Sharing Your Story: Recording Life's Details with MiniBooks + Getting Started with Digital Scrapbooking

786175225I want to introduce you to my newest book available this August (and now available for preorder):

Sharing Your Story: Recording Life's Details with Mini Books

Mini books have long been one of my favorite ways to tell stories and document information about our lives. This book features 14 new mini books I designed as well as a bunch more from a very talented group of contributors including Emily Falconbridge, Mou Saha, Maggie Holmes, Laura Kurz, and others.

The mini book featured on the cover is definitely one of my favorites as is one other project in there called "You Should Know." I am super excited for them to be brought to life and shared in the pages of the book.

If you want a peek at some mini books I have created in the past check out these links:

Family Baby Album
Summer Is
Perspective and Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Always (including a PDF download of the instructions - these were classes that I taught in 2005-2006 and released as free downloads in March 2007 during the 6degrees.org contest for Autism Speaks)
December Daily
Mommy Wisdom
Fatherhood

Also, the first issue of my newsletter back in September 2006 focused on the topic of mini books.

Dottedline

Thanks for the excitement surrounding the release yesterday of my collection of digital scrapbooking elements through Designer Digitals. For those of you asking about having stamps made of the brushes it is something I am working on and hope to bring you in the future - stay tuned.

In the meantime if you are curious about how to use digital brushes or other elements (they don't just have to be used on digital scrapbook projects) check out these great tutorials available at Designer Digitals:

Getting Started in Digital Scrapbooking

Loading + Using Brushes (which are just like stamps) in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements

And even more tutorials

Another great resource are Jessica Sprague's books: Computer Tips for Scrapbooking and Computer Tips for Scrapbooking 2. She also offers awesome, highly recommended beginner and advanced classes through her website: www.jessicasprague.com

Now here's the deal: Scrapbooking is scrapbooking. I see digital scrapbooking, or using elements from my computer, as the perfect complement to my "hands-on" projects (and my emphasis on words + photos). Since I began this creative journey back in 2002 I have always used my computer in some capacity whether it is uploading and organizing and printing my photos, to adding text to photos in Photoshop, or simply adding journaling to my projects.

As most of you know my albums are already an eclectic mix of sizes and styles. Adding in pages that are all digital or "hybrid" (which is what they call a mixture of digital and paper scrapbooking) just makes sense for me and leaves me the freedom to be as creative as I want. I love options.

The bottom line is getting the story told.

Patterned paper, computer, back of a napkin, whatever...write it down or print it out and put it in a safe place.

Dottedline

[ I was hoping to begin a new series this week but with Simon sick this past weekend I am having to adjust some things around. I will let you know more details when I have a firm date.]

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56 thoughts

  1. Suzitee says…
    06/16/2008

    Oh. My. Goodness. When did you find the time to write another book? LOL! As always, I am amazed by you, Ali Edwards. Good job, can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Jennifer Miles says…
    06/16/2008

    Can't wait for your new book. It looks great and full of inspiration.
    And thanks so much for the links on digital scrapbooking. I've been thinking of getting started in it but I had no idea where to go. But thanks to your list of links, I now do!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Dawn S. says…
    06/16/2008

    Hope your little man is feeling better soon...

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Erin says…
    06/16/2008

    SUUUUUUPER excited about your new book! So excited you are considering your digi brushes being made in to stamps, and I hope Simon is feeling better real soon!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Hayley says…
    06/16/2008

    The new book looks great!!! Can't wait!!
    Hayley

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Shelly says…
    06/16/2008

    I am really excited about your new book! Can't wait to buy one!
    I hope Simon feels better soon. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Molly says…
    06/16/2008

    I've been eagerly looking foward to this newest book. Mini books are so gratifying to hold. I just love working with a design repeat throughout (or not:)
    Also, the brushes work in the most simple of software. I have an old PC version of microsoft Publisher and a newer InDesign. I was able to pull them into both programs and use them freely. You might remind people they need not have photoshop.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Jill R says…
    06/16/2008

    It looks fantastic, I can't wait to pick up a copy in August! You always have such great ideas!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. janaina says…
    06/16/2008

    I hope you have stamps to , I will pre order
    because you last book has been a inspiration to me.
    Thanks for that

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Vicky says…
    06/16/2008

    Ali,
    I am so looking forward to your new book. Any way to purchased an autographed copy as I did with Life Artist? Hope Simon feels better soon

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Jess S says…
    06/16/2008

    I have just started doing mini books and can't wait to get my hands on your new book. Thanks you for helping me tell my story.
    Hope Simon feels better. Jess

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Jess S says…
    06/16/2008

    I have just started doing mini books and can't wait to get my hands on your new book. Thanks you for helping me tell my story.
    Hope Simon feels better. Jess

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Kristen says…
    06/16/2008

    Be still my heart....another Ali Edwards book!
    Can I hold out until August???

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. laura says…
    06/16/2008

    I'm so excited for this book, Ali. :) Love all the new digi stuff, too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. alexandra says…
    06/16/2008

    Excited about your new book and thankful for your thoughts and helpful links on digital/hybrid projects.
    So hoping Simon is feeling better soon - sending healthy thoughts your way.
    A.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Marlene says…
    06/16/2008

    So excited to hear about your new book, I wish I was able to take one of your classes in person.
    Any chance you would come to Phoenix ?

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. cindy b says…
    06/16/2008

    I really can't wait for this book!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Melissa Blair says…
    06/16/2008

    I am soooooo looking forward to this!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Becky says…
    06/16/2008

    Thank you for the links! I've been plodding along through Jessica Sprague's "Up and Running" course, and my eyes have only recently been opened to the world of "digi," so I'm really excited to check out these tutorials!
    Thanks again!
    Becky
    http://www.stinkylemsky.typepad.com/

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. sue Treiber says…
    06/16/2008

    as always, can't wait to see the book. I may even have to break my self imposed buying ban to get one :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Marcie says…
    06/16/2008

    I can not WAIT to get your new book Ali. You have been so inspirational to me and the motivation behind the mini books that I have made. I made the "you are loved" mini books for each of my boys and made one for my husband as well. Because of your blog and your creativity that you so willingly share with us all it has really pushed me to make more mini books. It's such a quick and fun and enjoyable way to get a story down and have it out there for all to enjoy looking at. I hope to soon have enough to warrant a basket to display all mine in as you do. Thank you for all you do and share with us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Laura says…
    06/16/2008

    It looks awesome!!! Can't wait. I love mini books. We just made one for my husband for Father's Day.
    Laura

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Nicky Anderson says…
    06/16/2008

    Just pre-ordered your book - very excited as I really want to get into more mini books. Love all the digital - need to learn all that great stuff and start to utilize it.
    Hope Simon is feeling better.
    Have a great Monday.
    Nicky

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Terri Porter says…
    06/16/2008

    Ali, I can't thank you enough for the link for the Designer Digitals tutorial for loading brushes. I took an online class awhile back and the instructions for loading brushes were so long and complicated. Every time I wanted to load a new brush, I had to pull out the instructions to remember how to follow all the steps. THIS WAS SO EASY! I LOVE your new brushes -- bought all of them -- and can't wait to use them now that I have them loaded. I also preordered your book and can't wait for it to come out. I'm from Phoenix too and wish you would come teach a class at Scrapbooks, Etc. Can't wait for your series but I know how having a sick child can throw everything off course. Hope he feels better soon!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Deborah P says…
    06/16/2008

    Thanks, Ali. I love mini-books too because I use them most often as little storybooks when I have a succession of pictures from the same "event." "Event" being defined as something as big as a birthday or church dedication and as small as a few minutes spent with my great-nephew digging in the dirt.
    At this point I would be more interested in the brushes as stamps since my computer set up at home is not complete. If a vendor is wondering, YES!, we want the stamps! :)
    Thank you for continuing to be so generous with your talents and insights.

    Reply 0 Replies

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