First of all, there’s been way too much text on my blog lately, so I thought I’d share a few snapshots from our New Years Day hike. (No, we didn’t get a dog. We snagged a couple friends & their sweet dog to join us.)
Arizona is such a great place to live in the Winter. Just sayin’.
Quick photo tip: (Referring to the top picture) Shoot through a plant or tree or something when photographing a subject. Just seeing a few branches or leaves (or parts of a cactus, in this case) in the foreground adds an interesting touch and gives the image a different feel.
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On to something else I want to address: You guys are awesome. (That’s the official most important item of business of today.)
We see & read what you’re doing over in the Project Life Community. You’re sharing terrific ideas there, and in comments here on the blog, and in emails. There is such great sharing on your own blogs, and on Facebook and Twitter.
You’ll notice we have a section on the Project Life page called IDEAS. There you will find some inspiration, some different approaches to using Project Life. Which is nice. But you know what’s missing? VISUALS. Clean, clever, completed Project Life layouts. That’s where you come in.
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{ CALL FOR PROJECT LIFE LAYOUTS }
I invite you to submit a favorite Project Life layout. We will choose a small handful of layouts to include in the IDEAS section and you can bet there will be some product rewards too.
***YES, digital Project Life layouts are welcome. Just do a screen shot of your layout and submit that JPG.
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T O P 1 0 G U I D E L I N E S :
1. All submissions must be sent to submissions@beckyhiggins.com
2. While we’d love to see what you’re doing all year long, this particular call for layouts has a deadline: January 15, 2011.
3. Please review the list of ideas featured HERE. If your layout fits in one of those categories, that would be awesome. If you have a totally different approach, we absolutely welcome other ideas as well. Please be sure to give us a BRIEF description of your approach in the email.
4. The email subject line should give us a general idea of the layout’s theme (such as “Baby’s First Year” or “365″ or “old childhood photos” or “month-by-month review” or whatever.
5. The products used can be from any of the Project Life kits – Original, Turquoise, or Amber … or any Becky Higgins products, including the new Divided Photo Pocket Pages and Journaling Cards.
6. Submissions must be clear and bright. Good photography will be favored.
7. How to photograph a layout: Take the 2 pages out of the binder and take a picture of each page separately – left and right. A simple, plain background is best (and white is the ultimate best, if you can swing it). For example, lay a sheet or pillow case on the floor or ground.
Tip: Natural light is best. No flash. If it’s cold & snowy outside, stay inside and get near a window for optimal indirect light.
Tip: Stand directly above the page and zoom in to fill the frame with your page (as shown below). Try to avoid being too close to the page and zoomed all the way out. This will result in your image looking warped; straight edges will look curved.
Tip: You’re photographing plastic. There will be glare. It’s nearly impossible to eliminate all glare. However, shifting your angle even just a tiny bit can result in less glare so try moving around a little to get the best shot.
8. Please label each JPG with your name (such as “Jane Doe left” and “Jane Doe right”).
9. Please no more than (two) 2-page layouts submitted per person.
10. Be aware that submitting your pages automatically means that you are granting us permission to publish them (most likely here on the website).
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Can’t wait to see what you come up with! We’ll be running a separate contest of sorts once everyone starts getting their blank Journaling Cards and Divided Photo Pocket Pages. So be thinking about that while you await the arrival of your product. The possibilities with these items? Endless.
Is the contest for paper layouts only or could I send a photo of the digital “project life” book I recently created? Please advise.
Jill, I am thinking of doing the digital version and would love to see what you’ve done. Have you received the hard copy? I’ve done a few digital photo books and some have better quality than others. Let me know what you’ve thought of the digital version. Thank you!
Yes, digital is welcome. Just added that note in the blog post (thanks to your reminder). Take a screen shot of your layout and submit that JPG to the email address provided.
Becky, I started playing with the digital version and I LOVE it! I think this will be much easier for me to keep up with. I can sit at the computer each night, drop in my photo, add the journaling, and I’m done! Thank you for everything, you really are an ispiration!!
Leslie, I did the paper version the first year and the digital for 2010. I never quite finished the paper one (still need to go back to that) but the digital for 2010 is ready for printing tonight. For me, it was SO much easier to do the digital b/c I never have to make the run to Costco or wait for photos to come in the mail. If you have used alot of the online photo books, Ziblio isn’t much different – a few quirks but you get used to them quickly. Hope that helps!
Teresa, thank you for your help! I am in the same boat, my 2009 PL still needs to be finished.
I love what I have seen so far with the digital and definitely think it will be easier for me to stay caught up by doing the digital version. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it!
Please consider publishing a book with all these and your own project life ideas and pages. Would be great.
Project life book ???? With yours and other pages……..:)
thanks.. I have already started mine so I will be sure to submit one or two of the pages. FUN!!
Really looking forward to seeing the PL layouts as I am new to PL…got mine yesterday!!!! So excited to get started!!!!
I’m have so much fun adding to my PL Album on a daily basis. I’ll be sure to submit a couple of my pages.
I’ve just recently been introduced to PL (like last week) and my PL arrives tomorrow!! I’m so excited. I’m busy with being Mom, wife, maid, photographer etc etc. I love love the hand made touch of scrapbooking and have been so sad over the last couple of years that I haven’t had the time/money to spend on it. I was beyond excited when I found project life through a blog!! Thanks for being a GENIUS! It’s a happy medium and I’m excited to get started!! =)
Ps Didn’t know you lived down here in AZ too!! =)
Hi Becky,
I just wanted to say thank you for Project Life (even though I don’t own a kit yet). This is the third year I have wanted a Project Life kit but I have been out of work and just don’t have the extra money to buy it, however, I am still participating in PL. I had a hard year last year not having a job and most of all, I lost my father who I was very close to. I decided to start PL without the kit this year because simply, it makes me happy! I started on 1/1/11 taking a picture a day. I jot down the journaling for the days photos in a spiral notebook. When I am able to purchase PL, I will simply insert my photos in the sleeves, copy my journaling onto those adorable cards and I’ll be on my way to a memorable year of my little family’s life. Thank you for this liberating way of scrapbooking!!
Mary B
Becky, do we need to crop the photo and.make it square, or just leave it rectangular with the white background?
Don’t worry about cropping.
Would it still count if my favorite layout includes multiple pages but will still fit in 2 photos? (I use 8.5×11 sheet protector in between the kit pages!) I know that’s a weird question, but it’s my FAVORITE part of project life, the ability to PERSONALIZE and ADD things makes me giddy!
Hi Courtney,
I was thinkinf the same thing:) Did you get any ideas & replies on this? I’d like to know if with 8 1/2 x 11 & A4 sleeves.
Sorry about my spelling!!!
I just sent in my submission. I didn’t see the part where it says put your name in the name of the picture. Oops. The name of my pictures just says the description of the layout. Oh well….
I’m pretty much done with my 2010 book! All I have left is to slide in a few photo that will arrive in the mail soon! I blogged about it yesterday with a few photos of my competed book. I really love this product and I’ll definitely be doing it again for 2011!
Just thought I would add the best way to photograph layouts is to blue tac them to the wall and take the photo straight on. It cuts out most glare and shadows and gives you a perfect background
I just submitted my layout that I finished last night for January 8-January 14, 2011. I had so much fun making it. I can’t wait to see all of the submissions. I really enjoyed incorporating a design A page dividers with a Design B page divider. Thank you for making both types of page dividers!
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