You know, when I started this “Feedback Friday” thing in December, I didn’t expect so much to “come up” that would keep me from being consistent with my Friday posts. But it has. And you know what? Stuff will continue to come up again and again because that’s how life works out. So instead of my instinctual desire to say “Sorry I’m late with this post” or “Sorry we’re skipping Feedback Friday this week” or “Sorry I haven’t finished that video that I talked about” or whatever … I’ll just remember that ya’ll get it. Life happens to you, too.  : )

Now. On to Feedback TUESDAY … responding to your comments + questions on various topics.

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What kind of dog is Oreo?

Havenese.

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Do you know of a good book or resource on how to be a better blogger or how to get started with blogging?

Oh goodness, there are so many resources out there. There are books about blogging and blogs about blogging and conferences that are specific to bloggers. But I’m afraid I don’t really know of any one, specific resource that is “the” best because I never sought after any formal blogging education. Maybe some fellow readers/bloggers can chime in on this one? I will mention that I know of a conference coming up in April that I think would be a lot of fun and useful for those who are interested in learning more about blogging. It’s called SNAP and you can learn all about it here.

I began this blog 5 years ago for the purpose of sharing, uplifting, and inspiring. I guess my personal advice (purely based on personal experience) would be to make sure that you are absolutely, positively passionate about what you’re blogging about. People who start with the I-want-to-try-to-make-money-by-blogging mentality aren’t as likely to find success or enjoyment for that matter. I am never, ever “searching” for things to blog about because I am genuinely passionate about cultivating a good life and recording it and helping others to have success with that. While I spend a good chunk of time blogging, it hardly feels like work and the content comes very naturally in the context of what I love, and what I do, and what I love to do.

*We’re not talking about personal/family blogs; that’s different. I assume the person who asked this question is interested in starting a blog that would be open to anyone and everyone and I assume they are interested in monetizing a blog or creating a blog to support their small business.

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Is the weight of the cardstock in Cobalt and Clementine products the same as the Amber and Turquoise products from last year?

Yes, it is exactly the same.

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I love the idea of sharing Project Life layouts and seeing what others are doing. What’s the best way to share my pages too?

I love all the sharing too – it’s awesome + inspiring! In fact, right now there is such an abundant amount of sharing and posting and chatting about everyone who is doing Project Life that I’m finding I can’t keep up with seeing everything that everyone is doing.

We have an official Project Life Community over at Big Picture Classes. It’s completely free and includes a forum for idea-sharing, it’s a great place to ask questions of other Project Lifers, and of course there is a gallery dedicated to sharing layouts. This is a wonderful place to share your layouts!

Also: Jessica Turner (The Mom Creative) hosts Project Life Tuesday on her blog each week, which is where anyone can link up to their layouts. She does this because she loves, uses, and believes in Project Life – not because I asked her to. Hey, guess what? It’s Tuesday right now! Head over to her blog and check it out.

Also: Our Digital Project Life offering on JessicaSprague.com comes with a gallery for idea-sharing as well.

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I’m brand-new to Project Life and wondering how to use the bi-fold cards.

The bi-fold cards are designed to give you twice as much real estate as a regular 3×4 journaling card. This is handy for those days when you have more to say. I know some people like to go beyond that as they attach small pictures, movie ticket stubs, or other memorabilia on the bi-fold cards as well. Fill it up however you’d like, then fold on the scored line and insert into a 3×4 pocket. Or … leave it unfolded and insert in a 4×6 pocket.

Bi-fold journaling card from Michelle Wooderson‘s Project Life album.

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Any chance there will be a Project Life Wedding or Baby edition?

Absolutely there is a chance! In fact, that’s the plan. Just not right this second. In fact, don’t plan on seeing those products in 2012. We are prioritizing the school/childhood version of Project Life before any other themes. As you know, the school/childhood stuff is taking a little longer due to the “life happens” theme I mentioned a minute ago. (*sigh*)

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I have about 20 years of photos to catch up on. Not proud of that, but happy they are in boxes awaiting a glorious unveiling. Please help me get a sense of what I might need to put together some albums and get caught up. Just wondering if you have a good suggestion for a basic “Dig yourself out” package.

“Dig yourself out” package!? That’s awesome. The good news is that I absolutely have a recommendation. The bad news is most of what I’m recommending has sold out … but more good news is that it will all be back in stock next month. Lucky for you, waiting another month isn’t such a big deal when you’re talking about pictures that have been waiting around for 20 years.  : )

My recommendation: Get a bunch of the Photo Pocket Pages (Big Packs of 60 are the best value). Then decide – Do you want there to be a designer look to the albums or a plain/classic look? If designs are important for adding flavor, pick up a Core Kit (as many as you need) in whatever edition(s) floats your boat. Or … if you want to have the most timeless, neutral look of all, get a bunch of the plain grid 3×4 Journaling Cards for all the notes and stories and captions you want to add with the pictures. Put everything in some nice binders (note: our classic Signature Binders will be available this week) and that’s all you need! Oh, and a pen.  : )

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I can see how the Design F Photo Pocket Page design would be really cool for school pictures and trading cards but how does it work with my regular Project Life album?

Picture this: A title card in the top corner and then all the 3×4 pockets filled with your kids’ scanned art (mini versions) … or a bunch of 3×4 cards with family quotes or “momisms” that you say all the time … or fill it with 3×4 pictures to simply get more on a page. Design F is one of my absolute favorites because of being able to get so much onto one page while still maintaining an organized look. Here’s how Liz Tamanaha used Design F for her 2011 Project Life title page.

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I’m just curious to find out why European customers have to wait longer to get Project Life?

I really wish our friends there in Europe could have access to Project Life now, trust me! Product is making its way but it’s a long way to travel and it’s a much more complicated process to get it all there than one might realize. But it’s coming – next month I believe. If you are in the UK or anywhere in Europe, go here to sign up for email updates from Tammy Morales. She’s keeping her customers well informed.

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I’m taking most of my pictures with Instagram these days. Since these are square photos, what’s the best way for me to implement them into the Photo Pocket Pages? Are you coming out with a design that will work for square photos?

First of all, me too! A lot of my daily photos are taken on my iPhone, using the Instagram app. Secondly, yes – we are planning to offer more Photo Pocket Page designs that meet the needs that so many of us have for square photos. I’ll share the ETA on that as soon as I have one (we’re working on it).

In the meantime, try using Design E for a super dramatic Instagram page once in a while (6×6 square pockets). Personally, I think that would be so cool. On a more “normal” scale for implementing those Instagrams, check out what Marcy Penner does. She uses square pictures a lot and simply adds them to her 4×6 and 3×4 cards.

I know there are apps/printing services for the Instagram (and similar) images but I haven’t personally tested them myself yet. The one I hear about the most is PostalPix and I hear it’s great. If you’re interested in printing yourself or uploading the images to your favorite printer, Deb Duty shares a quick tutorial on her blog HERE that shows you step-by-step how to prepare those files to print. Simple stuff.

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Do you have suggestions for how to incorporate 3.5×5 photos into the Project Life format? I’m helping my mom consolidate my family’s photos from my childhood into several Project Life albums and the first several years are primarily 3.5×5 and then they switch to 4×6 pictures.

I think mounting those pictures on 4×6 cards seems like the most natural solution so that you can slip those into the 4×6 pockets. We are going to be coming out with 4×6 grid cards (ETA to be announced) and that will help a lot, especially with projects like what you’re talking about. I think it’s awesome that you’re getting all those old photos into albums. Good for you and your mom! What a neat project to work on together, too.

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I am wondering about the number stickers included in the Core Kit. I thought they might be intended for dates, but there is only 1-10 so that doesn’t make sense. But I can’t think of what else they could be used for?

As you know, we included day stickers so that you can label the day of the week as it pertains to specific pictures and journaling cards – if you want. This applies especially well to those who are documenting life with the photo-a-day approach, which of course isn’t everybody’s approach. That is why we also included number stickers, simply for numbering your pictures and journaling cards. For example, you would put a clear “1″ sticker over the first picture and a colored “1″ sticker on the journaling card that goes with that picture. And so forth. It’s not likely that you’ll have more than 10 photos per page, which is why the numbers are 1-10.

Another fun way to use the number stickers is for making lists in your journaling like Deb Duty did in this layout:

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What is the best way to print on the cards using computer and printer? I would appreciate any help or suggestions.

Liz Tamanaha has an excellent + simple tutorial HERE on her blog.

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You said that you are probably going to do two pages per week. Do you mean two pages front and back or do you mean a front and back and count that as two pages?

I mean that one week will be represented with 2 pages that face each other – left side and right side of a layout. When you flip the page in our family book, you would view one week at a time on each two-page spread.

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The Turquoise Edition Core Kit sold out before my eyes. Do you think you will have more of these coming?

It disappeared before our eyes too! One day there were plenty in stock and then over the holidays – *poof* – they were gone. I’m not sure why the sudden surge of interest in that particular edition at that specific time, but we’re thrilled that Turquoise continues to be so well-loved and yes we are making more. I will share an ETA when we have that. In the meantime, the other 3 editions are still available.

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{ a couple favorite comments }

Dana in Texas said: I’m even more excited that I have found Project Life to help me ORGANIZE what I feel and see everyday. I am such a believer in capturing my heart on ‘film’, and preserving future history. I think it is THE main reason I am a photographer, because I know that I am preserving a memory I may not remember otherwise, and on a day I know I will never get back – for me AND other families. It’s an awesome and sometimes overwhelming feeling.

Christie: From the bottom of my heart (tears in my eyes!), I thank you for creating this product. You brought the joy back to me for preserving memories for my family. I’m learning to make it my own, and I’m LOVING the process once again.

*Note: Even though we don’t have our school-related products out yet, Christie is using Project Life products to do her kids’ school albums. Check it out here. Remember that I have been working on making a video that will also share tips on getting organized and how to get things going with your kids’ albums. I’ll do my best to continue sharing inspiration in this department.