A Pajama Party does both and I’m thrilled that we have a new excuse to connect, create, chat and play at Big Picture Classes. Yay!

Last fall, we sat down with the marketing team at Close To My Heart. We talk about fewer magazines and the fact that we have this awesome community at BPC. We talked about the opportunity to provide high-quality exposure for CTMH consultants and products. Mostly we tried to listen to them and learn. For years I’ve participated in events, where I’ve asked several companies to donate individual papers and products for a particular kit or project. For example, I might request a few sheets of paper from one company and letter stickers and embellishments from two additional companies thinking that I’m spreading the exposure around and that is a good thing. Turns out, companies would really love YOU to see more of their product lines and not only that, they would love to teach/share an entire project, so that YOU can see how their products are designed to be used (together) and how their products are designed to fulfill a larger company vision. Anyway, it was all very good, interesting insight.

Long story short, we talked and brainstormed for a couple of months and came up with the idea of a mostly-live video broadcast produced by BPC in partnership with just ONE company! Ideally, we would produce these Pajama Party broadcasts once a month, but we’re trying to be realistic with our resources and decided that once every other month would be enough through 2013. Naturally, if the response is good (which we think it will be) and other companies also see the value in this kind of partnership, then we’ll adjust resources and make it happen more often.

Here’s how you can help …

1. Register for our first-ever party this coming Thursday, May 30th at 6:00pm (pacific time) 
2. Register as early as possible, so that you can participate fully, by making the very cute CTMH project. See below for more details on that!
3. Invite a friend, sister, mother, aunt, 2nd cousin to join in as well. 
4. Give us honest feedback. 
5. Spread the word. Email your favorite companies and tell them YOU want to see them at a Pajama Party!

Ok, check it out …
This is the super-cute project I created with the CTMH Kraft Tube and their Chantilly paper packet.

And, this is what goes inside.

I’m loving having a little girl to craft for and with. This is our People We Love tube and it will be filled with pictures of our immediate and extended family and friends. Addie is so into talking about people. She wants me to spell their names and then we talk about where they live, and when we will be seeing them again, etc.. We have two family reunions this summer, so I’m eager to find and prepare circle photos for aunts, uncles and cousins. There is plenty of room inside. I simply punched these photos with a 2 1/2 circle punch and then mounted them on circle-punches pieces of chipboard. I back each piece with white cardstock, so that Addie can write their names on the back!

The whole thing came together in less than an hour and I’m LOVING the wooden “Trinkets” too (birds, flowers, butterflies.) I had to send this tube down to Utah, so that Wendy and Angie can share it during the broadcast and Addie would NOT let go. Clearly, she likes it!

Anyway, just wanted to give you a sneak peek. Hopefully, you’ll be watching next Thursday night!

p.s. If you’re busy Thursday, you can register and enjoy the archived FUN at your convenience.

I hope you’ll be joining me tomorrow at 10:00am (pacific time) when I’ll be kicking off our 3rd annual, Creative Crop!
I’ve got a great exercise to help you discover new stories, about YOU and YOU are the person that should be celebrated tomorrow as we honor International Scrapbooking Day!

See you there!

I really enjoyed listening to this TED talk and thought I’d pass it on …

Bruce Feiler shares three things Happy Families do:
1. Adapt all the time.
2. Empower the kids.
3. Tell their story. 

I hope you’ll watch and listen for the third of Mr. Feiler’s 3 points.
I have a hunch you’ll like what he says and that you’ll feel validated in your passion for memory keeping.

By the way, Bruce Feiler is the author of a book, called The Secrets of Happy Families and he mentions in this talk a study done at Emory University. Just thought I’d save you time, if like me, you tend to Google people and things to verify what you’ve heard!

In the off chance that you haven’t see The Piano Guys on YouTube, I’m sharing this video at the top of my Friday FIVE.

Trey and I recently enjoyed a live performance with Alex Boye, which was AWESOME, hilarious & crazy FUN and one of the things he shared was the story behind the making of this video, where he joined up with The Piano Guys in southern Utah on the top of the very high mountain. Anyway … go subscribe to The Piano Guys channel and start watching more than 70 super-cool videos! And, if you want to see them in their first national concert tour, click HERE for details.

I’m a BIG fan.

TWO.

Ok. One of my blog readers forwarded me a link to Wobble Bowls on KickStarter months ago (maybe even a year?) Anyway, I loved artist Jessie Anderson’s story, so I supported her and kind of forgot about it. A couple of weeks ago, a big box shows up at my house with 3 Wobble Bowls. We LOVE them. Just as you might guess, they wobble (all over the place) but they don’t spill. I love putting one or more on the table with grapes, olives–even salad dressing or dip, and they are perfect set out with nuts or candy! They are just plain FUN and we all need a little more fun!

You can learn more HERE.

THREE.

I’m still getting to know my newest photography app, Linea, but I am really liking it. Linea is for both the iPhone and iPad and it allows you to beautifully and easily share “lines” or collections of photos and then quickly and inexpensively, turn those lines into printable books! This is a screen capture of my “Addie” line, which I easily pulled in from an album on my phone. You can learn more at getlinea.com and you can watch a video walking you through the steps of printing a book, here. 

FOUR.

I suppose this could be considered a shameless plug, but I have yet to talk about my latest eBook on my blog. As you may know, I taught (and perhaps led is a better word) a grand adventure at BPC last year, called Twelve. This class, was an effort to help myself and others integrate the goal of personal  and authentic storytelling into our creative process. This book, Storytelling Strategies is like the cream, skimmed off the top of Twleve. It shares both my pages and pages from my students in twelve topics and gives you, the reader the chance to adapt and refine some or all of the strategies we worked out together in class. I think it’s a really GOOD book!

You can get one HERE. 

FIVE.

Maybe you’ve seen these already, but maybe not and if not, then Hello? Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of these vibrant wallpapers for your desktop, iPad or iPhone 4 or 5. Did I mention they are FREE?! You can download them HERE. I downloaded all seven available colors and put them in a folder together. I then set the desktop (on my laptop) to rotate them every 15 minutes. COLOR!

Have a FANTASTIC Friday and a WONDERFUL weekend!

I am coming to Arizona NEXT WEEK. There is a CK Convention in Mesa, April 11th through the 13th. I will be giving a FREE lecture class on Thursday night, April 11th at 5:00pm. I would LOVE to see you there. Even though this is a FREE class, you need to register and you can do that HERE.

We (BPC) are looking at doing some live + online classes at some of the CK Conventions, so we’re headed down to Mesa to take a look around and get a feel for the vibe. I figured while I’m there, I could teach a class and create a reason for BPC students and others to come together. If you are feeling overwhelmed or simply need a dose of can-do inspiration, then this is your gig. Clear your calendar and come spend an hour with me! And, bring a friend.

Thank YOU too for the great comments you left about the Paperclipping Roundtable discussion on the pros and cons of a chronological approach vs. a non-chronological approach. This podcast has just been posted LIVE. Have a listen and then weigh in on the comments. IF you listen all the way through, you’ll get a special promo code that will save you 50% on my eBook, Photo Freedom.

I’ll be back with more thoughts on that topic and our conversation very soon.

I’ve wanted to try my hand at chalkboard eggs ever since I saw them a year ago on Pinterest, so I played Easter Bunny and dropped off a few of these baskets to the sisters I visit teach yesterday. FUN, but definitely not your traditional Easter decor—I think I miss the color too much!

If you’re in need of a spiritual uplift, watch this video and remember the reason for this beautiful holiday season …

Enjoy your family, your faith and your traditions today,

I said, “No.”
He said, “Then what are you?”
I thought for a minute, “I’m someone who is willing to say that there are other ways of organizing content in a scrapbook!”
He said, “There you go!”

Fast forward to today.
Scrapbooking has evolved in so many ways, but the question of HOW to organize the pictures and stories, remains. There is (of course) no right answer, BUT … I have been invited by Noel Hyman and the Paperclipping Roundtable to participate in a friendly debate about the merits and failings of non-chronology vs. chronology.

After we launched Simple Scrapbooks, the magazine, I wrote a book called The Big Picture which further revealed my penchant for mixing things up on purpose, but it is my online course, Library of Memories (now Finding Photo Freedom) has been my boldest move yet, because I’m now attempting to indoctrinate others, ha!

In fact, just this morning I witnessed the conversion process of yet another scrapbooker, with this comment on the message board …

I am too excited NOT to share my progress..I have purged, rated and key-worded over 5,500 photos (from 2005-2012). I printed, sorted chronologically and put 1325 photos in storage binders. I know I probably should not have spent so much time putting my photos in chronological order in my storage binders but I am having a hard time getting my head wrapped around NOT having my prints in order to easily find them. I have my category drawers set up with some awesome things brewing in them. I started some AWESOME story cards and words file. I also made my square punch drawers and I am SO excited to use all of these phenomenal tools. Stacy, I wish my brain worked like yours does and I wish I would have started this whole system years ago!!! Of course, I have spent countless hours doing all that and have not scrapped a page in a long time BUT, when I get that creative feeling I have endless materials ready and waiting for me. I thank you Stacy from the bottom of my heart for thinking out of the chronological box!!!!  Brenda (Bren at BPC)

Please note in Brenda’s comment, something that I encounter often. While she is finding excitement and potential solutions in a new approach, she is still subscribing to some degree of guilt for wanting to put photos in precise chronological order. Why the guilt? Where does this come from? Science has proven that we are by nature order-seeking. My point is that chronological order isn’t the only ORDER available to us. Why then is it so predominate? Why can it be such a divisive issue?

In preparation for this upcoming podcast, I thought it might be FUN to let my blog readers take sides and share their thoughts.
Are you on team Freedom or team Chronology and why?

And please, be as specific as possible. Which parts of your organizational approach, creative process or layout sharing belong in which camp?
What is the single biggest reason for being where you are?
And, don’t worry there is a team undecided too.
If you’re on this team, let me know what questions you’d like answered and I’ll see if I can bring this up on the PRT.

I’m also going to introduced this conversation on Twitter and Facebook, using #WhichTeamAreYOU so feel free to jump in there.

I’ll follow up with “I am NOT an anti-chronologists (part 2)” next week, and share my top TEN reasons for being so enthusiastic about non-chronological approaches to scrapbooking! Come back, because I will also have a special offer to share!

p.s. I’ll be sending Vanessa B and Kim C a copy of Seth Godin’s book, The Icarus Deception. Thank you ALL for your thoughtful comments!

ONE.

I’m reading this book. It is Seth Godin’s most recent wake up call to stand up and stand out. If you ever read Seth’s blog (and you should) then you know that he is uniquely wired to sense the future and prepare people for it.

I particularly like the way he talks about ART: ”Art isn’t something sold in a gallery or performed on stage. Art is the unique work of a human being, work that touches another. Seeking new ground, making connections between people or ideas, working without a map—these are the works of art, and if you do them, you are an artist, regardless of whether you wear a smock, use a computer or work with others all day long … An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. And, an artist takes it (all of it, the work, the process, and the feedback from those we seek to connect with) personally.”

I have two copies of The Icarus Deception to give away. If you’d like to get to know the artist inside of you, or you simply need some validation and encouragement for the art you are putting out there, let me know in the comments!

TWO. 

I haven’t talked much about Echo Park’s Photo Freedom line. I need to. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have partnered with Echo Park. Our goal is to spread the Photo Freedom philosophy and help people simplify their storytelling. Believe it or not, I’ve been using divided page protectors since the days of Simple Scrapbooks (the book) in an effort to speed up the creative process and document extended stories. While this approach is hugely popular right now, thanks to the brilliance of Becky Higgins and Project Life, it has been a trusted solution for a long time, and these kits are perfect for scrapbookers like me, who still love traditional 12×12 layouts, but also love mixing in the convenience of Project Life scrapbooking. These initial kits are just the beginning and while I won’t have any input on product design, I will contribute ideas in the area of product direction and even more important (to me) I will lead the effort at Big Picture Classes to support these products (an the people who use them) with the education they need. So, for example when someone purchases a Photo Freedom kit, they are invited to visit a special landing page at BPC to learn more (bigpictureclasses.com/photofreedom) and the product packaging also includes a promo code for 50% off of my eBook, Photo Freedom.

I will share more information soon, but wanted you to see the first Photo Freedom kit that is the result of a licensing agreement with another company. The birthday kit above features favorite designs from the girls at Glitz. Future kits will feature Jenni Bowlin and Graphic 45 and you can look forward to additional products down the road. EP’s art director, Jody Hunt is coming to my house for a visit, so he can see first-hand my studio, my creative process, my Library of Memories system and the tools and products I use and love. Armed with this experience, he’ll be set to build a robust system of Photo Freedom products.

Have I mentioned the fact that our industry ROCKS?!

THREE.

Go HERE to purchase beautiful letter press prints like these, that I have hanging in my office upstairs. I can’t remember how I stumbled upon Hijiri Shepherd and her work (maybe Uppercase Magazine?) Anyway, I think they are gorgeous and I’d love you to learn and see more!

FOUR. 

Let’s hear it for (healthier) Sprinkles! 
You’ll get to hear much more of my journey to better health in the coming weeks and months, but you need to know that I’ve become a whole-foods enthusiast, so I’m looking for healthier alternatives to some of my most FAVORITE treats.

These sprinkles, from Williams Sonoma are made with all natural dies (edible plants, such as beets, spinach, red cabbage and others.) They are MORE expensive, so prepare yourself for that, but I LOVE them and will totally sprinkle these on my chocolate mousse that I make with honey and ripe avocados (recipe coming soon!)

FIVE.

Ok, this final pick is a totally Wendy find. She takes such good care of me! I signed up for this monthly healthy snacks subscription within 24 hours of Wendy’s email. We received our first Healthy Surprise box on Wednesday this week and I’m sold. Here again, not the most affordable snacking out there, but if you’re looking for a variety of gluten-free, soy-free, raw and/or vegan goodies and you don’t live in a BIG city with a Whole Foods market down the street, then you might want to check this out. I brought several of my new snacks with me to RootsTech and it was SO nice, not to have to worry about where I was going to get food I can eat!

I love companies that find a niche and then serve it well.

p.s. If you want a copy of The Icarus Deception be sure to tell me why!

The CTMH Album Retreat was FABULOUS. I adore my friends at Close To My Heart, for so many reasons not the least of which is their emphasis on training. They put so much time, effort and money into making sure their consultants experience their products and learn the skills and techniques that will help them be successful, both in business and in paper-crafting. Just in case you don’t know, I was a D.O.T.S. (now CTMH) Demonstrator. I signed up back in 1993, the year Clark was born. My first-ever event in this industry was a convention, the summer I moved to Salt Lake City. It blew me away and I’ve never been the same since! Anyway, I just finished looking through all of my pictures and thought a collage might work to help you SEE how much productive FUN these events are. I was able to kick everything off on Thursday night and then gave a presentation about CREATIVITY on Friday morning. I wandered around a little (never enough time) and talked to and took photos with dozens of consultants before I headed out, but seriously …

Thanks Allison, for the GREAT photos!

… these girls spent 2 1/2 days building the COOLEST album, titled Everything Close To My Heart, that allowed them to tell their own story, which we know is not something we do often enough. NOTE: Allison will be posting winners for our little Facebook giveaway on the BPC Facebook page tomorrow, March 21st.

You’ll notice, that our very own Mark Seastrand is pictured in my collage. Mark is the CEO of Big Picture Classes and he just happens to be our videographer for a brand new Pajama Party broadcast that we are launching in May (for National Scrapbooking Month!) These Pajama Parties will be a chance for our BPC community to gather virtually, learn more about our awesome industry (via a sponsored project) and have some good, clean fun outside a classroom. Wendy Smedley and Angie Lucas will be your hosts for the live broadcast portion and then I and other teachers will be bringing you the pre-recorded sponsored segments. MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Our first Pajama Party is scheduled for Thursday, May 30th. 

On the home front: This boy, who really isn’t much of  boy anymore, is enjoying the final semester of his senior year and currently awaiting his mission call. We thought maybe it would come today, but no such luck. The problem is, I leave in the morning, so now if it comes he has to wait for mama to come home! I’ll share the news via Instagram. You can follow me HERE.

image courtesy of thecupcaketheory.com

Sprinkle this …

I won’t be here to fix my kids breakfast in the morning, but I’m leaving some ice cream in the freezer with a note to enjoy it on their cereal. There is a movement spreading on Facebook that is set to honor the memory of Bruce Rosenburg, who lost his life to cancer. Bruce was diagnosed on March 21st and sadly lost his battle just 9 days shy of one year. His story is HERE. His wish is that we break from routine and celebrate life in memorable ways.  Perhaps you could eat some ice cream for breakfast too?

I’ll be back next week with a report from the RootsTech conference, but you don’t have to wait for me. You can participate in several of the presentations from the comfort and convenience of home. Click on the image or link above for more information (and then watch the video!) RootsTech is the intersection of genealogy and technology: Where you can learn how to find,organize, preserve and share your family’s connections and history.

If you’re going, please find me and say hello!

I’m headed out of town this morning.

I’ll be speaking at the Close To My Heart Album Retreat in Salt Lake City on Friday morning, but before I do that, I’ll be meeting up with team members to film a segment from this CTMH retreat for our upcoming, first-ever BPC Pajama Party (you heard it here first!) Much more on that coming soon.

Anyway, my MOST favorite thing about Utah is the fact that I have family there. Two brothers and my sister, Darci. Brothers are awesome. Wouldn’t trade them for the world, but if you have a sister then you likely know that super-cool feeling of being with someone who gets you 100%. Except for the fact that she is younger, prettier and skinnier (you can confirm this on her blog, HERE) she and I are cut from the same cloth. We like the same stuff and are inspired by the same things. Darci has a stronger fashion sense, which I’m grateful for and I help her with computer-related stuff, so it always seems to be a win-win. We talk often, if not every day and I adore the fact that I can trust her to both listen all the way and tell me the whole truth. She is my best critic and my biggest fan. Now, I should remind you that I have another adorable sister, named Chanda, who, for a few more months, lives in Arizona. It just so happens that I get to go stay with her in April. This is happiness.

Turns out, I’m traveling today, with my dear friend, Allison and as mentioned above, I’ll get to see Wendy Smedley and Angie Lucas, all of which I would adopt as sisters in a heart-beat. So, in the spirit of soul-soothing sister-love, I thought I’d share what I’ve got planned for later today …

This is Tammy, and her sister Kerry.

Tammy emailed me back in January. Here, in part, is what she said …

My older sister, Kerry, and I on several occasions have had a “pity party conversation” about all the things we want to do, but can’t do because everyone else demands our time, talents, attention and energy.  Every time we have these conversations, my sister always says, “We need Stacy.”  You have changed her life in ways that you will never know.  She has sorted pictures according to your helps and taken several of your classes.  In turn, she has shared helps with me and kept me grounded during times of insanity (and believe me I have several insane moments!)  In turn, I want to do something amazing for her.  One of her “bucket list” items is to meet you and have a few minutes to just talk to you.  We live in Northern Utah and I was wondering if you have any projects that would bring you our way this year?  I would love to take her to something you are presenting at or teaching (yes, I do understand your incredibly hectic schedule), but it doesn’t hurt to ask, right?

Because I completely understand sister-love and because I’m also a believer in the “it doesn’t hurt to ask” approach, I get to have lunch with Kerry and her very sweet sister, Tammy!  How FUN is that? SO THAT you don’t feel left out, I thought I could leave you with a wee challenge …

IF you have a sister, call or text her today during lunch.
Tell her that she matters to you and that you love her.

You’ll be glad you did.