The Future of Big Picture Classes

We are thrilled to announce that we'll be launching a brand-new platform for Big Picture Classes' online education beginning in February 2015. We can't reveal all the details yet, but we are excited to bring you the latest technology, a much more affordable way for you to experience online education, and the best instructors in the industry. It will be completely new, completely amazing, and completely suited for a rapidly changing online environment.

As we are working hard behind the scenes on this exciting transition, we have encountered some unexpected technical difficulties. Faced with hundreds of highly customized BPC classes, that exist in many different formats, we have made the difficult decision to not carry our entire library of workshops, self-paced classes, and eBooks over to our new platform. Starting in February 2015, our new website will support only the list of 68 past classes you see to the right (plus a wide array of brand-new classes, of course).

You will be able to access all of your classes and eBooks in their current format on our current website (and download what you wish to keep) through January 31, 2015 (please see update below reguarding access to an archived site February 1, 2015 until July 31, 2015). We are communicating this decision to you now, so that you have plenty of time to download any of your classroom content in preparation for our new site.

We know that change is difficult, but a changing market has made it essential for us to adapt in order to continue to bring you top-quality classes from the instructors that you know and love. We have updated our Terms of Use to reflect these important changes.

As we work toward our big reveal in February, we have an exciting lineup of fun workshops opening on our current website, now through January. All of the guided workshops that are open for registration now through January WILL carry over to the new platform.

Updated 10/28/2014:

Please note that we have included 16 additional workshops on the list of classrooms to transfer to the new website in February 2015. All workshops that were offered during 2014 will be transferring to the new website.
We will be creating an archived website so that our valued members will have an additional 6 months to download class content. The archived website will be available 2/1/2015 to 7/31/2015. The archived website will be an exact duplication of your "My Classes" and "My eBooks" portal as of 1/31/2015. You will be able to access ALL classroom content, message boards, galleries, etc until 7/31/2015. Please note: this website will not be maintained, but it will have customer service support.
The BPC team and a few generous students will be going through each classroom that will not be archived on the new website and packaging all of the files (including welcome notes, blog posts, transcripts, etc) into a single, ZIP download that you’ll find on the main page of the classroom. Please note that since we’re doing this manually it might take several weeks for us to complete every classroom.
Please visit this post on our message board, which we’ll keep updated with the classes that have been consolidated to a single download.
Important note: the ZIP folders will not contain gallery images or message board posts. The ZIP folders will also not contain videos -- those will be provided separately via email in the coming weeks.

Stacy created this video, so she could answer some of the most-asked questions and share two adjustments we've made to our original announcement. She will also share some personal insights as to why this change is taking place and why it is a good thing.

FAQ

How do I know which of the guided workshops on the transfer list are in my account?

Go to Menu > My Account > My Classes. You'll see a complete list of all the classes you've ever archived there. You can search for individual classes in that list by using the Ctrl + F (or Cmd + F on a Mac) command.

Updated 10/28/14: For your convenience, we have placed an asterisks (*) next to any classes that will be transferring to our new website in February 2015.

How long do I have to download the content I want to keep?

You have until January 31, 2015 to download content on the current BPC website.

Updated 10/28/14: We will be creating an archived website so that our valued members will have an additional 6 months to download class content. The archived website will be available 2/1/2015 to 7/31/2015. The archived website will be an exact duplication of your "My Classes" and "My eBooks" portal as of 1/31/2015. You will be able to access ALL classroom content, message boards, galleries, etc until 7/31/2015. Please note: this website will not be maintained, or have customer service support. If you need assistance with your classes, we encourage you to do so prior to 1/31/2015, while the current Big Picture Classes website is still supported.

How do I download the content?

If you're on Mac, download this instructional PDF.
If you're on a PC, download this instructional PDF.
Download a checklist of Guided Workshops available until January 31, 2015.
Download a checklist of Self-Paced Workshops available until January 31, 2015.
Download a checklist of eBooks available until January 31, 2015.

Can I download videos?

We are currently pulling together links for all of the videos embedded inside of the classrooms so that you can download and save the content from classrooms that will be closing January 31.

We will be contacting students by email once these links are available, and you’ll simply need to click on the link in the email, then click on the download button.

We will be working on pulling the videos together throughout the coming weeks. To help us prioritize which videos to work on first, we invite you to take this survey, which lists all of the classes with videos that will not be archived, and tell us which are most important to you!

Updated 10/30/14: Our video hosting solution will remain intact for at least 3 more years (until December 31, 2017 at a minimum), so you’ll have an extended period of time to visit the videos via the links sent by email. You’ll have the option to either watch the video, or download the video in a variety of file sizes. Please note: we will not be able to offer customer support on video links after 1/31/2015.

What will happen to message boards and galleries?

Unfortunately, all message boards and galleries will be no longer accessible as of January 31, 2015. They will remain open and active until then. You can take screenshots of your favorite message board threads.

Updated 10/28/14: We will be creating an archived website so that our valued members will have an additional 6 months to download class content. The archived website will be available 2/1/2015 to 7/31/2015. You will be able to access ALL classroom content, message boards, galleries, etc until 7/31/2015. Please note: this website will not be maintained, or have customer service support. If you need assistance with your classes, we encourage you to do so prior to 1/31/2015, while the current Big Picture Classes website is still supported.

Can I download layout images that I've uploaded to your website?

Yes. Go to Menu > My Account > Galleries. Click My Images at the top of the page. Click on each image to show it at its largest size, then right-click or Control click and choose "Save Image As." Give it a name and save it to your computer. Note: If you click "Save As" on a small thumbnail image, it will save the thumbnail size instead of the full-size image.

Can I download other users' layout images?

No you may not. This is against our privacy policy and terms of use.

Can I download a blog post from a classroom?

You can either print the blog content, take a screenshot of the content, or copy and paste it into a word-processing document and save it. There is not a way to download this content.

How and when can I access the guided workshops that are being transferred to the new website?

If you were enrolled in any version of these 68 classes listed at right, we will send you a unique code for each workshop once the new platform is live. You will then enter this code into the new site and PRESTO, your class content will be archived there. You will only have to enter this code once.

Please Note: This code will be specific to your email address. Please take a moment to ensure your email address is correct and you are able to receive messages from us. If you are unsure or would like to change your email, please log in to bigpictureclasses.com and review and update your profile information. You can also contact our customer service for assistance.

Updated 10/28/2014: Classes that transfer to the new website will be available for a minimum of three years (until February 2018), but we don't intend or want to take them down ever. Let's call this extended or long-term access.

You will need to set-up a new (free) account on the website in February 2015, but you will not have to pay any type of fee to access your previous classes that transferred over.

Will the class content for retired classes be hosted anywhere else online?

After the transition, some instructors will opt to host their class content themselves on their websites or blogs. Due to our privacy policy, these instructors will only be able to contact you to let you know where to find class materials if you grant us permission. We will never share your information with outside parties without your express permission. By granting this permission, you agree to receive communication from instructors you may have taken classes from in the past.These instructors have just recently been apprised of and agreed to this transition, however not all of them are prepared to handle your inquiries just yet. Please do not reach out directly to the instructor until you hear from them.

The following classes will at some future point be transferred back to the instructors to host on their websites, so you may not need to download this content:

Tracey Clark: Picture the Holidays, Picture Everyday, Picture Inspiration, Picture Spring, Picture Summer, Picture Fall, Picture Winter

Cathy Zielske: Move More Eat Well 2.0, Ten Tips for Better Type, Two Views Album Project, Everyone Can Write a Little, and Me: The Abridged Version, Me: The Abridged Version for Project Life

Ali Edwards: One Little Word (2011, 2012, 2013), 31 Things, Yesterday & Today, Hello Story

What happens to self-paced classes and how-to projects?

Only a very small handful of self-paced classes or how-to projects will be transferred to the new platform (see them on the checklist of Self-Paced Workshops). You may download all content you wish to keep from any self-paced class before January 31, 2015.

What happens to eBooks?

eBooks will not be offered on the new platform. By January 31, 2015, make sure to download all eBooks you have purchased and save them to your computer. Go to Menu > My Account > My eBooks to view and download your eBooks.

How did you decide which guided workshops to transfer?

Our resulting plan takes into consideration several factors (in no particular order):

Number of students impacted in each class
Number of students currently accessing lessons and prioritizing classes which students access the most
Most recent and relevant classes vs. outdated content
Categories of content and ensuring our different students interests are met (photography vs. scrapbooking vs. other, etc.)

What happens to Rewards that I have earned as a loyal BPC customer?

If you are an active BPC Rewards customer, you will be receiving an email explaining how to redeem an active code. If you have any questions, please email us at admin@bigpictureclasses.com. No new Rewards stars may be accrued after October 24, 2014 at 12:00 a.m. PT. Once the new website is launched, we will begin working on a new, more user-friendly way of rewarding our best and most loyal customers.

What happens to my BPC gift certificates?

If you have an unexpired gift certificate which has a balance as of 1/31/2015 we will be transferring over your balance. However, there may be a delay in the availability of the program on the new site.

With so many changes happening, why would I register for any of your upcoming guided workshops?

Because they're awesome! Also, all guided workshops you sign up for between now and January 31, 2015 will be transferring to our new site, so you can continue to access the content online even after the transition. We will send you a unique code for each class once the new platform is live. You will then enter this code into the new site and PRESTO, your class content will be archived there. You are also welcome to download and keep anything you wish.

The Future is Bright

We are extremely excited for the upcoming transition, however we want to express how difficult these decisions have been. Change is never easy. Ultimately, you, our phenomenal customers have been in the forefront of our minds throughout this process. Remaining current with technology is essential in our efforts to best serve you in this competitive and changing market. We have always tried to listen to and learn from our wonderful community. If you have questions that we have failed to answer, or you simply want to share thoughts with us, please email admin@bigpictureclasses.com. We sincerely thank you for your ongoing support as we evolve in an exciting new era of crafting education at Big Picture Classes. We feel very confident in the future, and we can’t wait to show you what we have in store!

Workshops to Be Transferred

All 4Expert Classrooms, 2008-2014

Art that Happens to be your Life
@Home with Claudine Hellmuth
Capture Life
Clean and Simple
Craft Happy
Design Your Life
Dimensional Details
Fun with Fabric
Get Organized, Be Inspired
Have More Fun
Hello Story
Here & There Inspiration
Project Real Life
Repurpose, Rethink, Reinvent
The Art of Composition
The Art of Observation
The Mother LOAD
Twelve
Yesterday & Today

Additional Classrooms
(Includes all 2014 + 2015 Workshops)

12 Days of Christmas: December Duos
28 Cards in 4 Weeks
28 Days of Sketches
31 Things
An Update to Remember
Art + Design
Before Your Story
Catch Up with Project Life
Composition for Collage
Craft Happy
Create & Share Cardmaking
Finding Photo Freedom
Finding Your Photo Style
For the Love of Things
Gatherings through the Lens
Get Artsy
Get Great Photos with Any Camera
Going Places
Grammar-Free Journaling
Happy Go Lucky Stitchalong
Inspiration Live!
Inspired Scrapbooking
Library of Memories
Mastering Manual Mode
Me: The Abridged Version
Mixed Media Studio
Move More, Eat Well Jumpstart
National Scrapbook Day “10k”
Organizing FUNdamentals
Photo Connections
Photo Finish
Photography 101
Photography 201
Play at Home
PROCESS
Professional Children’s Photography
Project Life Lessons
Project Life Community
Quizapalooza
Scrapbooking Outside the Pocket
Sketch Solutions
Stashbusters Anonymous
Super Simple Scrapbooking Challenges
Super Stashbusters
Technique Toolbox
The Art + Science of Scrapbooking
The Curious Scrapbooker's Field Guide
The Phone Photography Project 1
The Phone Photography Project 2