Posts Tagged ‘big picture classes’

giveaway: BPC Bootcamp

Friday, October 12th, 2012

Winners added to the bottom of the post.

Our friends at Big Picture Classes have announced their 4Experts for 2013 – and they are hosting their very first Boot Camp October 15-27 to get you in top scrapbooking shape!

Featuring Ali Edwards on storytelling, Cathy Zielske on design, Tracey Clark on photography, and Amy Powers on creative living, this online event will help you shape up in four key areas of creative expression.

Starting October 15, when you receive your daily “report for duty” email, you’ll simply log in to the classroom for 10-minute video followed by a 10-minute targeted exercise that’s guaranteed to:

  • jumpstart your creativity
  • exercise your memory keeping muscles
  • give you a concrete starting point to get something done NOW
  • inspire you with lasting skills and ideas you’ll want to apply over and over

This is your chance to get to know the 2013 4Experts in bite-sized chunks, in one classroom, for one low price. And this is an event that is suitable for even the busiest crafters. You can read more about the class and register HERE.

{ giveaway }

Big Picture Classes is giving away 2 seats to Boot Camp – for my readers. Simply leave your first name, city, and country in the comments. Since it is an online class, this giveaway is open to anyone in the world.

I will announce the 2 winners right here at the end of my blog post Monday morning October 15 – at 8:00 Pacific / 11:00 Eastern. Class begins that day, so check back on Monday to see if you won!

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Congratulations to the following randomly-selected winners! Be sure to email kari@beckyhiggins.com so we can be sure to get you registered in Boot Camp.

Renae in Manito, Illinois and Jennyfer in Ontario, Canada.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 612 Comments »

feeling a little persnickety around here.

Monday, September 10th, 2012

Most of you know that I’ve been heavily involved in the content development for my first-ever online class. What a thrill to hear about so many of you that are already registered!

Just in case this is news to you – you can read all about my class HERE. So much heart & soul is being poured into each week’s content. I’m truly being persnickety (my new favorite word) about the details of what I share with students. I’m doing slide show presentations + videos + pulling together more tips + tricks than I ever have since my days of publishing books. It is so much work and so much fun.

I feel deeply that this class will be greatly beneficial to my students – whether you’re brand-new to memory-keeping, or you’re a dedicated Project Lifer with albums full of memories. Whether you want to roll up your sleeves and accomplish a LOT of stuff in your life (inside + outside of the album) … or if want to sit back and just watch + read what I’m sharing.

For example, my current work at the moment is a video tour of just about every organizational spot – in just about every room – in our home. You’ll even get to see my junk drawers and other stuff that’s not so organized. You’ll either watch just to watch … or you’ll watch and get to work on sprucing up some organization in your own home. Do what you want. Don’t do what you don’t want to do.

Be sure to consult my big Q+A post if you have questions about Project Real Life. Super packed with helpful info.

One really fun thing about my class is that we’ve designed a set of Project Life cards to go in your Project Life album for our 12 weeks together – 4×6 Title Cards and 3×4 Quote Cards. All double-sided so that you can choose vertical or horizontal format. All rounded corners. All excellent print quality. All graphically designed by Lili Niclass. And all printed + delivered by … Persnickety Prints!

NOTE: All of the exclusive card designs will also be available in digital format for Project Real Life students.

What is so fun about Persnickety Prints is that their name is sooo what they’re about – picky and particular about the details. If you’re not already familiar with Persnickety, you should be. Because you take pictures. And you love your pictures. And you care about having quality prints of your memories – without breaking the bank. Simply put – they are awesome.

I hand-selected them to print the Project Real Life cards for my students. I choose them to print my own personal pictures. And guess what else? They are totally Project Lifers themselves! They totally GET what we’re doing – what you’re doing.

Which means … in addition to all the other sizes they offer, they even print 3×4 and 4×4 and 6×6 and 6×12. (Check out all their pricing HERE.) And … they’ll even round your prints’ corners for you with the same corner radius (3/8″) as our Project Life cards if you want! Hello, awesome sauce. In their pricing list, you’ll see options listed as “Project Life” prints. Those are all the sizes of the pockets you’re familiar with in our Photo Pocket Pages.

And no, we’re not making money off this. We just really, really love that Persnickety gets us, gets Project Life, and gets you.

PS – I got to meet Chari (she runs Persnickety and puts her heart & soul into what she does) last month. Instant BFFs. It’s bound to happen when you bond over memory-keeping and entrepreneurship.  : )

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Posted in photography, scrapbooking | 29 Comments »

Project Real Life: registration is OPEN.

Thursday, August 9th, 2012

It was October of 2011 that I announced I would be teaching my very first online class in the 4th quarter of 2012. Someone please tell me - how is it possible that time has flown by so fast that it’s already time for registration??

Friends, I hope you will consider signing up. I have never done anything like this before. I’ve taught many live, in-person classes. I’ve written several books. I’ve made plenty of videos and published hundreds of blog posts. But developing content for an online class is its own category – and working on this has been a labor of love.

I am so very grateful to Big Picture Classes for inviting me to be a part of their vision – bringing education & inspiration into the comfort of your home. Stacy and I go way back and like many of you, I adore her and want her to live next door so we can be trail-running buddies and I can taste-test her recipes. It is so, so, so fun for both of us that after all these years of working side-by-side in the scrapbooking industry, that we are once again working TOGETHER on something really special. I feel very blessed to be able to utilize the infrastructure that BPC has in place, as the home base for my class. Plus, I just adore working with the whole team there.

Let’s get down to the details, shall we? I want you to be as informed as possible as you decide whether this is for you or not.

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Q: Where do we go to sign up for your class?

A: Click HERE for the registration page on BigPictureClasses.com.

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Q: Are there a limited number of seats?

A: NO, that’s the beauty of online classrooms; there is a seat for everyone!

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Q: When will the last day of registration be?

A: October 10, 2012 at 10:00pm PST.

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Q: When does the class start?

A: October 4, 2012.

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Q: How long will your class run?

A: It covers the whole 4th quarter of this year; my last week’s worth of material will be shared December 26.

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Q: How much will it cost?

A: $99

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Q: Is your class open to people living outside of the U.S.?

A: You bet. Anyone, anywhere.

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Q: What will be the purpose of your class?

A: My goal for you in taking this class is that you feel enriched, motivated, and inspired to cultivate a better life – and truly liberated in the way you approach the documentation of that life. You will get a healthy dose of my personal real-life insights about both of those areas – creating and documenting a good life. Sounds vague, eh? Keep reading.

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Q: What will be the final results of your class?

A: We are covering so many areas in which we can all cultivate a better life, so I believe that taking this class will result in you having the perfect life. Just kidding! For real, these topics we’ll be talking about, and these ways we’ll be documenting our life over the next few months, will be very enriching. Our eyes will be opened a little wider to how we approach our not-so-perfect life. I think we’ll all feel more motivated to embrace the real life that is ours. And of course document that life along the way.

As for tangible results, we will be completing 12 Project Life layouts over the 12-week course. I’ll have oodles of photo challenges to get the wheels in your head spinning about how to document everyday life. Be prepared to keep your camera handy the whole time. I’m also pretty confident that you’ll be tackling an organizational project or two in your home. There are also several other optional projects/challenges/tasks (homemaking, decorating, scrapbooking “older” photos, etc.) that I’ll be presenting. Did I mention optional?

The beautiful thing about my philosophy is that I have a NO PRESSURE approach to teaching. If you want to enroll, check the classroom weekly and sit back while you watch my videos and read my material and do nothing with my assignments or challenges, I have no problem with that. If you want to create extensive to-do lists based on the ideas I’m sharing, then I can keep you very busy. You will set your own pace. I’m there to offer suggestions and hang out with you a little through the holiday season that will soon be upon us.

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Q: What will we learn that we can’t already learn from your website?

A: Excellent question. I share a lot right here on my blog, for free. All the time. On a regular basis. For free. At no cost. Doesn’t cost you a dime. What’s different about developing content for a class that people pay for, is the cohesiveness that strings through all of the content, pulling it all together for a much more effective impact on lives – resulting, hopefully, in some seriously eye-opening experiences.

Similar to developing products, I have put a lot of thought & energy into how my class content will resonate with you, and how I can add value for you. Countless hours creating slide show presentations, videos, handouts, etc. This is totally a step above blogging when it comes to not only the preparation, but the outcome.

Each week I’ll be sharing content and ideas with you (including hanging out in different spots around my home) that have not been addressed on my blog. I’m diving in a little deeper on organization, time management, homemaking, traditions … all that good stuff that makes up LIVING LIFE.

Interested in seeing the 12 topics that we’ll cover? Here is the PDF: ProjectRealLifeCalendar

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Q: What is the difference between Project Real Life and Project Life?

A: Project Real Life is my class – what this big, giant blog post is all about. Project Life is the line of products that I have developed to take the guesswork out of memory-keeping. If you’re new here, you can see what Project Life looks like HERE.

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Q: Did you say something about getting a set of cards with the class?

A: Indeed. Anyone who enrolls in the class will receive a set of exclusively-designed Project Life cards (3×4 and 4×6) that are not available anywhere else.

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Q: Is this class going to be self-paced or will we have weekly assignments?

A: This is an instructor-led (that’s me!) class with weekly updates for 12 weeks. I will be interacting on the message boards and galleries. The content I share will all be centered around cultivating a good life in the midst of reality. You can absolutely participate on your watch, and no one is holding you to any sort of “deadlines”. If that’s what you mean by self-paced, then yes.  : )

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Q: Will the class have chats?

A: Yep. Apparently I’m even doing 3 live video chats. Sounds fun!

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Q: I have never taken an online class before.  It is all written out?

A: I’ve never done this either – how fun to try this together! There are beautifully designed handouts and worksheets, but there are also videos, slide presentations, chats and the chance to interact with all of the other students as well. There will be transcripts available for videos and slideshows.

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Q: Will you be discussing how to organize our photos?

A: You bet!

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Q: Is this class suitable for Project Life beginners?

A: A thousand percent, YES. If you have never touched Project Life – you are so going to dig this. If you have never even scrapbooked EVER – oh boy. You will really love this! I am not about complicated gadgets and intricate techniques that leave you with glitter in your hair and sores on your fingers. I am ALL about a simple solution for documenting life. Stick your photos + written memories into Photo Pocket Pages. No adhesive. No fancy trimmer. Just get it done and LOVE your album.  : )

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Q: Will the class be beneficial for those of us who have been doing Project Life for a few years now?

A: Absolutely. If you’re already a Project Lifer, you understand the simple nature of the system. There’s no need for a class to teach you “how” to do Project Life because all you do is place items in pockets and that is all. Zero education needed. My class is far more focused on cultivating a better life. Recording life will already come naturally to you.

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Q: Will this class be beneficial if I am doing Project Life via Shutterfly or your digital elements?

A: Sure! No matter what your approach (phyical products + prints or doing it digitally) – the concepts of what we are doing are still the same.

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Q: Once we have registered, will we always have access to the gallery, files & other items from the class?

A: Any class you take at Big Picture Classes is archived in your account. It’s something they call Forever Access and it means that you will have all of the ideas, inspiration and information that I share to keep and refer back to again and again. It also means that you can LIVE your life and not worry too much about keeping up every single week!

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Q: Does the class cover other ways to document using Project Life besides the weekly approach?

A: Yes indeedy.

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Q: Is this class designed to help us get caught up with past photos or is it a present, going-forward type of class?

A: Yes. And yes. I love it ALL, so we’ll cover the spectrum.

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Q: Will I be able to take your class using my iPad or do I need to be on a computer?

A: All of the content in a BPC classroom is iPad friendly – how cool is that!?

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Q: Will you be offering your class again in early 2013?

A: Nope. We may offer it again in 2014, but the best thing to do is take it now and know you can refer back to it at anytime!

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Go on. Register. As soon as you do, you’ll have access to a fun presentation I pulled together. See you in class!

 

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Posted in holidays & seasons, scrapbooking | 110 Comments »

“i statements” challenge

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

Over at BigPictureClasses.com, they have a fun way of sharing teacher bios. Instead of this-is-where-I’m-from-and-what-I-do, each teacher shares very current snippets about who they are right now in this moment.

This got me thinking … this is such a fun + easy way to capture a quick bit of journaling that you and I could do right now, for our Project Life album … or any scrapbook we’re working on. Are you with me?

Here is a list of prompts I was given when I joined the collection of teachers at Big Picture Classes:

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{ challenge for you }

Fill in the blanks. Finish the sentences. Get these little snippets into your journal or scrapbook or somewhere. There are no right or wrong answers. Just follow the lead from each prompt and complete each sentence authentically. Be you. And then – pass along the challenge. Perhaps you’re feeling inspired right now, as I felt inspired by BPC. Share the list with your family members. This is a great little list of journaling prompts that anyone can do. Kids included.

Okay – I’ll start. Here is my list actually from my bio on BPC:

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i was … just thinking about how I need to be better about writing down my kids’ quotes.

i am … exactly between 30 and 40.

i think … I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by amazing women in my real life.

i wonder … what it would be like if I got 8 hours of sleep on a regular basis.

i wish … everyone knew their divine worth.

i save … Box Tops for my kids to turn into school.

i always … crave a little silence.

i can’t imagine … existing without my family.

i believe … everybody’s story is worth recording.

i promise … I really got a D in High School Photography.

i love … home.

i scrap … more simply than I ever have in my life and the result is that our family’s story is told more honestly, more accurately, more completely than ever in all my life.

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Of course I had the kids do this for their albums. I just wrote a handful of prompts on a 3×4 grid card and gave them a few minutes of quiet to fill it out. Simple. And now the card oozes their personality in every way.

Translations (to save you time, for those who want to decipher what they wrote):

PORTER: I am really smart, awesome, fast kid. I think that I have a great family. I wonder if (blurred) and (blurred) like me (I promised I would blur the girls’ names). I wish I could be my own secret super hero. I always thought I was a small kid. I never should meet a bad guy. I love my family. I believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live.

CLAIRE: I am six. I think that my future is true. I wonder if I can get another grandparents (four’s not enough?). I wish that I can have a house (she knows when she has her own, she can have as many pets as she wants). I always want to live. I never eat poop and pee (awesome). I love my family. I believe Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

No help from me. I so love these. And now they’re going in their albums (and yes, they are signed and dated on the back). Come on. Take two minutes, grab a little card, and write some “I” statements.

 

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Posted in family & children, scrapbooking | 38 Comments »

giveaway: favorite four

Monday, October 17th, 2011

You saw my big announcement, right? If not – it’s HERE. These are the featured online class instructors in 2012′s 4Experts series on Big Picture Classes. Stacy, Heidi, Nic, me.

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{ the team at Big Picture Classes has this message for you }

We are celebrating 5 years of 4Experts at Big Picture Classes! We are thrilled to announce Becky Higgins, Heidi Swapp, Nic Howard and Stacy Julian as our expert line-up in 2012 and we join you in anticipation of these four 12-week workshops hosted in unique and custom classrooms, designed to provide the very best that BPC has to offer. When you take a 4Experts class you not only get top-notch education, you become part of an active and exciting community of friends from across the county and the globe. Watch the videos at BPC and make plans to spend quality time with Becky, Heidi, Nic and Stacy in 2012.

  • January to March: Twelve taught by Stacy Julian
  • April to June: The Art of Observation taught by Heidi Swapp
  • July to September: Dimensional Details taught by Nic Howard
  • October to December: Project Real Life taught by Becky Higgins

Note: Registration for each 4Expert workshop begins approximately eight weeks before the first day of class. If you’re not yet a BPC member, click here to register so you can receive email notification when registration opens.

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{ favorite four giveaway }

    • Colorful Sharpies make Stacy happy!
    • Heidi loves Mint Milanos as a treat anytime of the year
    • Lip gloss makes Nic feel pretty and that is why she loves it!
    • Seeing the Everyday magazine is one of my favorite things because it inspires us to appreciate the little things in life.

I would love for one of you to win a fave four box featuring 1 favorite item from each of the four teachers + $50 BPC gift certificate to use towards one of these classes. To enter, leave your first name + city + state/country. If you want, share one of your favorite things. Someone will be randomly selected and announced this week.

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Posted in style & design | 795 Comments »

announcing my first online class!

Friday, October 14th, 2011


Oh, that Stacy Julian.

She’s a real charmer, isn’t she? I’ve known her nearly 15 years, so I know she is kind and amazing and smart and funny and capable of doing just about anything … and a charmer. In fact, she totally charmed her way into convincing me that it is time – it is about darn time – that I teach an online class.

Me? Teach an online class!? What would I teach? I mean – I have steered so far from doing anything technique-driven, really. I have simplified the creative part of my life in a big, big way. I have channeled my efforts in helping others to simplify, too. What kind of class content would I have?

She convinced me – in the charming Stacy way – that my life is content. She explained that going about what I do with regards to organization, home management, projects, documenting life, living life … this is content for an online class. And you know what? I get what she means now. I see her vision.

Line upon line, my vision for an online class has developed. I am committed. I am excited. I am not ready yet (because I still have time to continue developing content). But I am inspired and the wheels are spinning. In other words, I am pleased to announce that I am teaching my very first online class! And I’m doing it at Big Picture Classes.

This is the 5th year for BPC to do the 4Experts series. I am honored to be one of the 4 featured experts in 2012, along side with Stacy Julian herself, Heidi Swapp, and Nic Howard. You can read about each of our 4 very unique classes, and watch a video on each of those classes at Big Picture Classes right now. The announcement was made TODAY, so this is all very hot off the press.

My class is called Project REAL Life. My class will run in Q4 – October-November-December 2012. Registration opens August 9, 2012.

Because the class runs in the last quarter of 2012, I still have time to develop the class. I’m brainstorming like mad to come up with 12 weeks of content that you will find interesting and inspiring. Do you know what this means? I’m asking YOU what YOU would like to see. You know my tagline – Cultivate good life and record it. That is the core focus of this online class … real-life application on ways that we can cultivate a good life … and of course inspiration for recording it all.

So tell me – If you were taking my online class … what would you like to see? I’m a good listener, you know.  ; )

Oh, and I have a giveaway related to all this fun coming on MONDAY. Tune in.

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Posted in products | 90 Comments »

Project Life + Big Picture = Awesome.

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

I am still working on all the Project Life FAQs. (You have a lot of terrific questions!) So in the meantime, I have some exciting news.

I am pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Big Picture Classes to create the official Project Life Community.

It’s safe to assume that most of you have at least heard of Big Picture Classes. I know many of you are registered there and have taken (or are currently taking) classes there. If you’re not familiar with Big Picture’s contribution to the creative world, it’s a place online where you can connect & learn. It’s scrapbooking and photography and DIY projects and crafting and more. And of course the amazing, energetic, optimistic, compassionate, brilliant Stacy Julian is the genius behind it all. You can learn more by visiting the Big Picture Classes site.

The Project Life Community is a place where you can connect with, learn from, and be inspired by others who are using Project Life. Share ideas & tips, ask questions, and brainstorm together. It is completely free to join. I’d love to see you around the community! Click HERE to check it out and be among the first to join. This is brand-new today.

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Posted in products | 15 Comments »