Week In The Life 2013 | Bringing It Together + Video Overview

AE_Spine

Today I'm sharing my completed Week In The Life album for 2013.

As I was working on bringing all the pieces together this past weekend one thing that kept coming to mind was that I like that this project can evolve. I like that there isn't a specific prescription for how it comes together or how many photos I'm supposed to take or how many words are required. I like some years there are a lot of words and some years there are less. I like that some times it can be silly and other times it can be serious.

This year I ended up with less words. I'm not sure there's a particular reason - this year I was a bit more reflective in terms of adding some perspective after the fact. I liked adding in that piece - giving myself room to look at the photos for each day and see what thoughts and words came to mind vs. focusing on the facts of the day. I did include my Daily Sheets at the end of my album but even those are missing big chunks of time.

And it's okay.

You're album will likely look different than mine. You might have many more words or many more photos or less of either. And that's okay too. We are all in different places in our lives, facing different challenges and celebrating different joys. And we get to choose the way we document and visually present our memories.

Here's my process for bringing this together:


  1. Print out the pages I created using the layered template set.

  2. Cut up the smaller photos to go into the divided page protector pockets.

  3. Create three different sets of cards for some very simple journaling: (1) The truth of my day. (2) Note to self. (3) I'm thankful for...(used this one on Thursday through Sunday). I had already created a set of cards that paired pattern transparency with some of my circle stamps - check that out here. I almost always like having some sort of repetition like this in my album.

  4. Add embellishments throughout the album. I added a chipboard element to the first page of each spread above the "this is our life" or "this is my life" title. I added a strip of this word pattern paper from Carta Bella to each spread.

  5. Add some words to those journal cards. I asked myself what do I really want to remember about this time in our lives/my life? Some of it might be hard. This gets back to the question, "what is the truth of my life right now?"

  6. Create an end page.

  7. Add my Daily Sheets in a page protector at the end of the album.


After finishing it all up I filmed a video overview to show you some of the details of this album:

VIDEO OVERVIEW


This 13-minute video walks you through each spread in my Week In The Life album. Below you will find photos with some additional information (most of which is talked about in the video).

NOTE | I had a really hard time getting these spreads photographed. My 24-70 lens is at Canon being fixed and I only have the 50mm which really wants to focus on one spot vs. the whole spread. Hopefully these shots + the video will give you a good sense of what it actually looks like in real life.

Here's a look at each day:

AE_WITL2013_Title

TITLE PAGE | Cut Out Accents Printed Chipboard Cut & Paste Amy Tangerine Thickers (remember chipboard) + Studio Calico Gold Glitter Star + Words Carta Bella 12x12 Paper

AE_WITL2013_MonSpread

AE_WITL2013_Mon2

For each day of the week spread I included a 9-pocket, 8.5x11 divided page protector. I decided to cut the pockets for each day based on the amount of content I wanted to add. You can just lay a page protector on your trimmer and cut off a portion.

AE_DailyTruth

Each day I included a "daily truth" card (these are close to 3.5 x 2.75).

Teresa Collins Noted 12X12 Family Stories Paper  + Cut Out Accents Printed Chipboard Cut & Paste Amy Tangerine Thickers (star) + "daily truth" using the Remington Noiseless font.

AE_WITL2013_TuesSpread

AE_WITL2013_Tue2

Each day I also included a "note to self" journal card that you can see at the bottom of the first page. I used pattern paper from the Pink Paislee Color Wash 12x12 Paper Pad.

AE_WITL2013_WedSpread

AE_WITL2013_Wed2

AE_WITL2013_ThursSpread

AE_WITL2013_Thu2

For Thursday through Sunday I cut the divided page protector down to 3 pockets (6 total - three on the front and three on the back).

AE_tags

I used tags from Little Yellow Bicycle (Little Yellow Bicycle White Canvas Tags and Little Yellow Bicycle - Naturals Collection - Cork Shapes - Tags) as the base and then stitched pattern paper to the top. On these cards I journaled things I was thankful for each day.

AE_WITL2013_FriSpread

AE_WITL2013_Fri2

AE_WITL2013_SatSpread

AE_WITL2013_Sat2

AE_WITL2013_SundaySpread

AE_WITL2013_Sun2

AE_WITL2013_EndPage

For the last page of my album I used word art from the What Life Looks Like set (also included in the layered templates) and cut a chipboard ampersand from the Cut Out Accents Printed Chipboard Cut & Paste Amy Tangerine Thickers.

AE_Spine

SPINE DOWNLOAD | You can download the PNG/JPG/PSD file for the spine here: AE_WITL2013_Spine

WEEK IN THE LIFE 2013 ALBUM SUPPLIES


Click on the images to link to the products.




































































































SHARE YOUR WEEK IN THE LIFE ALBUM


I'd love to have you include a link to your 2013 ALBUM PAGES here. Please link directly to your post vs. your general blog link. Thank you!

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49 thoughts

  1. Bambou Orchidee says…
    10/07/2013

    I love it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Sue P, says…
    10/07/2013

    Each year gets better and better-so love it!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Jo says…
    10/07/2013

    I LOVE it. Your album is beautiful and I actually like that you haven't written lots. Thank you for sharing, I'm inspired to get mine finished.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Katie says…
    10/07/2013

    Been waiting for you to finish so I can see how it all fits together. Thanks so much, this is so inspiring to get mine done! :D

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. soozee says…
    10/07/2013

    Hi Ali
    love your finished album. Just wondered...... you seem to have included quite a few products from other designers. Is there a reason for not using your own products, digital and stamps ( apart from the layered templates) xx

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      10/07/2013

      I've always loved using products that other people create alongside my own :). Many of them are friends or people I admire or things I just like the look of and I like supporting our industry in this way.

  6. Natalie @ ArchitectMAMA says…
    10/07/2013

    I love how you included those small, special cards of gratitude. Love that cover photo with the kids and of course, the Wednesday/Thursday pics of you Anna are hilarious. Such an inspiration project!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Jo-Anne from ZA says…
    10/07/2013

    Wow Ali, really enjoyed reading your process! It is really informative and of course your album looks magnificant:-) Just wish i could find a gap in my day to finish mine:-(

    THANK YOU for the download for the spine - will definately be using it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. dawny dee says…
    10/07/2013

    so impressed with the balancing act you do with keeping details private but sharing the real nitty gritty truth of your life. the feelings you have are so natural and real and so many of us are in similar situations. instead of wallowing you are able to share discreetly and in such an authentic way. its when the path is uneasy that you see people's true nature and its clear you are giving and thoughtful and kind through and through. when you come out the other side i am so sure you will benefit from your approach. thank you for being such an inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Hannahk says…
    10/07/2013

    Love the end page ... Sums it up beautifully

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Mary Rogers says…
    10/07/2013

    really enjoyed the video Ali - love watching your process.

    One question about the 9 pocket protectors - when you cut them down to the size you want for your day, do you do anything else? or when you cut it, it still keeps the solid seam?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      10/07/2013

      I just cut along the outside edge of the seam. I usually leave about 1/4 or 1/8 inch along the edge.

  11. Claudia from Germany says…
    10/07/2013

    So fantastic Ali! I finished my Album yesterday and I LOVED working on it.Thanks for your inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. lucy valles orta says…
    10/07/2013

    Just woke up here in sunny Glendale, Arizona. Having my first cup of coffee and watching this wonderful video. Oh, what great inspiration. Some of these are new products to me....like the transparencies. I belong to studio AE so just pulled out my daily photo stamps. I'm so excited. I really need to learn the digital stuff. I'm going to price digital programs like Photoshop today. I know I have a very old version somewhere that I was given for free about five years ago. Love your stuff. I'm always searching for your videos. Your work is different than many others. You keep it simple, don't overdo the embellishments. You embellish in a way that keeps the photo front and center. I look at your photo first and then say, wow, this is so pretty. Your album is awesome. Please let us know if you are ever in the Phoenix area.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Peggy says…
    10/07/2013

    Just wondered.....when you cut the 9 sectioned page protectors apart you mentioned in a prior question that you cut them leaving about a 1/8 to 1/4 edge. Is that so you can use the tabs on the egdes and still get into the pockets to pull out the photo or journaling that's in that pocket? I am just wondering if you don't put the tab way down?? Or do you leave the tabs up off of the seam of the pocket pages? Not sure if I am making this question clear or not. I guess what I am saying in the video you pulled out a journal card and there was a clear tab on the side and I am just wondering how you got the journal card out if you put the clear tab tight to the page protector that you cut. Hmmm.....THANKS!!! LOVE YOUR WORK & YOUR IDEAS!!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      10/07/2013

      Hi Peggy - I make a slit in the adhesive part of the tab to be able to have the pocket completely open (just far enough to keep the pocket open).

  14. MarinaV. says…
    10/07/2013

    Love it! Very inspirational!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. andrea says…
    10/07/2013

    Love your album.
    Just a quick (and silly) question. Those cards where you underline your words, do you draw the lines first, or do you write the text first?
    thanks for the video. It's so different than just the pictures.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Anita J. says…
    10/07/2013

    You are sooooo good at what you do ... and such an inspiration! You make it make sense. You make it seem possible. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. cindy b. says…
    10/07/2013

    AWESOME stuff Ali. Looking at this makes me wanna do my own Week in the Life but I can't keep up with anything these days... :(

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. susan garner says…
    10/07/2013

    Once again you knocked the ball out of the ball park. Your right about less writing this year I see a lot more pics. That's how I do it. Pics mean a thousand words to me. great job Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Kristin A. says…
    10/07/2013

    Ali, it is gorgeous as always! I was curious how you were going to pull it together with fewer words + pictures and it looks stunning as usual. I have tons of both, but definitely agree with you that including a bit of introspection and reflection into the the daily goings on is a great thing, and something I try to be aware of. Being real without sharing too much is something I am going to be navigating as I pull mine together. I appreciate the way you have modeled that for us. We can name our feeling and be real about the place we are without giving too many details.

    Love the look with the index tabs. I've seen you use them here and there before and was planning on using them for the first time in this project. Love how you used a date stamp on them and am definitely going to "borrow" that idea.

    Thank you for sharing your ideas with us. This project is my favorite and is one I treasure so much. Looking back on my WITL over the years (this is my 4th) is such a sweet blessing to me. Thank you again!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Abby says…
    10/07/2013

    Great album -- no surprise there! :D

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Kristina in Oz says…
    10/07/2013

    Hey Ali, this is my second year of doing it and I love it. I have been a little apprehensive to finish thinking I haven't got enough photos. I had enough for both the right and left side templates and they look great but not enough (I thought) to add extras in some pockets everyday. Then you shared this. Perfect. Can't wait for my pics to arrive so I can put it together. Thanks for your honesty and inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Jennifer K says…
    10/07/2013

    Awesome. Thanks for sharing yours with us!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Amber L says…
    10/07/2013

    Just a quick question... When you print at home, what kind of paper do you use? When I've printed, my paper quality must not be good, the picture then sticks to the page protector. Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Fanny says…
    10/07/2013

    Thanks Ali!! This is so good! The album is beautiful!
    This is the 4th year I do this project alongside you and it is my favorite! Thanks for the inspiration!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Tammy says…
    10/07/2013

    Simply amazing in every aspect from the reflectiveness to the gentle progression of your life with all the intimate details of change. Thanks for sharing your journey and modeling resiliency with such class! Your inspirational visual journey has been a true gift. May you continue to be blessed with P E A C E along with the courage and exceptional artistry.

    Reply 0 Replies

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