Project Life | Week Four

Hello Project Life | Week Four.


Click any image to view larger.

Photos and words and just a bit of the stuff of life.

I love this project.

For some reason I'm into it more than last year. I think that's kinda how it goes - certain projects speak to us at certain times in our lives. This one is really fitting with me and the place I'm at in my own life. It doesn't feel like a chore. I'm excited about it. And I'm actually finding that it's making me want to make more layouts rather than less.

This week I received a kids clothing order in the mail from mini boden. One of the shirts came in the plastic bag you see above and it ended up making a very nice page protector for the Rhythm of My Day journaling. I printed the journaling out on two sheets of cardstock and slipped them into the bag before stitching an edge along the left side.

I used my crop-a-dile to punch three holes so it could fit in the album.

After that big journaling insert I added two, 6x12 divided page protectors from American Crafts which gave me room for 12 additional 4x6 photos from our adventures at the beach.

I left the top page protector pocket empty and added a blue Jenni Bowlin label sticker. I typed "beach weekend" on the label sticker using my typewriter. I've always liked the see-through/peek-a-boo quality of page protectors.

I also added clear file tabs again.

I need to pick some more of those up at the office supply store. They work great on these different sized page protectors and give you a specific spot to place your hand when turning the pages.

Definitely a fan of having this out in the kitchen. As I'm going about my day it's simple to grab a card and jot something down or slip a scrap of paper into one of the pockets.

PRINTER UPDATE | All the images this week came off my main HP Photosmart B8550 printer using the photo tray and HP 4x6 photo paper (this is the same printer I use for printing enlargements and hybrid elements). I'm still feeling undecided about this little Selphy printer but leaning towards not liking it. One of the biggest things I don't like is that the prints are NOT 4x6. After the image comes out of the printer you tear the excess off along the edges and the end result is a photo smaller than 4x6.

For now I'm leaving it out on the counter but it might be finding a new home. Loved the idea of it - of having it right there to print quickly and easily - but I'm finding that my photo-printing rhythm with this project is happening at my main computer where I have more control over the images (to lighten most specifically) and where I can get a true 4x6 print.


GREAT EXAMPLE FROM 2010 | If you'd like to see a completed album from last year that incorporates regular layouts along with the basic Project Life concept check out Mary Ann's video.
Project Life is a product created by Becky Higgins. It can be anything you want it to be. The album kit is available for purchase through Amazon. If you live outside the US check Becky’s site for more information on sources. View all my posts about Project Life here.

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66 thoughts

  1. Heather Johnson Photography says…
    02/02/2011

    ARe you still planning on doing a Week in the Life this year? I can't commit to a huge thing like project life, but look forward to a Week in the Life every year--and now I am afraid it may go away?!! Please tell me it's in your plans this spring!

    Reply 5 Replies
    1. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      HA Michelle - maybe I did miss a year :).

    2. cinback says…
      02/02/2011

      I am pleased to hear that WITL will continue. I, too, am unable to sustain a year-long album, but always look forward to WITL.

    3. Michelle D. says…
      02/02/2011

      I might be losing my mind, Ali (very likely!) but I didn't think you did WITL in 2009. I followed along in 2008 and 2010. Anyway, really just curious if I missed something! ;) I love what you tweeted that you are thinking of doing summer this year. Love summer! :)

    4. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      Hi Heather - definitely going to do it again (I've done it annually since 2005 - no plans to stop). It's much more in-depth day to day than this project. My plans are to do it this summer - I like to mix up the times of the year.

    5. TaraMcK says…
      02/02/2011

      Hi Heather,

      Ali tweeted that she plans on doing it in the summer time this year.

  2. TaraMcK says…
    02/02/2011

    Ali, are the clear tabs from the office supply store self-adhesive?

    Love what you are doing with this project, it keeps me inspired. Thanks for always sharing as you do.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. TaraMcK says…
      02/02/2011

      love the idea of the tabs, I'll have to check it out, thanks.

    2. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      Yes - self-adhesive.

  3. Jen D says…
    02/02/2011

    Love seeing your layouts- always so inspiring! I too am loving this project- it's my first time and I was sure by now I would have stopped. Helps to see your layouts along the way!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. amanda says…
    02/02/2011

    I love this! So gorgeous!You are so talented.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Martha Thomas says…
    02/02/2011

    Beautiful work Ali!!! I am wondering how you are dividing up your week in the page protectors,,,,I mean are you doing sat, sun, mon on the left and then wed-fri on the right? I am SO excited about Project Life but am going back and forth about the easiest way to "read" the week on the two page spread. Especially when there is extra stuff in the middle of the spread,,,,just wondering. Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      I do it Monday through Sunday. I start with the top left corner with the date and move to the right and then down. M - W goes on the first page protector. Th - Sun goes on the second page protector. Sandwiched on the inside are any additional photos for the days.

      I'm not being strict with it at all. Sometimes there's 2 photos from Monday, etc. I'm going more for capturing the overall week.

  6. Jennifer Levin says…
    02/02/2011

    I so love that you are sharing your Project Life with us weekly. This is my first year doing this project, and I'm loving it. I also have mine in the kitchen, and it brings me so much warmth and pride when I see my kids stopping to look at what I've added. I know this is a great gift for them. Thank you again for sharing yours with us! ~Jen

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Alexandra says…
    02/02/2011

    Love this so much!!
    Just wondering... how do you lighten your photos??
    I'd love a link if you've done a tutorial on this anywhere.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      I don't have a tutorial at this time. I usually just play with the Levels and sometimes Curves.

  8. Alida says…
    02/02/2011

    Loving your project Life. I live in South Africa, and don't have my album yet. I am putting my photo's in a designated folder and keeping a daily journal in the meantime. I've done full layouts for special days. I'm just wondering how many additional pages (over and above 52 weeks) the album is likely to hold.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Terri Porter says…
    02/02/2011

    Ali, I am loving that you are sharing your layouts each week. So much inspiration! I'm with you on the Selphy -- I am so dependent on my computer and Photoshop to get my photos exactly the way I want them that I could never just stick my memory card into a printer and print, and the size issue is big. Thanks again for all you do and all you share.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Dori says…
    02/02/2011

    Ali, I've noticed that you frequently round the corners of the individual elements before you insert them into the page protectors. Today I noticed that you did NOT round the corners of the three 4 x 6 pix in the 6 x 12 page protector even though the elements in the adjacent 12 x 12 page protector are rounded. Do you have a 'formula' for rounding or not rounding? Thanks so much!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      No formula. I might go back in and round those ones :).

  11. Stacie says…
    02/02/2011

    Love your week Ali! Funny thing...I am finding myself much more involved this year than last year too! I think it is because I started the year with it and last year I didn't start until September. I am using American Crafts PP too and they are a perfect match with Becky's! Love that! I have an old trunk in the family room that it now sits on with a basket of stuff beside it to keep it up to date...love that it is out and part of our life! This is making a huge difference for me too!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Karen says…
    02/02/2011

    So great to see how you take on Project Life, thanks for sharing each week with us. Also enjoy hearing how you make the process work best for you. I'm still old school, ordering prints (just ordered all of January's for Project Life last night) online. (Lol! Just got a chuckle at the concept of ordering prints online being old school....two kidlets ago, that was new school to ordering prints from film as its old school rival..but, I digress!) And I like the idea of the little tabs for the smaller sized page protectors...thanks! :>

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Mary Smith says…
    02/02/2011

    Ali, I love my PictureMate 290 by Epson, it prints 4x6's with no tabs and its jumbo wallets fit in the journaling card pocket of Project Life (I do trim off a bit on top and side). The photos are a better quality of my large HP printer, I think it is the Epson ink. I print almost all of my Project Life photos on this little gem. I love it and I'm very picky about my photos.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. dawn says…
    02/02/2011

    Hi Ali, your week looks great and love the photos you picked. That's a great one of your parents. It's always fun to see all the little added goodies you put in yours, have to get me some of those tabs. Thank you so much for sharing your album with us. I'm finding that this year is more exciting for 2 reasons I love the look/design of Becky's album and my other reason is to keep it simple and let the kids do more in it. Really loving it this year.

    I have a question that I keep forgetting to ask, does Simon ever say what kind of job/career he'd be interested in when he's older. Just curious my 9yo wants to be either principal or gym teacher at his school.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. dawn says…
      02/02/2011

      Thanks Ali for your answer, I thought it was going to do with building something. It's so exciting to think of what they will do when their adults, but no rush of course.

    2. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      He usually says astronaut. We just asked him again the other day and he said he didn't know. We told him that was just fine too :).

  15. dawn says…
    02/02/2011

    I'm excited to be thinking of your doing week in the life again. We just took it off the shelf and read thru it this weekend and was so fun to see what the kids were up to then. Can't wait to do it again. Please keep us posted on when you plan to do it. Thanks.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. TracieClaiborne says…
    02/02/2011

    If everyone in the world had your handwriting, the world would be a better place. I think if I could write like you, I would be more interested in Project Life. I hate my handwriting!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Dana says…
    02/02/2011

    Thanks for the insight about the Canon Selphy. Very helpful as I was thinking of purchasing one.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Kim Howard says…
    02/02/2011

    I love seeing how you incorporate other things into your project life album. My kit just arrived and can't wait to get started!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. jamaica says…
    02/02/2011

    Oh man, sorry to hear the Selphy isn't working out. Bummer. My older model prints 4x6's without any excess to tear off. Any chance you could try using a different brand of paper w/o the tab?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      That's a good idea - not sure if I can though. The ink + the paper are in one cartridge/pack.

  20. paula s says…
    02/02/2011

    that look sfantastic!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Pam Staley says…
    02/02/2011

    I always start my day by reading your blog. You give me motivation! I have to make a comment about your dad -- I didn't recognize him in the first photo you had posted. He looks like a different man without his beard! :) Snow storm in Iowa today - great photo opportunities.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Jocelyne says…
    02/02/2011

    Love this Ali :) I have mine sitting out and it has been collecting little bits. But I have yet to actually fill it in. My biggest problem is photo ordering. I don't love my at-home photo printer. I think I will order up a bunch from January today and get to working on pulling that month together. And see how Feb goes...

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Tina says…
    02/02/2011

    I have been interested to hear your reports of the Selphy. I love the idea of a printer that is easy to use and a smaller size, but I am leaning more to one of those little cameras instead :)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      That little Instax camera is awesome!!!

  24. amy w says…
    02/02/2011

    I was just boxing up my Canon Selphy to return it to Amazon when I read your post. I find it prints dark and the colors are not very saturated. I also need a more versatile printer that will print larger size prints. Ali -- are you still happy with your HP? Is there a newer model that you've been looking at? Project Life has been 'forcing' me to print my photos daily and I love that. Like you, I'm energized by this project. Thx :)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/02/2011

      I absolutely love this HP printer. The one I have is the HP Photosmart B8550 - not sure what the newest model is but I've been super happy with this one.

  25. Tweets that mention Project Life | Week Four | Ali Edwards -- Topsy.com says…
    02/02/2011

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ali Edwards, Ali Edwards and Sudie , Becky Higgins. Becky Higgins said: I love that you're loving it, @aliedwards. Another fantastic look at the latest in Ali's #projectlife album here: http://tinyurl.com/4suxuyb [...]

    Reply 0 Replies

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