Meet & Greet with Becky Higgins

The original version of this post first appeared on Tracey's personal blog Live.Breathe.Dream.Be.


Last Tuesday I skipped work and headed off to Lidcombe Spotlight to meet a scrapping idol of mine, Becky Higgins. This is certainly not my usual Tuesday morning, but was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

You may be familiar with Becky through her industry-revolutionising scrapping system Project Life. I'm only new to Project Life and pocket scrapping this year, but I've been a fan of Becky's for over 10 years.

When I first started scrapping, the goto source of inspiration was definitely Creating Keepsakes Magazine (which is sadly no longer published). I can remember spending hours pouring over the submitted layouts, copying the ones I liked, and wondering why I couldn't get my scrapping to look as 'finished' as the published layouts.

Remember, this is way before blogs, Instagram and Pinterest. It was way harder to find great sources of scrap inspiration than it is today. I was also the only one I knew who scrapbooked - it was before I found my lovely scrapping community.

Then I discovered Becky's sketches. Each month she would have an article in CK featuring one of her sketches, and different interpretations of the sketch.

CLICK!

It was like a light bulb seeing those sketch designs! They guided me through my first steps into page design, and pretty soon I was doing my own rough little sketches in my sketch book. As Becky said, 'that was what worked for you at the time!'

Of course, now I've come full circle and get to see my sketches come to life at the Dizzy Izzy Crafternoons & Retreats. It's always such a thrill to see how others interpret something I've created!

I took along my copies of Becky's Sketches books for her to sign. These books were like my scrapping bibles, and are now quite well used/loved. It was so exciting to sit next to Becky, and chat with her about my scrapping journey, and about Dizzy Izzy Scrapbooking.  Becky was gracious enough to answer all of our questions, and then she got stuck into signing goodies like journal cards and core kits.

The first of many days of signing for Becky on this trip

I had seen her on Creative Live, and I'm familiar with her mantra of 'Cultivate A Good Life & Record It', but I was pretty blown away. With Becky, what you see is what you get. One question I asked, as a scrapping entrepreneur myself, was how many hours a day does she work on the business. She spoke about when they first started the business, and the kids were smaller, that they would put them to bed, and she & David would be working until 3am. Every Night.  Now, she said, she has a bigger network and support team, but she still feels like she puts in hours & hours. Every Day.  As a scrapper, and as a woman, I completely admire Becky for both her business sense and also her work/life balance. It's something that I hope to work on and I definitely aim to be more like Becky.

I took along one of our Dizzy Izzy promotional milk cartons to give to Becky - she thought it was adorable! And because I gave her a little gift, I was given a gift in return - a signed Cut & Paste Mini Kit! So generous!  One lucky scrapper will win this treat at our May Retreat - will it be you??

Here is to Cultivating a Good Life, and Recording It.

Tracey xox

De-Constructing Project Life - Part 3

I'm back with more Project Life.

For those of you who missed out my first post (you can read it here), I'm not taking the traditional approach with Project Life where it is a week at a time, or about day to day life. Rather I'm using Project Life to document the story of our first home.

It is my little project that highlights all the blood, sweat and tears... oh and the joyful moments too... that we put into really making our mark on this place.

Alrighty then, so I think that these are the layouts where I finally thought 'aha, I think I'm getting my PL mojo, baby!'

Things started to click when I realised I only need to make the adjoining pages all matchy-matchy. Yes, a 'doh' moment! As this isn't a typical Project Life style album it really means that I can be chronologically flexible (wow that's sounds like a really corporate phrase). Sometimes my photos weren't lining up sequentially in terms of the page protectors I was using. So while I've tried to keep as close to the timeline as possible, in some instances things are not going to be in the right order or there might be a bunch of odd filler photos to use up the back side of a page protector (see the top layout).

In the bottom page I've used PL cards from the Amy Tangerine Cut and Paste mini kit, Simple Stories, Kraft core kit and a random photo cut paper I had lying around.

Oh and with these layouts I started my love affair with the Heidi Swapp Buzz Words!

And have I ever told you how much I like to create embellishments using stamps, ink and paper? Absolutely the best when your on that elusive search for the 'just right' element! I've used my Ali Edwards stamps here.

Happy scrapping

Fleur

De-constructing Project Life Part 2

Wow - was it really all the way back in August that I last posted about Project Life? In fact my only post so far about Project Life... all about my excitement of cracking into a Project life core kit box. You can read that post here.

Well its been a bit of an evolutionary journey for me and Project Life since then. I will be the first to admit that at first I found it all a little overwhelming as I felt a bit of pressure to adhere to the old KISS (keep it simple stupid) philosophy. I am a lumpy bumpy scrapbooker, my style is typical 12"x12" layouts usually with just one photo. I felt a tad constrained sticking to just the one core kit. However now I feel like I have finally found my peace or perhaps my style with Project Life. I am elated that while watching the Australian Open that I was able to pull it all together and feel content with the Project Life journey I'm taking. 

I've got quite a few pages to share over the coming weeks - yes I watched a lot of tennis - yes I am disappointed Nadal lost - so stay tuned and watch the evolution unfold! I think I'm almost achieving straight sets!!!

Turns out I like to mix in some 12"x 12"layouts with my fave photos

Not loving the layout above. Its a bit to flat for me - but I guess every journey starts somewhere. I do however like the wood veneer Studio Calico Arrow that I inked using my StazOn black ink. These packs have oodles of arrows and hearts in them which have really gone a long way in my Project Life album.

I felt with these two pages above that I was starting to get my 'needs to be lumpy bumpy' but KISS issues sorted....somewhat still not 100% but I like certain elements like doubling strips of Washi Tape with a small element and the 2013 flair in the centre of my PL card. Plus I started incorporating cards that weren't in my core kit. In the bottom layout I have used one of the Simple Stories Journal Card Cutouts from the 24/Seven range. 

I'm struggling with the use of my own handwriting - not my forte! I have made it one of my new years resolutions to consciously make an effort with my handwriting but I feel a little bit conflicted as I am meant to be whizzing through the construction of this album. 

Evolving ...game.... but not quite set!

Happy Scrapping

Fleur x

De-constructing Project Life!

Its been hard not to miss all of the hype surrounding project life especially in the lead-up to its release for general retailers in Oz. For the past little while it was mainly a phenomenon in the USA and for those of you who follow some of the celebrity scrapbookers such as Amy Tangerine or Ali Edwards I am sure that you have seen some stellar examples of their take on Project Life.


So what is Project Life? - Lets go through the concept just to make sure we are all clear!!!!

Project Life has been designed by Becky Higgins as a way to simplify the scrapbooking process. Becky's view is that she has taken the hard work out of scrapbooking by designing all the ""bits" (including the layout of your page).  It is meant to be a back to basics approach for the complete novice or scrapbook guru where you can display your photos with as little or as much detail. The way that you may see many scrappers using the system is via a week at a time approach, however it is pretty easy to adapt this system in any way you see fit.

Ok - so I've been hanging out to try this system simply because I've had a project in mind. I want to record the journey of our house as it changes through the years. I've been taking photos as we do various bits and pieces around the place. So here comes the challenge for me. Simplifying things is not my forte and I'm a more is less kinda gal but I'll see how I go. I'm also not so great with ongoing projects but hopefully I can stick with this and make it work with my hectic schedule.

For my Project Life I am using the Becky Higgins Kraft  core kit, the big variety pack #1 of page protectors and a D ring album.

Ok so with a glass of red in reaching distance - I'm all set to go!!!! Let's crack the kraft kit!!!

Ok - inside the core kit you have 616 cards in a combination of 4 x 6, 3 x 4 sizes. Some cards have been specifically designed to be first page or last page cards while others show suggested layout placement.

Inside the page protectors box you get 60 page protectors in 6 different styles so 10 of each.

So now the assembly begins! Let's see how easy this really is!!!

So with the assistance of a kind helper (a.k.a hubby dearest) it appears that this process may work in terms of my poor time management. My downfall will be keeping up with the journalling - but perhaps that's a good on the train job?

So here is my first completed page - with some embellishment.  I just couldn't help myself!! I made the disclaimer earlier I am a more is less kinda girl!

Tracey has recently added all our our Project Life products to our webstore http://www.dizzyizzyscrapbooking.com.au/ .

I'm interested to hear your project life journey's - how are you using it to suit your lifestyle? Please comment in the links below, tag us in pics via facebook (dizzy izzy scrapbooking) or send photos to dizzyizzy@y7mail.com

Happy Project Lifing!

Fleur x