Scrapbook Your Year, a brand new self-paced e-course from CZ Classes, is open for registration beginning today! This workshop is designed to help you take the crap out of a year-long scrapbook project, one month and 30 photos (or less, or more) at a time.
What is this class about? Take a peek at this short video for a quick overview.
WHO IS THIS E-COURSE FOR? Anyone who wants to take a simpler approach to saving a complete year of stories. Whether you take a digital approach (which is what I am doing) or a traditional pocket page approach, my method of getting organized and tackling each month is designed to take the stress out of a year-long memory keeping project.
I HAVE YEARS OF PHOTOS TO DOCUMENT. CAN THIS CLASS HELP ME? Yes. Once you get organized you can go back and save any year you like. I documented nothing from January through June of this year to purposely see if my approach would make it possible to catch up quickly and result in pages that I loved. I knew I wanted to teach people how I do this because I loved my 2015 album which used this basic approach. I was able to catch up to June 2016 in about 6 to 7 hours. And yep, I love the results! (And I share them in the class.)
I DON’T USE PHOTOSHOP. CAN I TAKE THIS CLASS? Absolutely. The main takeaway is how to set yourself up for success with a year-long project and how to limit yourself in the process. I encourage traditional pocket page, Project Lifers to take this course. I’m providing printable 6 x 4 and 3 x 4 cards (in black and white only) for use in your albums. The goal for traditional scrapbookers will be the same: tell your story one month at a time in four pages (or more, or less) at a time.
I ALREADY HAVE SOME OF YOUR TEMPLATES. HOW IS WHAT I WILL GET DIFFERENT? The class templates are based on my Life Basics Minimal designs. They have the same margins so you can mix and match with templates you already own. The class templates come with fully customizable page titles and journal blocks to help you create an album that reflects your personal style.
CAN I DO THIS PROJECT IN 8.5 x 11? You can, but the course templates are 12 x 12 so you would have to adapt this concept to your size. I will not be providing 8.5 x 11 templates for this course. You could purchase and use my Life Basics Minimals 8.5 x 11 template set from Designer Digitals and adapt them to the class, if you like, or use any other layered templates in that size.
WHAT PHOTO ORGANIZER ARE YOU USING? I use Photos for Mac and my tutorials show you the process of setting up Smart Folders. However, any photo organizer that will let you set up folders by Year and Month will work for this class. Of course, I don’t offer instruction in specific organizers that I do not use, but we’ll have a class community and I’m sure if you are stuck with how to set up custom folders, we’ll be able to get the answer. The key is the method to help you quickly organize your photos and start saving your stories.
WILL YOU COVER WHAT PHOTOS TO TAKE? No. This is not a class about what you should be taking. In my experience, we memory keepers kind of hit that one out of the part by nature.
SAVE 10% off the course price now through August 15. You will have immediate access to the lessons and of course, you will have access to these materials as long as I am operating this website. The course will not go on sale again until December 1, 2016.
QUESTIONS? COMMMENTS? Leave them and I will answer them all! Or you can always email me directly.
Jacquie says
Done and done! I recommend this class to anyone that needs to play ‘catch up’ or is looking for a clean and simple approach to scrapbooking Project Life digitally, or really, any other scrapbooking projects, for that matter. I have been following Cathy’s method of organization since she posted it some time ago, and it makes keeping your photos and words organized so, so easy. And when it comes to teaching, she totally rocks! I am so looking forward to getting into this class content. Thanks again, Cathy!
Cathy Zielske says
Glad to have you, Jacquie, and thanks for the endorsement! 😉
Valerie says
I’m wondering about being able to use this approach for the many years before I scrapbooked. The pictures are printed, but are 3×5 size so won’t do well in Project Life page protectors. I guess I could scan them all, but that seems like a daunting task. Do you have any ideas on how this approach could help in this area?
EBHawks says
Maybe you could buy or cut some basic 4×6 cardstock and just mat them all? It would look super consistent/clean and not waste your already printed pics.
Cathy Zielske says
Well conceptually, it would work, but… yes, size wise… that poses a real challenge. I like EBHawks idea of matting the photos, especially if you focused on using white or cream card stock for a real neutral look.
Granted, the class covers a few things: 1. Is how to organize your photo library to prepare for a project like this (with digital images in mind) and 2. Showing you how I make choices and build pages.
With much older photos that fall outside of a digital photo library, I’m not sure if paying for the course would be helpful for you. 🙂
Julie says
My passion is documenting trips and other people’s weddings (traditional scrapping method) but I have always thought that the yearly everyday stuff would be great as well. I am always admiring everyone else’s layouts/albums….but have never seemed to be able to get my “CRAP” together, but certainly not for lack of trying. I mean well, but just get beyond overwhelmed (printing pictures, journaling, organizing). I think this class just may be a game changer for me….well, if learning PSE doesn’t eat me alive! I am so excited to get started! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
Cathy Zielske says
Julie, there is a bonus Lesson on digital basic processes. I truly believe that you only need to master a few things to use PSE well. This is why the design of these templates is SO simple. You won’t be having to muck it up with a ton of stuff.
That said, those people who are Photoshop savvy can have more freedom with their choices and what not. And, I’m here to help. I know how to use PS to make this project work!
Tracy says
Sigh, I just made the financial decision to use what I have (including online courses) before purchasing anything new. But I won’t lie….this course sounds like my holy grail. I am so looking forward to the December release, I’m sure it will be a key big step for me moving forward and I am so happy you have created this course Cathy!
Cathy Zielske says
Totally understand! But just so you’re aware, the course will be available all year long. 🙂 It’s just the sale price of 10% off that won’t come back until December. Unless I do another fall sale for classes.
Jeanette Collins says
Hi Cathy, I’m excited to see this class. You mention above that you use Smart Folders for Mac. Do you not recommend using PSE Photo Organizer? I’ve always been a bit scared of it and just use the PSE for editing, etc. Also, I’m on a PC so I use file folders in Windows. I guess what I’m asking is what would be easiest to use, PSE Organizer or Windows folders for this project? Thanks.
Colleen Fuerst says
Signed up!! I have been trying to catch up on this year using my old method of printing photos, putting them is pocket pages and adding journal cards – and I’m just not into it this year. Time has been tight, photos are lacking in quantity and quality, but I still want to continue documenting and organizing and making pages for an album, so I’m looking forward to a streamlined approach.