Project Life 2013 | Week One

Ah, Project Life 2013 | Week One.

I found myself back in one of my least favorite places this week - playing catch up. My enjoyment level for this project tends to be higher (in the moment at least) when I'm capturing things over the course of the week vs. looking back at the photos and trying to remember what I wanted to remember.

And this is when I remind myself that it's okay. My old standby - that one little phrase - it's sure helped me through a lot of creative lows.

Frankly my desk is overflowing and that's not my favorite either.

All that said, it's done (along with week two and three that I'll share over the next couple of days) and I'm caught up and underway again for 2013. And I still feel the love.

Here's a look at week one:

A couple things I used this week are from the Studio Calico Project Life kit from both January and February: the "hello my name is" card, the "what a lovely life" title that was cut from a journal card and attached to the palm tree photo, the "2013" button, and the small "this makes me smile" tab.

I can't tell you how much I'd like to be back in Hawaii (or anywhere there is sun) right now. It's been terribly cold and grey here.

A Crate Paper Fourteen Stitched Labels was added to the photo of me and my Mom.

This week I played around with a die cut + photo + word sticker combination. I started by cutting a Thick 3x4 Journal Cards with the Silhouette:

These Thick 3x4 Journal Cards can be printed on cardstock, added to a photo in Photoshop or cut with the Silhouette like I did here.

They are great as frames or to create homes for photos or journaling.

I layered the die cut on top of the photo and added a bunch of word stickers from October Afternoon.

Love being able to add some words to half of a photo in a 3x4 pocket.

I also love being able to write directly on my photos. I use American Crafts Precision Pens or Slick Writers for writing directly on my photos. This is a Precision Pen in .o3 (my favorite size).

The stitched heart is from Pebbles and the little chipboard geotag accents was part of the January Studio Calico main kit.

Those great gold chipboard cursive letters are Crate Paper Gold Rainboots Foil On Trend Chipboard Thicker Stickers. "Today" journal card is from the Hello Days Story Card set. Love stitching them directly onto the photo.

The "so heart this" word art can be found as part of the Heart Today set.

SUPPLIES | 2013 | WEEK ONE


Click on the images to link to the products.

































































Project Life is a product and a system and a lifestyle created by Becky Higgins. It can be anything you want it to be. The core pieces used in my album are available here. 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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40 thoughts

  1. Rosy K says…
    01/23/2013

    Love it! Thanks for the inspiration Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Chrisy Clay says…
    01/23/2013

    This is my first year doing Project Life, and l’m looking forward to sharing the year with you. Always lots of great inspiration in your posts – thanks Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Shayne says…
    01/23/2013

    Ah, love your week one! Particularly the cutout words/your die cut over an 'open space'. so going to do this!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Mallory says…
    01/23/2013

    Looks awesome! I'm playing catch up too! Love your resolution for more baths in 2013! :) Sending you warmth from sunny South Florida Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Fiona says…
    01/23/2013

    Great pages, Ali. I like the way you used half of the photo for word stickers and the overlay. The photo of you and your mom together is so sweet!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Sam Simpson says…
    01/23/2013

    Oh thank God I'm not the only one that is playing catch up ALREADY!!! My kit only arrived while I was away on hols, so it has only just been opened today. However, feeling very inspired to get stuck into it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Denise KC says…
    01/23/2013

    Ah! Love it!

    I’ll be putting mine together this week, hopefully :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Lisa W. says…
    01/23/2013

    Absolutely beautiful. Your PL is always the BEST and so inspiring, and those kiddo's ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. kelly libby says…
    01/23/2013

    New England, Boston, specifically is very cold, too! I've heard great things about getting lots of Vitamin D (supplements) for winter blahs. blues. boredom. I just keep forgetting to try...

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Karina K says…
    01/23/2013

    So happy to see your first weeks layouts! I cant wait for week 2 and 3! I feel behind after waiting for the Seafoam kit but this is exactly the inspiration I needed! Thanks Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Michelle L says…
    01/23/2013

    Love it!

    I have yet to do anything for 2013. My goad is to catch up befor ethe end of this week! I feel the same way about being behind. I love the project but I stress about it when I'm behind.

    THanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Alida says…
    01/23/2013

    Sending you greetings from sunny South Africa- Joburg probably has the best weather in the world. You should visit! Ali, I'm so excited about the combination of you and the Seafoam kit this year-think it will be awesome! I've decided to also start posting my PL, but having a hard time getting good photo's of the layouts. A lot of glare and photo's of photo's don't look sharp enough. You seem to be a pro with this too.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Alida says…
      01/24/2013

      Yeah!! I'll be looking out for it, thanks Ali!

    2. Ali says…
      01/23/2013

      Morning! I've got a post coming about that - most likely next week.

  13. ee k. says…
    01/23/2013

    Great start to the week. Glad to see I am not the only one getting started a bit late this year but getting caught up this week as well!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Kendra says…
    01/23/2013

    I'm curious. WHen you stitch the thickers right on to your photo.....does the needle go THRU the Thicker? or "around" (on either side) of it? WOuld you care to do a video demo? And are you thickers chipboard? or are they the foamy kind?
    Thanks!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      01/23/2013

      Both. I think most of the time it goes through - I use both foam and chipboard. I definitely have to force it a bit with gentle pressure to keep moving forward but it works.

  15. Patti L says…
    01/23/2013

    Nice, refreshing layout. I too would rather b in Hawaii any day of the week! I'm finding I'm not my usual organized self lately too, despite the new year...playing catch-up and clean-up as well!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Kitty Whitlow says…
    01/23/2013

    Totally inspired. Been wanting to do this for 3 years now. After seeing this I FINALLY took the plunge and placed my order. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jacenda G. says…
    01/23/2013

    Ali, you amaze me with all your creativity! Love to see your PL weeks and all your ideas. Thanks for keeping us all inspired!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Angela says…
    01/23/2013

    I look at your weekly PL layouts every week and just when I think you've done it all you do something AWESOME like you did on the journaling card furthest to the left.

    So dang creative!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Monica L. says…
    01/23/2013

    your pages are so pretty, so colorful. I need to get a Silhoutte!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Jeannie L says…
    01/23/2013

    I love the 3x4 & 4x6 frames you designed and use them often in my photos. I also love how you write and add frames on your photos but I don't like my handwriting as it's small and I don't write cursive. Would you be able to do more frame brushes with a theme on family?

    I'm also just started with PL this year. And I'm definitely looking forward to seeing yours for inspiration.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Jeannie L says…
      01/24/2013

      Well I don't have any specific phrases or words in mind right now but would love for some that are for siblings and parents, etc since I do not have kids. Thanks so much Ali.

    2. Ali says…
      01/23/2013

      Love that idea - a family theme. I can definitely do that. Are there specific words or phrases you'd really like to see?

  21. Jo-Anne says…
    01/23/2013

    Hello from South Africa! Your pages make me want to scrap until 2am:-) Your work is inspirational and you just have such a natural talent when it comes to putting everything together and awesome, creative ideas! Thank you for all your HARD work and great ideas - you make it look so easy.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. J3SS1C4 says…
    01/23/2013

    I love how this page has turned out!! I bet your trip was a blast, and everyone looks so relaxed and happy! I also like what you've done with the pic of Simon split between the 2 3x4 spots with journalling... Awesome idea!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Lynne Gillis says…
    01/23/2013

    Great beginning to the PL 2013 year! Love the seafoam kit - mine arrived last week and I have been having a great time getting the first few weeks done... totally love that you share yours - always such an inspiration!

    Quick question for you - I am an avid fan of your brushes, journaling cards, etc... but I am also a single woman without kids - and an entrepreneur (I have my own interior design business). I would love to see more frames, brushes, journaling cards, etc. that focus on "I" or "Me" instead of "we" (mostly because there isn't a "we" in my life right now!)... and I'd also love to see more words/phrases/themes around work, working for yourself, making a go of it, etc., because that's such a big part of my life.

    Couple of thoughts for words/phrases might be:

    Designing Life
    Creating my own path
    In it for the long haul
    Recalibrating, reclaiming, renewing
    It's a process
    This lights me up
    The basics of business
    Getting things done
    Taking shape
    Seeing the big picture
    Collaborating
    A vision for the future
    Taking care of business
    Work, work, work
    Measure twice, cut once
    Design is important because chaos is so hard (Jules Feiffer)
    Everything will be okay
    Gracious living
    Living the dream
    Focus
    The magic is in the details
    What's stopping you?
    Do the next right thing
    Don't stumble over what's behind you
    Obsessed with possibility
    Getting things done
    Superglue yourself to the idea of standing out
    See clearings where others see walls
    Start with what's impossible. Do the mental cha cha.
    You affect positive change
    You got this. Make it happen.
    Make tough choices
    Start fresh.
    You'll figure it out.

    (Geez... sorry for that brain dump! But I'm nothing if not an idea girl! LOL!)

    Thanks! Can hardly wait to see the additions throughout the week!

    Lynne

    Reply 4 Replies
    1. Jeannie L says…
      01/24/2013

      I would love to have this too. Thanks for the suggestion, Lynne.

    2. Ali says…
      01/23/2013

      These are awesome Lynne - I can totally make something with these.

    3. Lynne Gillis says…
      01/23/2013

      Yea! So happy! Thank you!!!

    4. Melinda says…
      08/29/2013

      Another single gal who'd love more sets that don't revolve around couples or kids.

  24. Brooke says…
    01/23/2013

    Love the inspiration thank you! Funny that reading this made me realize A) I need glasses or B) My eyes are still fuzzy from cutting onions. Hmm!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Wemdu says…
    01/24/2013

    thanks Ali as always you inspire me, Uou simply keep it REAL gotta love it.

    Reply 0 Replies

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