{ winners }
Happy to announce some winners from the giveaway I announced on Tuesday. The randomly-selected customer to receive the American Crafts paper trimmer is Helen Yu! Helen – email elizabethg@americancrafts.com and she’ll hook you up.
The following (5) winners were also randomly selected to win some 6×12 Page Protectors and Design E Photo Pocket Pages, which I featured in my most recent video.
Tamara Hamilton
Gary Storer
Connie Cook
Emily Sweeney
Lisa Beavers
You guys can email your shipping information to kari@beckyhiggins.com and she’ll get the goods sent your way immediately. Congrats + Enjoy!
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{ your questions }
Love the sketch! What colored pencils do you use? The colors look so vibrant – I love them!
They’re called Prismacolor by Sanford, and you can find them HERE on Amazon. These are the colored pencils I’ve used since Mrs. Winkles introduced me to them in my High School art class. Prismacolors were also my sidekick for those beloved years of creative lettering. Anyone remember this little artifact? It’s my very first published book from 1999. Good times.
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Becky! You have GOT to do something for me. Well, for all of us. Please fix your blog so that when we click on one of your links it opens in a new tab and does NOT take us away from yours. Most of the time, when I’m reading along, I really want to click on that link and see what you’re referring to but I want to finish what I’m reading at your blog first. Or finish catching up on the last week’s worth of your posts. Or whatever. The point is – don’t make us leave you!
You know, I’ve been blogging for 5 years and I’m always learning something new. Thanks for pointing this out! I didn’t realize that my links were sometimes opening a new tab, and sometimes not. And now I know the trick and will definitely be aware of that moving forward. Go on. Test all the links in this post. I dare you. ; )
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You mentioned in your Getting Organized with Kids’ Stuff video that you scan in a lot of their artwork and then print it. Can you share what you have for a scanner and printer? Thank you!
I answered this same question HERE a couple months ago and it’s a question that comes up once in a while. I certainly don’t expect that everyone reads everything I post … but here’s a little blog tip: If you ever wonder if I’ve shared about a product or topic or anything … just plug it in the search field at right and you’ll probably find out pretty quickly.
For your convenience, this short answer is … I use THIS ONE to scan most art, as well as pretty much any other papers & photos that need to be scanned.
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Why are 12×12 albums so popular? Isn’t it difficult to fit them on shelves? I love all the space and the square shape of the 12×12 albums but the 8.5 x 11 fit better. Am I missing something? If anyone can give me tips on where to display the bigger albums, I’d love to switch – thanks!
Great question, actually. I asked myself that for a long time, as I did 8.5×11 for the the first 7 years of my scrapbooking. I ended up switching to 12×12 because I loved fitting more onto a 2-page layout. But I’ve done about every other size scrapbook as well.
After 18 years in this hobby, trust me – I put a lot of thought into the size of the Project Life system before I jumped into developing an entire product line. The 12×12 page size makes perfect sense for the configuration of 4×6 prints. As you know, 4×6 is the ultimate standard size photo print. Simply put: It works. As for tips on displaying the larger 12×12 albums, I hear the IKEA Expedit shelving works well and I’ve also shared a picture of the Cropper Hopper cubes that I personally use (click HERE if you missed that post).
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Will Project Life ever be available in another size besides 12×12?
I’d like that very much.
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Any idea when the baby version of Project Life will be out?? First baby due in September and I absolutely want to start using Project Life right off the bat.
Congratulations on your pending arrival! I haven’t shared much about this yet, but believe me – behind the scenes, there has been a LOT of baby talk around here (not personally, mind you, but product-related). Soon I will be able to share SO much more, but I completely want you using Project Life for your baby. We have been working so hard to develop THE perfect kit for that first year album, and that’s what we’re going to deliver. Lucky for you, the Baby Editions should be delivered in time for your delivery! In other words, we definitely expect the arrival before September.
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Has anyone used more than one Core Kit in an album? Right now I am using Amber but I am loving the Clementine Edition, too. I am thinking about ordering Clementine when it becomes available and using it as well. Would it be crazy or seem unorganized to use both Amber and Clementine in the same album?
No rules. Make it yours. Do what feels right and keeps it fun for you!
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I am so confused how to do something for our family with everyone in it, yet how to make something for my kids individually too. I am at a position where I am procrastinating because I’m paralyzed from the ‘Where to begin’?
You’re in good company of folks who feel paralyzed in getting started with scrapbooking. Project Life is designed to simplify the process. We’ve taken so much of the guesswork out of it for you. As for getting started … if you’ve never done scrapbooking, I recommend just sticking with one album instead of feeling like you need to do one for each child. You might be inclined to do that later, but start with one for now. Perhaps it’s a family album with pictures that include all family members and various events.
Layout from Deb Duty‘s Project Life album.
My favorite part of this idea is getting the family involved in taking pictures and writing on the little Journaling Cards. Super easy. Anyone can do it. And what a fun collaborative project!
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How do you recommend I get started? Currently a CM Picfolio cropper and really want to get going with your great albums.
I have no idea what a “CM Picfolio cropper” is … but I’m thrilled to know that you’re interested in a simpler way to document life. This is what we recommend. Stick with the basics. Everything else is fun to add, but this really is all you need:
As you may know, all of the Core Kits are currently sold out but being reprinted and made available again soon. We were really hoping to make it possible by the end of this month but it will be sometime next month before we see these. Next week I should have a full update on why everyone should be pretty stoked about these reprinted Core Kits. Stay tuned.
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Will you be stocking the metal bookplates that are on the spines of the newest albums on their own, so that we can put them onto our older albums? Or is that maybe a We R Memory Keepers product?
No, we don’t have plans to offer that. They just come built into our Binders (as shown), identical to the other WRMK binders. I don’t believe WRMK offers that bookplate as a separate item.
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Will there be new core kit designs for 2013, like Cobalt and Clementine were released for 2012?
Absolutely. In fact, we have two new designers already in the early stages of this design work now. I can’t leak the information quite yet, but you know we aim to please. And I think you guys are going to be very, very pleased with the 2013 editions. But – it’s only May! Way too early to even think about that. In the meantime, we have PLENTY of products we’re releasing and re-releasing between now and then.
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I’m interested in doing a Project Life album dedicated to my wedding. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Encourage me to hurry up already with a Wedding Edition … like I don’t have much else going on. ; ) In the meantime, choose the Project Life Edition that best suits your wedding style when those become available next month, and slip those pictures into an album – simple! Just like any other scrapbook, but it’s focused on this one event/occasion/theme.
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As I was taking my photo each day I found myself wondering if I needed to take a vertical or horizontal picture, because it wouldn’t work to take horizontal one day, vertical the next, and so on, because the sheet protectors aren’t like that. How is everyone dealing with this?
Short answer: We love Design G for getting horizontal + vertical pictures onto one page! Easy breezy.
Page in Jennifer Woodbury‘s Project Life album. Notice the page at right with both horizontal and vertical pictures. This is Design G and it’s 10×12 instead of the full 12×12 size.
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Are you still doing 12 x 12 albums for your kids or is your digital project life taking place of those albums now?
Yes, I am doing actual, physical, 12×12 albums for each of our 3 kids. I share more about this in the currently featured video on my Videos page.
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{ your feedback }
Lisa wrote: You know you’re onto something good when your husband says “Glad someone thought of a system for scrapbooking that is economical, organized, and really makes sense!”
Jen wrote: I love your home Becky, I love the style, the colors and the little touches you have done! Thank you for not only inspiring me to document our family’s story with PL, but thank you for inspiring me to paint my walls and getting house projects done!
Marcia wrote: Received my cardstock last night…ordered one of each package; LOVE IT!!! I have already made two layouts using the coordinating cardstock….LOVE IT…and it was soooooo inexpensive!!!
Becky wrote: And…….reason 5,242 that I adore Project Life. Was in tears as I got ready to throw away my toddler’s favorite footie pajamas. {they are worn to threads}. Then I thought….why not cut out his favorite dinosaur on the pj’s….stick it in a Photo Pocket Page and journal about them! Hurrray. Becky you saved me from a mini emotional meltdown this morning. Now I will keep a little piece of them preserved!
Britney wrote: In one week we are moving overseas for 6 months. All I am taking with me is Project Life! I am very nervous about not having hoards of paper, stickers and embellishments around me. However, I am so thankful and happy that I do have Project Life and I can continue to record our history that way!
Tags: album size, baby edition, binders, colored pencils, Design G, Prismacolor, Project Life, scanner, winners
To the girl who wondered if you can combine two kits and make it look good…ABSOLUTELY!!!
I’m using both the Cobalt and Clementine kit, as well as a few little extras here and there, and I LOVE the way it looks!!!
Check it out:
http://angelamoore.typepad.com/my_life/365_photos/
yes, yes! I use the Amber and Clementine kit regularly, but some of the Cobalt kit elements match too!
http://www.avegasgirlatheart.com/search/label/%E2%99%A5%20Project%20Life
I used Cobalt for winter (going back to it for December) and I’m currently using Clementine for spring. I’m planning on Amber for summer and Turquoise for fall. My original intent was to use all Cobalt, but I need variety!
Great sharing, girls! Loving your layouts!
There’s no reason why you can’t use a different style of cardstock for every layout, if you like! I use lots of patterned paper and cardstock (purchased before and since) Project Life that I love throughout my albums. Also, I like having the paper match the theme of the pictures a bit (I recently did an album about vacations to National Parks where I used all plain cardstock with few embellishments and LOVE the way it turned out).
This is true whether I’m working in an events-based OR a month-to-month format (I don’t have the time or commitment to do week-by-week. I like the more in-depth layouts and doing week-by-week would take time away from that).
In short, it’s YOUR book–do whatever you like! Then post in the gallery so we can all see : )
A “CM Picfolio Cropper” is a scrapbooker that uses Creative Memories Picfolio albums (kind of along the same line as Project Life…kind of. Not quite as cool and versatile and easy!) : )
The Creative Memories PicFolio is a bound pocket style album. It is similar in concept to Project Life but the albums come with a Pre-set number of pages. Decorative paper and journaling blocks are also available.
Will the core kits be restocked? if so when? I finally have a few extra $$$ and they are all sold out
She mentions above end of this month/early next month.
Jean up top she said “As you may know, all of the Core Kits are currently sold out but being reprinted and made available again soon. We were really hoping to make it possible by the end of this month but it will be sometime next month before we see these. Next week I should have a full update on why everyone should be pretty stoked about these reprinted Core Kits. Stay tuned.”
As someone else due in September I nearly squealed at the prospect of baby project life! My 2nd child’s
Albums are already so dismal in comparison to the firsts I wasnt feeling very confident in #3 having much better luck!!
Will probably get 2 kits and give the middle child a catch up!
For the reader who wondered about vertical and horizontal pages. I alternate Designs A and D in my PL albums. So, every week I use 4 horizontal photos and 4 vertical. It always seems to work out. If I don’t take enough of one way or the other, I can usually crop the pictures to 4×4 to fit.
Another idea that I have done is to resize my vertical shots down to 3×4 (I make a photo collage using Picasa and fit two 3×4 vertical shots onto a 4×6 print) and slip them into the 3×4 slots and add my journaling/ephemera into the 4×6 spot. It works great and keeps things easier for me.
To piggy back the question about how to use both vertical and horizontal pictures, I have a question. Not sure if I am supposed to be posting it here…
If I use a design B or C page protector for the right side of a 2 page weekly spread, what do I do then with the back side of it since that area will now be the left page (or the first page) of the following week’s spread for which I would want to revert back to Design A? Does that make sense? Just wondering what people are doing when using alternate design page protectors when it comes to the back side of it…
Thanks!
I would say that if you are alternating designs, then you would just know that the LEFT side for the next week will be the different design, followed by a design A for the right half.
YES Mix and match it makes it uniquely yours and no one else will ever have a book exactly like yours!!! mix and matching is my favorite thing to do!!!! to all those expecting Good job! starting right a way but if you cant keep up ITS OK!!! please do what you can with out feeling guilty!!! if you dont get to it ITS OK!!!!!
I have been procrastinating on my wedding album for the last year (well 7 if we’re really counting but in the last year I’ve thought oh I should do something.) Thanks for the shot of inspiration when reading this months post about using PL albums! I’m already doing my daughter’s first year w/o the baby kit, I can do my wedding now too! love the simple guilt free scrapping. thank you so much!
I am sooooo excited that there will be new versions next year!!! And that you are telling us about the restock of core kits…really hoping that there will be more cute horizontal cards, which I know there will be cause you’re awesome and listen to your customers!
I have every design you’ve ever done and am slowly going back and catching up on my 3 boys’ regular albums just using project life core kits and page protectors! Love the system and it’s making it so easy for me to “catch up.” But I’m in no hurry cause I love the process and will not stress myself out because I’m behind.
YOU ARE AWESOME!!!! Keep up the GREAT work, and the new products coming!
Sooooo excited about the baby edition! I am just wrapping up my baby’s first year using PL and will definitely buy the baby edition for #2! Hope you will go with the bold colors
I get so jazzed up every time I read your blog. I am salavating now for the July releases and since my baby is 6, the thought of doing his baby book as easily as I document our daily life makes me absolutely giddy. My first born’s baby book is 2, yes, 2, 12×12 books and nary a page for the 2nd. I would preorder everything TODAY if I could. The real reason I wrote was to say thanks for answering all these questions. I imagine it takes a lot of time and your answers are always so honest and thoughtful. You can just tell you that you are a kind, good person. So from someone who is a big, big fan and whose crazy busy life you have make so much easier. THANKS. I will continue to FORCE every guest in my house to look at my Project Life stuff and get them to get on board. It absolutly makes you cognizant of your blessings EVERYDAY! Again, THANK YOU! Oh, and happy Mother’s Day!
Wow!! Thanks, Becky!! I didn’t even realize I was up for an extra cool prize (have to catch up on my blog reading this weekend). What a lovely treat!!
Thanks so much!! Will definitely put the trimmer to good use.
I’m predicting a baby boom!
So excited about the Baby PL Edition coming in September. I am also expecting my first child for September and can hardly wait to see the design of the album!!
Is there a ‘school kit’ upcoming too? I’m dying to start getting my sons book started before my second one starts kindergarten. Thanks!
This! Last I heard was that it was coming out this summer. Maybe at the same time as the baby kit??
Here, here! That’s the one I’m waiting for. . . .
I was surprised to see my name as a winner. My paper arrived today and it’s beautiful. I got some Clemetine to go with the Amber core kit and paper I already have. Thank you very much!
I love my PL album. I work on my differently from most people. I do my layouts a month at a time. It’s working for me that way. And I love that I have 4 months of my life recorded.
For the person who was wondering about the metal bookplates..Martha Stewart just came out with a new line of Office Products at Staples..I am in Canada so not sure about US..but i am sure you could order online. Point of my comment: She has adhesive metal book plates..I put one on my american crafts leather album and it is not going anywhere..stuck on so strong and looks like it was part of the album!!
Becky,
I have to tell you that I have the Art of Creative Lettering…I loved it then and I love it now. It was one of the first scrapbooking books that I bought and I remember trying so hard to make each letter exactly the way that you did…It was one of the first books that made me think I was doing something creative…I used it every time I did a scrapbook page…this was back when the only options were colored paper and Mrs. Grossman stickers…your book was cutting edge and it made me the scrapbooker I am today. I don’t think you realize how many people you have touched with your creativity…You have an amazing gift and I am so fortunate that I was able to learn from you. I’m sure you get fan mail everyday buy I really hope that you can take a breathe and realize the impact you have had on so many people…You are amazing! Thank you….
Becky,
I especially LOVE the PL envelope packets but was wondering whether you are thinking of developing them where they open on the side instead of the top?
Thank you for PL. I started in 2009. At that time, I fell by the wayside middle of the year and played catch-up through 2010 but completed it. 2010, I used Shutterfly and just did a monthly one. My 2011 is still unfinished with Shutterfly. But I have to say that I am up-to-date with 2012….
Maria
Hi Becky
i looking forward to the release of the baby PL. i’m a single mum and due end of may early june with my third daughter. Her father chooses to not want to be in her life and if he ever chooses to come into her life and realises what he has missed i can proudly show him this. Thank you so much for choosing create this kit..you rock!!