enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Plelise!

I am honored and thrilled to share with you today that I designed the 2013 Seafoam kit for Project Life!

Seafoampostcard

This is my big secret project that I have been keeping since early February. I have so much to say about this kit, including how we got from step #1: a phone call from Becky Higgins to step #751: writing this blog post.

And there will be time for that before the kit, album and paper (!!) release in November.

Seafoampromo2

But today, I would love to share just three things :

One / I am so passionate about this kit and the whole concept of Project Life. Truly, I was hooked from that first day when I built my title page and felt the thrill of playing around with pockets. It has been overwhelmingly fun and very humbling to design something that I (and hopefully many, many others!) will be excited to play with every week of next year. 2013 is going to be a great time to start or continue Project Life, I can already tell.

Seafoampromoa

Two / I have to thank Meredith Tilton, my friend and right-hand woman throughout this adventure. When we started, I had no Illustrator design experience. Meredith, on the other hand, went to four years of school for design and could pull the pieces together. She was an absolute gem to work with and able to turn my pencil sketches (which I can't wait to share!) and Photoshop Elements mock-ups into something beautiful and awesome. Can't say enough good stuff about her as a person and graphic designer.

Seafoampromo3

Three / When Becky called and asked me if I was interested in this opportunity, Paul was still deployed. It was a Thursday morning and I remember walking in circles in our undecorated bedroom pinching myself to be sure it was real. When we hung up the phone, I called my parents (separately, as they were both at work) and relayed the story. My end of both conversations went something like this,

"Hey! So, you know Project Life?"

"Yes, that thing I have been sharing on the blog on Sundays?"

"Yes, the one with the pockets."

"Yes, there are photos."

"Well I just got off the phone with Becky Higgins… she's the lady who created Project Life."

"Yes, it's a thing that many people do."

"Yes, it's sold on amazon."

"You buy a journalling card kit and album and those pocket pages."

"I know cool, right? Anyway, SHE WANTS ME TO DESIGN THE KIT!!"

"No, I don't think you understand…this is huge."

"Yes."

"THANK YOU!! I KNOW! I am so excited!!"

Seriously, I had that conversation twice. Then again with Paul when he woke up to start his day in Afghanistan. And then about 40 more times over the past six months.

But the best part, of the whole adventure, really, was about a hour after my dad and I hung up the phone that first day and I got a text from him,

"Leesee. I googled this "Becky Higgins" and it seems like she's legit."

True story.

Pltrue2

What an absolute pleasure. And seriously, the fun is just beginning. Next, we all get to use the kit. The photos throughout this post show samples of the Seafoam kit (I hope you like the name!) in action. We will be sharing the full kit in the next few months (you can see more samples on Becky's blog now) and I'll have more photos of last week's spread up soon, but wow – it was surreal (and awesome!) to finally put them to use.

(!!!!!!!!!)

UPDATE : The Seafoam core kit is now available on Amazon!

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368 responses to “the secret’s out!”

  1. Ang Avatar
    Ang

    Just.Too.Stinkin.Cool!
    I only “found” you a few weeks ago & have been stalking your blog, waiting to find out when you’re stamps will be back. I totally enjoy your writing, style & humor. I just bought my first core kit (Clementine) so I probably won’t “need” another so soon but I have a very strong feeling that I’ll be buying this one anyway. 😉
    Congratulations!!! And I love your dad’s comment, “…and it seems like she’s legit.” PRICELESS!

    Like

  2. stephanie p. Avatar
    stephanie p.

    oh boy – just when I thought i was going to go the “strictly-grid-card-route” – you had to go and throw this awesomeness into the mix!…. looks like i’ll be ordering another kit 🙂
    the samples look fab – can.not.wait.

    Like

  3. Alison Avatar

    Congratulations!! I love your project life album and I love this new edition you have made its so perfect for me. Im sold and will be buying this edition when it comes down under to NZ

    Like

  4. Julie Avatar

    Elise, I am so excited for you and for US to get to use this great kit. It literally has my name written all over it because my business name is Celebrate Today. I cannot wait to order and use this beautiful set for a wonderful year worth celebrating!

    Like

  5. Stacia Avatar
    Stacia

    Congratulations to you! You did awesome work for this! {and you’re right… it IS a BIG DEAL!!}

    Like

  6. Andrea Avatar
    Andrea

    oh my gosh girl, how very exciting for you! I’m not a Project Lifer… YET!!! I’m going to take the Project Real Life class and START… I can.not.wait.! Thanks for being such a huge part of this… my life… and congrats on your accomplishment girl! ~Andrea

    Like

  7. Shaylin Brunson Avatar

    Elise, they couldn’t have picked anyone more perfect for this than you! I’m a partial Project Lifer, seeing as I did it for a couple months, then put it off for 3 or 4 months, but I read your blog everyday and LOVE what you do with your project life book! I’m so excited to finish my PL book this year so that I can buy this new line for another book!! Way to go, this is incredibly awesome!!

    Like

  8. San Avatar

    Wow, that is amazing! Congratulations, Elise!

    Like

  9. Renske Avatar
    Renske

    Aaah, this is SO cool! Your Project Life posts are always so inspiring! I can’t wait to see the whole kit. I hope we will be able to get it here! It must feel crazy to know that a lot of people will get ‘a little bit of Elise’ into their homes! And it must feel even better if you realize what an amazing project this is 🙂 Good luck and joy with everything that’s gonna happen in the next few months. I’m sure you’ll be pinching yourself a lot more haha.

    Like

  10. Amy Avatar

    ROFL! Your dad sounds awesome. Totally looking out for his girl. (Sounds like something my dad would do.)
    Will your kit be available in digital version as well?? (I really really hope so!!)

    Like

  11. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    Congrats!! I CRACKED UP at your dad’s text. Awesome 🙂

    Like

  12. mer Avatar
    mer

    everytime i think i have a favorite part of this process, we get to the next phase and i’m blown back by the awesomeness 🙂 i knew you’d get a response like this, but to see it in real life?! well, there are no words friend!
    thank you so much for bringing me on behind the scenes to create magic… i love you to the moon and wish you all the success in the world. you are so deserving and i can’t wait to see what’s in store for you.
    oh, and i’ll be jumping on the pl bandwagon come jan 2013 with the seafoam kit for sure! yeah!!!

    Like

  13. alexandra Avatar

    congratulations!!
    love it!!
    I was looking at everything and wondering “hey – where’s the chevron?”
    cause when I think of you I think chevron (among other things of course!!)
    so I hopped over to Becky’s blog and was thrilled to find it there.
    so awesome.

    Like

  14. Melinda T Avatar
    Melinda T

    How awesome for you, lol and me (& lots more peeps) because I love it! Congrats and very excited for you! Go Project Life! 🙂

    Like

  15. melissa Avatar

    I was just thinking the other day “if elise made a project life core kit, that would just be a dream come true, two things that are the awesome in one box. maybe if i wrote becky higgins customer service they’d think about it for 2013.” ACCCCCKKKKKKKK!! OMG! I am so happy for you!
    glad your dad consulted the googles, always good to make sure your daughter is with somebody legit.

    Like

  16. Carolyn Wright Avatar
    Carolyn Wright

    So very happy for you & your family, love this new kit & hope it comes to Canada just as soon as possible 🙂 Love how passionate you are about Project Life and that good things are happening for your family! Can’t wait to follow your blog posts about this journey! I follow you on instagram as I love your photos, but had not been following your blog until the last few months, first time comment today! So happy for you & that your family was supportive even if they didn’t know Becky was legit at first 😉 – carohp on instagram

    Like

  17. Caitlin M Avatar
    Caitlin M

    Love this kit! There isn’t anything about it that I don’t love, great job! Project Life is so awesome. So funny about your Dad. Yup, Becky’s legit.

    Like

  18. Cathy Avatar

    Okay LOVE this Elise. You totally rocked it. I want to use! Congrats.

    Like

  19. Erica Thomas Avatar
    Erica Thomas

    I gasped when I saw Becky’s blog and your face! So excited for the kit!

    Like

  20. Lexi Avatar

    so. very. awesome.
    my desire to actually DO PL just kicked into overdrive 🙂

    Like

  21. Debbie Avatar

    Elise, been following your blog for awhile and I have got to say, you are easy to adore. You are simply adorable in many ways. I am so very happy and excited for you! Congratulations and I LOVE your kit!

    Like

  22. Michelle B Avatar
    Michelle B

    So exciting! Congratulations! and I LOVE the kit! Elise you do have great style! I’ve been following your blog for awhile – although I don’t comment often. I was so excited to see you were doing PL this year – and you have rocked it! So happy for you and this great adventure! Way to go!

    Like

  23. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    I am so proud of you – I follow your blog everyday and I love the look of this new kit. Very exciting!

    Like

  24. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    Yay!! Congratulations, and the kit looks wonderful, can’t wait to see it in person!

    Like

  25. Clare D'Onofrio Avatar
    Clare D’Onofrio

    Congrats Elise! The kit looks wonderful, I hope you’ve included some quote cards. I love your quote cards. Enjoy your hard work.

    Like

  26. Marya Avatar

    That’s amazing. Congrats!

    Like

  27. Caroline Avatar
    Caroline

    I have been thinking of getting Project Life for the longest time, but have not done so.
    I know why I am waiting. I know.
    And IT”S WORTH THE WAIT!
    I’m SO getting the SEAFOAM edition!
    VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!

    Like

  28. elise blaha Avatar

    Haha! So glad you are going with seafoam. 😉 love you!!

    Like

  29. Katie Carranza Avatar

    OH MY GOSH! I AM SO EXCITED! and a little disappointed I just bought a new core kit, BUT i guess there’ll be a new reason to buy another when it comes out. seriously, SO excited for you, this is HUGE! I know this is going to bring amazing new things to come and I cannot wait to buy your kit! It looks so cute!

    Like

  30. Amanda Susan Avatar

    Darn you! I was hoping to not like any of the designs this year since I have enough stuff left to do at least another year of PL, but I think I may need to buy this one.

    Like

  31. jodi Avatar

    OMG ELISE!!! SO AWESOME!!!!!! absolutely LOVE what you’ve designed. i have to say, i haven’t been 100% pleased with my core kit this year, but i will definitely be buying one (or more) of the seafoam kits. eeeep! congrats!

    Like

  32. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Congratulations! This is what will probably propel me to do Project Life next year. Seriously, seafoam is my FAVORITE color (I’m wearing a seafoam hoodie right now!) so I indeed love the name.
    My favorite color + your design sense = totally awesome. What a great opportunity and I’m so glad that you got it!

    Like

  33. alinor Avatar

    Congratulations Elise! 2013 might be the year ii start Project Life!!
    also, love your dad’s answer! 😀

    Like

  34. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    I am so exited for this! Love the name too!

    Like

  35. TaraMcK Avatar

    I am so excited about this edition! So
    Excited. Beyond words! It’s like you took what I wanted in a kit and designed it! Love it!

    Like

  36. Allie Avatar

    Oh my goodness, I’m so BEYOND excited for you!!! Congrats! It looks gorgeous!!

    Like

  37. Sandi Keene Avatar
    Sandi Keene

    I am so happy for you!! You so deserve all the wonderful things that are happening to you. The design is wonderful and very you.

    Like

  38. Leigh Avatar
    Leigh

    I knew it! I have been following your blog for awhile now and guessed that this might be the secret news. Many congrats and the kit looks TOTALLY RAD!!!! Can’t wait to buy it. It looks beautiful. What a fantastic opporutnity. All the best.

    Like

  39. Dani Avatar

    Ohmygosh Elise, so very excited for you and Becky! What a fantastic match-up! I’ve loved seeing your layouts over the past year. They’re so inspiring and I just adore your style. The new kit is fantastic— congrats on such great work!

    Like

  40. Heather V Avatar
    Heather V

    Congratulations! I was SOO excited to see that you’d designed this awesome edition. I can’t wait to use it for my 2013 album!

    Like

  41. Margaret Avatar
    Margaret

    Elise, I love your PL kit can not wait to get my hands on it. Counting down the days until November.
    The Kit is awesome and I love the name too.

    Like

  42. Amanda L Avatar

    WooHoo!! I’ve held off from getting the kits because none of them were really “me,” but I love love love seafoam and will definitely be getting this one! Congrats!

    Like

  43. Keshet Starr Avatar
    Keshet Starr

    So so so very happy for you! And I LOVE the peeks of the kit so far, so fun and bright and graphic!!

    Like

  44. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    WHOOOP!!!! SOOOOOOOOOO EXCITING!!!!!! what a PERFECT team-up!!! I love your goodies!!!! congrats!! & if I had a reliable way to print at home, I’d totally jump on the PL bandwagon!!

    Like

  45. Kirsten W Avatar

    Fantastic job! Congrats, what great news! I’m wondering (and hoping!) if there will be a digital version of the Seafoam? I’ve been using the digi templates to make my project life this year, and it is the most manageable for me. If not, I may have to switch to paper next year, because this is just great!

    Like

  46. kate Avatar

    why cool miss elise!!! you know how i said to consider your book pre-ordered, well consider at least bits and pieces of these kits (this kit) per-ordered. it will be a really fun way to kick off my project life experience.

    Like

  47. Karina k Avatar
    Karina k

    Congrats!!! I was so happy that this was the secret project you were working on. I can’t wait to buy this kit!!!

    Like

  48. Dawn F. Avatar
    Dawn F.

    I am beyond excited! First, I love the name – Seafoam – great choice based on the colors I saw in the sneak peek. I am currently doing PL with all my own stuff but I think I am going to order this for next year! Yay-Congratulations on this awesome opportunity!!

    Like

  49. Rosa Avatar
    Rosa

    this is so incredibly cool! so happy for you PLUS i cannot wait to get my hands on it, it’s totally my style

    Like

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