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.
…..
What kind of dog is Oreo?
Havenese.
…..
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.
…..
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.
…..
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.
…..
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.
…..
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*)
…..
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. : )
…..
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.
…..
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.
…..
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.
…..
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.
…..
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:
…..
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.
…..
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.
…..
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.
…..
{ 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.
Tags: bi-fold cards, blogging, dog, havanese, Instagram, Project Life
Last year I ran out of some of the day stickers in some of the colours, I wonder in the coming years with new kits if you would sell the stickers seperately. Still have them in the core kit but have extras that can be purchased for those who run out….maybe its just me but I love those little stickers but find i use some colours more than others.
Trying this again…I wanted this reply under Alison’s post so she’ll see it if she comes back.
Alison-which editions are you looking for. I didn’t use mine in turquoise and I likely won’t in Amber either. I would be happy to send you what I have. Email me at clhouchins at g mail dot com.
Love reading these feedback posts, whatever the day they appear.May I please ask about Turquoise and Amber core kits? The Australian distributor are out of stock of these two and told me that they won’t be made no longer but as above you mention making more of the Turquoise, while the Amber is still in stock. Can you please tell me, that as Aus/NZ stockist has run out then they won’t get be getting anymore in? Thanks.
Craft House will be the best to answer your questions about their inventory and what they plan to order more of, but I can tell you that WE are planning to have more Turquoise and Amber Core Kits manufactured … which gives our international distributors an opportunity to order more of those. This is BRAND NEW information (that we’re ordering more of those kits) so they wouldn’t have known about that in the past. We didn’t know ourselves until just now.
I had asked Craft House and they were the ones that told me you were doing no more… but the news that you are is brilliant! Thanks so much for answering so quickly.
Alison-which editions are you looking for. I didn’t use mine in turquoise and I likely won’t in Amber either. I would be happy to send you what I have. Email me at clhouchins at g mail dot com.
Thanks for the answers to lots of questions – it really helps. I have one question – I have project life from 2011 which never went very far. I’m motivated and ready to use it for 2012 (already started!) and thought I’d add some Clementine stuff, too. But something on Ali Edwards’ blog stated that the small cards for 2012 are 3×4, but in page protectors from 2011 those small slots are just a little smaller. Can I mix an match stuff from 2011 and stuff from 2012? Thanks for any clarification!
With all the new stuff that has come out the past couple months, we’re really fine-tuned the pocket sizes, which also meant a slight increase in paper size for the 3×4 cards. So yes, you can totally mix + match but you may notice that just a little.
I love these Q and A discussions. I have a question. I am doing, for the first time, Project Life this year (my husband bought me the core kit and lots of pages, a binder, etc. for Christmas!) and I am doing a two page layout for each week. I am also doing a Photo-a-day project. I know quite a lot to tackle, but I started and completed Ali Edwards December Daily in December so I want to continue to challenge myself. I was considering combining the two project using the Project Life materials, however, after just one week, I realize not all of my Photo-a-day photos will make it into my Project Life binder, so, I was wondering if others are using the Project Life on Shutterfly as a way to ‘capture’ their Photo-a-day photos. As I review it, it seems like the prefect fit and so easy to just paste in the pictures each day with a quick caption and your are done. Is it possible to keep your shutterfly book ‘open’ each day/week and add to it on a continous basis, saving it as you go along? If so, I think this is a fabulous tool for a Photo-a-day project. Perhaps this has already been asked and answered and I missed it. If so, sorry for the repeat.
I think I understand what you’re asking and YES – you can absolutely save and come back to your project as frequently (or as infrequently) as you’d like! I think most people will be doing it this way – working on it a little here + there throughout the entire year.
That’s my personal approach for 2012 – one layout per week. I think I’ll literally work on it for a few minutes each week, hopefully on a consistent day of the week. I like the sound of that. : )
Thanks Becky, that was exactly my question (and sorry for all the words to get there). This is great. I spend a couple of minutes each day downloading my pictures that day and uploading my picture for the day into an on-line calender site, so instead I will now use Project Life and Shutterfly. Yeah!
So much helpful information in this post! Thank you for sharing this.. Tuesday or Friday!
I use my bifold journaling cards for recipes on the inside! Yesterday, I followed a healthy pancake recipe that I loved and wanted to keep.
Excellent idea Molly.
thanks, becky! that means a lot coming from you!
i’m doing project life for the first time this year and am obsessed!
Glad you’re better, sorry you were sick– not cool.
Love ya!!!
i’m absolutely thrilled that you have 4×6 grid cards in process!!! definitely a missing piece that i will be eagerly awaiting:)
mary
I also found this on pinterest to print on PL cards.
http://eioopakkojoseitaho.blogspot.com/2011/10/project-life-how-to-print-on-journaling.html
You can probably do it with just about any printer, if you can figure out the settings.
Hi! I love feedback ‘Fridays’, thanks so much!!
I have a question, how do people print 3×4 pictures (if you don’t have a personal photo printer)? I print at Costco and I have been printing wallet size but 1) it leaves a littleroom, I wish it were snug and 2) I feel bad wasting all that paper (Costco prints 4 wallets to a sheet and I only use one!). Any suggestions? Thanks!!
Using Photoshop or your favorite photo editing program, simply put 2 3×4 images on a 4×6 canvas and print that 4×6. No wasted paper. : )
I know there are tutorials for how to do this so if anyone else wants to chime in and share a specific link, that’d be awesome.
Ali posted a very concise one using PSE this week: http://aliedwards.com/2012/01/video-tutorial-printing-two-3×4-images-on-a-4×6.html
Ali Edwards just posted a tutorial video on how to do this in Photoshop. http://aliedwards.com/2012/01/video-tutorial-printing-two-3×4-images-on-a-4×6.html
If you don’t have Photoshop, you can download Google Picasa on to your computer, FREE! There is a collage feature that allows you to collage photos (2 or more) in to whatever size photo you want. For PL, I often collage 2 vertical photos into 1 4×6, or even 4 horizontals into 1 4×6. A search on YouTube should bring up some tutorials on this.
Whoops – shoulda hit refresh. I didn’t see Emma’s comment before I posted.
WHEN ARE THOSE BEAUTIFUL WHITE BINDERS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????
THANK YOU!
This week.
Deb Duty has a video on doing Instragram photos in Project Life.
http://www.debduty.com/2012/01/printing-instagram-photos-for-project.html
Michelle, somehow I missed that she did that (I was off the grid for a few days), so THANK YOU for sharing. I’ve added that to the post, as I know it will help many!
Hi Becky, I’m doing my 1st BH PL this year & loving it. It didn’t take too long to arrive here in South Africa (via Canada). I’m just wondering why I don’t have a PL 2012 option on My Galleries at Big Picture classes? Could you please give us a link as to where to sign up for it if there is one? Thanks for a great product!
Glad to hear Project Life made it there to our friends in South Africa – that’s terrific! The the link is in the blog post. It’s the Project Life Community and once you’re signed in, then you’ll see the forums and gallery. I can’t send the specific link to the gallery because you have to be signed in. Hope this helps.
I love the bi-fold cards – but honestly wish they were as big as the photo slots
don’t know if that works out mathematically, but I would love it. Sometimes I want to use a big journaling card if I don’t need to put a picture there. Now they’re just slightly smaller. 
AND PLEASE we would looooove a 3×4 punch
Any ETA on that idea?
No ETA on the 3×4 punch yet but yes – we are still planning to do that. SO much to do, so little time – right? ; )
Like I said in the blog post, we are coming out with true-to-size 4×6 grid journaling cards. Hope that works for your needs!
DOH! Sorry I missed that, Becky
I heart PL!
Hi Becky!
I am the one who asked the question about the 3×5 photos. I am happy to tell you that I am ALMOST completely done with my mom’s albums. I fit 20 years worth of photos in two albums! For the 3×5′s I ended up printing extra 4×6 cards from the Jessica Sprague digital cardstock files to mount them on. But then I realized that I need to find a way to fit more per page if I wanted to keep the project at just 2 albums. So for most of my 3×5 photos, I cut them down and put them into design F and then labeled them all with the number stickers. I love the way this looks and how I was able to fit in a 20 pictures per page protector this way. I love design F and plan to use it a lot for the vacation scrapbook I am starting this year with the Clementine kit.
I plan on taking pictures of my mom’s albums to share with you soon so you can see what I did. It might also be helpful for people wondering what to do with the number stickers.
That is SO cool Jill and I can’t WAIT to see your pictures! Please email those to submissions@beckyhiggins.com.
Hi Jill,
I would love to know how you approached this task. I bought two of the P L kits with the same intentions, i.e to put 25 yrs worth of photos in. But then got so overwhelmed with seeing all the wonderful and creative things bring done with PL that I Just set everything aside. I would love to hear your approach and see your finished product.
Sonu
Is there any plans to make a digital version of the plain grid 3x4s (and new 4x6sx) available on JessicaSprague.com?
How on earth did we miss that!? Thank you for bringing this to my attention Maria. Let me see what we can do about that …
Fantastic! Thank you, Becky! And I hope you’re feeling better.
Brilliant question, I was wondering the same!! Yay!! Thanks Becky
I am wondering about the Shutterfly books. How are you adding your Journaling and what week it is on there? I would love to see one of your completed pages to give me a jump start!
I’m working on a big Shutterfly post that should address most questions about how it works and how I’m personally using it for our family yearbook.
one more thing:) i’d like to make a request for more landscape orientation journal cards. the graph cards are the perfect basic and can be used either way:) but i’d like to have a few more options that i can purchase through the site. i shoot mostly vertical and am using mostly the b protectors, although i do have the fabulous f ones, as well. thanks for considering!
mary
Yep – we’ve got that in the works too. : )
OK weirdest thing, but we too have a Havanese dog nemed Oreo. Ours is more black/ less white, but he looks very similar to yours, (probably just less well groomed) We love him, and I can’t think of life without him.
No way! That’s pretty fun, right?
I’m not new to scrapbooking itself but Europe appears to be way behind with all the cool products and stuff (I don’t mean the waiting for the project life kits, I’m patient and I totally understand the obstacle of distance). Anyway, I usually used simple supplies to scrapbook. Now I would like to take my scrapbooking to the next level. I really like your blog and I thought you would be a good person to ask if there is a good tool with which I could cut fancy and very precise patterns I created with Adobe Illustrator.
Can I just say – I love you Becky Higgins for giving me this gift of project life. It means the world to me. For years I have been stressed out about being behind on my family scrapbooks. There couldn’t be a better solution that Project Life and I actually get many more of our family memories recorded than I did before!
And now for my question: I started Project Life back with the very first edition. I don’t think it even had a name other than “original”. I then did the Amber and both of those albums have the beautiful month dividers that I just think add such a nice touch. I now have the Turquoise edition and am hoping that there will eventually be coordinating monthly dividers vs. plain clear ones with plain white stickers like the sample image shows on Amazon…will the dividers coordinate with the theme as they have in the past??
I’m super happy that Project Life is helping you and YES – we’ve actually addressed this a couple times recently (not that I expect everyone to follow every post … I realize I share a LOT). We are planning to bring back the designer Scrapbook Dividers that coordinate with each of the PL editions … including new ones for Cobalt + Clementine. : )
Awesome! Thank you Becky
When you say you have more “things in the works” such as more landscape cards, etc. will they be added to Jessica Sprague during the year or will that be something for next year? I’m just wondering if some digital elements might be added that we can use this year.
Such a great blog post Becky – and yay to the 4×6 grid cards!!! I actually emailed this as a suggestion to your customer service team some time ago, so am very excited that they will actually be available soon
I’ve been getting a lot of ideas from posts like this. Thank you so much Becky, and everyone who sends in their questions. I don’t have specific questions really but when I read your Feedback posts, something always clicks, like mini a-ha moments
I love the digital frame you used for the picture of Oreo. Can you please tell me where I can find it?
This is my son’s first year of school (Preschool) and I don’t want to get behind waiting for the school kits to arrive. I was just wondering if the school kits will use the same photo pocket pages as the Project Life? That way I can start now with what I have and add it to the school kit once it’s available. This is my first year of Project Life and I’m loving it so far. Thanks!
Looking for help on how to use the title pages on the vertical pages. I can not find a solution to make the cards “fit in” when the date line is vertical!
Thanks for addressing the Instagram issue! I’m doing digital Project Life this year, so I’d love a digital template through Jessica Sprague’s website for the smaller square photos.
Here was my solution for this week (which I’m pretty happy with)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirstenwilliamson/6671226529/in/photostream
[...] had this layout on her blog to accompany a question regarding Instagram (square) photos. Yes. I use instagram photos a lot. [...]
I am looking to purchase a new camera. Does anyone have a suggestion for one? Have one that you absolutely love?
I just heard about all of this Project Life stuff and immediately ordered a core kit, and all the pages to go with it this week. So I’ve been looking around at all the inspiration posts and noticed a lot of people using their Instagram photos and saying they are best at a 4×4. I’m curious how to print those, or where I can print them at that size.
Hello Becky I love Project Life i’ve been waiting a loooong time to get to use … this year a friend of mine went to USA and bring one for me. I am sooooo happy about it. But already worry about the next year.
You could find a way from us from Brasil would buy it by amazon, because the shippment from Australia (Foreigh Customers) is too much expensive, actually it’s cost more then if i bought 3 complete project life together.
Please Becky try for the next year we can bought ours project life by ourselves in Amazon.com
Thanks a lot
labels…
[...]feedback tuesday « Becky's Blog[...]…