How Do You Treat Your Pictures?

This article was updated 2022.

Have you ever thought about that?  I bet you've never asked yourself how you treat your pictures.  

Have you ever thought about why you take a picture in the first place?  Go look at the last 5 pictures on your phone or camera.  WHY did you take them?  What would happen if you lost them?  What would happen if you lost all the pictures on your phone?

Why We Take Pictures

I thought about this the other day as I was writing a blog post.  This is what came into my head:  "We take pictures because we want to remember.  And then we treat them like we want to forget."  Isn't that the truth?

And isn't it sad?  Think about it.  We take pictures BECAUSE we want to remember an event, a moment, a person, a sunrise.  And then what do we do with the picture?  Usually, nothing.  

It often stays on the phone or camera, or maybe if it's lucky you back it up on a computer or hard drive.  Usually, photos just live somewhere as a jpeg file, and they're never really seen or looked at again.  Why would we do that?  Why would we treat something we created to remember as if we actually didn't care about it and preferred to forget it?

I read a {great blog post} recently where the blogger asserted that pictures in today's society are seen as frivolous and even vain.  

But I love the conclusion she came to:  If the moment or the event makes you happy right now, why WOULDN'T you capture it so it can make you happy again later?  The ability to look back on a moment, or see a person again, is {good for the heart and the soul}.

One of the main purposes of this blog is to help our actions toward our pictures be more in line with their real value. My hashtag #dontletyourbabiesgrowuptobejpegs is a real goal here at LifeTales Books!

How to Make Your Photos into Something More than Files

There's something more.  Your pictures can be something more!  Rather than files to scroll through, back up, and possibly lose, your pictures can be seen and preserved in a high-quality way that will allow you to add meaning to the photos by writing details.  Let me give you an example.

This is a really special photo.  And you have no idea why.  You don't know who is in this photo, where it was taken, why it was taken, or what makes this photo special.  This is how someone else (maybe your kids, grandkids, spouse, friend) will look at your photos.  Over time, you may even look at your own photos the way you're looking at my photo here. 

If you're not careful, your photos will be as useless and meaningless to someone else as this one of mine is to you.  

But at least this is a photo.  Most of our "photos" today aren't even photos--they're just files.  

They need to be brought out of file form and into a tactile form that can be held and seen, even if the computer has crashed or the cell phone has been stolen.  (There are some astonishing statistics of the likelihood of these {at this link}.)

Two Photo-Memory Book Options (easy peasy vs. creative digital scrapbooking)

This blog has a lot of great resources for doing just that.  And everything recommended by Life Tales Books is the best print quality available--in inks, papers, and bindings. 

This is the one I always recommend to people who have so many photos that they don't even know what to do with them or where to start.  This video gives a fantastic solution, but it also goes over some strategies for getting a handle on many, many photos.

This is the method I personally use, and in the video I go over why I love it so much and how this method is responsible for allowing me to be consistently caught up preserving my photos and memories.  This method is sort of the extended version of the method above (yearbook).

What will you do today towards treating your pictures as treasures, treating like them as if you want to see them and remember the moments they have captured for you?

Get started preserving your photos and memories here. 

You'll be so glad you did.

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Best of LifeTales Books - blog post collection (Happy Thanksgiving!)

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you have had an enjoyable day in the ways that make you happiest, and I hope you've taken time to count your blessings.

If you're ready for some inspiring, fun, and interesting reading, you've come to the right place.  You'll find the Best of LifeTales Books today--the top five blog posts of all time.  And since this blog is nine years old, that's actually saying a lot.  Here are the most-read blog posts at LifeTales Books:

#5 Special Family Days: DIY birthday and anniversary board

I gave this as a gift and it is well-loved!  I love seeing it when I visit.  :)  Read this blog post here:  https://lifetalesbooks.blogspot.com/2014/02/special-family-days-diy-birthday.html

#4 12 (Days of) Christmas Gift Ideas - part 1

These are some of the funnest gift ideas, and they can be combined for 12 Days of Christmas or you can just choose your favorites to give to neighbors/teachers/friends.  Read this blog post here:  https://lifetalesbooks.blogspot.com/2017/11/12-days-of-christmas-gift-ideas-part-1.html

#3 Two Impressive Ideas for Swag Bags

I wrote this post with small business owners in mind, but these ideas can be used for anything from birthday party bags to open houses or anything!  If you love this idea (shown), wait until you see the next one.  I think it's my very favorite.  Read this blog post here:  https://lifetalesbooks.blogspot.com/2017/06/two-impressive-ideas-for-swag-bags.html

#2 Clever Christmas Card/Letter Idea!

I'm not surprised that my readers are Christmas fans just like I am!  This clever Christmas card/letter idea is so much fun, and it's the second most popular blog post EVER at LifeTales Books!  There's even a video tutorial to show you how to get some fancy and impressive Christmas greetings that will really stand out but not break the bank. 

Thanks for stopping by.  We have a 2023 UPDATE before you read on:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. 

And now for the #1 most popular post at LifeTales Books over the last 9 years...

#1 Teacher Appreciation Gifts that will Knock Their Socks Off

I love these creative, stand-out teacher appreciation gifts.  They're so clever and so personal.  There's also a video tutorial at this link about how to make your own notepads (they're professionally published) for this fun gift of thanks.  Read this blog post here:  https://lifetalesbooks.blogspot.com/2018/04/teacher-appreciation-gifts-that-will.html

Happy reading!  Since several of these posts are time-specific, remember you can Pin each post to Pinterest so you can find it again next spring (for teachers) or at Christmastime or whenever you're looking for gift ideas or swag bag fun.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What is Memory-Keeping? And why does it matter?

{For centuries now, people have kept scrapbooks}--books with scraps and mementos in their pages.  

In fact, the first scrapbooks were usually the family Bible.  It was where people kept important documents, recorded marriages and births and deaths, and even stored keepsakes like locks of hair and eventually photographs.  The "family Bible" was often passed down to another generation.

In the 1980s, a paper-crafting method of preserving photos and memories came on the scene, known as scrapbooking.  ScrapbookING differed from traditional scrapbooks because it was more of an art form or a craft than just jotting a few notes and making sure important things were kept in one place.

Today, preserving photos and memories can come in many forms, and memory-keeping has come a long way.  Quality is better, convenience has improved, and availability is common.

Memory-keeping is nothing more than holding on to what's important.  

It's making sure photos of graduation don't just sit on a phone or computer until the files are unreadable.  It's writing down some details and memories next to the photo in a book or page so you can be reminded when your memory dims.  Because it will.

Memory-keeping is how we make connections.  

As we learned so beautifully from {Carol Stewart} this past May, "Memories connect us and help us understand who we are."  Memory-keeping is how we re-live the best times in life.  It's how we better remember what we want to remember.  

I passionately believe that we can't afford to pass up {the benefits} of preserving photos and their stories--benefits like increased happiness, stress reduction, increased self-esteem (especially in children), a sense of belonging, and other therapeutic benefits like healing and coping.

Storing photos digitally is good, but the most meaningful way to store photos is in print.  A printed photo can be seen, interacted with, and loved.  A printed photo has a place to record memories.  That's the whole purpose behind and value of a photograph!  

Remember that digital photo storage is still just storage.  And storage, as we all know, is putting something away that we don't plan to see or use.  Digital photo storage is, of course, an important backup for our precious, irreplaceable photos, but print tends to grab our attention more.  With print, we have space to include why the photo was taken--we have a place to record why the photo has value!

 

Photos stored in print can last upwards of 200 years!  Digital photos may or may not last until the next change in technology.  Files can be corrupted and become unreadable.  Computers crash.  One big advantage of printed photos is that their stories can be told.  With digital photo files, there isn't a place to record memories and details.  When you print a photo and put it in a book or page, you have space next to it to record what makes the photo important and why you love it.

A photo without a story is only worth half as much.

There is great power in photos and their stories (your memories), which most people leave largely untapped.  We are drawing further and further away from connections these days because technology, video games, and phones are so overused.  Conversations, reminiscing, and connections are becoming old-fashioned.  But we need them just as much.

If you're looking for deeper connections, a greater sense of purpose, and something you can sit down with for 10 minutes for {instant happiness}, it's time for you to make time for memory-keeping.  

Get started {right here}.  Find time management tips {here} if you need them.

  

#dontletyourbabiesgrowuptobejpegs

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A Year's Worth of Your Photos Preserved FOR YOU: my 9-year blogiversary giveaway

I can hardly believe it.  I've been blogging here at LifeTales Books for NINE WHOLE YEARS, writing about photos and memories and stories and connections and DIY and creative gifts and ways to make something meaningful, with some time management and photo organization tips along the way.  So let's celebrate!

As you can probably tell by now, I'm passionate about helping you preserve your pictures, memories, and stories.  The {process of it all}--sitting down and going through your life's experiences--is so good for the heart and soul!  It has {therapeutic benefits and even lowers stress}!  We need our photos and memories and stories far more than we realize.  It's the medicine for all the ills of the day, such as busyness, {overwhelm}, FOMO, and more.

So I'd like to help you get started!  If you haven't done any memory-keeping for a while, I know it can feel a little daunting.  To celebrate my 9-year blogiversary, I'm giving away a 12x12 Family Yearbook which I will put together for you!!  This will help you see, hold, love, and enjoy your photos and memories from the past year (or any year of your choosing).  It can be the boost you need to start memory-keeping on your own, and {these options make it easy to find a method that works best FOR YOU}!

What's a Family Yearbook?

Only the best way ever to get your photos off your phone or camera and into your hands and heart, that's all!

Did you know that {storing your photos in print is one of the very best ways} to store them?  It's true!  And a Family Yearbook is organized well, so it's easy to know where any given picture goes.  Not only that, but with the overabundance of photos these days, a Family Yearbook is designed to help you choose your favorites and just preserve those in print.  Heritage Makers is top-quality, too, which is a big reason it's my choice for memory-keeping.  Books have a library binding with metal stitching (not glue, which yellows and cracks over time, causing pages to fall out).  Not only that, but the digital art (which is included!) is absolutely unparalleled, so you're getting something jaw-droppingly beautiful, too.

It's amazing!  

photo credit:  Denise Pehrson

Which makes a Family Yearbook by Heritage Makers an AWESOME blogiversary giveaway, right??

Here's what the winner will do:

1. Choose the year's worth of pictures you'd like to have preserved.  (2018, 2012, whatever)  (If you need photo organization tips so you can find all your pictures, {this video tutorial} will be your new best friend.)
2. Choose from three styles of yearbooks.  There are actually lots of family yearbooks by Heritage Makers, but I've just picked three to simplify things for me.  You can see them {right here}, including page-by-page previews so you can choose the book that fits your style best.  If you're not the winner of this giveaway, that link gives information to still come away with a family yearbook.  :)   If you'd really like a different style, I can work with you, so let me know.  
3. E-mail me 6-10 of your favorite pictures from each month of that year, along with a little description of who is in the photos, where they were taken, what memories you have of them, etc.  So, for example, the first e-mail you'll send me might say "January 2016  Jane's birthday party was so fun because..."  You'll need to e-mail pictures to me in full resolution.
4. I do the work, you get the benefits.  :)

Without the additional charge of my hourly rate for creating books, this prize would be a $52 value.  However, since I'm putting it all together for you (bonus!), this comes out to be a $180+ prize!!

Note:  If you aren't a winner or if you come across this blog post too late to enter, check out {Digital Scrapbooking for Hire} and you can still come away with a year's worth of photos preserved FOR YOU!

And now I know you're wondering:  SO HOW DO I WIN?!

The winner will be selected at random on November 30.  There must be 10 entries for this prize in order for it to qualify to be given away, so you might want to share this post with friends!  

To enter the drawing, here's what you need to do:

• Comment on this blog post.  You can tell me why you'd like to win this giveaway, or you can tell me something you've liked about other blog posts here at LifeTales Books over the last 9 years.
• Tweet, Pin, or share on Facebook any blog post from LifeTales Books of your choosing.  
• E-mail me just a hello so I have your e-mail address so I can notify you if you win.  I will not use your e-mail for any other purpose (because, hello, that's rude).

I'm SO excited to help you get a leg up on your memory-keeping and help you enjoy the good-for-the-soul by-products of preserving your memories and photos in one accessible, lovable place.  Good luck!  And don't forget to share this post so we're sure to have 10 entries for this giveaway.  The winner will be chosen November 30 and contacted via e-mail.

"My mother made me a scrapbook because I was once too young to remember; I am making scrapbooks for my family because one day I may be too old to remember."            -unknown  

#dontletyourbabiesgrowuptobejpegs

Pin to Pinterest and share!

Although this giveaway is over, it may be worth mentioning a 2023 update:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

#friyay from Ladies Who Love Heritage Makers

Welcome to #friyay -- our monthly feature on the first Fridays of the month during 2018.  It's a chance to find out what people are saying about Heritage Makers!

We'll start by hearing what Katie has to say.  She has been a Heritage Makers user for about 4 years now.  I have loved seeing what she does with her beautiful books.  She copies and pastes photos and entries from her blog into gorgeous Heritage Makers books that her family will always have and cherish.  I love her dedication to creating heritage.

Thanks for stopping by.  We have a 2023 UPDATE before you read on:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Our second #friyay shout-out comes from Elin who has created gorgeous wall canvases for her home.  I love how she has made them match the decor of each room while showing off family pictures or inspirational words.

The Cutest Chocolate Christmas Countdown Ever

Today I made a simple Christmas advent calendar from Hershey Nuggets and address labels, and I'm quite convinced that it's the cutest thing EVER!  See if you don't agree.

Right?

2025 UPDATE:  The website used for these darling labels in 2018 when this post was originally published is no longer available.  I have since discovered a way to create something similar using my favorite scrapbooking software, Artisan by FOREVER, which I was introduced to in 2021.  So, I'll share photos of my original project along with the update.  And now there are now two ways for you to make this project!  

 

This style from 2018 is no longer available, but
now you can grab my new design in a free printable OR
my free label template to design your own!

This is an adorable Christmas countdown that has the extra perks of being easy to make and being, you know, chocolate.  

SUPPLIES FOR MAKING THE CUTEST CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN EVER

To make The Cutest Chocolate Christmas Countdown Ever, you'll need:

• 27 Hershey Nuggets in the flavor of your choosing.  The 10.1-oz. Share bag will do it.  (You can see I used plain chocolate in silver wrappers in my first design, and that's because the kids liked plain.  In my updated version, we've grown up to the almond variety, and I really like the gold wrappers!)
• 1 piece of cardboard about 8.5x11.  The size can vary, but it shouldn't be smaller than 7" wide and 10" tall.
• wrapping paper to cover the cardboard
• the file of pre-designed sticker labels, either my free printable download or labels of your own design (details in the next section below)
• a sheet of 8.5x11 sticker paper, such as this 
• double-sided tape

Here's my updated design!  As I mentioned, you can now just download and print it.  (Or, with Artisan, you can design your own--I've got a blank template I can share.  But that's optional so I'll wait to tell you about it until the end.)

Email me at photoandstorytreasures@gmail.com to request this free PNG
file for Christmas Countdown Hershey Nugget Sticker Wraps to print!
Of course, I won't keep or share your email address.  If you click and save 
 from here, the print quality won't be as good as if I email you the original file.

First, I'll show you the easy steps to making this darling chocolate countdown, and then touch on what you need to know if you'd rather just start with my (free) template and design your own sticker labels instead.

PUTTING TOGETHER THE CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

STEP 1:  Wrap your cardboard piece in wrapping paper.  A more neutral paper makes the labels really stand out, but go with what you love.  This is obviously the back of the cardboard piece of my original 2018 design.

STEP 2:  Print the labels on sticker paper, as mentioned above.

STEP 3:  Cut out the labels.  (There are black lines outlining each sticker wrap/label, though they do blend into the green pretty well!)

STEP 4:  Peel the back off the sticker labels and wrap them around the Nuggets.

Note that you'll wrap the sticker labels around the Hershey Nuggets with numbers 1-5 WIDTH-WISE.  You can see why in the photo of the finished product above.  And you'll see numbers 6-25 will wrap around LENGTH-WISE.  Basically, the red bow and the numbers show upright, and the wraps only fit one way, so it would be hard to mess it up.

The star will wrap around width-wise, too, and it will go at the top.  The trunk with the presents around it will wrap around length-wise and go at the bottom.

STEP 5:  Next, line up the Nuggets as you see shown.  Don't adhere them to the paper yet!  This allows you to center and adjust them as needed. 

STEP 6:  When you're happy with the layout, use double-sided tape to adhere the wrapped chocolates to the wrapping paper-covered board.

That's it!!  This whole project takes me about 15-20 minutes.  And kids love it!  ...And grown-ups, too.

 

NOTE:  I am a Forever affiliate called an Ambassador (a decision I made because I love it so much), so you will find affiliate links in this post. I earn a commission from anything purchased at my website, and being your Ambassador means I'm here to help you with questions, too.  The design I'm sharing via email is a freebie, though!  

OR, DESIGN PERSONALIZED LABELS

If you'd like to change up or personalize these labels, you can design your own using Artisan by FOREVER!  I can send you my free basic label template so you can create something on your own.  Just email photoandstorytreasures@gmail.com to ask for the label template files.    

You'll open the Artisan file I send and personalize as you like using whatever fonts and digital art you already have (or want to explore at FOREVER). You will need to:

• 1. Download the folder I email you.
  2. Cut and paste the folder into your Artisan Projects Folder.
  3. Extract the files.
  4. Open Artisan.  In Artisan, click "Open Project" and select the .a6proj file from the folder.
  5. Add/replace digital art, fonts, etc.   

From there, you can print from home on full-sheet sticker paper.  

Follow the directions shown here on how to design labels yourself.  This tutorial shows you the basics of crafting using Artisan, and...

...this one shows you how to save your project as a PNG file for printing at home so that you can print these labels on your sticker paper.

TWO PIECES OF ADVICE

1. You may have noticed that there are 25 chocolates to eat as you count down to Christmas plus 2 extras (the star and the tree trunk with the presents) that aren't technically a part of the countdown.  Those are for Mom to eat.  Just sayin'.  
2. Do your friends a favor and share this post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, etc. using the social media share buttons at the left.  Then Pin this big ol' image to Pinterest so you can find it again next year!  Because this is the cutest chocolate Christmas countdown EVER!

Because it's a great gift idea and a fun way to wrap up Thanksgiving weekend, too.  :)

Save and share by Pinning this image to Pinterest or sharing to Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., using the social media share buttons at the left.

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