Sharing Your Story: Recording Life's Details with MiniBooks + Getting Started with Digital Scrapbooking
I 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.
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
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.
[ 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.]
I seriously cannot wait for this book! I love making mini albums but often have trouble getting them started so this will be great.
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I am so excited to get my hands on this book, Ali. Whenever they begin announcing your books I go through this serious dilemma--from whom will I get this book the fastest? My LSS or CK or Michaels? LOL.
I look forward to our interview next month and will email you in a couple week or two to schedule it.
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Oooh ... seriously, can't wait!
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thanks for the heads up on the book. I love the emphasis you put on words + photos. I found many of my own words matching yours yesterday as i encouraged a friend to just 'tell her story', not to keep waiting for the perfect method and products, and inordinate amounts of time to do it--just do it! The 'WAY you do it' is just as much a part of the story as the story itself.
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I can't WAIT for your book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Already on preorder! I love everything you write!!!
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oh my . . . i didn't know a new book was in the works. and one on minibooks is almost too good to be true. can't wait to get my copy. i'm sure it will be on my top 3 list!
hope simon is feeling better real soon.
denise
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congrats to you on all of this cool stuff.
so happy for you!
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Super excited to add this book to my collection :-) I love your stuff!!
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Just preordered the book. I finished a mini album for my DH for Father's Day. Somehow, I seem to be less intimidated and can finish mini-albums rather than work on my big albums. Funny how that is. Perhps I'll get the story told all through mini albums! Thank you for continuing to be an inspiration!
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I can't wait to get your new book(s) too! :) I always love your ideas/inspiration.
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I hope your little guys is feeling better soon... nothing worse than feeling icky on sunny summer days!
... and I can not wait to see your book! so excited to see that you have another one coming out! keep up the great work, ali!
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I can't wait to add this book to my collection!!
I hope Simon feels better today....
Hugs...
Dedra
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I was thinking to myself yesterday "I wish someone would publish a book about mini albums." I was working on a mini album for part of my husbands fathers day present (yes, it is a little last minute!!)and was stuck in a rut. I guess somebody heard me!!! Can't wait to get my hands on your new project! Thanks for all of you inspiration.
Well wishes for Simon.
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Yay! Can't wait to get my hands on the new book. :) I love the others so much, every time I'm in the store, I feel like buying another copy (LOL).
I am so glad you remind everyone to focus on the importance of getting the story told rather than the format in which you choose to tell it. :)
And... your DD stuff is wonderful. :) Thanks for jumping into the digi world.
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EEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! A NEW Ali book to add to my collection!!! I can't wait!!!! =D Doing my happy dance...doing my happy dance...doing my HAPPY DANCE!!!!
Oh...and Congrats to Simon for taking the chance on that cheeseburger! If I may say, I happen to like the Happy Meals and eat them for lunch often....usually skipping the fries.
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OH, I am so looking forward to getting my hands on this book Ali! Another one to add to my collection! Cant wait! :)
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Can't wait for the new book!! Hope Simon is feeling better.
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Ali, quick question...I love your "font" of your handwriting...where can I get one made of my own? I used fontifer.com, and am not pleased with the results. It's very choppy...
Any info would be appreciated!!
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Hi Ali,
Your new book looks cool, I can't wait to buy it ! I hope it will available in CKC Valley Forge ?
Nanie
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I love the new journaling brushes! Can't wait to see more of your digital designs.
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I so can't wait until your new book!:)Counting down the days. As for the brushes, i can't wait to buy them and try it. I'm so intimidated by digital sb but hopefully this will get me out of my shell.
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I'm loving minibooks these days, too - can't wait to get your book!
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WOw can't wait for your new book! Just started to reread your last book.
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Ali, what does your day look like each day? How do you find time for your blog, your column, scrapbooking, and living?! I have two kids on my own and I am amazed if I crank out one scrapbook page at the end of the day!
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