AE : 365 : Project Life Updates

IMG_8306closeup

My 365 : Project Life by Becky Higgins album is coming right along.

You can read my more details about how I am approaching this project in my original post here.

So how do I feel about this project and my approach after almost two months? The biggest thing I love about this album is that it really shows the progression of time. I am excited to see what it looks like at the end of the year. I am excited to start at the beginning and have in my hands a snapshot of 365 days in our lives.

I like that it is very low-pressure. If I don't happen to take a photo on a particular day I am just grabbing a piece of paper collected from the mail, printed from online, etc., or substituting in a photo from the same time period (within two or three days is my limit).

Repeats? Some of the photos I used here will be used in other layouts to tell more complete stories (such as a photo from Anna's birthday). In the case of her birthday, because I know I will be doing a more detailed layout with a variety of photos, I just put a small handwritten "happy birthday" onto one of my journaling cards.

Process? I find that if I keep up with posting a daily photo and journaling on my Flickr page that it makes it a ton easier when I have time to print photos and assemble into the page protectors. There is nothing to try to remember and the photo has already been chosen. It works best when I am in my regular daily routine...but, as with many other things, it becomes more challenging when other activities/vacations/houseguests make life more interesting.

Yesterday I uploaded all my photos, printed my journal cards, rounded corners, and assembled everything from the last few weeks (again, being able to cut and paste the journaling from Flickr makes a big difference for me). The one-hour-photo I used yesterday (Walgreens) wasn't great so I ordered the same batch from scrapbookpictures.com. For some reason I have grown too accustomed to instant gratification.

AE_stickynotes

Here's a shot of a week in-progress. Post-it notes are working well as a general reminder of the date and the assigned photo. The "stuff" is tucked in over the course of the week or simply laid on top of the pages until I am ready to either crop to fit in the pockets or fold.

One of the things that has been keeping me motivated is that I have designated a spot for this album to sit open. It's current home is on a cabinet in my office (sharing space with my sewing machine). I have found if the album is out and open I am much more likely to grab some bits of paper and just stick them in the pockets. It also serves as a great reminder that this is something I am wanting to keep-up with in 2010.

SAMPLE SPREAD

IMG_8296

AE_pageprotectorstitching

If there is something larger I want to include, but it's not large enough to fill a full 12x12, I stitch and crop the page protector. I first did this for my Disney album that appeared in my Life Artist book to create page protectors for each of the park maps. I don't try to make these perfect and I often have to force the page protector through the machine. I trim off the excess page protector after stitching the pocket to size (I stitch with the paper inside the protector as a guide).

IMG_8297

The back side of the penguin is blank for now. Most likely I will add something from Simon's school basket.

SAMPLE SPREAD

IMG_8298

I cut a piece from the Lost DVD packaging and added a cough-drop wrapper. More backpack gems have been included here (see more on my post Scrapbooking Stuff That Comes Home In His Backpack).

IMG_8299

On the back I slipped in something Simon had printed out from the computer (a fried rice recipe from Ni Hao Kai-Lan). Instead of just slipping it into the page protector I added a little bit of hand-journaling on a piece of cardstock to actually get more of the story told (it is attached with a mini paper clip).

IMG_8300

SAMPLE SPREAD

IMG_8304

SAMPLE SPREAD

IMG_8307
Thanks again Becky for establishing such a fun project!

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

71 thoughts

  1. Molly Irwin says…
    02/26/2010

    AWE-some!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Elisa says…
    02/26/2010

    This is so amazing. I want to join in, but am fearful of the commitment. I think December Daily scared me off a bit, although the page protector format for this project might simplify the process for me. I really appreciate how you are just going with the flow whenever there is not photo for a particular day.This album will be priceless.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Barb M. says…
    02/26/2010

    Thanks for sharing. I have been so intimidated by the huge box that Project Life comes in that it is still sitting in the corner of my scraproom. I will pull it out again this weekend and give it a whirl. I think that by having it put together, I am more likely to start it when the time comes. I am a teacher so my year for this project will probably not start until mid-June. Who says I have to start in January! Thanks.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Jill D says…
    02/26/2010

    Thank you for showing some new ideas for this book. I have the kit and have been taking the pictures (for the most part) but I was feeling myself limited by the structure. By seeing your example, I see that I can do more than just put in a picture but also kid's pictures, smaller photos, etc... I guess I just needed to see an example. Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Robyn says…
    02/26/2010

    really like your approach to this project!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. stephanie says…
    02/26/2010

    Thank you for the wonderful inspiration of including tidbits of daily life memorabilia. Especially the recipe. My daughter keeps printing these out and I keep throwing them away. :) Just curious as to how you are printing your journaling? Are you doing that on the computer or with a typewriter?

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Rachel Smith says…
    02/26/2010

    So, I know that you had sort of been considering doing a Week In The Life project early this year since you didn't do a full one last year, only the weekend version. Since you're doing this photo-a-day project that feels quite similar, are you holding off on the WITL this year?

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Sarah says…
    02/26/2010

    so cool, and so simple....as in uncomplicated....can I be you when I grow up? (LOL!!! I'm 33 and have 3 kids of my own!) I envy how you tell your stories, and it seems effortless. Is it really as effortless as it seems?

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Aprile says…
    02/26/2010

    Very nice! As a fellow 365 scrapbooker, I appreciate your style and just seeing how someone else is using this kit is a bonus. I didn't use a kit last year, made up my own because I couldn't get a kit. This year has been sooooo much easier, because all the elements are right there for me. I leave mine out, too! I didn't know if I would be able to complete 365 pics, but now I am into the second year and this has been the best album I have ever done! I'd like fto say thanks to Becky for inspiring me, too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Ali Edwards says…
    02/26/2010

    Can it be effortless but take effort at the same time? That's what it feels like. It feels natural for me to tell stories but it takes serious effort to actually get them on paper/computer/etc. It's just something I choose to spend my time on ;).

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Ali Edwards says…
    02/26/2010

    Good question. Originally I still planned to to do AWITL but now that I am into this one I am re-thinking it. One of the things I really love about AWITL is it shows many more photos for a single day - it's "more" than a slice of life that I get here with Project Life.
    I think I just answered my question - I will be doing AWITL again this year. It is a more in-depth project...and I want to have that in my collection :).

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Ali Edwards says…
    02/26/2010

    I am thinking April.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Barb M. says…
    02/26/2010

    Way cool. I have no idea what a Week In the Life is but I like the title of it. I have only been checking out your blog since mid-DEC. I will look at some of your past postings on the topic. Thanks.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. ReNi says…
    02/26/2010

    That looks really great! Thanks for sharing your work!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Peaceliving says…
    02/26/2010

    I started this project (not as a 365 but using my favorite 5 photos each week) but I've neglected it lately. Yours is looking wonderful. You are so good about collecting everyday papers and things to include, which I love. I don't have a good system for collecting that sort of stuff yet, so most paper that doesn't need to be kept goes straight into the recycle bin. I need to figure out a good way to keep some of them.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. TJ says…
    02/26/2010

    Thanks for taking the time to share so much of your book! I do the post-it thing in mine, too. It really keeps me on track. I totally agree that as it grows I get more and more excited to see it at the end of the year!
    My three oldest daughters live abroad and are only home for a few weeks out of the year. I am motivated to keep it up so they can get a daily glimpse of our family life and stay connected to us and their younger siblings.
    I won't remember all the little stories but here many of them will be, just waiting to be shared!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Tappin' Tamara says…
    02/26/2010

    Thanks for sharing what you've been up to in your album. I am loving this kit! I like that we all have the same basic supplies but we get to add what we like to each pocket, the things that make our lives unique. It's really indicative of the human experience-because we all share the same physical components, but live in such different ways!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Mary Ellen says…
    02/26/2010

    I have the same question someone else asked. I just got my kit and wasn't sure how to use the cards except writing things out by hand. Is there a trick to running something so small through a printer? Or are you even using a printer to print on the cards?

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Sarah says…
    02/26/2010

    I really really love what you are doing with the project. So smart to use the smaller pockets for receipts and business cards and such. And then showcasing school work in between...so cool! I may be trying this next year..didn't think I'd want to since I switched to digi but I think you may have changed my mind about it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Jessica Turner says…
    02/26/2010

    Really enjoyed looking at your album, Ali. I love all the little bits you are adding - like the cough drop wrapper. I posted a video of my album and linked a few other scrapbookers (including you) in this post: http://jessicaturnersblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/project-life-my-album-and-tips.html
    I am also loving Project Life Tuesdays as way to keep up with this project - and look at what others are doing. http://jessicaturnersblog.blogspot.com/search?q=project+life+tuesday

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. cindy b. says…
    02/26/2010

    Ali, this is so awesome and SO inspiring!! Lately I've been feeling deflated in the realm of scrapbooking and not inspired by anything. This REALLY inspires me to get back to the CORE of scrapbooking and what it's all about. I've always thought that a project like this HAD to start in January. (crazy I know!) Thanks for always sharing your talent - so uplifting!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Teresa says…
    02/26/2010

    Definitely enjoyed seeing an update on your 365 project, Ali. I really love how you "made it your own". I did a week in review album last year, and love having that whole snapshot of my year. This year I started out going the 365 route, but life has gotten in the way, and I just haven't felt like taking photos this month. Only rarely am I inspired to do so. After feeling guilty about it for awhile, I thought, why push it? I'll just work with what I have, format it a little differently, and have an album that more represents the type of year I'm having so far. Maybe next month will be different!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Deb J says…
    02/26/2010

    I really like the way you are doing your album. I tired one last year and gave up about half way through the year. Being single, having my Mom living iwth me and both of us disabled it seems like we didn't have enough going on in our lives to come up with enough to fill one. Now I'm seeing how I could have done it differently. Maybe next year I will do one again.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Kendra says…
    02/26/2010

    I've been having fun with my Project Life album as well. I make sure to fill out the little "diary" card at the end of the day and put them all in a pile. I have a small photo primter so I print all the photos at the end of the week and update the pages. I am taking pictures of our "Daily life" when nothing out of the ordinary happens.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Debby says…
    02/26/2010

    Thanks for the update. I collect all kinds of stuff but never know quite what to do with it. Now I know!

    Reply 0 Replies

Sign in or sign up to comment.