Request for Memory Keeping Q & A

How do you keep from being inundated with supplies? I have favs, but so many punches, stamps, etc that I've spent $s on and it doesn't make sense to get rid of it all.

I bought the See and Stamp Jumbo upper and lowercase set because I really like the font and how you use them in your LOs. But I realise they seem pretty big and in some of your LOs they dont seem so big at all. Did you use the See and Stamp Upper and Lower case ( not the jumbo ones?)
Perhaps I can let my 2 sons play and stamp all they want with the jumbo ones LoL!

Thank you for giving us a chance to ask questions. We were given two large bags of old family photos. Some of these photos are from the early 1900s. There are so many that it would be overwhelming to scan them myself. Can you recommend where to send these photos for high quality scanning or even an idea of how to start the search for a local business that could do this?

How do you get yourself out of a non-photo-taking rut? In other words, how do you make yourself pick up the camera again and shoot? I only have one child and he's 13. He doesn't participate in a ton of activities (band at school and church youth group) and I find it very difficult to find new things to take photos of. I work full time (but only for another month as the Army has decided to move us yet again) and I find it difficult to pick up the camera and shoot day in and day out. (Get up, breakfast, make lunches, put son on bus, clean up from breakfast, take shower, go to work, come home, make dinner, clean up, do some housework and/or laundry, sit down, watch TV, read blogs, sort photos on computer from the weekend, go to bed). It blows my mind (in a good way) that you take photos every day. But I don't know how to get myself excited about taking photos day after day. And take pictures of what?????

I know you moved recently and was wondering what you used to pack your albums in? We are moving soon and I am concerned about my albums being 'safe'. Should they be packed standing up like on my shelf? That is what I'm thinking, but worried that the boxes will end up on the bottom of a ton of other boxes in the moving truck and get damaged. I am wanting to pack them myself (rather that the movers)..they are all different sizes. What do you suggest?

I want to know more about journaling, you writing is so inspiring, vivid/descriptive, and you can feel your heart/emotion in the writing. I love to read your journaling because I can see the story unfolding in me eyes, and I can feel the emotion you have for the subject/topic. Very inspiring! Thank you!
How do you do it? How do you approach your journaling? Does it take a long time? Did you take classes or have a natural talent for writing?
Any insight would be much appreciated.

Hi Ali,

Do you ever use your Silhouette in your projects?

Thanks for all your inspiration!

I am really curious not so much about anything specifically scrapbook related but more as to how on earth you manage to do everything you do on a daily basis. I don't think I could manage half of it!

I know Anna is 2 now but I was wondering if you ever did a baby book for her, you talked about it. I know that she will have her own set of books like Simon but I remember you saying that you didn't like the "pre-made" ones that you find at the store. I didn't buy one of those either and I was wondering what you scrapped and how you did it. Also, do you plan to complete last year's Project Life or are you not going to bother?

I am DYING to know what kind of black pen you have been using in your Project Life for the larger writing (see example here : http://aliedwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/AE_PL2011_wk16_page2.jpg)

I scored an old typewriter--where do you get ribbon, or how do you ink yours? This one has a ribbon, but it is dry, and when I tried stamp ink. it didn't work. Thanks!

What are your thoughts on journaling with cursive handwriting, considering that many schools are eliminating it from the curriculum? I'm torn because I love the look of cursive, but it is sad to think that my son (age 2) may not be able to read my journaling when he gets older.

I don't know if blogging questions are ok? I've noticed that you write about pretty personal things on your blog about your family and your children. I am never sure what is too much to share. We are not really comfortable with having our daughter's photo online at this point either (she's 4) so I never show her face on my blog. How do you decide what is the right amount to share and what is too personal?

I know you use albums with rings rather than posts. Do you find that these store upright okay, or do the page protectors sag? Do the ring holes in the page protectors last or get weak/tatty? I am finding the post albums hard going - they are really tricky to fill and add to, so I am thinking of switching to ring albums for ease of use.

Maybe this is only slightly scrapbook-related, but I was wondering what kinds of crafts you have been introducing Anna to. I have a son in the same age, and I am reluctant to let him use my stamps, stamp pads, scrapbooking paper etc, even though he loves to paint and color and do other crafty stuff. Should I just get over it and let him use my stuff, should I buy him more kid-friendly stamps etc, or should I wait to introduce him to those kinds of crafts? Any input?

Do you photoshop most of your pictures before posting or are they straight from the camera? Any books or blogs you can suggest to improve on photographic skills?

Hi Ali - Thanks so much for offering this. I have the Adobe photoshop program and really don't have a clue on how to use it. Any suggestions on where is a good site to learn to use it? Thanks again.

Thanks for the offer to answer our questions!

How do you store your ribbons and and stickers??

Hi Ali,
I would love to know :) * how you organize your day to manage work + family+ exercise + home; *What you ended up doing with your Disney Pictures (I'm staring at 600+); plans for your next on-line class.
THANKS so much for the chance to submit questions!
Jen

Obviously part and parcel of memory keeping is the need to store your albums and Project Life, etc. How do you manage to maintain space in your home to fit them in? I'm currently trying to cull unnecessary items from our home. Clearly sentimental items are harder!

I imagine ten years or so down the track of say Project Life, would amount to 10 albums you have to store. I know memory keeping has been in your family for years. How did your Mom manage with keeping things and knowing what to keep/what to cull etc?