Studio Calico - Pre-Order "December Daily" Kit and Get Double the Paper and Free Shipping

Ali has designed a full kit, which includes a 6x8 album, to guide you through this December mini-album project.  While supplies last, we’re gifting double the paper to our pre-order purchasers.

Ali Edwards - "Life Artist" eBook Only $5 This Weekend

This weekend only, Ali Edwards's classic book Life Artist is available for only $5 in PDF format -- that's half price!

Life Art themes you’ll find explored in this book:

• It’s about being awake.
• It means celebrating everyday things.
• It means letting go of your need for perfection.
• It means using words and photos to tell your story.
• It means sharing yourself.
• It’s about being real.
• It’s about documenting, telling, celebrating and experiencing life.
• It’s about being open and embracing the process of creativity.
• It’s about cultivating a lifestyle of creativity and beauty—with you as the creative director.

To learn more and to purchase, click here!

Big Picture Classes - Last Day to Save $15 on "Hello Story" with Ali Edwards

Don't miss your chance to save $15 on Hello Story! 

The promo code HELLOPL expires tonight. 

Click here to register!

Big Picture Classes - Big Freebies with Registration in "Hello Story"

You're invited to our spring 4Experts workshop, Hello Story: 12 weeks of creative storytelling techniques with Ali Edwards!

Ali Edwards is one of the biggest bloggers in scrapbooking, having been featured in RealSimple magazine as well as in Dr. Brene Brown's recent eCourse on Oprah.com.
This is your chance to watch over Ali's shoulder as she turns a dozen story "structures" into scrapbook pages that are full of soul—from 12 x 12 and 8.5 x 11 scrapbook pages to Project Life inserts.
For 12 straight weeks, Ali will demonstrate the power of words in scrapbooking and inspire you to tell a dozen or more stories of your own. You'll walk away with practical storytelling tools you can use over and over again for years to come.

Bonus: Enjoy $19 of freebies immediately upon registration and $53 of free digital brushes, stamps, and other elements throughout the class!

Big Picture Classes - "Hello Story" Begins Soon!

Hello Story Starts in 3 Days! This is your chance to watch over Ali Edwards’ shoulder as she turns dozens of story ideas into scrapbook pages that are full of soul. In our newest 4Experts workshop, Hello Story: 12 weeks of creative storytelling techniques with Ali Edwards, you’ll spend your summer reconnecting with the storytelling potential of your scrapbook pages. In 12” x 12” layouts, 8 1/2” x 11” layouts, and even Project Life inserts (all for digital or traditional scrapbookers), Ali will demonstrate the power of words in scrapbooking. Her in-depth videos, detailed handouts, and printable digital elements will inspire you to take action and give you the tools you need to get more of your words onto your pages. Class starts Monday! Join Ali and hundreds of creative storytellers in Hello Story. Bonus: Enjoy $19 of freebies immediately upon registration and $53 of free digital brushes, stamps, and other elements throughout the class!

Big Picture Classes - "Hello Story" with Ali Edwards

An avid Project Life scrapbooker, Ali Edwards recently rediscovered her love of 12” x 12” and 8 1/2” x 11” scrapbook layouts—and the storytelling potential they hold.

And now she’s designed a new 4Experts workshop, Hello Story, that will open your heart and mind to the stories in your life that need to be told.

Spend 12 weeks with Ali immersing yourself in a world of scrapbooking and stories that cover traditional scrapbook pages as well as Project-Life-style memory books.

Hello Story starts Monday, July 8th. You’re invited.

New Ali Edwards Classes To Sign Up For!

This past weekend my new 12-week online workshop Hello Story opened for registration and I'm knee-deep in the process of creating content: making layouts, writing, filming, designing handouts, choosing products, and thinking (always thinking). There is so much darn thinking that goes into this process. My brain is constantly in motion and well, it can be exhausting. How can I make this work with this? What makes the most sense for this project? Is this idea clear? How do I show this on video? How do I make this idea a reality? Is this going to be enough? How does this handout look? How can I make it better/clearer/more fun? What am I missing? Is this too much? Here's the deal: sometimes I get stuck in the thinking phase and it becomes over-thinking. Hello procrastination. Sound familiar? There's a fine line between the sort of thinking/planning/percolating that is necessary for an idea to develop and procrastination. Sometimes all that thinking can be more than a little paralyzing. Here's what I'm re-learning this week: take the first step (also known as "get out of your head"). And then take the next step. Things get done (and habits are created) in little chunks of time and by doing the next thing. All that thinking is a necessary part of the creative process, but without action (and the next step) it just lives in your head. Here's a few things I'm doing right now to get myself out of the thinking phase and into the action: Design a plan or an outline for the project. Know what your next step is (write your journaling, print your photos, buy supplies) - or be willing to simply start in the middle as a way to take action, gain momentum and get out of the thinking phase. If you don't have a plan make that your first action item. Have a notebook/sheet of paper/word doc for jotting down all your ideas related to the project. Those ideas that are rattling around in your head (and distracting you from taking actual action) are easily lost if not documented along the way (at least that is the truth for me). Turn up the music really loud and get away from the internet. Clean up your space. Be careful with this one - cleaning up your space can be a method of procrastination or it can simply be a step in getting ready to make stuff. Watch yourself and be mindful of whether this is actually action or simply a way to drag it out. For me I can tell when I'm dragging it out when cleaning off my workspace turns into a whole office clean-up. Break action items down into smaller tasks that fit your schedule and remember that there are many tasks that really only need a few minutes and those few minutes add up over time. Embrace good enough. This is one of my biggest challenges for getting started. Once I'm on my way one of the things I love most are those happy accidents and the discoveries that come from taking action - from starting and following through and finding outcomes I didn't expect that teach me so many things about the creative process and about myself. Now go take the next step! As always you're invited to share your reaction and response to this week's newsletter on my Facebook Page. DESIGNER DIGITALS QUARTERLY SALE IS ON NOW Here's a heads up that Designer Digitals Quarterly Sale is on now to May 15th. That means 30% off all products in the store. I've been busy making a bunch of new products, including printable PDF and PNG Project Life journal cards. Stop by the Contests & Events Message Board on Friday, May 10th to pick up the freebie word art shown above. Check out this post on my blog that features my newest designs. If you'd like to learn more about getting started using digital scrapbooking products (either for digital or paper scrapbooking) check out my Getting Started posts here.  THE PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT Need summer photo ideas or help improving your iPhone photography? Spend this July taking amazing photos with your iPhone or Android camera in The Phone Photography Project. In this month-long workshop, you'll learn to take better photos with the camera you always have with you as you document your summer adventures—with help from 32 incredible instructors (including me). On top of daily smartphone photography challenges, you'll also enjoy: dozens of tips and tricks from the pros for taking better photos with your mobile-phone camera a handbook of 60+ photography app reviews for iPhone and Android, so you know which are worth your time and money* dozens of project ideas for getting photos off your device and into your world interaction with 32 experienced iPhoneographers and Androidographers, and hundreds of fellow students in a private classroom and on Instagram giveaways, contests, discounts, bonus downloads, and fun fun fun! *Note: Many of the reviewed apps are available free in the App Store and Google Play, while the rest average about $1.99 each. App purchases are not required for participation in the class. Runs July 1 - August 1 | Introductory price: $39 >> Click here to register. Ali Edwards' passion resides in that special place where the images and stories of life intersect. Visit her online at www.aliedwards.com

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Ali Edwards' "Life Artist" - Only $5!

Originally published in 2007, Life Artist is essentially my memory keeping philosophy illustrated with scrapbook layouts and projects.

I’m excited to now make it available in it’s original format as a PDF eBook.

Life Art themes you’ll find explored in this book:

• It’s about being awake.
• It means celebrating everyday things.
• It means letting go of your need for perfection.
• It means using words and photos to tell your story.
• It means sharing yourself.
• It’s about being real.
• It’s about documenting, telling, celebrating and experiencing life.
• It’s about being open and embracing the process of creativity.
• It’s about cultivating a lifestyle of creativity and beauty—with you as the creative director.

Click here to purchase!

This price is only good through Sunday, May 5!

Scrapbook.com - Ali Edwards Stamps On Sale

Brand New, Designer Stamps, Just $11.99 Each! (Plus a video from Ali) We chose three of Ali Edwards' newest and coolest journaling stamps to share with you at a LOW introductory offer... and she agreed to come to our studio to film a video with a few tricks and techniques using these great journaling stamps!   Watch Now   Get these awesome Ali Edwards-designed stamps from Technique Tuesday for just $11.99 each! (No coupon code required). Technique Tuesday Clear Acrylic Stamps The Story Of by Ali Edwards $3 OFF! Technique Tuesday Clear Acrylic Stamps Dear Time by Ali Edwards $3 OFF! Technique Tuesday Clear Acrylic Stamps Good Day by Ali Edwards $3 OFF!

Save 15% on All Other Ali Edwards Stamps Through Thursday! Plus, take an ADDITIONAL 15% off all other Ali Edwards-Designed Technique Tuesday Stamps for a limited time!   Add your favorite Ali E. stamps to your shopping cart and 15% will be automatically deducted from each stamp set in your cart. No coupon code is necessary. The three stamps featured above and already discounted are NOT eligible for an additional 15% off.    Hurry - this offer expires Friday, March 15, 2013 at midnight PST.   Shop Ali Edwards Stamps Now

Ali Edwards Self-Paced Classes - $10!

Ali Edwards is retiring 3 of her self-paced workshops (Scrapbook on the Road, Five, and Storyology) so now through March 3, they are only $10 each. If you buy these classes, they will still be available to you after Sunday so you have all the time in the world to complete them!

Click here to purchase!

Big Picture Classes - One Little Word with Ali Edwards

One Little Word for 2013 Every January since 2006, Ali Edwards has chosen one single word to inspire her life for the coming year. One word to focus on, meditate about, and reflect upon for 12 months. One word that always enriches her life in surprising ways. This year, like last year and the year before that, thousands of people worldwide will select their own "one little word" and join Ali in her inspiring (and affordable) year-long workshop at Big Picture Classes, creating an unforgettable album along the way. Will you join the journey in 2013?

Free Ali Edwards Download From Paper Coterie

To celebrate Tracey Clark’s new book Elevate the Everyday, Paper Coterie is doing a series of downloads.  

The first is a cool image from Ali Edwards that says "Just Begin". It is free and available to download in 6 colors.

Download an 8×10 Just Begin image from Paper Coterie here.

Giveaway and Free Digital Download from Ali Edwards

Today, Ali Edwards is featuring One Story Down, a super-cool digital scrapbooking website (and home to The Craft Mom's featured sponsor, Snips and Snails Designs!). 

She is giving away a $50 gift certificate to One Story Down. Just click here to enter by leaving a comment on Ali's site.

And One Story Down is giving everyone a FREE digital kit called "Under the Boardwalk"! It's a really cute summer-themed kit and features so many fun papers and embellishments.

Click here to download!