Introducing the Photo Fun Bundle

As we continue this embrace this season of doing things a little different, I am introducing something new.  It is called the Photo Fun Bundle and is an expansion of what I have been doing for my Photo Fun Club members these last few months.

With so many of us doing things from home and finding a walk to the mailbox was one of the biggest joys we had each day for weeks, I want to bring something fun right to you in your mailbox (or your doorstep).  This subscription box will be filled with a touch of inspiration, instruction and fun each month.  I am calling it the Photo Fun Bundle as it brings products and tools that can help you with a photo project and a few of my favorite things all in one bundle of Fun!!

For those that have been a part of my 2020 Photo Fun Club (my VIP CLUB for all the fun we have going on with photos this year), you are already signed up and will get the first box the week of August 3rd in time to have all the supplies you need for our Project Recipe break out at the virtual August Photo Fun Day on Saturday, August 8th.

If you are on my mailing list you also have received a postcard last week that has more details about how to start signing up for September.  All orders have to be in to me no later than August 20th to be included in the September Bundle.  The September Bundles will be shipped our the week of August 31.

I am offering 2 options for your Bundle so once you sign up, I will reach out and get your mailing address and preference for a Traditional Bundle or Digital Bundle.  If you are ready to sign up today,  you can go to https://elizabethphotofun.square.site/ to get things going for your first Bundle.  I also welcome you to follow us on @Elizabeth.PhotoFun  on Instagram for more sneak peaks and info about this fun new opportunity.

 

Don’t forget Sign up starts NOW for the September Bundle – You will not want to miss it!!

https://elizabethphotofun.square.site/

 

Memories Worth Preserving

What a different time we are living!  I was suppose to be in Orlando, Florida right now, wrapping up an amazing conference and transitioning into some family fun at Disney – making memories.

This would have been our first time going to Walt Disney World as a family.  We visited Disneyland in California when I was very young but we always talked about going to Walt Disney World in Florida and never did, even during the short time my parents lived in Florida.

About the time as we were growing up that we were seriously considering it, we had connected with a family from Belarus and our hearts were changed forever.  We hosted some sweet sisters in our home for many summers and took our first international trip to a country that was not as glamorous as many aspire to travel to but was very special to us.  I wouldn’t change that time and experiences for anything but fast forward to last year when I learned that my annual conference with Forever would be in Orlando at the Walt Disney World Resort, I knew I was going to go and quickly my family decided to join along with me in making plans.  To say we were sad and disappointed that our trip had to be postponed would be an understatement.  We knew a trip to Disney would not be a relaxing vacation especially in the heat of July but oh the fun we have together and the memories we were looking forward to making.  We are hopeful that in another year we will all be picking up those plans and experiencing new things again and a trip to Disney World is high on our list of things to do in 2021.

As many of you have done, in these days, weeks and months lately we are shifting and adjusting to virtual experiences for the things that should have been in person.  It isn’t the same as hugging that friend, sitting together over a meal or gathering in a large group to cheer and celebrate exciting things but for the last 3 days I have been touched by how much I have still enjoyed and learned through a virtual experience for the conference part of what would have been my trip to Florida.

I am reminded about how passionate I continue to be that our Memories are Worth Preserving.  #MemoriesWorthPreserving is a phrase that has been repeated often this weekend and speaks to what the heart of Forever is all about.  We are committed to helping you save, organize and share your precious memories whether they be a big family vacation like ours to Belarus many years ago or a moment in the yard on an average day 4+ months into a pandemic like this flower blooming.  As we continue to shift and adjust to the new way of doing things, remember your memories are worth preserving today as well as the ones from past trips and experiences.

Do you have a photo taken recently that captures a moment you want to remember about this season?  Maybe it is one tucked down deep on that camera roll on your phone from an experience before all of this craziness consumed us.  Pull it out and let’s make sure that memory is preserved in a way that brings you joy or shares the story you want to capture.

June Updates and Mid Year Refresh

I have been slow in posting here lately as I am sure you all have noticed.  The changes and shifts to our routines the last few months seem to be constantly changing and hard to keep business as usual these days.  I did want to come to you today with a few updates and reminders as we wrap up June.  Don’t forget that any text highlighted in Blue below is a link that will take you to more information on that item whether it is another blog post or a website link.

Monthly Back Up Day 

It is the last Saturday of the month so that means it is a great time to doing a little backing up of our digital photos and projects along with the digital art we use to create with in Artisan.  For P2P members, I suggest you start with Downloading & Backing up our Blueprints since new ones were just released by Pixels2Pages today, then Download any digital content your recently purchased and make sure your Art Kits and projects are backed up too.  We touched on this 3 step process back in February – you can catch a refresher on the original post: Download, Backup 1, 2, 3 .  This is a great thing to do before you join our next Virtual Photo Fun Day so you are ready to make progress with your photo projects right away.

If you want a refresher on how to back up your photos too, check out the post called Back up, Back up, Back up

 

Clean & Simple Photo Projects

I am loving the simplicity of the new options with Forever to create simple and quick photo projects right from the website.  With the amazing sales recently, I have taken photos from friends and family and have put together a simple AutoBook in minutes.  I had it shipped straight to the recipients so they could enjoy a little fun mail.  Do you need a gift for under $25 or want to brighten someone’s day?  Take a look at AutoBooks or our Design and Print options and remember that Done will be Better than Perfect in many cases!  You can use this same link to explore ideas on Wall Decor or to order Photo Prints to frame and share.

 

Photo Fun Days – Going Virtual

I am excited that we have had a few successful Virtual Photo Fun Days now and are getting the hang of what that looks like for us each month.  I hope to be back to in person group events one day but for now we are making the most of virtual opportunities for everyone’s safety and peace of mind.

Our next Photo Fun Day event is scheduled to be Saturday, July 11. This event will be Virtual Only.  As we continue to have these Virtual events, I wanted to share what you can expect.

  • Everyone is welcome!
  • Right now these Monthly Virtual Photo Fun Day events are a FREE way to connect and learn but I ask that you do Register.
  • You can expect these events to be a chance to connect with each other.  I will be there to support and encourage you throughout the day too.
  • We will have several dedicated “Break-Out” Sessions throughout the day. During the 2-4 scheduled “Break-Out Sessions”, I will share demos, showcase new products, share specials sales I am offering on Discontinued Products I have in stock.  Sometimes we will have guests join me (typically fellow CM or Forever team members).
  • We open up the event through a Zoom Call at 10am and will close it down at 10pm.  Other than the scheduled Break-Out Sessions, the rest of the time is open for questions and fun along the way.
  • You can choose to come and go as you wish or just pop in for the scheduled times.
  • One of the break out sessions will be a walk through of a Project Recipe featuring a new tool or paper pack.  You do not have to pre-purchase the kit to participate however if you wish to purchase the kit, I will have them available prior to the event for Porch Pick up or after the event.  Typically these Kits are between $7-$10.  The kit is included in our Photo Fun Club Member’s offerings.

For July’s Project Recipe we will be featuring Electric Summer Paper Pack and the new Flip Flop Border Maker.  I have a few remaining kits available for $6.50/each.  Message me ASAP to reserve yours!

Staying Connected

I continue to offer porch pick up and love a quick visit with those that I am able to see when you stop by.  I continue to be only a phone call, e-mail, text or zoom call away if you need help with a project or have a question.

If you are on Facebook, you can find me in a couple of places.  Take your pick of the ones that interest you most.

I post general Photo Solutions info on this public page.  You can follow or like it to keep updated here.

This is where I share more about upcoming events, specials and unique opportunities for my current Forever customers. We focus on how you can tackle photo project in as little as 15 minutes a day.

This is where I share new product sneak peaks each month plus other specials and unique opportunities for my current CM customers.

Ready to place an order, reach out to me or you can go directly to either Forever or CM’s website.  If you want to be sure your order is connected to me, you can use these links too:
Have a great Saturday and be sure to have a little fun with your photos each day whether it be capture life with photos or celebrating past moments through your photos!

Celebrating National Scrapbook Day

We are adapting these days for events and gatherings that would normally be in person and National Scrapbook Day is no different.

I want to invite YOU to join us next Saturday, May 9th for our special Virtual National Scrapbook Day event.  This will be an event perfect for learning new ways to use the tools you have, plus allow you to set aside some time to work on your own projects too.

 

We are keeping this as simple as possible, one simple registration link and then I will share with you the agenda and zoom links on Friday before we start.  Everyone is asked to register whether you need the supplies or not so you are included in additional communication for this event.  Your Supply Package choice (Traditional or Digital or none) along with pick up preference for traditional packages will be noted in your registration.

 

Supply Package Details

The Supply Package is $35 for traditional (Porch Pick up Option) or digital participants.  This package includes all the supplies needed to complete the projects we will showcase.  You only need to have one package however if you wish to do both types you are welcome to purchase both and pick one to focus on through the day and do the 2nd later.

 

The Traditional Supply Package will be available starting Thursday evening for Porch Pick Up at my house in Apex.  I have a second batch of the goodies coming this week that should arrive by Friday.  Please note, these porch pick up packages are available as long as my supplies are available and will be reserved for our Photo Club Participants first and then anyone else wishing to pick up.  If you choose porch pick up, I will add a tape runner refill to your bag as my thanks for picking up.  If you are not local to me and wish to join or would rather have your package direct shipped to your house, we can accommodate that through Tuesday evening at an additional charge.  I will have these orders shipped directly from CM and we need to allow for shipping time this week.

 

If you opt to not purchase the Supply Package, the zoom calls and videos will still be available to you if want to watch and improvise with what you have available.

 

You may ask, what do you get for $35!  For Traditional Packages, you will get 2 of our current NSD project recipe packages (one to use as described and one to use in other ways), 10 sheets of coordinating cardstock, embellishments, idea sheets.  For Digital Packages, you will get digital art (both CM and Forever) to create projects we will share plus a gift certificate to use toward printing your completed project.  Digital Packages will also include digital versions of the handouts we share.

 

Additional Tools to have Handy

For CM:

      • Tape Runner (Suggested Repositional tape runner in addition to regular)
      • 12″ Trimmer (Straight blade, Optional blades that you may wish to have are scoring, scalloped)
      • Scissors
      • Gold Pen (optional)
      • Border Maker System (Dips & Diamonds & Spring Leaf) Alt use any other Chain like boarder
      • CCS (Mat, Blades, Circle patterns)
      • Punches:
      • Double Heart Punch
      • Border Maker Punch (Lace Trim) Alt Dazzle Border Punch, Baroque Frame

For Forever:

We will be using the Forever Artisan software.  You will want to be sure you have your software up to date and art work dowloaded.

 

Ready to Sign up:

Use this Registration Google Form to share your preferences and then I will contact you for payment and coordination on getting you you package of goodies.

 

I look forward to having fun with your next Saturday!

 

2020 Favorites – May Day!

It is the first of May!  Remember that post about Little by Little progress on our photo projects from earlier this year.  Have you been keeping up with us each month?  If so jump in with those April photos and make a little more progress today.  If you haven’t joined us yet with this, go back to the Little by Little post and start there.

The beautiful thing about this approach to our photo projects is that we get to see how just a little bit of attention each month can make a difference in a project that seems so overwhelming.  As we slowly check off one month, we gain a bit of momentum.

Don’t forget to check out the Events Page for any upcoming events you want to attend.  Did you have an order you wanted to place?  You can always order your products directly through the CM or Forever websites or E-mail me with your order no later than 1 week prior to a Photo Fun Day and I will make sure I add your CM order to mine for pick up at the Photo Fun Day that month.

2020 Favorites – Making Progress

Remember that post about Little by Little progress on our photo projects from earlier this year.  It is the first of April so let’s keep going and make a little more progress on our photo projects.  If you joined us in previous months and already have your January and February photos in your 2020 Favorites, then you are ready to move on to March.  If you haven’t joined us yet with this, go back to the Little by Little post and start there.

Don’t forget to check out the Events Page and sign up for any upcoming events you are planning on attending.  Did you have an order you wanted to place?  I am still offering porch pick up for CM orders of items I have in stock.  Did you know that when you place the order directly with me and pick up at my Photo Fun Days or through my Porch Pick Up option you get to take advantage of the discounted shipping since we split it among those who place the order.  Typically it is 6% of less but the larger my order the smaller the shipping is each month.  E-mail me with your order.

Download, Backup, Repeat

It is the last Saturday of the month so that means it is time to Download & Backup our Blueprints, digital content and projects with our 3 step process from last month.  You can catch a refresher on the original post: Download, Backup 1, 2, 3 .  This is a great thing to do each month before our monthly Photo Fun Day so you are ready to make progress with your photo projects right away.  Sadly our in person April 4th Photo Fun Day has been canceled but the good news is that we will gather next Saturday by video chat to share ideas, a project recipe and enjoy catching up with each other for a bit.  More details will be coming soon so check back here before next Saturday to learn how to join in.

If you want a refresher on how backing up your photos, check out the post called Back up, Back up, Back up

Be sure to comment below with any questions or thoughts on this process.  Are there any other systems that you would like to learn more about next month?

Our New Routine

I know 2 posts in one day is a bit crazy but the other post was a regular post and I have been working on this one all week.  Welcome to our new routine with a bit of grace and change around every turn.

Has your routine been rocked?  Are you juggling more things than you thought you could imagine a few weeks ago?  Have you learned new skills – maybe homeschooling can now be added to your list?  Is your home extra noisy these days with kids at home and parents working from home and you are searching for a spot to be still and quiet?  Or maybe your house is like mine, it is so quiet these days you dream of the days for people, laughter and chatter to fill it again?

Wherever you are, I imagine your routine has changed.  For me, I spend my days at my kitchen table working from home.  I take conference calls and participate in Zoom Meetings while working on other projects in between.  I am trying to take time each day to connect with family and friends through calls, texts or dropping a note in the mail.  I have made it a priority to go for a walk outside each day and am taking advantage of my time at home to do some of those small projects that just don’t get done very often when I am on the go all the time.  Last week, it was fixing a light bulb over my stove that broke in the socket and this week it was getting a few bags of mulch spread.

I am also taking some time here and there to work on my photos.  Not as much as I would like but still making some progress here too.  Last weekend I was able to try out the new Forever AutoBooks.  It is a “automagical” way to take your favorite photos from a trip or time and put them in a simple book FAST.  I had worked on my 2019 Favorites Album last year with the Little by Little approach that I described in a previous post so when it came to doing a book of all of my 2019 favorite photos, I was able to do a short review of them to get the total number of photos in that album under 400 and then hit one button and all my photos were in a book like magic.  I tweaked a few pages and added my journalling and ordered.  I expect my book will be here this weekend so I can enjoy.  Can you imagine what photo book you would like to have ordered this week so you and your family can enjoy it next week?

Would you like to join me in a Stay Home Photo Challenge where we gather, organize and create a photo book while we are at home these next 3 weeks?  I know you have so many more things you are doing these days but if you can set aside 15 minutes 3-5 times each week (that is less than an hour each week), you will be amazed at how much progress you can make, have a few more days or times you can work and you can see a year’s worth of photos organized in as little as 2 weeks.  You pick the pace, your project and whether you choose digital or traditional style books or you choose your 2019 book or a family vacation book, it is completely up to you.  We are gong to take this off of social media and do it through a few simple text messages to remind you, encourage you and inspire you over these next 3 weeks.  Ready to get started?

Text SIGNMEUP to (919)205-5212 .  This is a special text number I am using for this challenge and a few other updates.  E-mail, message or call me with questions through our usual ways too.

As we find our routine over the next few weeks, we may adjust and tweak things but know that one thing that is constant is that I am here to help you with your questions and photo projects.  If this a time that you want to make progress on your photo projects, I am here.  If this isn’t a time you can add one more thing to your plate, know that it is OK too, we can connect once the dust settles a bit.

Be safe and take care while you Stay Home this week!

 

Grace & Making Progress

I thought of all of the lists and ideas I could share with you about those photo projects that we can do while practicing social distancing right now but the reality to me is that the shift in routine is not like any of us can anticipate.  I don’t have an abundance of “extra time” but it is more of a shift in the time and places I spend it – some things are harder as we navigate them remotely, some are just different.  I imagine each of you may be like me as we let a bit of the dust settle while we figure this out.  I want to take a minute and remind you it is OK to not have the perfect picture to this time, it is a time to extend yourself some grace as well as those people around you, those you do business with and even those who are making decisions about schools, businesses and offices.  We are all trying to figure this out together and it is likely going to be a bit bumpy.

My best advice as we figure this out together, keep the things you can as normal as possible while taking advantage of these changes to make a little progress somewhere you wouldn’t normally be able to.  Don’t set too high of an expectation of what you will accomplish but strive to make the best of this time.  For me, the last few days of working from home have allowed me to spend time with my Write the Word journal a bit more, keep the laundry going a bit better without forgetting it in the washer or dryer, take a short walk each day, cook more meals at home, talk to a few friends by phone and help a few customers & team members who are working on photo projects.  I am making progress on my full time work projects too and making lists of other things I need to do when we are able to meet together in person again.  Things are moving forward, a bit slower than expected but it is OK there is still progress and I am thankful each day for my health and the ability to keep these things moving forward.

From my photo business side,  I like many of you am having to weigh whether or not to keep events on the calendar and how best to support my customers and team members.  I want you to know that for now I am not making any determinations about my Photo Fun Day Events in April or beyond but will evaluate those starting next week and we will adjust if needed.  I know we will all be anxious to be together again soon and when it is appropriate to do that I want to be ready and able to provide a place for us to reconnect in person.  In the mean time, I want to share that I am opening up some times where we can do a video/screen sharing type event to ask questions and share information on both Creative Memories and Forever projects.  I am anticipating offering two types of events virtually: 1) Office Hours will be a time when I am available online (video conferencing if possible) to connect with you on any photo questions or topics you might like to chat about.  This will be a pop on and off type event and will likely be 1 hour at a time 2) Mini Workshop or Class type events which are more topic based and will be more of a demo and then Q/A time at the end.

As I determine times and topics, I would love to hear from you what you are most interested in and when it would be most helpful to join.   This is with the thought of the next 2 weeks where many schedules are cleared and many are home more than usual.  I realize that your availability may shift but I want to offer this at a time that is best for this season we are in.

When would you most likely pop on a call if I offered it during these times? Please check 2-3 that are ideal for you in this season.(required)

What topics would you be interested for the Mini Workshop/Class type events? Here are a few ideas I have but if you have others, pop them in the next comment area.

Both Forever and Creative Memories stay committed to being open as long as they are able to without interruptions and providing us with the products and services we need for our photos now and well after this season is behind us.  You can visit my website like for each of these companies with latest specials and status or reach out to me directly anytime.

Creative Memories: https://www.creativememories.com/user/ElizabethGoodson

Forever: https://www.forever.com/ambassador/elizabethgoodson

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out through phone, text, e-mail or comments on any of my posts.

Time – what will you do this week?

The last couple of weeks have been hectic for me with an amazing retreat last weekend and then the reality that many of those in my office may need to shift to a work from home approach for several weeks so we can maintain the highest level of service and safety of our staff and community in the coming weeks.  I am sure I am not alone in feeling like this feels a bit weird but we will continue to do the things we can as we adjust other aspects of life being different than usual.

First, let me share a brief update about the great time we had in Hillsborough last weekend.  We had 9 of us in attendance at a unique retreat house that was designed with crafters in mind.  We had large tables, comfy chairs and good lighting to work on our projects whether they be traditional scrapbook pages or work on the computer for photo organization or digital photo project creation.  Our sleeping space and working area were all under one roof which was great for our group.  We did a Card Class break-out using the Creative Memories Just Saying Card Kit.  Each participant created 6 cards and got to experience just how easy it is to do our card kits.  We also did a Project Recipe with the Magic Awaits Creative Memories kit in both traditional and digital and discovered how versatile this pack of products is even if you aren’t going to a theme park.  Each participant also got a Forever Gift Certificate to use on any item they wished.  Some uses of this gift certificate were – printing photos, ordering permanent storage, ordering a Media Conversion Box, getting Forever Artisan and then there is always our beautiful Forever Digital Art.  Forever really has something for everyone.  There were also a few goodies for attending that included non-photo project surprises.  As with any of our retreats, there was plenty of yummy and comforting food to enjoy and keep you fueled through the days.  I know that each of the attendees will join me in looking forward to our next time in Hillsborough.  If you are interested in joining us next time, be sure to Save the Date – October 9-11 .  More details will be coming later this summer.  As with this event, I expect the October one will sell out quickly so be sure to jump on registration as soon as it is opened.

As I returned from the retreat, it has been a bit of a whirlwind as we absorbed the ever changing news about the spread of the COVID-19.  I am sure you are like me and having to react to an adjustment of our routines as many of our commitments and schedules are shifted.  Although there is a lot of uncertainty, I am reminded that there are many things I can do at home that I haven’t had “time” to do recently.  Some of you will be dealing with entertaining others in your household while some of you will find yourself with lots of time to yourself.  Here are a few of the things I plan to do with my change in routine:

  • Instead of commuting every day to work, I am am hoping to get a walk in more often and enjoy some of these warmer spring like days.
  • On the days I am home working, I am hoping to eat a few healthier lunches rather than picking up something out.
  • I also plan to be intentional about what small businesses I can still support during this time and how to be intentional when I do get out or order for shipment to my house.
  • There are also many projects I have at home – cleaning out that bathroom cabinet, sorting that pile of old clothes that need to be donated, determining what supplies I need for the yard so I can freshen up the flower beds are just a few.

What projects are on your list, what projects can you do with your family during this time?  Are photo projects on your list?  This is a great time to gather photos and media for a media conversion box, a great time to spend 15 minutes a day working on organizing a few of your digital images with your Forever account or pull out that traditional project and spread it out and see where you left off, what you need to finish, etc.  It is also a great time to go back and read a few of my recent posts here on my blog about how to get started with a photo project with a Little by Little approach.

Remember that I am here to help you with those photo projects when you are ready.  We can video chat or talk by phone during this time with any questions.  I am also planning on doing some screen sharing events in the evenings where I can show you how to use your Forever Account or Artisan in new ways while answering questions you may have.  Have kids that take photos on their phones that are stuck at home, we can teach them about this too and make that time on their phones a bit more productive too.

For now both Forever and Creative Memories are still open and operating their facilities so we can place orders and send media conversion orders to them.  If this changes it will be posted on their websites but for now, there are many things we can do keep those projects going that we have already started or plan ahead for what we may want to do next.  I would love to hear what you are doing over on our Facebook Page where others can be encouraged and inspired too.

I look forward to our time to gather in person again but until then, let’s encourage each other virtually through the technology that we have at our fingertips.