I’ve had a tremendous response to this year’s 30 Days of Thankful project. You can read about the project in this post from last week, but I thought that answering some of the common questions I’ve been getting could help if you’re wondering, “Hey, can I do this project? And how?” Ready? Okay!
WHAT IS 30 DAYS OF THANKFUL? It’s a month-long project to document what you are grateful for. You can log things every day, every few days—whatever you’re moved to do. You take photos as you go and combine them into an album. It can be whatever you want it to be.
WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE THIS PROJECT? You need a vehicle in which to house your photos and words. This could be done in any way you like. You can do it traditionally, digitally, or somewhere in between. To that end, of course I’ve designed products to make the process easier.
IS IT TOO LATE TO DO THIS? Hell to the no. We start on November 1.
IS THIS A CLASS? No, it’s just something I’m doing online and inviting people to join in for free.
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FROM YOUR PRODUCTS? I have created a 4 x 4 album set this year and it includes every file you would need (PDFs for non-Photoshop users, PSD for those who like to edit and change colors, JPEGs for digital scrapbookers). All you would need is some card stock, a printer, an album and some page protectors.
I also have a digital stamp set which could be used in conjunction with the base album set, or alone.
And finally, I have a set of 3 x 4 cards (again, including printable files, PSDs and JPEGs) that could be adapted and incorporated into your Project Life albums.
DO I NEED YOUR PRODUCTS TO PARTICIPATE? No.
DO YOU HAVE A HANDOUT ABOUT THIS PROJECT? Yes! Click on this link to download: CZ30DaysGuide
DO YOU HAVE ANY VIDEOS ABOUT THE PROJECTS? I have two of them.
This one includes a project overview plus some step-by-step Photoshop instruction:
30 Days of Thankful Product Overview + Process from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
This one shows you how to use the free digital package (from the Facebook group) to create pages you could use to make a digital book.
How to use the free 30 Days of Thankful template set from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
ARE THERE ANY FREE DOWNLOADS FOR THIS PROJECT? Yes. I’ve started a closed Facebook group and if you join the group, you can access the files. There is a planning sheet, a small layered album template and a printable spine file. The group is free. Click here to request to be added.
WHAT IF I’M NOT ON FACEBOOK? It’s my goal to one day have some kind of community hosted on this site, but it’s not in the budget at this time. For now, Facebook was the easiest way for me to coordinate a place where people could share their pages and share ideas.
WHAT ABOUT THAT CUTE STAMP SET? Yes. There are still sets available here from Studio Calico. Click here for the 4 x 6 set; click here for the 2 x 3 single stamp.
If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
LAST CALL FOR ME: THE ABRIDGED VERSION! We extended our registration period by one week but today is the last day to register for my workshop. Yes, I hope to teach it again if now just isn’t going to work for you. But if you want in, don’t sweat that we’re in our second week. You can join in and get to work on this amazing time capsule of you. Registration closes at 10 p.m. CST. To register or for more details, click here.
Michelle t says
Thank you for sharing this. I haven’t decided yet, I’d love to. May spend the month documenting and put an a album together at a later time. I’m still thinking about joining the group, but wanted to say thanks. Such a heartwarming project, and so kind of you to share. Michelle t
Kristi says
I got your stamps in the mail this weekend. THEY ARE FABULOUS! I am so excited to get this project started. THANK YOU for pushing me back towards a hobby I deeply loved.
Cathy Zielske says
Woo hoo! 🙂
Tina Joergens says
and you sleep when? I’m in both your ME:TAV class and the 30 Days of Thankful group and your attention to both is amazing. You are my newest girl-crush! Thanks for all you do!
Dawn F. says
I just received the stamp set yesterday. I love it and am excited to plan how I want to do this. Thanks for the great designs!
Barbara says
I’m excited to try this again this year. I some how got distracted and didn’t finish last year. Now I’m trying to decide, do I use the colors as is and keep it simple or do I change the colors and make it more complex and more time consuming? I’m thinking keeping it simple might mean that I actually complete it this year.
Kari says
Help Cathy!!!
I saw this and besides deciding I should watch your video is and probably join the closed FB group for 30 Days of Thsnkful I decided to register for your Me: The Abreviated Version. Problem! Even though here and at Big Picture, it says registration is until 10pm CST (and it is, shortly, before that now). The Big Pucture sure says registration is closed. Ummm.
Cathy Zielske says
If you email admin@bigpictureclasses.com and request to sign up, they can help you. 🙂
Holly Corbett says
Looking forward to doing this project again this year! I This is always one of my favorites! And I adore all the new product you designed for this project! Thaaaaannnnkkkk youuuuuu!
Susan says
I love that you head up this project each year and I’m in this year – again! I’ve created a simple 6 x 6 template that I’ll be using this year, print them at Persnickity Prints, and put my 30 Days of Thankful in a a WRMK 6 x 6 Teal album. One thing I’ve found: I love going back to my albums from previous years and am be reminded of what I’m thankful for.
Katie says
I’ve started this project each of a few years and never hit more than about 10-12 days, not consecutive. So I’m thinking about converting what I have to the template I like most (your 4×6 templates from last year), add the year to each pages/spread, and aim to fill in the days I’ve missed going forward. I think it will be cool to end up with a November daybook with thankful photos + words from various years, and it balances out my inability to let go of an unfinished project with my inability to maintain focus for 30 days 😉 A second idea is to dole out the days among family members to come up with a complete month of gratitude that is located within one year. Either way, the encouragement to take time to dwell in gratitude is awesome. Thank you for putting it out there for all of us and making it look so appealing too!
Karen Herrmann says
I think I am going to love this! Thanks for extending the invite thru Heather.
Ali Smith says
Hi Cathy, I just saw the Stamp Set you created and when I went to find it on the Studio Calico website it says the set is SOLD OUT! I am so disappointed because I would love to buy that Thankful stamp set! I don’t just want the one 30 Days stamp but the whole set!
Any chance they will be printing more?
Thanks,
Ali
Cathy Zielske says
Hi Ali,
I’m sorry! I don’t think they’re printing more. It sold out about two weeks ago. 🙁
Brenda says
I kept thinking I really wanted to participate in the 30 Days of Thankful and today I decided to go for it! I ordered my 4×4 album, the protectors, and the digital sets. Thank you for the awesome videos and product for us to use!