Wednesday, October 20, 2010

True Story!

I have been a huge fan of the adorable Shimelle Laine for quite a while. She is quirky, glittery and everything fun all in one petite little package. I would just love to be like her when I grow up so imagine how excited I was when she asked me to join her on her latest class adventure - TRUE STORIES!

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True Stories is an online class that starts on the 25th of October, but it can be completed at any time. It lasts three weeks, with fifteen full-colour PDF prompts delivered straight to your inbox, Mondays through Fridays. From the beginning, there is absolutely no way to ‘fall behind’ or ‘not finish’ because it’s not that kind of class. You can follow along by working on a prompt each day if you would like, but you can also keep the prompts as a reference for when they come in useful for your own scrapbooking, blogging or other story-telling needs.

True Stories covers fifteen different ways to approach your story and commit it to paper. You can use these prompts as a scrapbooker and see your journaling evolve to something that will be a treasure to read. You can use the prompts as a blogger to make your entries feel like honest, unique and compelling tales. Or you can just use them in general as a collection of ways to add a bit more excitement to your writing if you’re feeling like you’re in a rut of writing the same way on every project.


The topic of journaling your story is very dear to my heart but when Shimelle asked me to join in, I realized just how much I have been getting away from the things I want to tell. My husband and I had even talked about it the night before - about all the little events that had happened with our boys and I realized I hadn't gotten down even ONE of them. As Shimelle says: "...Scrapbooking is [about] pretty paper and true stories. I’ve taught plenty of classes about the pretty paper. This time, we’re going to focus on True Stories."

I so hope that you'll join along with us in this adventure. I know it's going to be such an exciting journey and SO worth it! Please check it out here and get signed up today. You'll be so glad you did! And to add to the excitement, I'm going to give away ONE SPOT in TRUE STORIES to one of you fabulous readers! Simply leave a comment here telling me what you'd like to get out of this class by FRIDAY, October 22nd at 11:59 PM Eastern and you will be entered to win.

Remember CLASS STARTS MONDAY, the 25th! See you there!

xoxo, k.


90 comments:

anniekate said...

My baby girl is almost one year old! I try to get down as much as possible, but I struggle at times and don't want to miss a thing! This class would help me focus on what's important. How exciting!

April said...

Wow, this sounds like a really great class! I think it would help me make my journaling more meaningful...
- April W

Tammy said...

I would so love to take this class. I have always believed that it is the stories that give meaning to the photos, and I would be tickled pink to learn some new and interesting ways to tell the stories of our family! Thanks for the chance to win!

Meghann Andrew said...

I'd love to win this class Kelly! I've been on the fence about whether I should take it or not, but Shimelle's classes never disappoint!

Hanna Long said...

I just found out I'm about 3 weeks pregnant and this would be the perfect class for me.

Toni said...

I would really love to take this class. Telling stories is the most important part in the scrapbooking, so may be this class will help me to tell more meaningful stories.

Mghairgirl said...

OMG! This class is just something I need, I have been scrapbooking for years but never really do well with the journaling part. I know there is a story inside just bursting to get out but I never know where or how to begin. This class would give me that jump start...I think even if I don't win the spot I will join, sounds like it is something I could really get a lot out of. I am just so glad that I read your blog today, just made me happy!

Casey Wright said...

Oh! I would love to be in this class - I'm looking for a way to rejuvinate my scrapbooking skills and this would be perfect! Thanks for an opportunity to win!

{dawn} said...

What I hope to learn from these classes is how to effectively communicate the history of my grandparents. I have been longing for quite a while to put together a scrapbook of their lives, their family. They lived through such interesting times, time of joy yet times of personal tragedy. I would love to be able to communicate their story as an inspiration to future generations. I believe this class would be a great help to me in the telling.

laterg8r said...

i would love to journal from a different perspective. i find i always have the same 'voice' and would love to mix things up a bit :D

Anya said...

I straggle with journaling a lot. I would love to get help in that area of scrapbooking. I do understand how important it is and still complete some pages silent. I've heard Shimelle on Roundtable episode and instantly understood how fun she is! Getting a spot in this class would be one of my best Christmas presents! (since I'm planning on doing December Daily with lots of journaling)

Thank you very much!!!!!

CKMommy said...

Journaling is the hardest part of the layout for me and I would so love my blog to be better! A spot in this class would be a dream!

Arjanne said...

I would love to learn more freedom in journaling. Right now I always think: what would people think when they read this in 25 years? they must think I'm crazy. So I tend to take the safe way, but the other side is that they won't really know me in 25 years, they only know where I've been. So I hope that a class like that will get me over that barrier.

Gretchen a/k/a StampingRooster said...

I definitely need help with journaling. What a great opportunity. Thanks for sharing.

Vanessa said...

this sounds like a great class! I definitely need help just jumpstarting the creative process and writing more than a few sentences

Brenda Weaver said...

I love Shimelle's classes and this one sounds great for me. I often find myself forgetting to write down the important stuff to include in my kids' albums.

cathy0536 said...

So I am not too bad at journalling when I'm talking about special events, birthdays, christmas and holidays. But I want to get better at recording the more ordinary days of life - my sons asked to play with their 'oregano' the other day, after much discussion we realised they wanted their 'meccano' - surely that deserves a scrpabook page? But normally I lose those funny stories pretty quickly and I want to get better at recording them...

Anonymous said...

I never know what to write and can't seem to sound genuine. I'd love to be able to find my true voice.

ArlaMo said...

As my oldest is approaching graduation and my youngest just starting preschool, I realize how fast time flies and how many stories I think I will remember to "write down tomorrow." Shimelle does such a great job - thanks for the chance.

Heidi G said...

Oh how I would love to win this. I have pictures from my entire life all ready to go in a box, I've selected my color scheme (black and ivory), and have purchased the paper (beautiful wonderful paper) and there it all sits--for the past year. I don't know where to go from here. This would be the perfect way to help me get started.

bakscrap said...

I would love to take this class. Like many others, my journaling could be better. My fav layouts are the ones that tell a meaningful story. Thanks for the chance to win.

Barb in AK said...

How exciting!! I would love to win the class. I can often be guilty of picking papers, attaching the pictures, then moving on. I need to tell the stories, too.
Thanks for the opportunity!

Bonnie said...

I just love Shimelle's classes, they are always so thought provoking. I have lately been scrapping all the major events in our lives, but forgetting the everday stories that need to be told too!! Thanks Kelly

Judy said...

To become a better story teller.

Sarah and the rest of the family said...

I am learning to dig deeper with my stories, but I often need prompting to know where to start. I want to get beyond the who, what, where and when and start digging for the answers of WHY I've done the things I've done or made diffifult decisions. I want my kids to one day read my stories about them, but get an idea of who I am at the same time.

janel said...

I've always wanted to take one of Shimelle's classes but never made the time to do it. This one sounds perfect for me! I need some new and fresh ideas to get my journaling down on paper. Thanks for the give-away!

Laura T. said...

Oh, I love Shimelle's classes. I didn't hear about this one, but it sounds amazing. Some of the stories that I tell on my layouts just seem ordinary. I would love some pointers to make my stories sound that they are truly coming from the heart.

Lisa said...

Great idea! I think most important to me would be just the simple getting more (& better) stories on paper!

Andrea North said...

Too many of my pages are 'completed', but waiting for me to journal on them... I know this is just what I need!!!

Marilyn Nimmo said...

I would love to do a better job of journaling on my layouts. I tend to not put enough.

Anonymous said...

I've got lazy about journalling over the past few months, so I'd like some new ideas!

Liberty :) said...

I really want to get all of those random stories that are in my head out onto paper. I either journal too much or too little so also want to learn a balance

Anonymous said...

I would love to be able to write a story about the photos in a meaningful way. Whatever i write always end up sounding so 'gushy'

scrappyjacky said...

I just love Shimelle's classes...so inspiring...and as journaling is not my strong point...am hoping I'd be inspired to do a much better job of it.

Pippa (pjbear) said...

I want to expand my network of awesome scrapbooking friends via the class forums - there are so many talented people I've yet to encounter :)

Olivia said...

Congrats on being selected as a guest teacher :)
I'd love to get new journaling ideas from this class and themes for mini albums which I've recently started making an am really enjoying.

Kate aka stinkydudette said...

I hardly (if ever) journal on my pages, cos I never know what to write. Or I end up writing the same thing for every single page. I hope to learn how to tell my stories better, one with meaning, not just random words...

Unknown said...

Thanks for the giveaway, I would like to go to this class to take my journalling from what happened to being more why i wanted to scrap this, you know? why did I take out my camera and photgraph this, what will i want to read in 5 years, 50 years. I find it hard to know where to start and this class sounds ideal for that. thank you!

Renee said...

I'd love the insight on how other people tell their stories...I vary between journaling for posterity or for myself in the moment.

Diana Martin said...

I would love to pass down to my children, the stories I want them to know of past adventures about my life! This class sounds amazing, thanks for the chance to win a spot xox

Amelia said...

I want to know how to blog with a little more zest...and just have some new inspiration! Thanks for the awesome chance!

Sarah said...

This sounds great! I feel like I get in a journaling rut...I'm just spewing out facts about the pictures or what we did. I'd love to learn how to get more creative about how I tell our stories. Thanks for a chance to win!

Michelle said...

I love Shimelle's classes and have done a few in the past, there is so much changing in my life at the moment it would be great to do this class to get some of that down so I remember. Thanks for the chance :-)

carilackner said...

I would love some guidance on how to get all those great little snippets of real life into my scrapbooks. I worry too much about how the page looks and I forget all the important stories that I want to include!

Margie S (Nihao, Cupcake! xnomads.typepad.com) said...

I have been working hard the past year or so to strengthen the journaling on my pages. I've changed my process, trying to write my journaling before doing anything else, I've made lists of potential stories I want to scrapbook about, I've read prompts and paged through photos to jog my memory, I'm finally noticing a big difference in my journaling, my pages and in the stories I'm telling. I would love to take this momentum and take it to the next level with this class. I think it's being offered at the perfect time for me! : ) Thanks so much for the opportunity.

serena said...

what a great class. I love journaling and would love to learn more about how to preserve the memories, thoughts, and feelings in different ways.

Lee i. said...

I haven't scrapped much lately. I still have many photos to scrap but I feel I've ran out of meaningful stories to tell. All my layouts now only have captions to tell the when and where of the photos. I hope to get back into the groove of journaling the things that really matter. Thanks for the giveaway.

Tracy said...

I too am a HUUUGE believer in the journaling being the most important part of our Scrapbooks ... the pretty papers and the photos are awesome but the stories will be treasured more one day ...

And, BONUS ... Put Shimelle and Kelly together with some other talented scrappers - who would want to miss this??

Love, Tracy G

Hope and Chances said...

Right now I feel like time is rushing by, my sons are bigger than me and I desperately want to capture so much before it goes... :-)

barrentree said...

This class would be awesome at helping me to be a better blogger (and scrapper) :-)

Just Sew Sue said...

There are so many talented guest designers for the class.

Anonymous said...

I would love to document more of my little man's adventures. At only 2 years old there is loads that I want to remember and I don't feel that I have done any of these stories justice in my scrapbooking (yet!):)

Mariangeles M said...

I'd love to be inspired to write more in my albums :)

karennarelle said...

pick me! pick me! i want to get past the who, what where and when on my layouts

Linda said...

I love journaling, its what i love best about scrapbooking, i do however need tips about writing blog posts.

Sally said...

now .. i adore the way Shim writes and i would love to pick up some new tips on how to put my thoughts and feelings on to my pages in a more creative way rather than.. this is what happened when you went to the zoo!!! etc!! happy scrapping xxxx

Lauren said...

Journaling is something I've been struggling with on my layouts... I've been having trouble getting my story out. So I'm hoping this will help me figure out how to get the story down on paper. Would love to play along!

themathchick said...

This class looks great! I am hoping to get some ideas to help me really start telling my story :)

alisa logue said...

Sounds great! Just the motivation I need! -Alisa

Juel said...

Love Shimelle classes! It will be fun getting to know you too!

Marcy said...

I'd like to learn other ways to tell my stories than the 5 W's. My journaling always seems the same. This looks like a fabulous class. Thanks for the chance to win a spot in it!

Suzy Girl said...

I would love to take this class. Thanks for sharing.

StephD said...

I would love to learn how to make my journaling so special that it takes me back to that moment in time or to take someone else back.

Wendy B said...

Would love to learn how to put my thoughts down on paper. I'm not a very good writer.

Jules said...

I really struggle to journal on layouts, would love to learn how to overcome my fear of putting pen to paper

lou said...

I'd love to be able to effectively journal my travels while living in the U.K. so when I look back over years to come I remember the small details. : )

Kathy said...

When I look back through my albums, my favourite layouts are those with the most journaling. I wish it were more detailed to give a fuller picture and I'd love to gain this from the class.
Thanks for the chance to enter.

ConnieC said...

I'd like to document more of the day to day stuff. I'm great at recording trips and special occasions. I fall apart when it comes to the daily things.

GennyV said...

I think an opportunity to take a class that records day to day type stuff is what I need, it will help me appreciate what I have, and what I might be missing.

Jennifer said...

Love Shimelle's classes! I'd like to learn more about journaling beyond the basics ... how to write more meaningful journaling. :)

Evelin said...

oooh.... can't wait! Hope to be picked by the random number generator!!! :D Thanks for this opportunity!

Susanne said...

I'd love to figure out why it's easier for me to blog about scrapbooking than journal on my pages.

Dale P. said...

I have always struggled with telling the story. I have so many layouts that are still waiting for me to tell that story. I am hoping that this class will finally stir me enough to get that story told.

Amy said...

journaling inspiration :)

The Scrapbook Lady UK said...

This class would make me write again. Something I love but never make the time to do so any more.

jbuffan said...

I could really use some help with my journaling, I need to learn how to write more than just the facts. Something not too mussy gushy but something that tells the real story.

jbuffan@gmail.com

Pippa (pjbear) said...

I think class starts Monday 25th :) Hope to see everyone there LOL!

Anna/Augusti_73 said...

I would love to win, keeping my fingers crossed!

Elisabeth said...

It would be great to improve my journaling.

Vernell said...

I love Shimelle's classes and I have taken quite a few of them. I already signed up for this one but if i win a spot will give it to my sister so she can join in as well.

DeniseNoe said...

I would love to take this class!

Elisa said...

thanks for the chance to win :)
xoxo

Unknown said...

thank you for the chance (:

Karen said...

I want to documents the stories behind the pictures in a meaningful way for my kids to enjoy later in life....

almadr said...

thanks for the chance - it seems a great class!

Robin Walston said...

I'm so lax about journaling on my pages. I'd love to feel more free about expressing my thoughts about the pages I create.

Iara said...

I love Shimelle's classes and I already signed in for this :) if I win I'll sign for the next one, journal your Christmas. thanks for tchance to win!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win, thanks so much.
Joanne
jpineda77@hotmail.com

Susan said...

I'd love to get into the habit of truly expressing how I feel on my pages ~ thanks for the chance to win a spot in the class!

Angie said...

Such an inspiring idea for a class-would love some ideas to jog my memory for stories of youre- would love a spot in the class :)

angie