Week In The Life | 2011 Supplies & Design Plan

Week In The Life 2011 is quickly approaching and I'm starting to get really, really excited.

I hope you're considering joining me from July 25th through July 31st - it's so much more fun and motivating when there's a bunch of people all doing it at the same time. This year I'll be including link widgets at the end of each of my daily posts so we can all share our photos and words and encourage each other throughout the week.

One of the big things I do to get ready each year is map out my design plan. I like to know in advance where I'm going with all the content I'm collecting, even though I won't be doing any of this part until the week after I document our days. Some people like to do it all at once (the documenting and the design) but I've found that I like to focus on the documenting (taking the photos and writing down the stories) during the seven-days and then focus on bringing it all together the next week.

There's so many different ways this project can come together. Any of the different foundation plans I've used the last couple of years would work great. If you've been following along and participating with me in this project in the past you'll see lots of things that are the same: size, divided page protector, enlarged photo on the first page for each day, etc. When I find something I like I stick with it - or tweak it just a bit as you'll see with my design for 2011.

Here are links to my design plans from the last couple of years (lots of good info there about getting ready):


Here's a look at my foundation plan for Week In The Life 2011:

This year my focus, besides documenting our everyday stories and routines, is thinking about numbers and time. You'll see that reflected in the products I'm choosing to work with and in my journaling.

There are so many numbers involved in our daily lives - the number of times we do something, days, minutes, time, etc. I like having a little something that's underlying my documentation this year.

Here's a look at what I'll be using this year:

3-RING ALBUM | We Are Memory Keepers Vanilla (lots of additional colors are available through Scrapbook.com). I'll be doing this project in 8.5x11.

EXTRA SET OF PAGE PROTECTORS | We Are Memory Keepers 8.5x11 - you'll need an extra set if you want a spread for each day.

8.5x11 9-POCKET DIVIDED PAGE PROTECTORS | We Are Memory Keepers 9-pocket or other baseball card sized page protectors - this goes in the middle of the spread for each day.

LAYERED TEMPLATES | This is basically the guide I'll be using to create my spreads each day. Available at Designer Digitals in both 8.5x11 and 12x12 sizes (12x12 is coming soon), this package includes an intro page, seven daily pages (labeled Monday through Sunday) and seven photo collage with journaling pages. You can see where focusing on the time of day becomes reality - I'll be using that as a design element as well as something to focus on with my journaling.

I'm not sure yet whether I'll be printing these pages here at home or uploading to a printing service. Right now I think I'll be using these layered templates, printing them, and then slipping them into an album (I won't be making a photo book because I want to use the pocket pages for each day).

I might also do something similar to what I did with my layered templates for December Daily last year where I printed them on photo paper to get the photos and cardstock to get the journaling and title portions. You can read more about that approach here (and I'll post more about that if I decided to go that route in the coming weeks).

JOURNAL CARDS | Available at Designer Digitals - the set includes PNG cards and PDF printable files with crop marks. The package includes four PDF's: red, yellow, blue, and gray. These will go inside the 9-pocket divided page protectors each day. I've also included a PSD file if you'd like to customize them further.

Here's a look at one of these printed and placed inside the divided page protector:

I'm planning to mix up the colors in my album (rather than doing all one or the other). Lots of options. I'll be adding photos and maybe some pattern papers - all that really depends on the number of stories and photos I collect.

ORMOLU DAY OF THE WEEK EMBELLISHMENTS | 2-Day Hooray Days of the Week Button Embellishments - when you purchase these buttons you also get a coordinating set of tags to print. These are going to be placed on top of a piece of Hambly patterned transparencies.

PATTERN PAPER | This year I'm looking for anything with numbers. Most likely these will be added here and there in the divided page protector pockets as a bit of decoration. So far I've got these ones set aside include:


PATTERN TRANSPARENCY | Hambly Little Circles

FONT | Alte Haas Grotesk. This is the font I used for my titles and times in the layered template set. It's a free download available here.

And so far, that's it.

My focus, as usual, will be on the words and the photos and getting all those wonderful, routine everyday life details documented. It's totally possible that I'll grab other things when I actually put the album together but these are the basics.


Elle’s Studio has just release some brand new items in their shop, including tags for summer, everyday, 2012 calendars and more! They even have some tags perfect for your “Project Life” albums and the upcoming “Week In the Life" project. This week only, use coupon code summer to receive free shipping on any order over $40 (offer includes international shipping and expires 07/18/2011).

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

101 thoughts

  1. Kaitlin says…
    07/11/2011

    LOVE the templates and journaling cards you designed! The foundation plan looks way cool and got me so excited!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Trisha Harrison says…
    07/11/2011

    Hooray, So happy to see this post today ... gotta say I love the Ubber cool design this year for 2011 !!! It's in my shopping cart @ DD ASAP.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Heidi says…
    07/11/2011

    This is going to be so fun this year! Can't wait to document summer! Awesome products so far, Ali. Off to browse :) Love that left side file folder / curved daily template. Heidi

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Susie Leggett says…
    07/11/2011

    Ali, this looks great. I'm still debating, but am thinking I'm in this year for Week in the Life. Have lots of ideas in my head, little things that I'd like to capture about our everyday lives.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Jenny Meyerson says…
    07/11/2011

    So excited to work along side everyone for this project. Beautiful projects as always Ali. The possibilities for the journaling cards are endless. And Ormolu Designs... yummy and sitting on my desk waiting to be used. Can't wait.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. jenn says…
    07/11/2011

    I think I'm going to try this. I like the idea of prepping all the items for use in advance, that way I might actually finish! I'm going to be organizing my craft studio today, so I'm thinking I'll make a pile of goodies to use and set it aside. I really like your digital templates as well... the idea of printing photos on photopaper and then the rest on cardstock has me intrigued.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Ellie A. says…
    07/11/2011

    I am so excited about this. I hope that we are able to do what we I am planning on doing which is stay in the city for next week as it will make for one SUPER DUPER Full week indeed no matter if it happens or not its another wonderful collection of memories! Can't wait.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Monica says…
    07/11/2011

    I cannot tell you how excited I am to see this post! I've never done A Week in the Life before and have been looking forward to it ever since I heard about it on the Roundtable. Gonna have to do some eShopping today! :) Thanks Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Cynthia says…
    07/11/2011

    I feel like a kid; I have been waiting for this! this is going to be my first WITL and I am so pumped. Already ordered some supplies and will definitely be picking up the digital elements. I am super excited and definitely recovering from my surgery so it will be a huge go! This will be a family endeavour which is also so awesome. Woohoo!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. amy says…
    07/11/2011

    beautiful stuff ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Debra Ford says…
    07/11/2011

    Ali, will you be giving instructions for doing this in 12x12 format also? I see the 12x12 templates can be purchased but you mentioned you will be doing it this year in 8 1/2x11. Thanks

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      07/11/2011

      Hi Debra - I'll likely be doing some sort of video overview that includes a very basic how-to and tips for this particular set that would apply to both the 8.5x11 and 12x12 (the steps are the same regardless of the size).

  12. Sarah K says…
    07/11/2011

    I am so happy you are using the same album (I love matching albums on a shelf) page protectors etc. but changing the style a bit. I love how easy it comes together and it is summer so we will all be busy. I talked to you at the B.L.I.S.S. event last year and told you this..."if WIL hadn't been so stream lined it wouldn't have happened for me." and I will say that again. Thanks ALi....ROCK ON :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Leora Henkin says…
    07/11/2011

    I am in! Love the design and have begun collecting the supplies. I can't wait to play along!

    Leora

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. JT says…
    07/11/2011

    Looks like fun, but the week you have chosen will not work for us. Can I change the dates on the digital files?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      07/11/2011

      Yes - they are not flattened layers - you can make them any date you want.

  15. Finding Home | Memoria.Arts says…
    07/11/2011

    [...] to home? I’ll be talking about this for the next few weeks, finishing up with Ali’s A Week in the Life project. I look forward to hearing about what has been on and in your [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Calvina says…
    07/11/2011

    Every year I get excited about doing "A Week in the Life of" with you and something always happens and I've never done it. So last month in June I was thinking I hoped to do it this year, but figured it wouldn't work out again. But, inspired by all your great posts about "Week in the Life of" for past years I just decided to start it that very day! So, I started June 11, 2011 and I actually completed my very first "Week in the Life of" and it was SO worth it! So encouragement to others, "Just DO It!"

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      07/11/2011

      That's so great!

  17. borcherding says…
    07/11/2011

    AWESOME!! Getting really excited about doing my first WEEK IN THE LIFE!!! Thanks for all of these posts Ali...it really helps out a newbie like me for this project!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. sarah says…
    07/11/2011

    what a timely post ali! amber + i had a scrap day yesterday and we were chatting about week in the life. thinking about things we want to remember to document, thinking about how we want to do our albums this year. i'm looking forward to it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Felicia Young says…
    07/11/2011

    Yay! This is going to be fun! I only have one question, how many of the Hambly transparencies are you going to use?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      07/11/2011

      Just one - I want enough to have seven of the small card size.

  20. Annie says…
    07/11/2011

    Hi Ali - you could also use the Studio Calico numbers stamp from the May Kit...

    http://www.studiocalico.com/store/stamps/numbers-border-stamp

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Tara says…
    07/11/2011

    Hi Ali

    Just read your tweet about Lily...I am so sorry she if ill and I wanted to let you know I am thinking positive thoughts for Lily, you, and your family. Hope all turns out well

    Tara

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Week In The Life | Ali Edwards says…
    07/11/2011

    [...] 2011 Supplies And Design Plan [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Sharon Dryjanski says…
    07/11/2011

    I am so excited I have sort of been doing some pre work in the project "week in Life"...I am not a digi scrapper yet played a little with it so I need study up more on digital scrapping ...I only have the trial photo shop so will that work for week in the life?
    I have my album already and did start planning layout and content but just not secure to digital scrapping? I suppose Just do It to get familiar is a way to learn??? I just have such of stash of supplies I would like to be able to incorporate??? Any suggestions Ali?

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Carrie says…
    07/11/2011

    Thanks for posting! I've been looking forward to this! My kids, especially my son, keep reminding me that "the week" is coming up. Doesn't hurt his birthday coincides with it ;) A great way to document his 9th! Wishing the best for Lily!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Nicky H says…
    07/11/2011
    Reply 0 Replies

Sign in or sign up to comment.