life in general

project life 2012 // catching up

So, remember when I used to do project life and share it here on the blog?  I made it through mid-February with weekly layouts, then life got really busy, then we moved, and I just haven't gotten back into the groove yet.  

But I've been craving it!

Last week my blog friend Emily (who is now my in-real-life friend) came over for an evening of project life-ing and it really helped me to get my groove back.  Too bad she moved to California this week.

Anyways, I just wanted to share a few of my recent layouts.  There is a lot of catch-up I need to do.  But rather than focus on just catching up, my plan going forward is to work on the current week and one catch-up week as I have the time.  And if some of the weeks don't make it into the album, it is okay.

Catch-up layout #1 -- This spread covers just 2 days.  Two.  And it was all about the photos.  I've already blogged about the Vintage Spring Sorbet, and I'll probably make a photo book of some sort.  So for the purposes of PL I just wanted to throw some photos into the album to make mention that it happened.

One of my favorite things . . . the row of 8 Instax photos in the journaling pockets.  A perfect fit.

6 x 12 page insert.  The pink chevron pattern is a paper cookie bag that I cut into strips.

Washi tape + word stickers to adorn this cute photo.

Catch-up Layout #2 - There wasn't a ton going on the week before and after my trip, so I combined several of the random happenings into one layout.

For the date card I used a collage of instagram photos.

Catch-up Layout #3 -- A semi-normal week around here.  5th Grade Parent's night, day camp, mother's day, finishing up a science project, cooling off at the splash pad.

I love the transparent circle journaling spots.  They were a free download from Design Editor.

I knew this photo of Conner would be perfect for a 6x8 enlargement.  I love the look of spreading it across several journal/photo pockets.

More of the same . . . . The "quote" journaling card was a free download from Cathy Zielske (somewhere deep in her PL archives).

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That's all!  And guess what . . . it's wednesday and my May 14-20 layout is finished and in the book!  I'm on a roll.

Linking up over at The Mom Creative

project life 2012 // week 3

Someone recently asked me, "what is project life?"  In case others are wondering the same thing, here is an answer.

Project Life is a scrapbooking kit/system that was developed by the Becky Higgins a few years ago.  I bought that first kit in 2009.  And again in 2010.  Back then it was called Project 365.  The idea was to take a photo a day and using the P365 kit you could simply and quickly scrapbook an entire year of your family's life.

Then and now the bones of the project are:  album + divided sheet protectors + journaling cards

Slide your photos in, jot down a bit of journaling, and wah-lah! you've just scrapbooked.  Easy and adhesive-free.

What I love about the evolution of this into "Project Life" is the freedom to use it however it works for you.  Photo a day.  Week-at-a-glance layouts.  Or even simpler with a month in review.  Highlight the big events.  It could be a child's scrapbook that covers several years.  Or simply use it as a photo album and get your photos out in the open (you know, all those photos that are sitting in boxes or on your hard-drive.  Guilty!).  I have a box full of photos from Scott's childhood.  Someday I would love to use a Project Life album to organize all of that.  And maybe he could add the journaling.

I hope that answers some questions.  Becky offers more answers on her website here.  And you can buy the kit on Amazon.

This year, I'm not approaching this with a set plan.  The first 2 weeks I did week-at-a-glance layouts, with various photos from nearly every day in the week.  For week 3 I did a full spread about our two snow days.  It was a big deal and I took a lot of photos so I wanted to focus solely on that event.  I've had some fun "dressing-up" the kit with other supplies.  But I am sure there will be weeks I stick to the bare bones basics.  Which still looks pretty awesome.

So here is my Week 3 spread:

turn the insert page and you can see the rest:

left page is all about Tuesday . . . 

For the title card I used See & Stamp transparent stamps.  They have been on my amazon wish list for a long time so I finally bought them.  For only $10 I don't know why I waited so long!  I love the kraft scalloped trim and I'm thinking I need to get some more.

I wanted to include a few more pictures so I added a page flip to the bottom left.

The right page is all about Wednesday . . . 

I love the wood veneer asterisks which double as snowflakes here.

I had a few more non-snow photos from the week that I wanted to include so I trimmed a page protector that is made for three 4x6 photos, down to just two.

Isn't that photo of Anna so totally awesome?  The 4x6 card was a free download from Design Editor.  Thanks!

On the back of the insert . . . Conner's fried egg from Sunday.  And some Cub Scouting with Payton on Saturday.

Another week, done!

project life 2012

I'm jumping into Project Life again.

Never-mind the fact that I have two unfinished project life albums (2009 and 2010) sitting in my scrapbook room.  I just couldn't resist!  For two reasons:

1. The Clementine kit is adorable.  Love the colors and designs and sentiments.  Just couldn't resist.
2. There are going to be a lot of changes for our family in 2012 and I want an easy, straightforward way to document it all.

I gave myself permission to give it another go only because I've let go of my previous "photo-a-day" style.  I'm going to approach this project with a great amount of flexibility.  Some layouts might feature a photo a day, some layouts might feature a single event.  And I may skip some weeks altogether.

Monday night I put together my first layout.  And you know what?  I really really love it.  :)

Here's a closer look at the left hand page . . . . 

There is an insert in the middle with a Happy New Year picture that Anna drew, and Payton's patent for the Scooter Basket.

And a closer look at the right side . . . 

I'm trying to set myself up for success this year by doing a few things

• allow some flexibility (as I discussed above)
• use my iphone to capture some everyday or random moments - don't worry about lugging the camera everywhere
• pre-fill the whole album with journaling cards and title/date cards.  All the basics are in the album already.  I just have to add photos and journaling.
• set up a basket for my supplies
• keep the album out in the open

This is my "out in the open" spot.  

Out in the open so I can remember to do it.  And out in the open so the family can enjoy it.  Lately, Payton & Anna have spent more and more time pulling the scrapbooks off the shelves and flipping through them.  They love seeing pictures of themselves and reading/hearing the stories of funny things they said or did.  I think they are really going to love flipping through this album as well.

 So my little supply basket . . . 

Isn't it so cute?  I love it.  Anna and I spent a morning at the Container Store last week and found some good items to pull this together.  Basket + letter sorter + file folders.

My basic supplies . . . 

Mini Stapler, post-its, pen (Pilot G2), moleskine notebook (for jotting little notes each day), folders (for holding daily ephemera), clear pouch (for patterned paper scraps), adhesive, scissors.

My creative supplies . . . 

I bought a few more supplies to supplement the kit when I'm feel extra crafty.  I was excited to find some things that go with the clementine kit, but not too matchy matchy, that give a subtle vintage-y vibe.  I discovered Studio Calico and love them!

Studio Calico butterfly stickers, cloud rub-ons, 6x6 Autumn Press Paper Pack, fabric rips, border stickers, and wood veneer pieces - houses and asterisks.

Also 7 Gypsies mini label stickers and a few patterend papers.

Wish me luck!  I don't plan to share my layouts on a regular basic (again, trying to let go of pressure / self-imposed expectations).  But you might see one pop up from time to time.

I'm excited to document our lives this year.  All of it . . . the everyday, the random, the big, the small, the happy, the hard, the messy, the silly.  Our real life.

project life: june

june 5:  the culmination of 8 months of ballet lessons . . . the big recital.  The theme was the Wizard of Oz and Anna's class played the part of the Lollipop Kids. She LOVED the hooker stage make-up most of all.  When I applied mascara her eyes lit up in the mirror, "they got bigger!"  As you can see, she was an adorable ballerina.

june 13:  First things first, I am loving coral/peachy pink this season.  Secondly, I made this awesome ruffle bracelet to wear with my ensemble at the garden party back in April.  The brooch belonged to my Grandma Neva.  I think it gives the perfect touch.

june 17:  He's done with 3rd grade.  Wow.  I asked why he gave me this "sleepy" pose and he said it's because 3rd grade was soooo easy.  He has had a great year . . . . he's well into the 5th grade math book and just started the 5th grade reading curriculum at the end of the school year.  Way to go, bud!

june 22:  Riding the conveyor belt is fun to do!  Fun to do!  To do, to do!  Riding the conveyor belt is fun to do!  To do to do to do!

june 28:  I've got a date with some toilets.  Back from vacation and back to the real world.  Mondays are for cleaning bathrooms.  

project life: april

april 6:  Marie Callender's Banana Cream Pie.  My dinner. Oh the sweet deliciousness.

april 9:  Took the kids on a local "field trip" because school was out.  Our first stop, the pet shop . . . where birds roamed outside of their cages to my kids' delight, a tarantula bigger than the size of my hand freaked us all out, and Conner was so happy he brought along his wallet because goldfish were only 50 cents.  Sorry, mom had to veto that one.

april 12:  Shopping with my girl at Target.  You look beautiful, dahhhling.

 
april 21:  the last day of swimming lessons.  After leaving his goggles at the pool again, we decided it was time to write his name on the strap. 

 april 28:  the kids huddled around the really old desktop, watching Conner play World of Goo, just before bedtime, pajamas on, teeth brushed (hopefully) . . . . winding down.

project life: march

march 6 -  Ahhhh, I can feel the love.  I was gone all day at a Stake Relief Society conference and when I walked in the door I found vacuumed carpets and the lovely smell of Pine Sol.  I sooo appreciated the work that Scott and the kids went to in making the house spic and span.

 

march 16 -- I was cutting some fabric in the kitchen and Anna asked if she could have my scraps.  Soon she was all dressed up and with her toilet paper roll telescope she decided that she was a pirate.  Arrrgghhh!!  (And wouldn't you know it, it's a Tuesday!)   {note:  Tuesday is Pirate Day}

 

march 17 - it's after dinner, Scott is out of town, all the kids are in their pajamas, I'm cleaning the kitchen, and listening to the concert from the living room . . . . all three kids are at the piano, each with their own piano-playing style.

march 27 - the weather is beautiful!  (high-60's)  And we must get outside.  We packed up all the bikes and headed to the church parking lot.  Scott raised the seat on Conner's bike so it's more ride-able . . . Payton finally learned how to get going on his bike without assistance . . . and Anna is showing off her tricks.

march 30 --  Conner placed first in the pinewood derby with his car, "Thunder Cloud".  (Last year's car was named "Death Eater" in case you're interested.)  We all know that the dads have a big part in building these cars, although Conner contributed more help this year.  But next year when he's a Webelos, we're handing him the block of wood and saying, "go to it, kid."

project life: february

february 4 - treated the kids to a bowl of vanilla ice cream before bed.  But . . . the homework is not quite done.  Conner, in true Conner fashion (standing, rather than sitting on his seat), finishes up his reading paper. 

february 16 - Lunch.  Apple slices.  Sugar snap pea pods.  Turkey & spinach on Oroweat whole wheat sandwich thins.  Trying to eat a little healthier.

 

february 18 - The crocus are up!  The crocus are up!  Oh how I love (and look forward to) this little splash of color in late winter.

february 23 - 5:00am came waaaayy too early today.  I decided to skip the morning workout and sleep for another 30 minutes.  Seems I've been doing that a lot lately.  So I decided on an afternoon of weights.  Anna was thrilled to join me.  Don't you love our matching yoga pants?   

{Scott walked in the door early - with plans to work from home - when we were in the middle of this.  I told him to grab my camera and take a picture.  I need to make into this project life album from time to time, too!}

february 28 - all 3 kids involved in a game of Star Wars Monopoly before church.  I love that they like to play together, that they just pull the games out and make it happen, and (for the most part) that it's a happy, friendly game. Play on, kids!

project life: january

january 9 - it's 43 degrees outside and the kids decide that this is the perfect opportunity for a water fight.  Crazy!  I don't understand it, but they were having a blast.

 

january 12 - a new thing in our house.  Math homework.  Conner's 3rd grade class is doing some prep for state testing this spring, so I think that leaves him with less time to finish his work at school.  Thankfully he can take care of this all on his own.

january 21 - lots of Harry Potter watching going on in our house these days.

 

january 30 - my saturday morning routine.  A bowl of cereal (today it's Raisin Bran Crunch) while I sit at the computer.

{I am doing a daily photo project this year titled Project Life.  Go here for details on the album kit or digital version.  Seriously, anyone can do this.  And you can start anytime.}