AE : Inspirations

IT ALL COUNTS : Yesterday I was listening to the new Paperclipping Roundtable podcast and enjoyed hearing Stacy Julian talk about where she's at with scrapbooking right now. One of my favorite things she said is this, "it all counts." Meaning paper, digital, hybrid, photobooks, sharing images in online albums, etc - it all counts as a way to share, present, deal with, & preserve your memories. Totally worth listening to if you have a chance.

AE_Jan12

365 : I've been playing around a bit with a 365 project. Right now mine is a combination of words, photos, and stuff collected each day. I am using Becky Higgins Project Life kit as the base (I love those page protectors) and filling in with content as I go. I am trying to be really low-key with this project. I want it to be a place to collect bits of our life throughout the year. No stress. No high expectations. I also love that it can hold a combination of things vs. just being a purely photo project. Date on this photo was created using my Outline Days, Months, Years & Numbers Value Pack from Designer Digitals. I hope to show some images of my album in the coming weeks.

iPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY : Did you know that there are a bunch of apps out for the camera on your iphone? This post on Shutter Sisters by Stephanie Roberts details a few of them. I think it would be cool to add some of these photos into my 365 album.

THE GOOD GRIEF BLOG : This is a really inspirational blog, started by Amanda Probst, about scrapbooking loved ones who have passed on. Read the How It Works page here.

MY ONE LITTLE WORD : My word, story, is inspiring me. It's motivating me and moving me forward. One of the biggest things I am working on right now is connecting an old storyline of mine (being an athlete) with my current storyline.

HOW TO CREATE A PAPERLESS KITCHEN : Loved this article at Simple Mom.
We've been leaning towards paper-free in our kitchen with paper towels
being the last hold-out. I think reading this article may have pushed
me over the edge for this to be our last package of paper towels. I
actually love our cloth napkins (picked up at various places) and nice
plain white dishcloths/washcloths from Costco. We keep a small wire
basket in the kitchen for the dirty towels, wash-cloths and napkins -
when it's full they all get washed all together. Keeping it simple.

AE_StitchedLine
NEXT WEEK : I am working on a series of posts about getting started with digital scrapbooking and my personal process for creating digital layouts for next week (initially I was going to do a post this week but the Q&A started getting longer and longer and I'd like to add in a few other ideas as well). I've got a list of topics going - feel free to leave a question in the comments today. I will try my best to work answers into the posts next week. 

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93 thoughts

  1. radish says…
    01/14/2010

    I am a advocate for paper towels. Paper towels are great for germlessness. I lived in the lumber world and so I am totally insensitive to that issue because in places we need more logging. Everything else aside from toilet paper is cloth, but personally I believe that paper towels are almost better for the environment.

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  2. Suzanne says…
    01/14/2010

    I love to hear that you are also using Becky Higgins Project Life this year...You are my two favorite scrapbooking people (drinking a cup of coffee and reading both your blogs each morning is part of my "me time"!). So to hear you are also doing Project Life is really ironic! Inspired by you, I've been thinking of ways to incorporate my stories into Project Life. I'd really enjoy reading how you are combining both ideas in a future blog. Thanks for all your great ideas -- you always give me lots to think about!

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  3. Sandy McClay says…
    01/14/2010

    Hi, I just went to Good Grief and I feel so blessed that I have foudn a site that after 29 years maybe I can finally scrapbook about my loss and my grief and let it go for good....I know that is what my folks would have wanted. Thank you for mentioning this blog! My one little word id "DO" and it is going to happen in many ways for me this year. I just know it! Thank you for all of this!

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  4. Michele H. says…
    01/14/2010

    Looking forward to your digi post Ali! And thanks for the link to Simple Mom. I love the concept of paperless kitchen and I think we're almost there :)

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  5. just me says…
    01/14/2010

    Thank you for posting about Amanda Probst's "Good Grief" site ... I think I will find it healing (the grief can be heavy at times). And I do believe my angel led me to read your blog today just so I would see that particular posting. For some reason I hadn't taken the time to read your blog much in the last 6 months, but thought I would do so this morning - and there was "Good Grief"; that is a good thing - just the blessing I needed. Thanks.
    just me - ncc

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  6. Jan - best broadband deals says…
    01/15/2010

    PSE8 is an amazing program. I'm glad to see the recommendation. The paperless kitchen is a great new years resolution.

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  7. Kay Gregory-Clark says…
    01/15/2010

    Ali, forgive me for leaving a comment here that isn't digi related. I just got my Extra Giga punch yesterday, was so excited to start last night (had my Christmas cards already sorted). I had not done the math, duh! I'm looking at YOUR layout, which is 5 across by 5 down. That does not fit onto a 12x12 page. Back to your previous years, you have 5 or more as well. I can see displaying them for a while, but what DO you do with the pages if they won't fit into an album, to preserve them??? I like the 2.75 square much better than the smaller ones, but logically it doesn't make sense because I get WAY more than 16 cards (4x4) I want to highlight. Can you please address this again before I'm out of the Christmas mood? THANKS.

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  8. Kay Gregory-Clark says…
    01/15/2010

    There's a setting in iPhoto to have your pictures "open in" another program, like PS or PSE. Can't remember where it is & I'm not on my Mac now, but look through the menus. Once that is set, you just double click on the photo you want & voila! I do all my editing & enhancements in PS, rather than iPhoto, which I just use as an index & for sorting & browsing.

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  9. Ali Edwards says…
    01/15/2010

    Morning Kay - that page is 12x12. I ended up trimming one from each line of the punched pieces to make it fit on the 12x12. If I had more cards I would just make more 12x12 pages. In years past I have used smaller punches when we had more cards :).

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  10. Aubrey Ervin says…
    01/15/2010

    Hi Ali-
    I always love your low key inner voice calling out to us. I really like your take on the 365 this year too. It is such a healthy thing for me to be doing right now. I think the 365 makes us stop and notice/appreciate the little things, and not take life so seriously.
    Here's my project this year, but I think I am going to remember not to stress if I don't get a picture every day. Thanks for that outlook on it! You rock.
    http://365daysofnormal.blogspot.com/

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  11. Chris Dodaj says…
    01/15/2010

    Ali, we went paperless when we moved into our home back in June, and so far, I have to tell you, I don't really miss it. I love using cloth knapkins, i've collected them over the years and found them in a box that was salvaged from our garage.
    For clean ups I bough about 30 "bar rags" from target and we ues them as we go. I wash them with bleach.
    I keep one out for drying hands, dishes and the like, and one on top of the cleaning solution bottle so I know not to use it for our hands, dishes, etc.
    I will admit that i do keep a roll on hand just in case but haven't used it yet. I have had it since june!
    good luck!

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  12. Sally says…
    01/15/2010

    ali- this is sort of off the subject, but at one time in the flickr gallery, i saw a post about a shutterfly daily december book that someone had made from last year, and it was just gorgeous... do you happen to know who that was, and have the link to her album? i would love to try a digital book for my mom's birthday gift of all of our christmas pictures, but wanted some inspiration first... hehe. thanks!! your posts on digital scrapping will be perfect!

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  13. Amy W. says…
    01/15/2010

    I have to ask, how do you have time to be so reflective and creative with two kids and home to take care of? I feel inspired and overwhelmed when I read your bolg because you seem to have it all so together! How do you do it?

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  14. Cinnibonbon says…
    01/15/2010

    Hi Ali...
    Great photo!! I just wanted you to know, I "finally" found my word, come see if you get the chance!! I think you'll like it.
    PS. Thanks for sharing your wonderful blog with us.
    http://cinnibonbon.blogspot.com/2010/01/at-work-my-office-is-divided-into-2.html

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  15. Colopyfam.blogspot.com says…
    01/16/2010

    Hi Ali. I'm doing Project Life this year too. Last year I did Project 365. I've decided I really like that way of documenting things, then in my kids scrapbooks and other layouts I feel more free do whatever comes to mind knowing I've documented the basics.

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  16. Michelle Giaimo says…
    01/16/2010

    Though I have been a digital scrapbooker for quite some time, I will enjoy being invited into your process.
    My question is, when using pre-made digital mini books, how do I make the digital page fit perfectly?

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  17. Judith says…
    01/17/2010

    Hi Ali,
    I may be too late with my comment for the digital hints, but thought I would drop a line anyway. I am still learning PSE7 and am struggling to work it out on my own. Your video on how to put an outline on a photo caused great excitement over in Adelaide and I actually managed to do it with your help! So thanks for that. I am still trying to work out how to size things - and the difference between a canvas and a layer. These are probably such basic questions, but you are so helpful! See what you think, and anything will be good anyway :)
    Judith

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  18. Tricia says…
    01/18/2010

    We went paperless in our kitchen a few years ago along with plastic bags. The ziplocs were the hardest for me. I love the look of shear amazement when you tell people there is only cloth in your kitchen. It was a challenge at first, we had to keep asking how our Grandmother's did it. We survived. Our kids are young enough that it was not a big deal to them. Congratulations.

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