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The “We’re Really Excited” Post

So….this is a post where we tell you how excited we are about our latest Grow With Love class, Staycation.  I’ve called it The “We’re Really Excited” post because, embarrassingly, I used that phrase more times in our roughly 8 minute chatter than should be allowed.  And I know that calling attention to it will only ensure that you will notice it all the more, but I’m all about owning the goofy and not being afraid to giggle at yourself a bit.   But, also…it’s totally true.  We ARE really excited about this project.  We hope you’ll have a listen to our little introductory chatter to learn more about this adventure:

Chatting About Staycation: Really Excited

Grow With Love: Staycation is a summer adventure in everyday storytelling.  Designed with the hope of helping you focus on the {extra}ordinary details and moments in your everyday, squeezing every last drop of  fun, and finding the joy that lives in the overlooked “regular” elements of your story.  All the while, actively and intentionally creating memories you will treasure.  This class is meant to celebrate the everyday, embrace the fun of summer with fresh perspective, and encourage and inspire you to create and write the story you will document.  Our prompts, products, articles, and tutorials will be the tools you need to write your special summer story and create meaningful pages that reflect the beauty of your everyday moments.

And more than that, we hope this fun filled adventure will encourage you to be intentional in your memory making: setting out to inject the fun into your moments and creating moments worthy of legacy and your story.  And we are totally, sincerely and enthusiastically really excited about Staycation.

And we invite you to learn a little more {HERE} and in the Q & A thread in the forum.  And we also invite you to ask questions here in this post!  What would you like to know about the process and the class?  Feel free to ask any questions in the comments and we will respond to them as best we can.

Crystal and I addressed a couple Q & As in the audio, but I’ll share a few more FAQs here as well…

Q: What if it’s not summertime where I live?

A: That’s ok!  Apart from the fact that it will be summertime one day in your part of the world, we hope that these prompts can be kept close and used anytime throughout the year, any time you feel pulled to make an ordinary day a little something MORE.  There is room for these prompts to be used and enjoyed over any holidays or breaks or any every day.

Q: What if I’m not planning a “staycation”?

A: That’s ok too!  Even though these prompts can be used as a “staycation” in and of themselves, you can approach them anytime, over a period of time, once in a while, whenever it works for you.  It’s all about making memories with those you love and making the most of your every day!  It’s about having fun and documenting the process.

Q:  Do I have to register in the forum?

A:  No, you do not.  You’ll receive all the basic course materials which are enough to follow along with the series at your own pace.  That said, we really encourage you to register in the forum because, while we will send out some emails with additional content, the bulk of our bonus content and all of our exclusive offers from class sponsors and contributors during the “enhanced class period” will be posted in the forum.  If you’ve signed up for the class, or even if you haven’t feel free to register and join in conversation in the forum.

Q: What if I’m not comfortable sharing or participating very much?

A: That’s ok!  Crystal and I really understand that not everyone will want to participate at the same level.  And so we aimed to design the class in such a way that you can still participate with as much or as little involvement in the forum as you would like.  You can sign up for the forum and peek in throughout the class simply to snag the latest content or exclusives or you can get comfy cozy and join in and share.  It’s completely up to you!

Q: Is the forum private?

A:  Yes!  The Staycation Forum is exclusive to Staycation participants.   This will go live just before the official class start date of Monday 11 July. Only class members will be able to see and share in this forum.  There is also a general forum area that is visible to all Plant Your Story forum goers.  This area is for general chatter about storytelling and for storytellers and scrapbookers to mingle and be.  You are welcome to post anywhere and everywhere you feel comfortable.

Q: Is the gallery private?

A:  Yes!  The Staycation Gallery is exclusive to Staycation participants.  There is also a general Storytellers gallery that is open to anyone.  You are welcome to post and share in either the private gallery or in the public gallery, or simply in the forum, or not at all…whatever you are most comfortable with.

Q: Is this class only for digital scrapbookers?

A:  Not at all!  While Crystal and I both have roots in the digital scrapbooking community we feel sincerely that this is a class that any scrapper (traditional, paper, or digital or digital art) can find inspiration.   We have had paper scrappers follow along with Grow With Love, scrapping the prompts and we have LOVED to see the results.  In fact, you could adapt this project in to any craft or type of storytelling.  And while the exclusive kit is in digital format, it is produced in printable quality and can easily be used in hybrid or paper scrapping.  And the digital templates can also be used as basic sketches.  We will be offering some more traditional sketches as well, but we truly believe that anyone hoping to tell their story can find inspiration in this journey.  🙂

Please feel free to ask anything that comes to mind.  We will update this post as we receive and answer questions.  We’re getting excited!  Can’t wait to embark on this journey!  Staycation registration is open through Sunday 10 July, 2011.

{blooming soon} Larkspur + Grow With Love

So it’s been awhile since we’ve done a {fresh seeds} giveaway and the sun is shining and it’s Monday and so it feels like it’s time for a little fun and a little sharing.

I have TWO wonderful new releases coming to The Lilypad on Friday and here’s a chance to win both!

Larkspur is the latest in my Full Bloom series of templates, which are typcially richer in layers and details and papery goodness.

And here’s a peek at a couple pages my team has created already…soooo loving the amazing they are bringing!!

by Madlen
by Madlen
by Niki
by Niki

It’s also time for a fresh set of Grow With Love: Letters templates and Crystal and I are really having fun with this month’s emphasis.  It’s something I think we can all find inspiration to scrap….our hobbies.

Sooooo I’d love to share BOTH these fabulous new releases with one lucky commenter!   If you’d like to win Larkspur + Grow With Love: Letters {July}, just leave a comment below, for a chance to win before Thursday 23 June at 7pm (PST).   You can increase your chances at winning by posting about the giveaway on Twitter and Facebook, if you’d like.  Be sure to come back here with a link in the comments (please post as a new comment each time).

I will announce the winner here on the blog and in my newsletter on Friday 24 June when these {fresh seeds} hit The Lilypad.

Lots of luck!

{fresh seeds} dandelion

I was so honored to be featured on The Daily Digi in April and if you missed the fabulous chance to grab Dandelion in the April Digi Files, you can now snag it in my shop at The Lilypad!  I really loved working on this project and I created it with the hope that it would be the best representation of my personal scrapping and design style, so it had a little bit of everything in it: page design templates, {clipped} template masks for papers and photos, a handful of doodley {story seeds}, and a couple of story starting journaling prompts.

You can grab the Dandelion {templates} and prompts or Dandelion {clipped} + {story seeds} OR you can snag the Dandelion {garden} which is the bundle of the two!  All are available at The Lilypad for 20% off through the weekend.

The Dandelion {templates} were designed in the spirit of  wishing, hoping and the promise of beauty and joy found in the every day….with varied design styles ranging from a “fuller” page, richer in layers with many little details and a little more depth to cleaner and more linear designs.

Dandelion {clipped} + {story seeds} include 25 clipping templates for papers or photos.  Simple sentiments are inspired by all things wish{full}.

Love them all? Dandelion {garden} is the wish{full} bundle of the Dandelion collection:

And here’s some amazing inspiration from the girls:

As always I looove to see your stories and art too, so please feel free to share with me anytime.  Really!  Just shoot me a mail or share them on my facebook page.  And if you haven’t signed up the newsletter yet you may want to do that so you can be the first to hear the latest news and get the latest exclusive savings.

Registration for Grow With Love: Staycation has begun.  Staycation is a fun and relaxed and inspired summer adventure in storytelling.  I encourage you to learn more about it {HERE} and keep your eyes peeled for a fun blog post from Crystal and I and a Q&A about the project!

I hope your wishes come true this weekend!!

{fresh seeds} Liatris

Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. — James M. Barrie

The Warm is most certainly upon us here in the desert Southwest and it won’t be long before The Warm melts into The Hot and then into The Oven Hot From Which There Is No Escape….and so I am happily soaking up the warm rays and enjoying the sunshine and blue skies before I feel compelled to lock myself in my house just so as to get some relief from it.  LOL!

And it is that happy kind of sunshiney mood and warm that has inspired Liatris and Liatris {story seeds}, my contributions to this month’s (amazing) BYOC at The Lilypad.

Liatris is designed in the spirit of the every day, of fun, sunshine, summer and play…with varied design styles ranging from a “fuller” page, richer in layers with many little details and a little more depth to cleaner and more linear designs. This set is perfect for any summer or vacation page, everyday page, all about me, or event page and gives you room to “play” and modify each page to suit your personal scrapping sensibilities.

Liatris {story seeds} is a collection of 21 different fun fun fun and playful word art strips and bits (in colored, b/w plain + distressed .png versions and in .abr brush format) and 6 4×6 photo clipping templates (in .png format).  They are the perfect little touches for your every day, summer or vacation pages or photos.   Inspired by fun, sun, warm rays, and the every day. Liatris {story seeds} will give your pages, blog posts, and cards a little extra fun touch of fun and whimsy.

 

And here’s a spot of Liatris inspiration from the Z&S team and the Pollys.  These pages make me smile!!!

Liatris and Liatris {story seeds} are available for 20% off through Sunday 5 June at The Lilypad.

As always I looove to see your stories and art too, so please feel free to share with me anytime.  Really!  Just shoot me a mail or share them on my facebook page.  And if you haven’t signed up the newsletter yet you may want to do that so you can be the first to hear the latest news and get the latest exclusive savings.

There are a few fun sunshiney and summery happenings on the horizon, including Grow With Love: Staycation — a fun and relaxed and inspired summer adventure in storytelling.  I encourage you to learn more about it {HERE} and mark your calendars for the upcoming registration period.

I hope you are enjoying a happy sunshine-y day!

and the {KCB} giveaway goes to…

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the giveaway sponsored byAMAZING Kristin Cronin-Barrow!!  She has such a dear heart and is so talented!!  Crystal and I looooooved seeing all of your entries.  Every one was heartfelt and personal and different and BEAUTIFUL.  I loved seeing what songs resonate with you and move you!   So thank you for taking the time to share a little bit of yourself and your pages!  I hope that you all feel happy with what you’ve created!

So…I sat down for a few moments with Mr. Random (of Random.org) and he has selected our lucky winner!

Glory — Glory submitted this beautiful layout featuring her theme song “Unwritten”…I just love the sense of possibility she captured here!

Congratulations to post #4 — Glory!!  Glory, I will be emailing you shortly with your gift certificate!  And thanks again to everyone for playing along and sharing your songs!

And keep your eyes peeled for more opportunities to win too!  Some new giveaways are on the horizon.

{fresh seeds} grow with Love: letters edition {june}

Well goodness another month is drawing to a close and many of us find ourselves saying goodbyes to school years and hellos to summer.  And as this season of travels and staycations draws near, Crystal and I were inspired by journeys, getaways.  And we threw in a little taste of fatherhood too (since June *is* the month o’ Dads here in the U.S.) as we created June’s Grow With Love: Letters templates and prompts.

Meet Grow With Love: Letters Edition {June} — a set of four layered templates created in the spirit of journeys, adventures, getaways and vacations.  As always, these Grow With Love templates are accompanied by a series of thoughtful story-driven journaling prompts which are borne from the hope of helping you tell your stories and put pen to page.

We hope you’ll have fun getting inspired with these!  You can use the templates and prompts together or separately to suit your own story and pages.

And here’s a touch of inspiration:

Grow With Love: Letters Edition {June} is available at The Lilypad for 20% off through Sunday May 29.

As always I looove to see your stories and art too, so please feel free to share with me anytime.  Really!  Just shoot me a mail or share them on my facebook page.  And if you haven’t signed up the newsletter yet you may want to do that so you can be the first to hear the latest news and get the latest exclusive savings.

There are quite a few fun goings on on the horizon including fresh collaborations, a wonderfully fun summer Grow With Love experience, and more giveaways!

Speaking of giveaways.  There is still time to check out and participate in the ongoing Scrap Your Theme song giveaway sponsored by the amazing Kristin Cronin-Barrow.  Not only will you walk away having created a fun page, the winner of this one will receive a $25 gift certificate to her store!!!  Which is pretty WOW, right?!!

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