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Here is a little update, I have said in the past that I had decided to which over to doing monthly layouts instead of doing weekly since some weeks I wouldn't have a whole lot going on to make a layout. Well, I decided on November 1st to give it a try at taking a picture each and everyday, and so far so good. I have downloaded an app on my iPad to help me to keep track, I have heard a lot of good things about this app so I thought that I would give it a try.
The app is... Photo 365 - Everyday
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Here are some digital Project Life layouts that I have made...
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Here are some traditional style Project Life layouts that I have put together...
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Here are some digital Project Life cards that I have made...some with pictures, some without pictures, some for journaling, some for just filling in spaces, some are 4x6 size, and some are 3x4 size...
4x6 size
3x4 size
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Here are some traditional style Project Life cards that I have made...
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The end of 2012 I started hearing about this new thing that everyone was talking about...Project Life created by Becky Higgins.
I have always tried to do my scrapbooking by the year instead of by event or holiday, but I must confess that I have gotten a little behind needless to say.
So, I decided to give 2013 a try with Project Life, and I am loving it. I did start off trying to document week by week like most people do, but I found that was a little difficult for me to keep up with, plus some weeks there was really nothing going on or I just didn't take any pictures, then some weeks there was a lot going on. So, I am documenting by the month instead, it works so much better for me.
I am doing my Project Life both digitally and the traditionally with the actual paper kits, as well as mixing the two together.
So, with that being said, I am loving this concept with the Project Life, and if you haven't already checked out Becky Higgins website or blog to see what all this Project Life is all about I urge you to do so.
I will start posting pictures soon of my different layouts and / or of the cards themselves , so be sure and come back to visit to see our Project Life.
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Here is all of the information that you need about Project Life straight from the lady who created it... Becky Higgins
Project Life is a back-to-basics approach to memory-keeping. This system is so simple, it's revolutionary.
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Project Life is a solution-based approach to scrapbooking that was created to simplify the process in order to allow you more time to enjoy life! It requires no glue, no scissors, no tools, and no skills of any kind. The design of our products takes the guess work out of layout design so that you can focus on recording your everyday moments through your photos and journaling. The simple design is stylish and makes it possible for you to complete more pages in less time.
Becky Higgins, creator of Project Life, is a busy wife and mother who is passionate about capturing the little bits of life, and she's making it easy for others to do the same. "It's called Project LIFE because it's about YOUR LIFE. Whatever your life is. Whatever your stage of life. Whatever your family circumstances. Whatever your lifestyle. Project Life is designed to help anyone + everyone get their pictures into a book," says Becky. Her goal is to help others Cultivate a Good Life and Record It.
This back-to-basics approach to scrapbooking appeals to the person who's never made a scrapbook in their life as well as those with experience because it allows you to feel the freedom that comes from letting go of the "guilt" that so many associate with the memory keeping process. Project Life enthusiast Liz Tamanaha says "I love Project Life because it can be anything I want. Simple when I just want to get the basics recorded. Crazy intensive when I have the creative energy for it. And for once, I feel caught up with my scrapbooking."
The Project Life "way" of memory-keeping is so crazy-simple, it has become known as revolutionary in the scrapbooking industry. All you need is one of our Core Kits, an Album, and a Big Pack of 60 Photo Pocket Pages. By pairing your pictures and memories with these basic products, you will be able to document your story in a hassle-free system that results in a complete and beautiful scrapbook. The Project Life line of products has grown to also include many other items that enhance the memory-keeping process for those who want to do more.
All Becky Higgins® products are available on Amazon.com (in the U.S.) and in retail locations around the world. All Project Life designs are also available as digital components through DigitalProjectLife.com which allows you to use your photo editing software to create your own pages and projects. We have also partnered with Shutterfly to offer photo books in several of our most popular designs.
Whether you choose our physical products or one of our new digital options, Project Life takes the "scrapbooking" out of scrapbooking so you can focus on turning your everyday stories, your celebrations, your challenges, and your big moments into albums to be cherished.
Thoughts on how to use Project Life.
You may choose to keep your photos chronological and highlight just a handful of pictures from each month per layout, resulting in an album that holds several years worth of memories. You may want each layout to take on a theme or event (holidays, trips, birthdays, back-to-school, etc.) that has nothing to do with chronology. Or you may use this album to organize years and years of old pictures (ex - from your childhood, or some family history).You may even get ambitious and include a picture-a-day for an entire year - one week per layout. The result of doing this is a very unique way of preserving a wide-angle look at your real life, here and now. A little something every day. I have personally done this for the past couple years and it's very cool... BUT please don't think that the picture-a-day or 365 approach to Project Life® is what you have to do.
If you are interested in documenting everyday life I strongly encourage the following approach: One layout per week, but not necessarily a picture-a-day. This means that you go about your life, taking pictures of little moments and saving memorabilia here and there - if you want. Instead of being committed to having a picture to represent every single day (which is fun but definitely ambitious)... you would simply gather whatever you want to include on a layout for that week. Perhaps you do end up with a picture to represent each day on some weeks. Perhaps all the pictures come from one particular occasion that week. It really doesn't matter. This approach is a bit more "relaxed" and flexible than a 365 approach but you end up with the same kind of album that paints a picture of your life as it is right now.
The point is this: You can use Project Life however you want.
I can't emphasize this enough: Project Life is meant to SIMPLIFY the process of memory-keeping. If you use it at the most basic level, you are more likely to succeed in "keeping up" - if that's your goal - and you'll still have an amazing album.Yes, of course you can get creative if you'd like. Many people love adding their own flair with extra embellishments, etc. We love to share inspiration and ideas. In fact, we have a whole Creative Team that is full of talented women who regularly share their amazing Project Life pages. By the way, we'd love to see more from guys and kids - trust me!
However you make this system work for you, the Core Kit has everything you need: The title cards are intended to label your layouts. The journaling cards allow you to write notes & memories to accompany your photos. Each has a filler design on the back of the card for times when you don't want to write anything. The bi-fold cards are for when you WANT to write more. Everything coordinates beautifully, making your scrapbooking experience so not stressful.
Getting Started
The very basics that you need to complete an album are:
- 12x12 Binder
- Project Life® Core Kit
- Big Pack of Photo Pocket Pages
*NOTE: These 3 items are sold separately. There is NO FULL KIT. You get to choose which Project Life items best suits your style + your needs. Once you have those items, you are ready to get started. Flip through these slides for tips on how to put it all together, step by step. Don't let the number of slides intimidate you. The process is super simple but we know that detailed pictures help, so that's exactly what we did. You can click on the arrows or use your left/right arrow keys on your keyboard to flip through the slides.
The basic components you need to complete a full scrapbook are a 12x12 Binder + Project Life® Core Kit + Big Pack of Photo Pocket Pages, of course you'll need your photos and a pen for journaling. That's it. You will not need any other tools or supplies or gadgets... not even scissors!
Note:
This is Megan with the Cherry Edition. You will see the Cherry Edition of Project Life® throughout these slides but of course you have several other editions to choose from and these step-by-step tips apply to any edition. The Project Life® products are the same - just different graphic design options.
The first step is to open up your Big Pack of Photo Pocket Pages and open your Binder rings.
Note:
Design A is shown and is our most popular Photo Pocket Page design, but there are other options. The Big Variety Packs are great, and offer more options.
Place the entire stack of Photo Pocket Pages in the Binder.
Note:
All Big Packs of Photo Pocket Pages have 60 pages, which will fill a 12x12 binder nicely when the pages are full of photos + journaling cards + title cards. Keep in mind that adding a lot of bulky or dimensional items will result in thicker pages and then you may not be able to have all 60 pages fit as nicely into a single Binder. If you need to spread out into a couple of binders, that's perfectly fine. It's really your choice.
Now all of your Photo Pocket Pages are loaded into the Binder.
Note:
Don't let that 12x12 white box go to waste! It's a perfect size and great quality for storing other 12x12 page protectors or larger memorabilia.
Next you are going to reach for your Core Kit and pull out all of the 4x6 and 3x4 cards that are specifically designed for the first page and last page of your album.
Note:
There is no rule that says you have to use these cards on the first + last pages. These cards are designed to keep this project absolutely, completely simple for you. However, many do prefer to personalize the first page by including more photos than cards, for example, or using other embellishments.
How do you know which cards are designed for your first page + last page? They will be indicated with a placement suggestion on the back of the card.
The guide on the back of the first page + last page cards is only a suggestion, but if you don't want to think about it at all, just follow the guide, slip in your cards, and be done.
This is what the first page will look like (until you personalize it).
You will do the same thing for the last page of the album in terms of slipping the pre-designed cards in the pockets. The suggestions on the back of each card will take out the guesswork.
Note:
This shows what it looks like from behind; the next slide shows the actual last page as it appears.
This is what the last page will look like in your album.
Note:
Just a reminder that you are seeing the Cherry Edition. Each edition of Project Life® has its own style.
Next, take out the stack of 4x6 title cards from your Core Kit.
Slip a title card (any title card) into the upper left corner of each layout. You'll do this for every 2-page spread in your album. There is no suggested "order" in terms of where you place which cards. Some people like continuity and use the same design for a month's worth of layouts, for example. Some people prefer to mix it up so there is no rhyme or reason.
Note:
Doing this now is part of "setting up" your album ahead of time, saving you steps later. But you certainly can keep the title cards in your Core Kit and insert the title cards one layout at a time as you work on them if that is what you prefer.
Let's talk pictures. Say you want to create a layout per week in your Project Life® album. Chances are you may want to print your photos in batches - a week at a time. The number of pictures you decide to print is up to you; typically this would be 7 photos because you already have a title card in one of the 4x6 pockets. In addition to pictures, don't forget to include any memorabilia from the week that is worth saving.
Note:
As mentioned before, Design A is most common because most people take pictures in the horizontal format, most of the time. But there is absolutely room for flexibility with this, which is why there are several other Photo Pocket Page designs to choose from (see the options in our Products section).
Slip each photo into a pocket wherever you'd like to see it on the page.
All of the 3x4 Journaling Cards in the Core Kit come with lines or grid lines on one side. This is to guide you as you jot down memories and notes. Use any of the Journaling Cards you'd like. There are no rules about where you should use which designs.
For each photo you include in your album, you can write a caption/anecdote/story. Don't have anything to say for one of the spots? No problem. That's what the filler designs are for - found on the back of each Journaling Card.
Place the 3x4 Journaling Cards in the 3x4 pockets. I mean, seriously. Does this get any easier?
As mentioned, there is a filler design on the back of every Journaling Card in your Core Kit. Choose one of these to add to the layout you're working on, if you'd like.
Place the 3x4 filler card in any of the 3x4 pockets - IF you have an extra space to fill.
Note:
Typically, you'll include the filler card somewhere on the left page and this is why: When looking at a 2-page spread, you will likely have a 4x6 title card in the upper left corner (because that is visually a very natural place to see a title before your eye leads to the rest of the layout). This leaves you with 3 photos for the left page. If you have 3 journaling cards on the left page, naturally you will have one space leftover. So with this kind of set-up, you would likely include your filler card somewhere on the LEFT page.
You have now experienced the simplest form of scrapbooking EVER. You didn't crop, trim, glue, punch, hammer, emboss, distress... anything! And yet, look at the result. Beautiful scrapbook pages that are not only organized and easy to enjoy, but still very custom because of your photos and your written memories.
Project Life® is a back-to-basics approach to scrapbooking. It's all about your photos + your stories, and letting go of that pressure to do anything creative if you don't want. Get your memories into a book and feel GREAT about the results.
Note:
Project Life® is designed to be absolutely simple. Anyone can do this - older, younger, male or female, children... even those who have never done a bit of scrapbooking in their life. Of course Project Life® is super flexible and appeals to many experienced scrapbookers as well. We see a lot of people adding all sorts of flair and creative touches to their Project Life®, which is wonderful too!
Top 5 reasons everyone loves Project Life
Save time. Save Stress.
The organization and design that is Project Life is already figured our for you. Different from traditional scrapbooking, there is no stress about where to place photos, which papers to use, techniques to incorporate, products to coordinate. The work is done. You just add your photos and journaling.
No more guilt.
Gone are the days that you feel bad about not doing something with your pictures or your kids' pictures. Now you can actually get those pictures off the computer and into a format that can be enjoyed. Project Life makes photo-displaying and story-telling fun and easy.
Improve your skills.
Knowing that your pictures and memories are going to be preserved and enjoyed in Project Life, you will naturally improve your photography and writing skills.
Incredible Value
We love making scrapbooking not only simple, but affordable. You will have a hard time finding better prices for what you get, especially given the impeccable quality.
It's therapeutic
Whether you add pictures and stories to your Project Life album on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even sporadic basis, you will inevitably find yourself more keenly aware of your blessings and priorities.
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