We are pleased to share happy news with our randomly selected giveaway winner. Congratulations to Debbie Dill from Simpsonville, South Carolina! Email StudioJewel@gmail.com and they’ll hook you up with your $100 gift certificate.

On to your questions + comments from this week.

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Becky, I was wondering if you consistently use the same “filter” on Instagram? And which one you love the most?

I have several go-to favorite filters.There isn’t just one filter that is so perfect for every shot, know what I mean? The same filter used on a nature shot vs. a still life shot vs. skin tones will look totally different. So the filter I use really depends on the picture I take. To answer your question, here are my favorites.

I snapped a quick still life picture to demonstrate how different filters look on the same image. While these are my favorite filters for this particular image, they’re not necessarily the same favorites for skin tones. So here are a few more favorite filters.

{ tip of the day }

That picture of me? Not taken with an iPhone. My friend + super talented photographer Natalie Norton snapped that picture of me with her dSLR. Did you know that you can instagram (yes, I’m using it as a verb) photos that aren’t necessarily taken on your iPhone? True story. I figured this out accidentally a few months ago and it’s just one of those things you iPhoneographers must know! You can get any image from your computer to your phone with syncing … or you can email the image to yourself then save the image to your photo library and there it is! All ready to be instagrammed.  : )

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Do you personally combine Project Life with POTD?

I have been doing the 365 or photo-a-day approach for the past few years. This year is different for me. For 2012, I am using Project Life to document our family’s life one week per layout. Sounds kinda the same, right? Yes, I will still end up with the same number of photos and pages in my photo book (I am using the Clementine Edition on Shutterfly in the 8×11 format), but I’m just more relaxed with this approach. The end result will be equally cool to past years of documenting with a picture every single day. Hope I’m making sense. I am really, really happy with this approach. In fact, I will be honest and tell you I have done one layout in 2012 so far (you can see that HERE) and … that is all so far. The idea of “catching up” on the last 4 weeks might feel a little overwhelming if I’m trying to keep up with the POTD approach. But I’m not. That pressure is gone for me this year and I know that this weekend I can skim through my pictures from this past month and easily get caught up in probably an hour.

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Are there any Project Life kits for 8.5 x 11 scrappers? I’d love to buy Project Life but I don’t want to switch formats.

I totally know what you mean by wanting to keep all of your books/albums the same size. The reason 12×12 makes so much sense is this: 99% of us print our photos in the standard 4×6 size. The whole idea behind Project Life is to SIMPLIFY the memory-keeping process. Adapting the design of Photo Pocket Pages so that they adapt for an 8.5×11 album isn’t simple. It would require the user to crop photos and get creative that way. We are always open to ideas and suggestions and possibilities. Smaller versions of Project Life very well could be part of our product offering in the future.

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I take a lot of photos daily on instagram with my iPhone. Have you ever considered making Photo Pocket Pages to fit the 4×4 photos? I have found sleeves that hold the 4×4 photos, but nothing that can fit journaling cards too & such.

Yes, we are working on those now. I’m super stoked.

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What’s the latest on when the plastics will available on Amazon.com?

This is what is on its way right now and due to hit Amazon’s shelves in about two weeks.

Photo Pocket Pages – Big Pack of Design A (60) – $24.99
Photo Pocket Pages – Big Variety Pack 1 (60) – $24.99
Photo Pocket Pages – Big Variety Pack 2 (60) – $24.99  *NEW (40 Design A + 20 Design D)
Big Pack of 12×12 Page Protectors (60) – $24.99  *NEW
12×12 Page Protectors (12) – $6.99
6×12 Page Protectors (12) – $5.99
Photo Pocket Pages – Design G (12) – $6.99
Big Envelope Pages (5) – $9.99
Scrapbook Dividers (15) – $7.99
3×4 Journaling Cards (100) with plain grid design – $3.99

We can’t give a specific date because we don’t have one. The timing isn’t up to us. It’s up to customs, freight, transportation, logistics, and Amazon folks who are receiving the product. In the meantime, there is no need to keep checking Amazon as long as you’re checking my blog regularly or at least getting my facebook or twitter updates. I’m a communicator. I will give you updates so you don’t have to wonder.

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Will you please share more layouts that are more like the pictures on your home page? They are basic: Pictures + cards from the Core Kit. Beautiful and simple. Those pics show the true beauty of what you have created! A brilliant idea. As a full-time employee and a full-time mom who loves creativity … I just think seeing “basic layouts” is important. Just a thought.

I completely agree with you! If you missed it, be sure to check out my Project Life in its most basic form blog post. I would be thrilled to see more submissions from Project Lifers who aren’t necessarily getting “creative” with their pages. If you are simple with your style and using our products in the most basic form … please submit your layouts. Then I can be better about sharing those.  : )

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With the way your Photo Pocket Pages have evolved and expanded in recent months, why are there no horizontal cards in the Core Kit, to work with Design B + Design D?

Because, like you mentioned, of evolution. Now that we have different configurations of Photo Pocket Pages available … including many more that are in the works right now … it absolutely makes sense to include horizontal designer journaling cards in the Project Life Core Kit. We’re re-ordering more Core Kits in every edition and these will now include a box of horizontal journaling cards. They’ll probably show up to Amazon around May-ish.

In the meantime … if you already have a Core Kit, you also have a stack of 3×4 grid cards that came in the kit. These work for both horizontal + vertical use. Leave them plain, or dress up the edge with a simple strip of Project Life Cardstock if you’d like. We have cardstock collections for every edition available right now. You can see them all HERE.

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Do you think you’ll ever do a Project Life booth at CHA? I kept thinking about it during the show!

While I have fond memories of attending craft and scrapbooking trade shows many times over the years, I’m just not there “in the scene” these days. I totally recognize that it’s unconventional for our company to not exhibit like most other scrapbooking companies. But I think we’re unconventional in a lot of ways and we are quite content with that. Exhibiting at a trade show or a consumer show is not a small project. Any time I would invest even thinking about extra stuff like that (let alone actually working to make it happen) just means less time designing products and inspiring others to document their lives. Right now I’m focused on the core of who we are … and what we do … and how we can help others.

One day, perhaps. But this isn’t my season for trade show exhibition.

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Have you ever thought about selling Project Life on TV? Just throwing that out there. I know you’re thinking big and I can totally see it.

Yep – we’ve thought about it. I have experience with QVC from “back in the day” when I did a bit of that in my last job (designing stuff for QVC, selling stuff on-air at QVC, etc.). For many reasons and thanks to my experience, we’re opting out of QVC scene with Project Life. At least for now. But I’m a never-say-never girl.

One day, perhaps. But this isn’t my season for QVC.

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Becky, I use Picnik to edit and number my POTD photos. They are closing in April. Do you recommend any other (FREE preferably) photo editing sites? Thanks so much.

Honestly, I’m really only familiar with my own little system, which is iPhoto on my Mac. That’s where I organize my pictures. I welcome others to share their thoughts, experiences, and ideas in the Comments.

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What’s going on with Project Life in the UK + Europe? Is it no longer going to be available on amazon.co.uk?

The way Project Life will come to customers in the UK and all over Europe has been modified and we feel this will be a much better customer experience for those in that part of the world. You can read all about it HERE.

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Let’s see some Project Life inspiration for teens and tweens.

Amen. Anyone of any age is invited and encouraged to share your Project Life pages with us. Email submissions@beckyhiggins.com. Remember: It’s not the creativity that matters. We want to see how you’re documenting your life with pictures + words. Same goes for those of you in your retired or empty-nester phase of life. We would love to see how you’re using Project Life!

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I bought your original baby kit from several years ago and it is pure genius! Are you considering bringing that back at all?

Yes. Can you picture it? Project Life: Baby Editions. It’s a natural idea! The old kit that I did still required you to put pages together and get a little creative. I am such a fan of further simplification and that’s exactly what you can expect out of all of our products. I do not have an expected date (I know you’re going to ask), but at least you know it’s in the queue.

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Hey Becky, I’m working on my first Project Life album and I’m realizing that my husband and kids are the main subjects my project. How do we (the documenters) make sure that we are included and not forgotten?

1) Hand the camera over and ask someone to snap a picture of you. 2) If no one else is around that can snap an occasional picture for you, learn about the timer option on your camera. Then set the camera down on the table while you’re working on homework with the kids, the floor while you’re changing a diaper, the counter while you’re doing dishes or working on a project, or a tripod if you have one. That’s a sure-fire way to get yourself in more pictures.

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Do you have an estimated time frame of when the new Project Life template will be uploaded to Shutterfly?

You haven’t heard – it’s already there! And we are LOVING it! Read more HERE.

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I love your teal ottoman! Saw it posted on Pinterest & on your blog. Could you share where you got it?

Home Goods – one of my favorite go-to places for home decor, and it has been for many years now.

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{ a couple favorite comments }

Marcia on Facebook said: Becky, I LOVE PROJECT LIFE!!! It takes me to my happy place. Thank you for coming up with this supercalifragilisticespealidocious idea!

Marci in Oregon said: Really enjoying the fact that I can be as creative as I want to be, or just stick my to-do list in the slot, or a grocery receipt… it is that simple! THANKS!

(Unknown) said: I will always do Project Life. It works. It is easy. I really love it. It has given me back the love of capturing my family’s life with a bit of flare.

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{ next week’s feedback friday }

It will be a special edition. Your questions will be answered by the other half of us – David Higgins. So … what’s on your mind? What would you like to ask David? He has been 100% involved in taking this little idea in my head to what it is today. He’s not a scrapbooker but he knows a thing or two about … just about anything.  : )