I've been thinking about doing Project Life for about a year now. The main reasons I didn't start before were 1) I don't like cookie cutter projects, and 2) I have never scrapped chronologically, which is essentially what this is. But last year when Kieran started showing an interest in my scrapbook pages, I kept having this feeling that I needed to provide him with another way to look at our photos and stories (partly because he likes to pull embellishments off pages!). I also felt like even though I was getting many scrapbook pages done, I was still missing out on telling lots of stories.
So I started looking at the products online, but I really couldn't justify the cost, especially given just how many scrapbooking supplies I already had. It occured to me that I could just come up with my own version, but then the latter part of the year went by in a blur and that idea was tabled.
This year I was determined to do something about this gap that I was still feeling in documenting daily life. Then I started seeing pins on Pinterest about other people's DIY versions. The one that really inspired me to action was done by Marcy Penner. She totally came up with her own way of doing the project using mainly her current stash, and also maintaining her personal style! That was it I decided, I needed to do this!
I love the page protectors by Becky Higgins, but none of the products are in stock in Europe for the moment (and won't be until February!), so I purchased a D-Ring album from American Crafts and some pocket page protectors by We R Memory Keepers. My friend Sarah also sent me some of the Becky Higgins Type A protectors to tide me over until they are in stock over here. (Thanks Sarah, they came today!). While I was waiting for everything to arrive I started going through my stash and pulling together items to use. I compiled journaling cards, stickers, stamps, rub-ons and some embellishments in one area. I downloaded and printed out other digital and hybrid bits and pieces - some I bought, but most were freely available online.
Ok, enough chatter. I have completed the first two weeks so far and here they are!
Week 1 Jan 1-7
There's a 12x12 double spread and an insert of baseball card protectors. here are some close up shots and links to resources
The 4x6 journaling card is by Marcy Penner (with a Jan card by Sasafrass Lass added).
The Sunday and Morning tags are by Paislee Press.
More tags by Paislee Press and Marcy Penner. The Today sunburst tag is cut down from a 4x6.
Week 2 Jan 8-15
Another 12x12 double page spread, plus one 12x12 page, plus one baseball protector page. Here come the close ups and links.
The One Little Week is a freebie from Ali Edwards. I layered it over one of the tags from this free set and then printed it out.
That bracket tab is from Scrapbook Printables. She has a ton of stuff in her Freebies section.
And again a tag from Paislee Press (Saturday)
The journaling tag on the left was cut from one of the 4x6 cards by Marcy Penner, I just added a stamp at the top. The card on the right is from Ali E's Week in the Life set on Designer Digitals.
That tweet card which I LOVE is a digi freebie from Wild Blueberry Ink. It comes in different formats for you to use as you like!
Another 4x6 card from Marcy Penner. This is the same one I used in the baseball card page in week one, but cut down to fit.
I am totally drawing a blank where this Good Day came from, sorry. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Will update once I do! Update: Thanks to Louise from Scrapbook Printables for dropping by and confirming that this is one of hers!
This one I made by stamping that journaling spot on cardstock.
This one is a poster printable from Rebecca Cooper that I resized to fit the baseball card pocket.
So there are my first two weeks! I still need to make a title page, that is on hold until we take a new family photo (this weekend hopefully). So far here are some thoughts about Project Life
- It's a learning process, at least for me! It's a pretty structured way of scrapping, which is not something I have done for years. I am defintely more of a fly by the seat of my pants scrapper. It took me much longer than I expected to get those 2 weeks done. I think I will get faster as I develop and get used to my process.
- I am having a hard time narrowing down which photos to use. I probably need to take less photos to begin with?
- It might not be a bad idea to plan out the pages better first. I was so excited about it all that I started putting photos in pockets right away. Then I had to go back and change things around and it's not that easy to take things in and out of the pockets (like I said,fly by the seat of my pants).
- I need somewhere to keep all the ephemera as it comes in, I am sure that there should be more for these two weeks but I don't know where it all went!
- I am enjoying using my stamps again, they have been a bit neglected of late. The same goes for my general stash, I have really come to rely on kits in the last two years.
- Related: I am using some way old stuff and I don't care!
- One advantage I can already see is that this will help me to get my photos OFF THE CAMERA. I am downloading each week's photos into a separate folder, making them not only accessible for PL but also for general scrapbooking.
- I need to be better about making notes during the week for the journaling. I had to arack my brains to remember just the last two weeks. For example I have no clue what Kieran is eating in that photo (the one with the yoghurt). I will have to ask Lucas if he remembers and add that detail in.
- I am missing in the photos. I plan to start taking at least one self-portrait each week!
- I am really excited about this entire thing!
I was hoping to be able to also share photos of my organisation for all this but 1) it is still a work in progress and 2) my scrap room is a total wreck right now because of working on it this week, and nothing is put away yet. Does anyone want to see a photo of that? I don't think so.
I'll do an update with that soon. I don't plan to post my pages every week, I'll probably just post my favourite weeks from time to time.
If you have any questions about anything I used that I didn't point out, please do ask in the comments.
Phew! That was one heck of a post!
