CZ Design

50 Selfies at 50: The results (plus a free template for you)

50 Selfies at 50: The results (plus a free template for you)

Simple scrapbooking with Cathy Zielske at cathyzielske.com
One year ago I launched  a photo project as a way to celebrate my 50th year on the planet. I called it 50 Selfies at 50. The goal? Take 50 selfies… while I’m 50. I know, my genius knows no bounds. While I didn’t actually post 50 to my Instagram account (after a while, I felt like I was phoning it in), I did, in fact, take well over 50 and was able to combine them into one glorious, multi photo layout:

Simple scrapbooking with Cathy Zielske at cathyzielske.com
The rules were simple: it had to be a photo that I took myself, either as a hand-held classic selfie, or one wherein I set up the timer and took it that way. All shots were taken with my iPhone simply because it’s so easy to do. For those shots with a self timer, I used this handy little Bluetooth remote shutter release.

I learned a few things from doing this project:

  1. After a while, selfies get old.
  2. My wardrobe leaves something to be desired.
  3. Selfies with other people are just more fun.
  4. You can never look too stupid or too cool.
  5. Life is short. Have some fun with it.
  6. Including yourself in photos is a moral imperative for memory keepers.

And because today is my birthday (yes, thank you… all well wishes welcome because, you know, I AM ALIVE and life is good!), I have a short video that’s not really a classic tutorial but rather, me talking over a clip that has been sped up. No, I was not drinking wine at the time of the recording.

To download the layered template, click on the image below. If you need more than 64 squares, You can duplicate a complete row and then adjust the template as needed. I’m always just an email away and can help if you need it!

Simple scrapbooking with Cathy Zielske at cathyzielske.com

And here’s to Year 51. 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. CarlajinAR says

    hope you have a great day!!! Love your selfie page. Love checking in each day to see what you are up to lol

    Reply

  7. Candace says

    HB2U, Cathy! And thanks for inspiring me to do my own photo project: #52in52at52. I started in May on my 52nd bday and Insta post one pic a week (mostly selfies, a few not… My favorites are the ones with friends and family). And oh my gosh I am SO ready for this fun but somewhat narcissistic project to be done!? Excited to use your template in May (or eventually…) And I will probably do a mini chat book too. Thank you for sharing your inspiration, wit, and creativity!

    Reply

  8. Susan says

    Happy Birthday Cathy! Thank you for the inspiration and for the template. I love your fun attitude. Have a wonderful day celebrating you. And congratulations on successfully completing your project. Really great layout.

    Reply

  9. Holly says

    Happy Birthday!! Love yourPage. I think I see this in my future. Without that template I wouldn’t, so thank-you!! Have a fun day!?

    Reply

  11. janel says

    Happy birthday Cathy, I have loved following you for …well…oh so many years. I hope you have a wonderful day and get to be with your favorite people. I can relate to the wardrobe conundrum. Thanks for the great template. I look forward to using it. I am thinking I may have to fill it in with favorite foods. Have a good one, and thanks for the many years of being YOU! Here’s to many more!

    Reply

  13. Cyn BC says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY CZ!!

    Here’s to another year of making great memories.

    Thank you for the template – LOVE IT. What a versatile way to showcase a year in one page. I think I could fill a page with the selfies my kiddo takes in a day…

    Off to Costco! Fleecy tops and yoga pants have arrived!!

    Reply

  14. Kim H. says

    Perfect!! Thank you for the free template. I turn 50 in June and I’m committing to doing this exact same project. Thank you for always being an inspiration. Happy Freaking Birthday!

    Reply

  15. Tammy B says

    Happy birthday Cathy! Your card is in the mail but it will be a bit late. ? Just look at it like an extension of your celebration! Enjoy your day! ???

    Reply

  16. Karen says

    Happy Birthday! I love reading what you write, learning from you, and am so happy you’ve reached your fiftieth!

    Reply

  19. Susan Skogseth says

    Happy Day of Birth that you share with my daughter. I am so loving that template. Thanks so much. Here is to another year around the sun now pardon me while I drown my sorrows that my first born is 25 in a nice cold beer. Is 11:38am too soon to start?!

    Reply

  23. Karen C. says

    That turned out so great! Happy Birthday to you! Thank you for the freebie, at 67 I’ll need to do some major adjusting! Luckily I scrap in 12×12 so that will give me more room.

    Reply

  24. heidig says

    Happy Birthday! You never fail to make me giggle. I think I’ll do this template next year since my bday falls in January. Fifty-seven photos at 57??? Not as catchy but it’ll do. Enjoy your day!

    Reply

  25. Dana says

    Happy birthday Cathy! Thank you for the template! I loved seeing all your selfies and can’t wait to make my own. Have a great day!

    Reply

  26. Jane says

    Wishing you the very happiest birthday Cathy – thank you for being you, for your warm generosity, fun loving spirit and your love of life and this wonderful craft we all hold so dear.

    Reply

  28. donna says

    This is a well done project! your selfies are so fun.

    When I turned 49 a few years back, I set out to do 49 adventures. i had rules, because i am lazy 🙂 i made it! the idea was to not whine, but go out and do things and find things. It was so very perfect for me. I met some awesome people, and found great events that I had never attended before. This year I turn 52 and am trying to find something equally as fun and interesting to celebrate the year. Thinking of just exploring the number 52, like things made or born or designed in 1965 etc. we shall see!

    Reply

  32. Deneen says

    Great minds think alike LOL. In June when I turned 52 I started my #52selfiesat52 project at first I thought I would take and post one photo a week for the whole year until my next birthday but after a while I thought I was posting way too many selfies LOL. They sure are more fun with other’s in them as well. I post one from time to time but I am actually not posting them all. Thank you so much for the template I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them. At first I thought I might just complete project life pages in the app but I really like your template so I may have to use it 🙂

    Reply

  33. Isabel says

    Happy Birthday Cathy! Love this project, thank you for the template. Happy Internacional Women´s Day to a awesome brave lady!

    Reply

  38. JeanD says

    Happy birthday Cathy!!! I’m just about to turn 60 and I liked the idea of all those selfies and was really happy that your template has 64 spots. I think I have a challenge 🙂

    Reply

  40. Becky K. says

    Thank you for the template and the great video! I switched from a Windows PC to a MAC and from PS Elements to full blown Photoshop awhile back and was just overwhelmed with all the changes. I slowly stated to digital scrapbook again and your video tutorials have been so helpful. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

    Reply

  41. Sandy_in_MD says

    I love this project! Thank you for the template & video. I seldom have myself in the picture and need to start documenting me. I appreciate the motivation.

    Reply

  42. Jenell says

    Happy Happy Birthday, Cathy! Love the 50 at 50! I turned 60 this year and should have done something like that. Maybe 61 at 61!!! Great job. You continue to keep me laughing and crying and inspired and I thank you! Hope you have a great day!

    Reply

  43. Sue Triggs-Rhuda says

    Happy Belated Birthday! Love this project! In December I’ll be (gasp) 55 so maybe it will be time to take that up…in the meantime, your template squares are perfect for the series of over 100 photos my girls took of themselves on my iPhone…if you shuffle thru, they make a time lapse movie! Thanks for the freebie and cheers!

    Reply

  45. Michelle Peacey says

    Happy (very belated) birthday Cathy. Love this idea – am going to try it out. Will have to add another square because I will be (gasp!) 65 this year! But every year above ground should be celebrated so I am going to try and live my life as grateful as possible. And taking a picture of oneself 65 times might show me who I am and figure out if I need or want to change that.
    So thank you Cathy. You always give us something to think about while having a good time
    scrapbooking.

    Reply

  47. Barbara says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CATHY!!! And thank you for the template!! I turned 50 last June, so I am right behind you….I love this project you undertook and am thinking about combing through past selfies (and scheduling a few within the next few months) so that I can use your wonderful and generous gift to commemorate my 50th year! Thank you for sharing your talent and for inspiring us to get in (some of) the pictures we take and record the beauty of our lives!

    Reply

  48. Sandra1968 says

    Happy belated birthday!
    And thank you for the template. I’ll hope to turn 50 next year and I just love the idea behind this template. Your selfies page is great 🙂

    Reply

  54. WhamBamPam says

    Hi Cathy,
    I found this just before I am turning 50, so thank you, I know part of my plan for 2018 now.
    WhamBamPam aka Pamela McGillin

    Reply

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