Tag: Back to the Basics

Speed Systems – Power Layout

Sometimes we just need a quick way to get a project done and as I dust off a traditional project that I have set aside while I caught up my current projects, I am reminded that my ticket to getting these projects done quickly is to use one of my go to speed systems – Power Layouts. It doesn’t have to be fancy although there is a tool from Creative Memories designed just for this approach but even if you don’t have the Power Layout Box and guides, you can tackle your project this way without it. You can order your own Power Layout Box by going to my CM website and looking under the Shop Menu for Storage and Totes.

Whether it is my annual album or project with a theme or event focus, I first will gather my photos and sort then into the order I want them in my project. Most of the time for me it is chronological but sometimes it might be based on people or other events. Then I will lay out 2 page spreads across my table using my refill pages or cardstock background paper. TIP: Remember that if you are using refill pages, the left side of your pages will be on the pack of the previous one. You will want a placeholder or cardstock to help with this side. Sometimes I will use the extra cardboard insert from our paper packs as the place holders. This is where the Power Layout guides are really helpful if you have them but either will work just fine. I like to use the whole dining room table or one of my big 6 foot tables when I do this but if I have a smaller space I just lay out fewer pages each time.

I will then pick 4-6 photos from my pile for each side and plop them down on the side I believe they might go. I don’t arrange them, just put the whole stack on that page (or place holder guide). After I have plopped my photos down on all the pages that are on my table, I take a few minutes to think about the papers or other tools I might use and gather them so I can add or use them when it is time. Before I put any papers or embellishments with the pages, I go through and simply arrange my photos that I had picked to be sure they fit the 2 page spread well. TIP: I might do a simple cropping step here or pick one to accent with an oval or circle photo. To keep this moving fast pick only 1-2 photos per 2-page spread to crop. I don’t spend a lot of time in this cropping step but generally will eliminate a few photos and further refine my layouts possibly shifting photos to other pages or consolidating where needed. Now I add the paper or embellishments that I expect to use. I lay them with the photos (again not sticking anything down yet).

Once I have the paper and embellishments with the pages, I stack the pages up as if they were in the album first page on top and each page after placed under it. I sit these aside and move on to the same steps for the next batch. I work this way until the stack of photos is complete. TIP: One thing to remember is that the first page will not be a 2 page spread so you might want to think as you work through your photos if you want to do a title page with a favorite from the whole project or if you want to jump right in and have the first page be the beginning of your photos. Now that I have a stack of pages, I can work on them in a smaller space, 2 pages at a time. I like to keep my unfinished pages to my left and then as I finish them stack them to the right. I typically will journal as I finish each 2 page spread but if you prefer to journal the whole album at once, you can go back and do that at the end.

If I have to stop along the way and pack up, I place all completed pages in my album so I can start enjoying them right away and put the unfinished stack in a Power Sort Box or other container that can keep the items together and not shift until I can work on this project again.

I find that when I spend the time to plan out my projects like this, I work much faster and get a more cohesive book in the end because I am looking at 8-12 pages at once during the initial steps.

This approach works well with traditional printed photos but you can also do a similar process with digital projects. The Pixels2Pages team recently shared a video about this on one of their virtual crops. If you are interested in seeing it you can go to their website: Digi Power Layout . This may be only available to members now but it is a great video that shows how I do many of my digital projects too.

Join us at our next Photo Fun Day and you can have a full table to try this out or let me know you want to see the Digi Power Layout system in person and I will be happy to share my current project.

What project would you like to complete with this approach? Can you imagine completing 10-15 pages in one day? I encourage you to give it a try if you haven’t before and watch those projects get completed!

Now for the Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years:

On the first day of Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years, I went back to where it all started with a Creative Memories product that I LOVE – one person can get the CM bookcloth album of your choosing for 50% off. Available until claimed!

On the second day of Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years, I am reopening the 2020 Photo Fun Club until the end of the month for the 2 remaining spots in the 2020 Photo Fun Club ~~PLUS for the first person who replies I am offering 1/2 off one of our upcoming 2020 Photo Fun Day – FULL day registrations.~~

On the third day of Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years, I am offering to the first 2 people who respond, 10GB of Forever Storage for 1/2 off.

On the 4th day of Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years, You will need to stock up on the staples when you do your project with this Speed System so today I am offering Buy One Get One 50% off on those supplies you never want to run out of – Refill Pages with Protectors, Tape Runners, and Tape Runner Refills. There is no limit on how many people can take advantage of this offer however all orders must be placed no later than Feb 29th and pick up at my home in Apex or at my next Photo Fun Day or Retreat. Please use the form below for your order!

5 years ago

Back Up, Back Up, Back Up

I am so glad I found Forever 5 years ago. I have shared this story with many through the years but as I remember these last 16 years of my business journey, I would love for you to hear a bit of this story too.

Forever came along with products I was looking for at just the right time. See I had fallen in love with Creative Memories’ PC-based software Storybook Creator Plus and Memory Manager several years earlier when it was first released and loved taking my digital images and storing them all in one place with Memory Manager and then creating beautiful photo pages with Storybook Creator right on my own computer to print and add to my annual photo albums. It was a couple of years before 2015 that the old Creative Memories went through some difficult changes and they would stop selling and supporting these two PC-based programs that I had grown to depend on and love. As long as I still had the computer they were installed on working, I was able to continue using them just as they were designed.

In the summer of 2015, I needed to buy a new computer and would be faced with how to transition forward. The good news was the original creator of these two programs was still around and offered the programs under a different name but what I didn’t know was that they were in early discussions already about being purchased by a new start up company called Forever. I began following closely as I purchased my new computer and purchased by replacement copy of the Memory Manager software now called Historian so I could continue keeping my photos organized and in one place. I soon discovered that my method of backing up my photos onto CDs and DVDs was not going to work now that my computer didn’t come with a CD drive anymore. I needed a back up solution for my photos and Forever was offering just the option that fit that need. I began learning more about this cloud based, permanent, photo storage site that was designed for long term storage of photos and media. It was as I learned more about Forever that I fell in love with this company’s mission too. They took that love for photos and helped us with a practical way to preserve the photo and albums we had made as well as have a permanent home for the digital images that we were collecting.

I now have a more complete memory keeping solution that ever before. I can save my photos and media both on my computer in Historian and back them up in my Forever permanent storage account. I would love to share more about these amazing tools but while we are talking about backing up, let me remind you of a few other items that it is good to back up when we are talking about our photos and projects.

Photos from all devices
Videos from all of your devices
Photo Projects (all of your Artisan project files)
Digital Art (all of your art kits from your Commercial Art Kit folder PLUS your Activation Codes)
Blueprints (make sure you have downloaded them and then back them up too)

Whether it is moving over to a new computer or rebuilding a device that has had a technical issue, you will be glad that you backed up these items often! Take a few minutes today to back up your projects. Even my gift below is designed to help with this task.

Now for the Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years:

On the first day of Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years, I went back to where it all started with a Creative Memories product that I LOVE – the CM bookcloth album of your choosing for 50% off. Available until claimed!

On the third day of Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years, I am offering to the first 2 people who respond, 10GB of Forever Storage for 1/2 off. Forever Storage is an amazing tool for backing up your most precious memories and I want you to be able to try it for the first time or add to your account. You must comment below or e-mail me directly to take advantage of this deal.

5 years ago

Little by Little

Whether it is a photo project, taking on a new habit or tackling a big project, I have come to really appreciate with the phrase “Little by Little“. There are many things I want to get done and areas I want to make a difference but I have learned some time ago that sweeping in and doing the big one time thing is not nearly as effective as the Little by Little steps I do daily, weekly or even monthly. A couple of years ago, I shifted my focus on my photos to being more intentional with Little by Little progress, even focusing on the power or 15 Minutes at a time. With this approach I have spent the last year really acting this out. In January of 2019, I create a Photo Album called 2019 Favorites. Each month, I would take some time to pull my favorites from the previous month to add to my Favorites Album. When I had finished this task, I would go back and work on my 2018 Photo Album Pages. Little by Little I make progress on both my current photos and my older project. I just recently finished up my 2018 Album Pages and a few other photo projects from 2018. I am starting 2020 in the same way. Will you join me?

I recommend doing this with a Forever Permanent Storage Account where you can create a Album of your most favorite photos from each year and know they are protected for generations to come. If you would prefer to have a program on your computer to help you with organizing, Forever Historian would be my recommendation. Whatever your tool, the steps below will help you get started with purpose this year with your photo projects. The best thing to do is keep the steps simple and repeat each month.

Create a folder or Album for your Favorites – I am calling mine 2020 Favorite Photos
At the beginning of each month, mark your calendar to go into your phone, cameras or other places you keep photos and pick your favorites. Some months this will go quickly while some it may take a little longer.
If you have time to do this more than once a month, you can work backwards an extra month or two at a time. Just remember the first of the month, be sure to stay focused and do the most recent past month.

I promise a year from now you will be glad you took the time and made progress today.

I challenge you to take time today and create a 2020 Favorites Album and add your favorites from January 2020. What other tasks, projects or habits do you want to tackle in 2020. Can the Little by Little approach help you with those too.

Now for the Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years:

On the first day of Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years, I went back to where it all started with a Creative Memories product that I LOVE – the CM bookcloth album of your choosing for 50% off.

One the second day of Elizabeth’s 16 Gifts for 16 years, let’s celebrate the many events we have held over these 16 years. We have had classes, Crops, Workshops, Retreats and so much more. for a limited time, I am reopening the 2020 Photo Fun Club until the end of the month for the 2 remaining spots in the 2020 Photo Fun Club. You can read more about it here: 2020 Photo Fun Club and since I know some of you can’t join us each month but would like to attend, I will also offer to the first person who replies 1/2 off one of our upcoming 2020 Photo Fun Day – FULL day registrations. To claim either of these, please comment below or E-mail Me directly.

5 years ago

Need a little encouragement on that photo project?

Do you have a photo project that you have been wanting to make progress on in 2020?

Watch your mail for information about a 30 day challenge I am doing to help encourage and spur you on to making progress or completing your project in 30 days. Whether you want to get your 2019 photos organized or you want to spend some time creating pages in your next photo book or you want to catch up your children’s albums from years ago, this opportunity is a good fit for you. We will set up groups with similar goals and skill level and encourage you and help you right where you are. This will be done over 30 days at a time with an option to renew at the end of the month.

I will share tips and encouragement through a couple of texts through the week and then you will have a challenge to complete each week to be entered in a weekly drawing for gift certificates and prizes. This is a great way to have a little fun while making progress on one of your projects.

I am sharing this information with my current mailing lists this week. I am using the same list I used for Christmas Cards this year so if you didn’t received a Christmas card from me last month then you might miss out because I don’t have a current mailing address for you. To be sure I have your current information, please complete the form below and if you did not already get the mailing, I will get you the information to you too.

5 years ago

Join us for the 2020 March Retreat

We are kicking off another one of our 2020 Events with our first retreat of the year. We are headed back to a favorite spot of many for a weekend event in Hillsborough, NC. You can work on traditional or digital projects with plenty of space and time to spread out and get a few things done. We will kick off the weekend at noon on Friday and go until 2pm on Sunday. You can choose to add on an Optional Thursday Add-on for early arrival on Thursday evening (arrive anytime after 6pm). Registration is $275 and includes 2 nights Lodging at the Retreat House (you will have your own twin bed), a full table of space to set up your project plus a comfy office chair, home-cooking by my sweet mama – Martha (Friday lunch, Friday Dinner, Saturday Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and Sunday Brunch), a goodie bag of products and other fun treats and surprises.

If you would like to add on Thursday night as well, you can do so for an additional $25 which will include additional night at the house and Breakfast Friday morning. Please note that dinner Thursday night is on your own.

Photo Fun Club Discount: $15% off your total retreat cost (must be a Photo Fun Club Member by January 31st to get the discount)

Retreat Registration

5 years ago

2020 Photo Fun Day – Kick off

What an amazing day we had Saturday!

We had a dozen participants who gathered for our January Photo Fun Day event – the first of our monthly events in 2020.
Some came for the whole day and some stopped in for just part.
We had lots of photo organizing going on some with printed photos and some with digital photos.
We had several traditional scrapbookers loving the new theme paper packs from Creative Memories and trying them out with a Sketch Idea that we did together.
We had some digital scrapbookers who were working on books or page prints for their next project with Forever tools.
We also had new friends who were coming to learn how to take their photo chaos from a box of family photos they have and move to a photo book that can be created for their family and multiple copies ordered to share.
But most of all we had a lot fun together while we worked on our photo projects.

We have 9 more regular monthly in-person all-day workshops like this coming up in 2020 but we also have a couple of retreats and virtual events coming too. Do you have a project you want to get done in 2020? Take a peak at the Events Page and sign up for the events that work for you. If you would rather meet one-on-one, I am always happy to schedule a time to meet either with a FREE Coffee Shop Chat or for a custom time at my hourly rate. You can contact me by going to the Let’s Connect Page of my website.

5 years ago

It’s HERE – Black Friday, Small Business Saturday & Cyber Monday

Are you kicking off your shopping or wrapping it up or somewhere in between? This weekend typically signals the official start to the holiday shopping season but more importantly it generally means there are some amazing deals too. Whether you shop the deals for gifts or for some extra savings for your own purchases I don’t want you to miss out on the Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday specials we have around here too.

We have Forever Deals, Creative Memories Specials and even savings on my 2020 Events.

Forever has been celebrating all month but the home office just bumped up the savings this weekend. Don’t miss out on these amazing deals. All of these plus more can be found by going to my website: https://www.forever.com/ambassador/elizabethgoodson and clicking on the DEALS tab. Here are a few of my favorites that I don’t want you to miss:

Have you been eyeing Forever Permanent Storage for a while but it was just outside of your budget. The 50% off payment plan option for a 10GB plan can get you started and give you the peace of mind you want for your most precious photos, video and other media. For just under $10 a month for 12 payments you can gave 10GB of storage – save and secure.

Already have Forever Permanent Storage and need a little bit more. Take advantage of this Deal and you can add to your current account or take a peak at the other one-time payment options and get up to 50% off one time payments too.

We LOVE photos around here and Printed Photos are sometimes the best. This Weekend Only, Forever is offering 40% off printing your favorite photos in 4 great sizes. Whether you want to frame them or scrapbook them, this is a great time to get that next batch of photo prints ordered.

When you order 10 or more of the same size and finish, you can get bulk savings!

Another great way to enjoy our photos is to have them printed in a completed printed project whether it be a book, page prints to add to our scrapbook, calendar, wall decor like a canvas or panel, or other photo gifts. ALL of our Printed Products are 50% off or if you are a Forever CLUB member you get an additional 10% off this weekend too.

While we are printing all of these great photo projects, it is also nice to have FREE Shipping when orders are over $79 (or just $49 for CLUB member)

With Creative Memories this year, we are winding down an amazing BONUS Gift with purchase special. Go straight to my website: https://www.creativememories.com/user/ElizabethGoodson and you can pick from 2 amazing bundles when you purchase $150 or more. These bundles are available through noon on Friday, November 29th. But do not fear if you miss this bonus, there are still amazing new products and old favorites available for you here too.

and starting TODAY we are announcing our 2020 Event Schedule:

You can sign up starting later today at www.SeeingAGreaterPurpose.com/EVENTS

Happy Shopping!

5 years ago

Cards & Cocoa

Grab that cub of Hot Cocoa and log in to Forever’s website to create that Christmas card this year. Did you know that you can create cards and other photo projects right from your phone or tablet. It is that simple and fun. Want a little extra help or some friends gathered around the table together while you create your card or project? Join us this Sunday, November 24th for an afternoon of fun along with our Cards & Cocoa! This event is at my house and if open to anyone who is interested in joining us. Drop in for the time you wish between 2pm and 4pm. Bring a friend and you get $5 off your card order on top of other specials already in place for amazing discounts and FREE shipping.

Comment below or reach out by e-mail or phone to get my address.

5 years ago

Gather Them Up & Jump In

This time of the year always reminds me of raking leaves. I have some sweet memories of fall visits at my grandparents’ house where we would arrive to find the yard covered in leaves. Sometimes my Granddaddy would have already started the process of raking but most of the time it was a project that we would all join in and help during the weekend. It never seemed to be a job we dreaded. We would have so much fun raking the leaves and piling them up throughout the yard only to gather the cousins around to take turns running and jumping in the piles of leaves and spreading them back out to rake all over again. Over the course of the day, the leaves would be gathered and put in a large pile in the back yard near the horse pasture with other yard debris to be burned later. Before the evening was over we would have had fun jumping and playing and then wrap up with watching the fire crackle. Oh to be that 8 year old little girl again. Take a peak here for a glimpse of what I looked like about that age on one of those fall days at my grandparents’ house. This photo is special but what is really special is the story that goes with it – maybe not that exact day but there are so many memories that are intertwined and triggered when I see it.

Whether we are gathering leaves or other things like our photos, it doesn’t have to be a job we dread. Just like the experience I had as a child when we did it with many hands or tackled it a little bit at time, the big job wasn’t so tough and could actually be fun in the process. When you think of your photos, do they feel like leaves scatter all over the yard – maybe more like all over our house or computer. Are some in neat piles ready to be dealt with while others are blown all over the place. As you think about where all of your photos are, can you imagine a day when they are all in one place where you can find the precious one you are looking for with ease.

To get there we have to start somewhere, so let’s start at the beginning with gathering them from all their hiding spots and coming up with a plan of where we want to store them. Take a peak at this image here to the left and see if it sparks any other ideas of where you might have some tucked away.

As you gather them, make sure you have a physical spot to collect the photo prints, video taps, CDs, etc. Maybe you want to designate a box or bin to collect them all in or set up a table to gather and sort them on. Also think about a place on your computer – a folder where you can make sure that all the loose photos and folders of photos from your computer can all be gathered too.

This may take some time to gather so you can spend time collecting all of them in one place or do a first pass of your house and electronics and then get those organized while you continue to gather and find more.

Remember our goal is to have them all in one place, organized and where you can find what you want and enjoy them. Do you have a permanent home for all of your photos yet? A place you know is designed and set up to handle photos and media. At a minimum, I recommend that you keep your most special memories in at least 2-3 places. Some possible solutions might include some of the same locations as listed above but if you would like to talk more about how Forever can help provide you the tools and systems to simplify this process, join us at an upcoming Photo Workshop or reach out and let’s set up a time to chat.

5 years ago

Fall Back in Love with your Photos

Where did October go and how did we end up in November with the time changing already? I know I am not the only one that is in awe of how fast time seems to be going the older we get and the more things we have going. As I get things back up and going with the blog this Holiday Season I want to remind you to think of that photo that reminds you of a special time in your childhood or with a special friend of family member. That feeling you get when you think of that photo – that is why I do what I do, I love the feeling of reminiscing and remember the story that went with the moment that was captured on the photo. It doesn’t have to be a professional photo, or even a good angle, the photos of someone’s head cut off or the mostly of the floor tell a story too. Do you know where that special photo is, do you have that story captured somewhere?

Do you dream of a day where all of your photos are in one place? Maybe you dream of that perfectly lined shelf of photo albums and books that tell your children’s life story (or even your own)? Do you want to have your walls filled with photos and memories of those you love?

Let’s work to make some of those dreams come true. This Fall and into the holiday season, let’s spend a little time Gathering our photos just like we gather the leaves in the yard or apples from the orchard. Let’s find ways to Celebrate and Share them with those that will enjoy them too.

If you are ready to jump in (whether it be a piles of leaves or pile of photos), mark your calendar for next Saturday, November 9th for our Monthly Photo Workshop in Cary, NC. I have plenty of room in my afternoon session (3pm-10pm). Come for as short or as long as you would like. Remember if it is your first time, it is FREE after 3pm, for everyone else you can sign up here, choose the Evening Only Option for just $25: https://squareup.com/market/sagp

If you are not quite sure about jumping in all the way but want to get started, here is my best advice for tackling any photo project.

Start Current and the Work Backwards

Yes that is it – start with your current photos (digital or physical prints). Gather those that are the most recent – this month or even this year and tackle those first. It will help you create a system that works for you today. If you find others from outside of this time frame put them in a box or folder until you get to that time. Then back up a month or year at a time and continue with the process you have started. If you want some additional tips and ideas, you might enjoy going back to my post about The Power in 15 Minutes. I am continuing my 2019 Favorites Album and look forward to creating my annual photo book pages with ease because I have spent 15 minutes once a month, gathering my favorites as I go and don’t have hundreds of photos to go through later. It is a great time to start with October 2019 if you haven’t started before now!