Catching Up On Project Life

Earlier this week I posted the image above on my facebook page with the following message:

"Lots of holes to fill in #projectlife. Only 3 weeks behind."

I found that lots of you are in a similar place and many others are trucking right along.

As of this moment I'm still three weeks behind as this week proved to be a crazy combination of other projects being due, middle school tours, meetings, taxes and other stuff of life that kept getting in the way (you know, sleeping, eating, etc).

I loved this comment from Kelly Libby and totally thought it was worth posting:

"My new plan for Project life is to "not fall behind". If I miss a week, then I miss a week. If I miss 2 weeks, then I miss two weeks and just start up again when I can in the week I am in. A week here. A week there. Vacations in the mix. I'd rather document this way than feel SO much pressure to keep up AND be creative."

Even though I still want to approach mine weekly and will be taking time this weekend when the kids are with Chris to play catch-up, I think this is such an awesome freeing approach and totally makes sense for so many people.

Do you have a strategy for catching up?

I've got a few things stuck in pockets. My plan of attack is to open Aperture (my photo management program) and start printing photos. I may add more text directly to photos for these last couple of weeks as that's an easy way to get the story down. Planning to share updates next week.

Can you believe we are already 1/2 way through March?

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84 thoughts

  1. alida says…
    03/15/2013

    No pressure - way to go, because this blog is so much more than just sharing a finished product. And let me just say that that little bit happening on that page is already oozing with awesomeness.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Maureen says…
    03/15/2013

    The first year I did Project Life, I did a photo a day and stressed all year about getting a photo a day. Although I love the end result of those 3 albums, it was a stressful project. The 2nd year I did it (last year), I focused not so much on making sure I had a photo for each day but rather a little bit of writing for each day. This also proved to be stressful because honestly, some days are so normal that there isn't much of a story to tell. So this year, I have decided to just go with the flow. I am not stressing about getting a photo a day and I have changed the daily writing into a weekly summary. On some of the pictures I add a little extra text about that photo specifically. I am not stressing if I get a little behind or don't have enough photos to fill the week. That week just gets combined with the next week. After 2 years of doing this kind of scrapbook, it has finally dawned on me that the point of the project is do get "something" about our lives into the scrapbook and what works for one person may not work for the next. The important thing is, I am getting it done in my own way that works for my husband and I. And so far, this years book is turning out great!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Emilie says…
    03/15/2013

    I like the no stress. I'm 2.5 weeks behind.. I'm currently doing a week in the life... But no stress.. I do what i can do.. Don't want to make it a chore because that's not fun..

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. ChrisyC says…
    03/15/2013

    Ha ! So glad to hear other people have missing weeks from their albums. I'm really committed to the project, but we are having some major family issues which means my free time is minimal. I’m three weeks behind, but do plan on completing them.
    My strategy is to do some really thorough note keeping, then pull out the embellishments l want to use and eventually get to printing the photos and putting the journaling down. I’m sure it will come together.
    I’m also concentrating on working on the current week first.
    We’ll see how that goes for now :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Laura Moegenburg says…
    03/15/2013

    I am purposely behind - have scrapbook retreats the next two weekends and since I no longer do traditional scrapbooking I have to "save up" PL. I don't know which is worse falling behind or being intentionally behind - catching up always seems like a chore. I also feel I am going to forget something really important.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. elisa says…
    03/15/2013

    i capture my PL by month, so i never miss a week. some weeks i have more to say than others, but i always have some spreads to capture the month. it's less stressful for me and gives me more options to put my pages together from the month. it's supposed to be fun, right?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Kathy L says…
      03/17/2013

      I am with you Elisa, much less stressful for me.

  7. Amanda Susan says…
    03/15/2013

    I'm about 2 months behind right now. I do have some photos and journaling done for those 2 months but they're not complete. In the past when I've been this behind I may end up doing 2 weeks in one spread. I can ususally find 6 pictures to fill those spots and there may not be a lot of journaling. Those weeks are probably really representative of my life though. That means not a lot went on. I went to work, I came home and I sleep. That's most days for me.

    I work out of my home so I always have journaling cards with me that way if I have some free time I'll jot a few things down and just put them in my album when I get home. I've caught up on a few weeks this way.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Becky says…
    03/15/2013

    I'm always catching up, but I haven't been overly bothered by it yet this year! I found one of the best things to keep me 'on track' is by sketching out a layout and writing down the pictures that I should print and put in those pockets. It's great because I can do it quickly during my lunch break at work and when I do get to scraping I already have most of my thoughts organized!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Elisabete says…
      03/20/2013

      I'm behind too but as you I love the layout sketches and I'm up to date on those. On the back of the sketches I write all the journaling for the week. Now I just need time to print the pictures and sit down and start finishing those pages:) I feel I'm not as behind this way and a little more organized.

  9. Susan Anderson says…
    03/15/2013

    When I get behind I'll combine weeks and put a journal card in with something along the lines of life's been hectic - two weeks together this week. Life is hectic and PL is the perfect place to share that.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Lisa W. says…
    03/15/2013

    My ultimate goal THIS year was to keep up. Last year I had ordered a kit, never started, was going to in June when my last baby graduated and was off to college. Did NOT happen. So I was more than ready to dive back in for 2013. I have kept up daily until now. I too am about two weeks behind. Thank you for this post, as it has made me feel relieved a bit. I too Ali really like the weekly post, and always usually have a picture a day. There are many times I do NOT have a picture a day, but somedays I may have two or three. I have learned that it is ok to make them all work for the week. Much less pressure that way. AND I will follow through and catch up. There is just something about this project life that really makes me feel "good" and just more "complete" when I do it. Good stuff:) Because it really is about the little things in life that are really the BIG things. Happy Weekend!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Sue says…
    03/15/2013

    This is my first time and I am loving it. I have looked at others and compared by work ( oh boy-I am not that creative!) BUT.. I still love, love, love it. I am approaching as taking pictures ( probably too many- but I don't care!) that show the highlights and many ordianary parts of the week. I journal my thoughts and then let it go. I almost feel it a yearly-Week in MY Life but that is OK too. I am not the best journaler but hopefully this will improve! It is what it is and I am who I am that that is fine!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Georgia D. says…
      03/28/2013

      I get stressed when I look at everyone else's PL albums. they are creative and embellished. I need to keep it to the basics so I don't get so behind that I give up:-)

  12. Jil says…
    03/15/2013

    The strategy that's working well for me this year is to make a spread cover more than one week when that will help me catch up. Usually my spreads are one week, but sometimes I let the same amount of space summarize a week and half or two weeks. So my card doesn't say "week 3" but gives the inclusive dates instead. Then I get back on track with my weekly approach. I love this project, and it's definitely always been about stress-relief for me, not stress itself!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      03/15/2013

      Love this.

  13. Angie says…
    03/15/2013

    I have two weeks documented of 2013. I'm eight weeks behind. I've taken pictures and collected things and try to write something in my calendar about what we've been doing each day. I intend to follow this pattern for another week. I'm going to print off all pics before a very long drive for Spring break and work on it in the car on my lap while hubs drives. When we get back from break I will be caught up. Voila!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Anne-Marie says…
    03/15/2013

    Ok, so I know that I am not going to stay current. Here is my system. I keep a notepad on my desk during the week. I jot down the days of the week. Each day, I try to write down something from the day and the photo I took. I have an accordian folder. I put any memorabelia and my paper from the week, into a slot in the folder. That way, when I have time, my notes, memorabelia and photos are ready to go. When I have time, I work on it. When I'm too busy, I know it is organzied and ready when I am. It works for me and reminds me of how many great times we have!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Yolanda D says…
      03/15/2013

      Great method!

  15. Annette says…
    03/15/2013

    this year I set mine up by month, so I have a few places for a monthly overview or a place to "dig deep" and tell deeper stories; then "weekly" within the month. These can be a true 7 day week or it might be two weeks, 10 days, whatever works--kind of like Jill's approach. I'm using Collect on my iphone and was keeping up when I was printing at home. I'm trying to save some time by sending them out to print, but it's getting me behind and it is tough to catch up. I have most of February done, and the beginnings of March in the mail. I loved it when I kept up better because I felt my story telling was fresher and it was just the best feeling. Not sure if I will continue to send them out, maybe spending an hour on Sunday would be better cropping and printing would be worth it. Oh, and I also do write a quick note or something my daughter did/says on a calendar each night. Hope you can get some time this weekend!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Cindy Koning says…
      03/15/2013

      I use collect as well and try to edit all my pictures on my phone. That way I can do them waiting for th bus, in the train to work or just on teh couch watching tv. I use instagram, pictapgo, over (for text over the picture, I really love that one) & afterglow.
      I then print all the pictures at once, which saves a lot of time for me.
      Whenever I have a little time, I also fill pageprotectors with cards in color skemes I like for weeks to come. Also something you can do while watching tv :) Then when I have that weeks pictures, I see what colors fit and I am half way!

  16. Lori P. says…
    03/15/2013

    STRESS! What stress! I am right there with you and "trying" NOT to stress! I know that I have open areas in my album also and some are bigger than others. Here are some of my cheat notes: What I have been doing with some is to add just general pictures. I snap a couple extra pictures each week (like the outside of the house and it's weather, the mail box, laundry piled, etc.) so in case I do miss a day here or there I can use them. I shouldn't feel stressed that the picture does not HAVE to be taken that day. I have also started collecting and cutting right away (3x4 size mainly) are little snippets of boxes, ad's or to go cups (like the outside of our favorite crackers, cereal, pop tarts, and maybe your favorite chocolate bar wrapper, etc.). They work great for fillers too!
    I do not print my pictures at home, so I have found the lil post-it-notes are handy for me to jot down what picture goes in this spot or what story should go here. Then when I need to play catch up, it helps me to remember more. Looking at ALL the pictures from years back, I know I will "never" be caught up, so it helps my shoulders relax a little. Just a little!

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Ali says…
      03/15/2013

      Love the reminder about the "stuff of life" like the cereal boxes and such. I've included more of those in the past.

    2. Donna B says…
      03/15/2013

      I do the same thing! Just added a pop-tart carton last week because my daughter is crazy for pop-tarts right now!

  17. Traci Brookes says…
    03/15/2013

    i had shoulder surgery 3 weeks ago on my dominant side/hand-aka rightie. i cannot use my hand to write or type; but i have figured out how to take photos with my left hand. i am obviously behind; but i have taken photos, printed them out, have journal cards picked, have quotes on my twitter account and notes typed so when i can use my hand/arm even just a little, i am ready to go. I am also using this time to figure out how to use my computer more to add text to photos and to journal on a project life card. (i really am a hand written type of girl).

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Joanne M. says…
    03/15/2013

    I use PL in its simplest form -- I do not add embellishments or do any super-creative things -- I just print out my photos and add journaling and filler cards. Done. This helps me from getting over stressed. I also go month by month rather than weekly. Some months have more spreads than others, which is just fine with me. My big picture goal is to have a simple documentation of my family over a year's time. I end up with only one album (which for me is my goal) and I have been doing it this way for a few years. It's what works best for me and still gives me time to do more creative layouts and scrapbook mini books for my other albums.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Linda says…
    03/15/2013

    I try to work on my pages DURING the week, instead of after. I find that works so much better for timeliness, because I don't always have a ton of time to sit down and crank out an entire page. I keep a notebook w/ a sketch of a layout & make notes throughout the week about photos I want to print + I fill out a journaling card in the evening on days I really want to make sure to include. Then, as I have time I will go back & print photos/add embellishments.

    If I get "behind" I don't stress, I just work on multiple weeks at a time...print all photos at once, embellish cards side by side for different layouts, until they get filled. My album ends up having gaps/cards here & there until the week becomes complete.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      03/15/2013

      During the week is totally my preference too.

  20. Carrie says…
    03/15/2013

    after my wedding last august which took up about half an album in project life i did one spread each for september, october, and november, a couple spreads for december focusing more on a pocket a day than a spread a week and then started up weekly again in january.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Lizzie says…
    03/15/2013

    I still have 2 weeks of 2012 to finish and nothing done for 2013. However, I have lots of photos and memorbilia and I know I'll get caught up--currently it's all sitting on my dining table waiting for me ;).

    I was planning to just fill it in when I got to it but I think I like the idea of doing monthly spreads--we'll see when I get that far;)

    The good news is that I already have the Project Life for baby album set up and ready to go and I'm not due til July ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Paula says…
    03/15/2013

    I like the "post it" approach - I use a small post it over a page protector pocket with a note on what I want to put there. Sometimes I may actually journal a sentence or two on that page, sometimes I jot "write about..." I may actually write on a post it what embellishment I want to use or which card from my kit to stick or photo to stick in the pocket.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Jen D says…
    03/15/2013

    I've realized this year that my approach (to not fall behind - which I am already by 2 weeks) is to just pick the photos and add text directly onto them in Photoshop. I've also been using pre-made journal cards & fillers that goes with the flow of my PL album that it makes it easier to add the photo directly onto them. Print, cut & insert. Done.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Karina K says…
    03/15/2013

    I was pretty proud of myself last year for the most part completing each week by that Sunday (until September I was at 90%). But I knew this year would be much harder since life is much busier. Right now I'm about two and half weeks behind, one week has all the pictures but not the journaling.

    I bought a planner from the Crate and Barrel Outlet that has two pages for each week and I use it more as my journal than a planner. This has helped me immensely with catching up on Journaling for the weeks I am behind. I end up taking snippets from each day and sometimes I will write out the whole weeks worth of on a 5 1/2x8 1/2 page. Without this journal/planner I would only be able to think of journaling based on the pictures.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Donna B says…
      03/15/2013

      Love the idea of using a planner for a journal! Great idea!

  25. Suz says…
    03/15/2013

    I pretty much do what Kelly Libby mentioned. There are some other great ideas in your comments too which I may just employ when/if I get behind again. TFS Ali (and others)!
    Take care you.

    Reply 0 Replies

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