Project Life 2011 | Week Fifty-Two
Welcome to Project Life 2011 | Week Fifty-Two.
52 weeks of photos and stories recorded.
I think the coolest part is that I'm totally jazzed up to keep going vs. feeling project fatigue. It's become so much a part of my lifestyle and routine and it makes me so happy.
I'm also so excited that so many of you are embarking on this project this year. You can totally do this. Make it work for you.
In case you missed it, I posted my 2012 Title Page and some general reflections and thoughts on my process the other day - you can check it out here.
Here's a look at the final week of 2011:
We spent most of last week at my parents house on the coast. It was a great way to ring in the new year.
I like that those Smash pad papers fit right into the pockets.
One 6x12 divided insert this week:
I've loved having this size page protector in my stash of supplies this past year. It's perfect for week's when I have extra photos because I personally like having smaller sized inserts - either width or height - vs. including additional full pages.
Along the edge of the 6x12 insert I added an Avery Self-Adhesive Index Tab.
A few simple stickers added to some of the photos - this was pretty common for me throughout the year.
I made the Happy New Year card with the Silhouette using my Happy New Year digital package. That set is just words so here's a look at how I made it into a card (basically using the words as a "knock out" on the card):
- Open Silhouette Studio.
- File/Open and navigate to the spot on your computer where you downloaded and unzipped the Happy New Year set.
- Click on the word art. Resize to about 2.9 inches wide.
- Go to Object/Trace (this will bring up a menu along the right). Click on "Select Trace Area" and drag a box around the word art.
- In the box titled " Apply Trace Method" click Trace.
- Click on the original word art (black) and delete. You should see the red cut lines of the word art.
- Click the red lined word art. Go to Object/Release Compound Path. Click on any tiny little areas you see that will cut areas out of the text (when I did I removed a bit of extra from inside the "n" and the "e").
- Select all the pieces (I just click and drag to catch them all) and go to Object/Make Compound Path (this brings all the pieces back together again).
- From the menu on the left, click on the rounded corner rectangle and draw a 2.9 inch x 3.9 inch (or so) box. If you are using new Project Life supplies most likely your cards will be 3x4 (the set from this past year were just a bit smaller).
- Use the red-line rounded corner box to frame the word art.
- Send to Silhouette to cut.
You can see a tutorial where I walk through the basics of tracing my text files here.
And that's it! My plan is to continue posting weekly throughout 2012.
I also wanted to mention that I enjoyed this post from Jenny Meyerson that included her reflections from Project Life in 2011. I especially liked this part:
"Since I started Project Life only 7 months ago, it has gone from being big to being enormously popular. Every scrapbook designer is jumping on the bandwagon and that is great. I love the inspiration. But I have now had a 3rd email sent to me within a week from people saying they are so overwhelmed that they are reconsidering Project Life. I understand and the amount of inspiration can be creatively stimulating or can strangle you with envy, if you allow it. Keep in mind your reason for wanting to do Project Life in the first place. If it is to tell your story in a simple way then Project Life is for you. If you like to add pretty stickers, stitch, play with polaroids, then Project Life is for you too. In other words, make it your own and don’t give a rats patootie what anyone else is doing. Enjoy their work and then get back to your own business at hand, which is to live life to the fullest and tell your story. Adopt my new mantra: I do not have to be perfect to have something to offer."
Yes.
SUPPLIES | WEEK 52
Click on the images to link to the products.
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Project Life is a product and a system created by Becky Higgins. It can be anything you want it to be. The 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.
I also wanted to share this great image that Annie sent me of journal cards she's making for Project Life. She took a bunch of my digital brushes and printed them out onto clear Avery Mailing labels before adhering them onto the cards and tags. It's great timing as there's a brushes sale happening at Designer Digitals - 30% off brushes and stamps - ending at 6am EST on Saturday morning, January 7th.
The sets she used here include:
More information about working with digital elements can be found on my Getting Started With Digital Scrapbooking page.
awesome! thanks for all the inspiration these last 52 weeks, ali! i'm excited to do this project this year and i'm looking forward to your continued inspiration along the way :)
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Ali do you pre design your pages for the entire year? I was thinking of doing that but not sure if it will help or hurt the color scheme as I put photos in. Any advice??
(first time PL user)
Hi Michelle - I did not. The only thing I put in were the 4x6 cards that listed each week (appear on the top left corner). I didn't think about color scheme at all with this project - just stuck things in as I went along and let it be a colorful collection of photos and words and stuff.
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Hi Ali, question - what pens do use to write directly on the photos?
I like the American Crafts Precision Pens for writing on my photos (they are included in the supply images above).
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Hi Ali,
So I was trying to gather all my supplies for PL and I didn't buy the kit so I was planning to buy the dividers but the design A protectors are currently unavailable...which would be the second "best" you'd recommend? Design A looks very simple and neat...to bad they're out of stock :(
Thanks for the idea...never clicked on me, but you're right! page dividers with pockets for 4x6 actually look almost like those design A pages...Ha you can tell I'm new to scrapbooking lol!!
I'm in that same situation and I've got some 12x12 pages that hold six horizontal 4x6s. I just tuck two journaling cards in each of the middle row pockets and once I get the design A pages, I'll swap them out. Hope this helps you! :)
I think it's really up to you - I haven't worked with any of the others (and I take almost all horizontal photos). I'd probably go with D.
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I've enjoyed so much looking at your 2011 Project Life album. I came into the game a bit late (October) but every morning and afternoon while the baby is eating, I looked at each week on my iPad. I've loved this little ritual for myself. :) I'm just wondering if there's a place we could all share our PL for 2012, like we did with December Daily.
There's a free community over at Big Picture with a gallery: http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/projectlife.php
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my second comment/question for you on this post! Just wondering if you went back to that time your were in Italy and added in pictures from your trip? Are you making a separate book for you Italy pics? I am going on vacation, while the kids stay home w/ babysitter/grandma and trying to figure out my approach on it in terms of PL. I love that your mom and sitter helped document for you. I am hoping I can get my helpers to do the same. But I just am not sure what I want to do w/ my vacation photos in terms of PL. I would love to see your Italy scrapbook :)
I didn't. I'm planning something else for that - a scrapbook on the road/album. I'm okay with that :). As soon as I get it done I'll be sharing it here.
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Loved Jenny Meyerson's words: "In other words, make it your own and don’t give a rat's patootie what anyone else is doing. Enjoy their work and then get back to your own business at hand, which is to live life to the fullest and tell your story. Adopt my new mantra: I do not have to be perfect to have something to offer.” That went right along with a post by Nathalie Hardy that Becky Higgins shared on her blog today. In part, she said, "Luckily I realized there has got to be a better way to live this one, short, precious life than by going around counting the ways I suck."
Powerful words and ones I needed to read to remind me that my work has value because it's MINE and not to beat myself up because my pages don't look as "good" as someone else's. Thanks, Ali!
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thanks for sharing Jenny's note. her line "...the amount of inspiration can be creatively stimulating or can strangle you with envy, if you allow it." is SO TRUE, not just about project life. this year i didn't scrapbook much at all because of all the inspiration left me feeling a little overwhealmed and inadequate. this year i'm working on not "allowing it" and i'm going to print that one up to remind myself.
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I started PL in 2011 but got caught up in on going earthquakes where we lived, moving, and focusing on making sure I took a photo everyday! The album sits, unfinshed in my room.
Today, with a new focus - looking at our lives, I went out and got most of my supplies. I've managed to start the title page, and have a great selection of photos taken over the week to include. I have even managed to put some receipts and notes in the pockets for week one! Thanks for your ideas and inspiration.
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ali - i know that you hear/read this all of the time but you really are inspiring. these books truly will be a treasure for Simon and Anna. And Simon…you truly are raising him with a wonderful and caring heart!
oh…and I 'm totally jealous about the crab you all ate! Love me some crab:)
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Ali-I am now starting on my 4th PL. At the start of 2010 I lost my husband of 45 years in a tragic accident. I knew that I couldn't go on with my album as it felt like my life had stopped. I found myself up at night and started to work on it again. It helped me to move forward and find the joy in life again. I am so glad I finished the album to the end and it is now a cherished part of our lives. Thank you for your inspiration and there are now 3 of us in the family doing PL!~
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Love hearing that it didn't burn you out. :) I'm excited to get mine started, I just finished my title page today. So happy!
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I've been eying those Smash Pads and wondering if they would fit. So glad to see they do! I can't wait to play with them. I'm super excited about continuing Project Life into 2012 too. Thanks for all your inspiration. It keeps me going even when I fall behind. :)
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Like the additional post you included from Jenny Meyerson...to anyone considering Project Life...DO IT! I did not do it in 2010 because I thought there was no way I could "keep up" a weekly format. Scratch that. I knew better in 2011. I ended up with a two-volume set that I am SO THANKFUL that I have. The most photos printed, stories told and snippets of conversations and funny things overheard...all recorded. Some months have more entries than others and that's okay. Keeping the journaling cards and book handy in a location where you SEE IT and where it's accessible is so key. Loved all your inspiration throughout the year, Ali. I look forward to following along again this year.
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Just wanted to day a quick thanks - I have seen you use the self-adhesive tabs before, and decided after seeing this layout, that I want to use them in my 2012 PL album. (I have noticed that when others flip through my book, they don't notice the 6x12 divided protectors until they turn the larger page - if they notice them at all!) Anyway - looked for these at Staples, looked on Amazon, and couldn't find them. Came back here to take another look, found your link, and I will have the tabs on Wednesday. Thanks, Ali, for making life a little easier. :)
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Hey Ali! I was wondering if the large pockets are 4x6? And what are the smaller card slots sizes?Thanks!!!!
Yes, 4x6. The smaller pockets are 3x4 (or just a bit smaller).
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Hi Ali! Wondering where you get your jounaling stickers that you put on your pictures that you hand write in? Love those! Thanks
Hi Tammy - they come from a variety of sources. I try to link them when possible - some are from October Afternoon, Studio Calico, 7gypsies, etc. I usually order from twopeasinabucket.com or scrapbook.com. If you look back at previous weeks there are some journal/label stickers included in the supply lists.
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I am so excited. The simple format of “project Life” will help me get caught up on all the years I haven’t scrapbooked. And there are many. One big question for starters. Will the plastic insert sheets fit in any standard size binder? Or do I need to specifically use the project life binders. Thanks so much for helping me get started. Ali,you are such a creative inspiration. Thanks for everything you do.
Hi Eydie - I'm using 12x12 We R Memory Keeper albums that are not specific to Project Life.
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I came, I read this article, I codunereq.
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