Margie, Xnomads, shares that, Big Picture Classes has been such a big part of my life since I first became a member back in 2007. It has truly changed how I scrapbook and how I create. And has been a huge influence on my online life.

(from 2011 One Little Word class)
Recently, when I registered to take the One Little Word class for a second time, I received a free pass to Stacy's self-paced Finish Line Scrapbooking class. I was very excited. I remember reading about this technique in the Feb 2009 issue of Simple Scrapbooks magazine and had always wanted to give it a try.

When I found myself with a stack of photos from my middle son's birthday party from 2010, I knew it was time to give it a try.

Now, this system goes totally against my natural scrapbooking instincts. I tend to resist anything that requires me to do the same action more than a few times. I avoid assembly line type projects. Now, I can appreciate the value, but it just doesn't sound fun.

Despite the assembly line nature of the Finish Line system, I knew the repetition would be trumped by the productivity. And I was right.

Once I finally sat down to put my pages together, it really wasn't as bad as I thought. It took me two sessions of 1.5 to 2 hours each before I was done. I also liked how using one of the class' key philosophies, INTENTIONAL IMPERFECTION, helped me overcome my resistance to using embellishments. I loved having a limited number of pre-selected embellishments sitting within arm's reach. It made the decision making so much more efficient, less stressful and more fun.

I'm so glad I finally gave this system of scrapbooking a try. Not only was I incredibly productive but I had lots of fun (despite my fears) in the process!"

One of the most pleasant unexpected benefits of my Big Picture Classes membership is the online friends I have made. There is a core of lovely friends I have gotten to know through the One Little Word Blog Hop I host at my blog on the first of each month. We share our monthly projects and encourage each other to keep going all throughout the year long class.

The very first person to ever sign up and one of my most enthusiastic OLW blog hop supporters is my friend Jill who I ""met"" in Ali's One Little Word class on BPC. We often turn to each other for help when building and designing our blogs. She also joined along with me when I decided I wanted to take a family photo at least once a month.

And as much as she is one of my most enthusiastic blog hop participants, I love to join in on her monthly Project Life blog hop. It has been so fun to visit each others' blogs several times a month to support each other on our scrapbooking & photography goals and get to know each other.

Another special friend I met through BPC is Rebekah. She always leaves such kind comments on my blog and is another enthusiastic supporter of the OLW monthly blog hop. And this past Christmas, when I was home visiting The States, she sent me some of her home made soap. It smelled amazing and was such a wonderful and kind gesture.

My creative and online life has been made so much richer by my involvement at BPC. Living abroad and so far from home for the past (almost) 4 years, I don't know what I would have done! Thanks, BPC!