becky! I recently signed up for e-mealz and was wondering what meal plan you and your family signed for. Your facebook post about marinading steak strips in orange juice, garlic and ginger sounded really yummy… but I have not seen that recipe on my meal plan. Thanks for all that you do!
Hey Tara, totally jumping in on this post but I signed up for emealz as well and we love it. This recipe was also in low carb walmart meals( what we signed up for) doing it tomorrow for dinner!
I LOVE Project Life and finally feel like I can scrapbook. I’ve been a ‘wanna be’ scrapbooker for years. I have all the ‘stuff’ and only one (almost) completed scrapbook of our youth conference to Martin’s Cove 7 years ago! Let’s face it, I have 5 kids, my husband and I have busy church callings, we try to keep up with everything. I just don’t want to spend hours on a scrapbook page yet I want our photos where we can see and remember them. Project Life is perfect for me. My kids love to remind me to take the POTD and give me ideas all the time.
This is scrapbooking for me from now on!
Jolene
Wow. I second many of the above posts. Thanks for sharing your philosophy on scrapbooking and prioritizing your life… it helps me realize simplifying is often a better approach for me in all aspects of life. Thank you Becky!
I realize your home is a personal place and I would understand why you wouldn’t want every inch of it posted. I would just LOVE to see some more of your organizational talents in motion. I would love to see a wall to wall to wall photo sequence of your office. I love organization but often struggle with it. Any little bit would help!
I love that you are for simplifying things. It’s good to know that a page can still be great but simple. Would you please let us know how you are going to make the yearbook for the preschooler? I would really like to know what kind of questions you will ask and what activities you will have them do. Thanks!
Hi Becky!
I was wondering where you found the maps you used for pointing out Finland and for the photography session give-aways. I have 4-month old twin boys and I want to record their travels. My husband (a pilot) and I both thoroughly enjoy traveling, so I’m hoping we’ll be able to take our boys on some great adventures.
Thanks for everything you share and do.
(Oooh.. I just noticed the green background. Looks great!)
I agree with the customer service comment. I also had a defective binder. left an email about it, and promptly forgot about it. A new one arrived just a few days ago, Thank you so much for such good service,
I wonder where I went wrong with customer service when I got my backordered defective binder? I emailed them 3x with no response until a week later, to find out I had to return the whole darn thing to Amazon and pay for a new one and then once the old one got back to Amazon I would get credited back my money. Oh well I guess. Over and done with.
Hello,
I am wondering if you willl be designing and selling any baby albums. I missed out on your last one for my second child and now number 3 will soon be arriving and I am looking for a simple approach.
Thanks,
Amy
I want to get project life for next year.
I am starting homeschooling this year
and simply won’t have the time to committ
to scrapbooking, plus I have grown away from the “pretty”
fluff pages, to just wanting to post the real deal stories + pix.
PL is a great way for me to do that! can’t wait to get mine!
tara
Love, love, love your blog… don’t want to sound crazy but I loved Beck Higgins before Becky Higgins was cool… just sayin’. (way back before blogs!)
Thanks for ALL you share… you help me get motivated, you help me stay motivated…
~ kim
Insecond that Kim! Too funny!
Not sure if you are taking in any more questions… but I was wondering if you ever finished Crew’s baby book? Or did you switch it up and do a digital book? I got one for my son’s book, and would love to see some more of your finished pages! Maybe a little inspiration in that department would get me moving again!
Love, love, love your blog. It is such and inspiration and a “happy place” to come to everday. I would love to see more examples of how other’s PL pages look. Is there a gallery of some sort…I realize it may not be possible for you to post many others’ pages on your blog but would love to look at more examples.
Thank you.
Hi Becky, I am curious about the color scheme/sneak peek about what the new school kit will be like. I missed out on the kit the first time, and recently a good friend of mine gave me her extra unused one. Now I’m hesitant to start because I’m wondering about ‘what’s coming’! I’ve been itching to start, but now I feel like I should wait to see what is coming, perhaps I would like the new color scheme better. I’m okay with the old kit’s color scheme, but I’m not in love with it..and I’m hoping the new kit has a say, brighter, cheerier color pallate? >. Any advance info would be SO appreciated Becky! Thank you!
I need help simplifying the organization of all my photos. I have read over and over the importance of printing photos and not just keep them on the computer. Of course I take so many pictures and do have the Project Life album. But I feel that I need to still maintain some sort of organization of my other photos. It’s just so time consuming to select, print and put them in albums. Any suggestions?
I have always been a pretty simple scrapbooker and card maker. About 8 years ago my life became so busy I just kind of put the big sbing pages away and mainly worked on little mini books that could be done pretty fast. Kind of theme like books. I just bought by first Project Life set and will see how that works for me. I feel a real need to get my pictures in books so people can actually look at all these picures we take. I have about 25 photo boxes of photos and I am really feeling the pressure. If the PL works for me I am interested in continuing to scrap like this but I would like to see some theme type books offered too like baby books, wedding books, holidays, etc. Also, if I go to a simpler way of scrapping what do I do with all my stuff I currently have. I love it and hate to get rid of it when I’ve invested so much money in it. I’m retiring next year and hope to have more time to sb the way I used to. I will look forward to seeing your ideas posted. Thanks.
I don’t understand why people are so anxious for you to do more sketches. No way could someone do every sketch you’ve published. If they really, really need more sketches just tell them to hold the sketches upside down and then they’ll have more to work from.
Hi Becky!! My first comment ever…..Long time follower and read all of your books-you are my favorite scrapbook/organizing/picture goddess:) I remember somewhere your explanation of what you do with wedding invitation pics/ Christmas cards pics etc. I love keeping these pictures but haven’t figured out a good system to keep them-they are sure fun to look at though. In behalf of all of the gathering pictures from this summer’s crop of weddings can you help a girl out and remind me of your brilliant system???
Oh and I adore PL I am using personally and for my Young Women’s organization and it’s GGGRRREEEAAATTTT!!! BTW on my way out to do a little SprayPaintin’:) Cheers on the new LOGO and web design!!!
I know you had family scrapbooks, and those have changed over to Project Life (Me, too! Me, too! I can breathe again! I do a Project Life and a Travels photobook for each year now. LOVE IT!)
I’m wondering, though, what happened to your children’s memory books that you had separately from the family books? Did those get put on the back burner? Discontinued? Given a “makeover” with simplified pages? Switched to divided page protectors? What?
Thanks for satisfying our curiosity (and giving us great ideas for our own future memory-collecting)!
I am wondering that same thing that Rebecca asked:
“I’m wondering, though, what happened to your children’s memory books that you had separately from the family books? Did those get put on the back burner? Discontinued? Given a “makeover” with simplified pages? Switched to divided page protectors? What?”
I read your blog often, but don’t think you’ve ever said whether you still do scrapbooks for each child or not and if you do PL instead, do you do one for each of them to take with them when they grow up? I love the simplicity of PL, but also love the idea that each child leaves my home with a set of books the tells their own history.