AE : 365 : Project Life

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For the last few weeks I have been quietly playing along and figuring out a strategy for myself related to doing one of these year long projects where you document life by taking a photo a day. 


Some of you might remember back in January 2008 when I started off on a 365 Self Portrait project. I made it into the second month and then decided to move on to other things. I ended up using those photos for this digital layout that appeared in Creating Keepsakes last year: 


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The photo calendar layered template I used for that page are available for
2009 and for 2010 (each package includes all the months with the dates included).


Fast forward to this year.


I decided to tackle this project again. This time I am not doing strictly photos of myself, instead I'm focusing on our daily lives as a family. I'm looking at this project as a chance to tell small stories (the small stories that are essentially the big ones when you see them all together). I want to capture little details, conversations, memories. It feels like a perfect compliment to my focus on story for the year.


Photos & words & the stuff of life is what I am looking to collect and place inside this album.


I am not stressing about taking a photo everyday. If I don't do it, no big deal. From looking back at
years past I almost take a photo a day already. I am cool with, and
looking forward to, adding in other pieces of life: notes, lists, mail,
email, etc. Some weeks will be all photos and other weeks will be a
mixture of the two.


The base for my album is Project Life by Becky Higgins (which is now available through Amazon.com). It's a big 12x12 album with divided page protects and other coordinated supplies. Most of you know I am a big fan of divided page protectors. I like how Becky's product is organized and I like that it is totally open to my own interpretation.


Here's a look at what I have been doing so far:


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1. Uploading my photos (if I have taken one for the day) to my Flickr page. In the description for each photo I am adding some words. I am then taking those little notes/stories and transferring them into my album (see image example below). This daily activity, or every few days, is simple for me because I am on the already on the computer just about everyday (and I am in the habit of uploading photos every couple of days).


2. Printing my photos weekly. We have a brand new Walgreens down the street and I sent 13 prints as a test last Friday. They came back looking just fine and I think that will work well for these 4x6 photos. I am sure I will end up printing some of them here at home, but I like knowing that they did a respectable job (from feedback I got on Twitter it sounds like their service really varies from location to location). 

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3. Taking those words I am writing on Flickr and copying & pasting them into a file I created in Illustrator. This super simple file includes the date, a dotted line, and then a space for me to input my text. These are being printed onto white cardstock and slipped into the pockets.


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4. Taking advantage of the page protectors. The photo above shows how I placed Maya Road's acrylic people inside the four middle pockets of the intro page and then stitched the top edge closed to secure them in each pocket. I am hoping to play around a bit more over the course of the year with the page protectors - I've long been a fan of creating spaces that allow you to see through to the next page.

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5. Using the cards that come with the kit and not using the cards that come with the kit. I like some of the designs that came with the kit better than others and will definitely be using them along the way. I have run some of them through my typewriter and some I have written little notes by hand. I am keeping one of the packs of cards out on my desk to use for notes, conversations, etc. I also really like that I can simply turn them over and use the white side as a base for stamping and journaling.


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6. Adding 8.5x11 page protectors. One of the things that I loved in a previous version of Week In The Life was adding in one of these page 8.5x11 protectors between the 12x12's. I'm not planning on having one in there every week, but when there is something special it's a nice way to include it in the album (and give it a home). I also have a vision of adding in 8.5x11 photo enlargements if there are ones that are really, really special.

7. Envisioning adding in lots of those little bits of scrapbook stuff I have sitting in a basket on my work table.

Here's a look at the title page and the last three weeks all together:

INTRO PAGE

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I used my "the year of story" piece that I scanned in for making my blog header as one of the cards for the first page in the album. As you read about above, the Maya Road's acrylic people were each placed inside one of the middle row of pockets and the entire row was stitched closed. The 365/2010 edwards' card was created using my Outline Days, Months, Years, and Numbers Value Pack from Designer Digitals.

WEEK ONE

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I'm including things such as pages from magazines and tags from clothing. I'm using the 4x6 weekly cards that came with the kit (and placing them in the top left corner) and the great little date stamp to label the week.

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WEEK TWO

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The little white cards with the journaling are what I showed above (created in Illustrator/copied and pasted from what I wrote in Flickr). I love having a place to keep some of those random bits of life.

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The "love" card is from a Paper Source catalog. Other things you see here include folded up receipts, ticket stubs, email print outs, etc.

WEEK THREE

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I'm in the middle of working on last week (week three) but here's a look at it in progress. A grocery list, one journaling card, two photos, and the backs of the other spaces along the middle.

I think the thing that I am really appreciating about this project right now is that it feels laid back. It feels possible and fun.

I am not trying to document every little thing. I am trying to capture the essence of the ways in which we live our lives from day to day. Our normal

If you aren't already playing along with this project it's never to
late to begin. There's no rule that says you need to begin in January. 


In reading Becky's blog lately I found her post about her evolving views on scrapbooking and memory keeping to be a really interesting read. I think this system can definitely work for some people as the way they document and celebrate their lives. For me, I am going to continue doing a mish-mish of things and play along with this project and see if I can't get a few more stories told over the course of the year. 


In addition to checking out Project Life as your foundation you might want to check out Memory Works new Simple Stories system. Simple Stories also uses divided page protectors as their base (they use We Are Memory Keepers 12x12 leather albums and their awesome divided page protectors that come with a variety of different pocket sizes on a 12x12) and offer a full range of accents and designs in their Life Documented kit. The visual style of this kit is very different from the look of Becky's - it's a much more weathered/distressed. I think a lot of your decision will depend on your personal style and what you hope to accomplish with the project.

I know many of you out there are already on your way with your own 365 project. How's it going? If you did it last year did you learn anything that could help someone who is just starting out?


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Want to hear me talk a bit about how I've been inspired by the concept of story? Check out last week's Paperclipping Roundtable.

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134 thoughts

  1. Sara M says…
    01/25/2010

    Thanks for a peak at your album so far. I love the idea of saving everyday stuff. I did put my daughter's "to do" list in it last week.
    It reminds me a lot of your Week in the Life class. I still love looking at that album.
    I did this last year too. I had a specific blog for it & am in the process of making it into a book on Blurb. I have to say I like Becky's album better. Instant results, my kids can look at it as I go, I can save everyday stuff and use my own handwriting.
    This is such a cool project though. I let myself take not so perfect pictures that captured the everyday. I used the flash somedays. Some are too dark, some are blurry, but that is our life. I love looking back and seeing parts of our home in the background. We moved in Oct. and our kids will always be able to look back and see pictures of their home.
    Remember to get your vehicle, the outside of your home, the pile of shoes by the door, the dirty dishes on the counter, all the everyday stuff that will change over time.
    Thanks again for the peak, Ali. Hope you continue to share yours with us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Sara M says…
    01/26/2010

    PS- Thanks so much for the photoshop tutorials last week. I created a digital layout last week because of you. You did a great job explaining things.

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  3. Sue says…
    01/26/2010

    Very inspiring Ali!

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  4. Ursula Schneider says…
    01/26/2010

    Hey ladies, for all of you who are printing at home, what printer do you like. Everytime I buy a printer it seems to print well at first and then after a few months, the printing starts to decay and lines creep in. So frustrating, but I wish I could print at home and like it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Stacy Milford says…
    01/26/2010

    Absolutely LOVE your "laid back" approach to P365...no pressure & so cool to add in THINGS from everyday life as well as photos :o) I did P365 in 2009. I kept up on taking photos nearly every day...but just couldn't keep up with actually doing the album. I am done thru August; so I decided to focus on getting the album completed rather than trying to do it again in 2010. However, thru this process, & with your inspiration, I am totally going with the page protector concept moving forward. I LOVE the idea of mixing up page sizes etc. & being able to "see thru" to the next page in so clever! Thanks for sharing all of your creative process with us Ali! LOVE you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Tara says…
    01/26/2010

    I agree with so many of the others - it's your project and you can't mess it up! I did 365 last year and realized it's ok if I miss a few days. there are lots of other great things to plug in that help tell the story of my family. Thanks for motivating us all Ali!

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  7. Johanna Hörrmann says…
    01/26/2010

    Hi Candice,
    I have a pen tablet, too, and I find the look of my writing depends a LOT on which program I use it with. For example, it's a big difference from Photoshop CS 3 to CS 4 - the writing tends to look "shaky" in CS 3, but is much smoother in CS 4. Illustrator has worked fine for me in the past, too.

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  8. candice mclean says…
    01/26/2010

    Thank you Jana for the help. I think that will work great for titles but for a long journal entry that might be too involved.

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  9. candice mclean says…
    01/26/2010

    Hi Johanna, Me too... illustrator works better but I find myself working more in PS. I am working in CS3 so I guess I need to go ahead and buy the upgrade. I've been procrastinating. Thanks for your feedback!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Karyn says…
    01/26/2010

    Thank you for the inspiration. I can do this!

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  11. Nerdgrl says…
    01/26/2010

    I love reading about what you're doing with Project Life/365. Lots of ideas contained just in the pics of the first three weeks.

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  12. Jeni says…
    01/26/2010

    Hi Ali - I enjoyed listening to you on the paperclipping roundtable. Love the 365 album. I am inspired.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Mary K says…
    01/26/2010

    Hi Ali- I completed the Project 365 from last year and I like how it turned out. This year I will be using the MemoryWorks Simple Stories kit- as a design Team member I've really enjoyed working with it. I like that I can complete however I want. Thanks for the great ideas! Please keep them coming!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Rakel Shideler says…
    01/26/2010

    Wow! What a great idea! This is my first time hearing about Project Life and I'm sold!! I went straight to amazon and ordered the kit.. can't wait to get it in the mail! My hubby is in the US Air Force and we're stationed overseas, I think this kit will really help me capture those every day special moments in a different country, that I would otherwise forget about! I think my 8 yr old daughter will thank me for this one day! And with a 2nd one on the way, I think it's a great way to document my pregnancy! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Intentionally Katie says…
    01/26/2010

    Oh, the irony. I use YOUR HANDWRITING to print the dates on my Project Life pictures, yet you type your journalling cards. Hilarious! I love the idea of using the date stamp on the weekly cards. Wish I'd have thought of that b/c my scribbles look awful.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Deb says…
    01/26/2010

    Thanks for sharing your project! It looks great as always. I like how you did not use all the products from the kit in your album that you made it your own with other items from your stash.
    Thanks!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jennifer Westmoreland says…
    01/26/2010

    Ali, you are simply amazing... don't know how you do it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Michelle Cortez says…
    01/26/2010

    It looks like you are using both sides of the pages in the kit, one side per week. I counted the pages and there are 55, more than enough for one page per week. Do you have plans for the pages you will have leftover? I was going to just do the front side of each page as one week, looking at yours though I am reconsidering. Would you mind telling me why you chose to use the front for one week and the back for another? I am just getting ready to start assembling my book and am on the fence about which way to go. :) LOL
    Thanks so much!!
    Michelle

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Ali Edwards says…
    01/26/2010

    Hi Michelle - I am doing one spread for each week (the photos just show half a week - there is a top and a bottom photo for each week in the post above). It's just like a 2-page spread in my regular albums - and there are 8, 4x6 pockets. One 4x6 for the weekly card that includes the dates and seven other pockets for each day of the week.
    The first page is an intro page. The back of the intro page is the first page of week one.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Johanna Hörrmann says…
    01/26/2010

    If Illustrator works fine for you, you could just write your journaling there and then copy and paste it to photoshop. That should work ok, I think! I haven't upgraded yet myself, but I noticed the difference when using the 30-day-trial of CS4 to check out new features.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. vee says…
    01/27/2010

    totally amazing ali,love it!! xo

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Michelle says…
    01/27/2010

    Thank you so much!! I am starting to put my first 3 weeks together now and your note has really helped clear things up in my mind!! Have a great day!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Alison says…
    01/27/2010

    My first baby is due next week and your book has inspired me to do a "365 days of you" album. Totally excited about it now that I have a sample style to work off of. I was wondering if you would consider sharing your Illustrator file with us?

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  24. Annette says…
    01/27/2010

    Ali, thanks for sharing this new project. I too like the idea of not taking so many self-portraits, but those of life and those I hold dear in my life. BTW, my word this year is courage, which I see lived out in the lives of those Haitians who struggle so much. Thanks for your collab designs to help them. I send them my prayers.

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  25. Margrethe says…
    01/29/2010

    I didn't manage to complete more than 3 photos of P365, but just started up again with self-portraits. Love that Becky Higgins project, too bad Amazon can't ship to my address :(

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