You sign up. You join. You get a daily prompt and inspiration email, and you create a layout a day. Every day. Yes, 31 layouts in 31 days. Yes, EVERY DAY! Is that too ambitious? Well, then, you should have taken part in February when we only had to create 28 layouts!
Let’s recap:
*Create a layout a day for the entire month of May.
*Upload your creations to our private online gallery at Flickr
*Bask in the admiration of your sister scrapbookers.
*Be eligible to win fabulous prizes!
Anyone who participated in a previous LOAD challenge will tell you it is nothing short of life-changing -- in a good way! It's helped blocked scrappers get going again. It's helped bored scrappers find inspiration. And it's even helped a scrapbooker or two lose weight (seriously!).
Here's what you'll get:
-Access to our online gallery and message board at Flickr
-Daily inspiration email from me with a prompt (you don't have to use it), quotes, humor, and the occasional juicy tidbit about what's going on in the scrapping world
-weekly chats so you can hang with your sistah scrappers
-The opportunity to win the Grand Prize (for creating and uploading a layout each day for the entire month) as well as surPRIZES along the way that I'll dole out as I see fit ;)
-Tons of fun, inspiration and laughs!
-A cute blinkie to add to your site so everyone knows how awesome you are.
-and much, much more!
The participation fee is $25 for the month.
I know you have questions, so read on...
FAQ #1:.Sounds incredibly awesome! How do I sign up?
Answer: Use the PayPal "buy now" button at the bottom of this post. Don't forget to include your Flickr ID & the email you want to use for the daily emails if different from your PayPal email.
FAQ #2. I'm doing the Project 365 thingy. Does that count as a layout?
Answer: I'm easy. If you think it's a layout, I think it's a layout.
FAQ #3. Are there minimum size requirements for the layouts?
Answer: Let's be reasonable. 6x6, I can go with. Anything smaller... well, let's just say you might want to do TWO to count as one layout. Just my opinion.
FAQ #4. What's with the daily email?
Answer: I put together a short email that serves as a daily reminder about a scrapping-related topic (usually!), plus a scrapping challenge for the day. I also explore topics related to the month's theme, which in May is DEFINE YOUR STYLE. Many of the challenges will revolve around that.
FAQ #5. What if I don't want to do the daily challenge?
Answer: What are we, in third grade? You don't want to do the challenge, don't do it! You da boss of your own scrappin', woman! Do what you want. I won't be offended -- really.
FAQ #6. What if I miss a day? Can I "catch up?"
Answer: For the purposes of this challenge, we are creating a layout a day. That means there is no "catching up" or "banking." However, for your personal satisfaction, if you want to stay up all night on May 30 and complete the 12 layouts you missed, you have my blessing. But to be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing, I need to see a layout a day in the gallery.
FAQ #7. What about cards, altered items, ATCs, etc.? Do they count as layouts?
Answer: Nope. A layout is a layout. If you want to participate with cards, or some other form of paper art, you are welcome to -- but again, you will not be eligible for the Grand Prize or surPRIZE Drawings.
FAQ #8. Can I upload layouts I've already created?
Answer: (Seriously, I got this question once...). Nope. Pages must be created during the month of May.
FAQ #9. What if my washer explodes, we're hit by a hurricane, the power goes out, I get sick, I decide to go to Tahiti, etc.?
Answer: Then you will have my sympathy, compassion, or envy, depending on your circumstances. But again, to be eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing, you have to upload a page a day for the entire month (have I said that enough yet?).
FAQ #10: I don't have a Flickr account. How do I get one?
Answer: You pop on over to Flickr and sign up! It's free and extremely easy.
FAQ #11. How will you decide who wins the Grand Prize?
Answer: At the end of the month, everyone who has uploaded a page each day during the month will be entered in a drawing. Then I will pick my favorite person. Haha! Just kidding! It will be random. Very random. Really, really random.
FAQ #12: I'm in a different time zone. Can I still play?
Answer: I hope you will! The daily challenges may go out a bit late (or early!) for you, but you can work ahead or backwards on those as you desire. And when I look at daily uploads, I'll be going by 12 midnight California time. So that should cover everyone except you Hawaiians out there. If you're playing and you're in Hawaii, let me know and I'll adjust accordingly. In the past, we've had participants from China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK.
FAQ #13. I'm a digi (hybrid, organic, paper, recycled) scrapper. Can I participate?
Answer: Yes! All scrappers (with the exception of Paris Hilton) are welcome! And I may even let her play if she pays her $ and promises not to upload any naughty pictures.
FAQ #14. Will there be pictures of Hugh?
Answer: Of course! And to get you off on the right foot...
FAQ #15. I'm a manufacturer, kit club owner, store owner, etc., and I'd like to donate a prize. Are you interested?
Answer: Um, YES! :) Email me at lainehmann (at) comcast (dot) net for my undying love and admiration.
Are you ready? I'm taking signups starting NOW.
For less than $1 a day, you too can have the perfect excuse for why you can't do the laundry/drive carpool/make dinner!
NOTE: To preserve the "intimacy" of the LOAD experience (and please, I know that sounds like a LOAD of something else, but trust me, this group is special) we are capping registration at 200! Due to alum registrations, we are already over 100. So if you are interested, don't hesitate -- sign up now!
