November 1st is just a few days away and I’m gearing up to document gratitude every day for the entire month.
The Thirty Days of Thankful album project is something anyone can do (you don’t need my template sets to play along) but if you’d like to try them out this year, I’ve got three videos to walk you through the basic steps.
This would be a perfect beginner project for anyone interested in learning about digital scrapbooking because it’s a very minimal, stripped down design. You can keep this as simple as you like. My approach will include photos and words. That’s it.
The first video shows you what’s included in the packages as well as walks you through working with the basic day pages. (Note: the video tutorial uses the 6 x 4 album set for the example. All the sets include essentially the same pages although some designs for title pages change because of the different sizes.)
30 Days of Thankful Album Tutorial, Part One from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
The second video shows how to use the Bonus Photo Overlay pages.
30 Days of Thankful, Part Two from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
And the third video demonstrates how to use the Title Pages.
30 Days of Thankful, Part Three from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
All video instruction is presented using Photoshop Elements 11.
You can click on any of the links below the videos to watch over at Vimeo, or simply click on the Enlarge button to view them in Full Screen Mode.
Many of you have asked me what size I will do. I’m going to create a 6 x 6 album and then create a 5.5 inch softcover book from Artifact Uprising.
I have really fallen in love with those little softcover books. You can read more about my experience with Artifact Uprising here.
If you’re a fan of the 6 x 8 album size, there are two albums I’ve found that I really like. One is the Studio Calico handbook. The other is the 6 x 8 Snap Album from Simple Stories. You can mix and match page protector sizes in each album, using either the 6 x 4 pages or the 6 x 8 pages. I was very tempted to mix my sizes and use one of these binders, but decided to go with the softcover book.
I’ll share a video tutorial in early December showing you the process of creating an album with Artifact Uprising, as well as share the final printed book.
Until then, I will be sharing my digital pages every Friday during November and would invite you to join in and share your links.
For more information on the 30 Days of Thankful project, read this post.
My 30 Days of Thankful 3 x 3 wood veneer cards have been re-ordered at Studio Calico. I’ll let you know when the link is back up, for those interested.
Once they are restocked, my blog readers can also take advantage of a special Project Life™ kit offer from Studio Calico.
You can get the Project Life™ Antiquary kit for just $10 when you use the promo code GRATITUDE.
To purchase any other 30 Days of Thankful album sets, click here.
Teresa g says
Cathy thank you so much for the tutorial. I made a 30 days last year with you and wanted to do it again this year. I haven’t done digital yet and was very nervous. Your tutorial is saving me. I am counting down the days to Nov.
jacquie says
Even though our Canadian Thanksgiving has come and gone, I still plan to attempt the Thirty Days of Thankful for November. I would like my finished product to be the 5.5 inch soft cover book, and my question is…what template would I purchase to accommodate that book. Would I be able to use your 6 X 6 template in that format?
H2 says
Cathy-
Looking forward to starting my 30 Days of Thankful. I started it last year and didn’t get very far, but am determined to get it done for 2013. I went the 6 x 6 route–already have my album and used your binder artwork from last year.
By any chance would you be willing to do your new 30 Days of Thankful spine for the binder in the size for the 6 x 6 album you used last year?? I’d be truly “thankful”!
Quick question: What site do you use to print your digital pages? I’m thinking I’m going to send my pages out for printing instead of doing them hybrid and wanted to get some suggestions.
As always, thanks for the motivation and keep the tutorials coming!!
rosann says
This by far has been my fave project in a long time. i did 30 days last year and it’s my favorite album to date. The only problem? WHAT SIZE TO CHOOSE? I think I’ll go with 6×6 even though the 4×6 is tempting. Thanks and can’t wait to get started.
Barbara says
I’m excited to do this for the first time this year! Oh why does this week have to be so busy at work! I guess my 1st page will be Friday and I’ll have to figure out how to incorporate my busy day and find something to be grateful for after a long hard day at work! Big Implementation day on Friday – I hate doing work on Fridays and then starting Monday with all the questions or things that need to be fixed. Ok I’m going to work on my 1st page before Friday.
Thank You Cathy for giving me something to get excited for again!
Lee Currie says
As always, thank you so much for your inspiration and sharing your talent. Thanks to you my Gratitude album for 2013 is complete, and printed, such good stuff: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/2013/10/project-thirty-1-days-of-thankful.html