Making Memories. Choosing Joy.

Erin Condren Giveaway

If you are interested in a $25 Erin Condren gift card, Meghan from In this Wonderful Life is hosting a giveaway thru Sunday. I referred to my planner in yesterday's post. I have to say, even as much as I love technology, I love having this planner even more. At heart, I'm still a "list" girl ;o)

Project Life 2012 :::Week One:::

I'm excited to share with you Week One of 2012! I definitely liked doing a "weekly" layout verses a picture-a-day + journaling. I am using Becky Higgin's Project Life Cobalt Kit, along with Design A (for the most part) page protectors and We R Memory Keepers album.

For this week I decided to see how I liked the look of a white border around my photos. I liked it and it was easy enough to print from iPhoto. I also used a journaling card from Paislee Press. I changed the color and word, and it was simple enough that I will definitely use again. Left Side:

First Insert: I decided to make a copy of my Erin Condren planner to give an overview of the month. Not sure if I will keep it...more than likely I'll decide at the end of the month if it is something I will continue to add.

Basketball games started for the boys this week, so I put an insert of my favorite photo from their games and stitched the protector to size (Digital brush can be found here):

And the other side (Digital brush can be found here):

I used Ali Edward's new 6x12 template for my next insert. It tells the story of sharing my Project Life + School Kit last week. 

Other side is the email I received from Becky, along with a photo from 2005 that I had of myself with Becky and Ali.

And the last page. I used a journaling card template from Cathy Zielske and highlighted each family member's week. I liked doing that and it was easy to write 2 or 3 sentences for each person. I also used another journaling card from Paislee Press.

It feels good to have the week done. I spent way too much time messing around with it, but I'm happy with the results. I know each week won't be as intensive!

I'll be sharing what I've done with the Becky Higgin's protectors and my Christmas album in the next few days.

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Project Life + School Kit = Solution! (Updated at the bottom)

Becky Higgins' blog post today really hit home with me and gave me the incentive I needed to finally get this post written. I'm excited about it because I finally found something that worked for ME and I hope it gives someone else out there the inspiration they are looking for!

Confession: I haven't done much scrapbooking or preserving family memories in recent years...I just couldn't decide on a "system" that I wanted to use and so I did nothing, or very little. UNTIL Project Life entered my world last year. What started out as a "I like the idea of this, lets see if I will actually complete it" (yes, I did!) began all kinds of ideas on how I could use these products in other ways. Namely, how could I incorporate this into albums for my boys?

Years ago I purchased Becky's School Kits and Add-Ons (yea me!) but never did more than get their school photo on the page (boo me!). I could never decide exactly how I wanted the albums set up. I knew I liked Stacy Julian's "School of Life" idea. I liked Cathy Zielske's school templates (but then my school kits would go to waste). My mind kept churning.

Enter Project Life + School Kits + School of Life idea = My solution.

The beginning of the school year starts with the awesome page divider (cannot wait until these are back in stock!) and school photo (paper from Becky's original school kit, no longer available).

The next page I save until the end of the school year and put my favorite school paper in from the year. This particular one just slides in/out so the whole story can be read:

(Private information has been blurred out). I added his name tag because after his name, he wrote "rocks!" I loved having this!

Next is a 6x12 of the first day of school:

And the last day of school on the other side:

His class picture comes next:

And on the other side another favorite school paper:

From here I started adding in photos from the particular school year where they fit best - in no particular order (although anyone that knows me, knows that I had to try to put them somewhat in order of date!). This first page, top left always contains the school year information (elements are again from the school kit). And I also kept this the same throughout the album...I decided I didn't need to come up with something new for each year and I like the uniformity it creates:

I like this format because it allows me to use photos I wouldn't have necessarily made a scrapbook layout aboout; friends, school trips, school projects, important things from his year, etc. 

I also keep their grade cards in this section and add in either more favorite papers or photos from school. Page protector is We R Memory Keepers.

(His Presidential report was on Grover Cleveland...so happy I had taken a picture of him with his artwork!)

Another insert (this year seems to have quite a bit of inserts...there are some years that don't have quite so many):

A 12x12 page protector, cut and stitched to size:

After the school-themed photos and papers, I add in their sports photos from the school year. Right now I am making photo books for their sports which contains many more photos. This is just team photos/professional photos and an enlarged favorite photo from the season.

A favorite "itinerary" that was written from a day-trip:

I don't normally include sports schedules, but I liked how he kept track of the scores and the game where he had a "game winning hit!"

I also wouldn't normally put in a coloring page, but it shows how he and his brother loved to watch the Dukes of Hazzard. (Geez...maybe I did go overboard on inserts for this year!)

Next is where I've incorporated Stacy Julian's "School of Life" concept. I've taken a favorite photo from the month (those are Ali Edward's overlays which can be purchased here) and then journaled about the picture.

I love adding these pages because 1) It is so easy to stay current. Before I felt the need to wait until the entire school year was over to see what all I wanted to use (which is why it never got done) and 2) With the favorite photo each month + journaling I feel that if nothing more gets documented, they have a terrific overview of their lives. And also, I've finally accepted the fact that they are boys and more than likely won't ever care about embellishments and fancy pages! ;o)

Our grades are broken down by K-4 Elementary, 5-8 Middle School, and 9-12 High School. I have a 6th grader and 4th grader and so far I think the albums will be broken out by Elementary, Middle School and High School. I also keep other papers that I just couldn't toss in the envelopes that came with the kit. For the time being, those are stored in separate albums because of the bulk. I am using the We R Memory Keepers albums.

Whew! That was long! Let me know if you have questions, I'll be happy to answer them!

Oh...and I'm also using Project Life protectors to get caught up on nine years of Christmas pictures that I was too overwhelmed to do anything with!

 

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P.S. Think you are too far behind? It goes quick! I put these albums together (for both of my boys!) in the fall.

P.P.S. I'm really hoping that the new school products Becky will be releasing aren't so cool that I'll want to re-do anything! ;o)

Edited for comments/questions I've received on Facebook. Also, I think I've replied to everyone who left comments on the blog. Please let me know if you have further questions!

• I love all of the Mom's that gave me "boy love!" Many of you understood me when I said that I've finally accepted the fact that they likely won't be interested in a page full of embellishments. Glad to know I'm not alone!
• I am so happy that I've been able to inspire so many people. I had no idea that so many would love this system. If you do something similar, I'd love to see it!
• If you are trying to decide if this is for you, let me gently nudge you to "go for it!" Once you start working on it, you will find a flow that works for you. Tweak it to meet YOUR needs!
• All of the journaling cards that I used for the monthly photos were from the original Project Life kit when it came out the first time. Confession: That was an epic fail for me, not even completing two months. But look...I'm using the product NOW and that's all that matters! I thought you could still get them but I don't see them listed on Amazon. I also stocked up on the blank journaling cards and have used them some...but I always feel the need to add some kind of color to them when I do...either a school embellishment from the kit or some patterned paper. Honestly, I haven't even made a dent in the school kit supplies...I ordered two add-on kits! I'm using the Cobalt Kit for 2012 and I think they would look terrific with the School Kit. In fact, I may have to order another kit just for those cards...I have quite a few years left to fill someday! For those of you with the school kit, quite a bit of my journaling cards during the school section was actually patterned paper (or the notebook paper) cut to fit from the school kit.
• I failed to mention in my original post how much my boys LOVE these books. They look at them so much more than the other albums I've created.

I will work on a post for next week with another year highlighted, as well as some tips to make it easier for you.

Choose Joy!

Many people follow along with Ali Edwards and her One Little Word each year. While I have not taken her class yet, mid-December I knew that my word for 2012 would be "Joy." When taking the Christmas decorations down I added this:

Pretty cute, huh? (Free subway art can be found here.)

And then yesterday as I was walking by, I glanced over and saw this:

Yes, it brought a smile to my face. Nicholas was pretty proud of himself. I wonder how many different words will be made of this? And how much Joy will it bring? I predict alot!

I did it!

As 2012 begins, I am excited to say that I completed a year of Project Life! Not going to lie...there were a few weeks from the summer that looked like this (and almost made me want to quit):

But in the end there were more weeks that looked like this:

With a few weeks thrown in that had fun inserts. And as I look at the albums as a whole, they are great at documenting a year in our life.

Here is what I plan to do differently in 2012:

• Instead of taking a photo a day, I will be doing the spreads as a week. I had started the project as a photo-a-day, and felt like I needed to finish it that way.
• I don't plan on putting a date on every picture this year. In 2011 I edited every single picture in Photoshop with the day and date.
• I hope to add more inserts into our weeks, and doing a better job at jotting down the little things as the week goes on.

And what I plan to do the same is to remember how it feels to have two completed albums of our life in 2011...no matter if there are weeks that are a bit empty.

If you are still trying to decide if you will be documenting your life this year, there are so many blogs you can go to for inspiration. It certainly helped get me thru the year. Becky Higgins has several fantastic ladies she has chosen for her creative team this year. Give it a chance! You won't regret it!

Simple Things Sunday

Happy 2012!

 

 

Choosing Joy,

Friday Finds

Favorites from the internet this week (all images linked):

BOOK | Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo. This is the first book in a murder mystery series and I couldn't put it down. So far there are three in the series (Pray for Silence and Sworn to Silence are the other two). I highly recommend all of them!

SUBWAY ART | For Thanksgiving. This art completes a year of art they have made for free! I get mine printed at Scrapbook Pictures. See the entire series here.

Crockpot Winner | Meatloaf. I know. I can't even believe I typed it! I'm not a huge meatloaf fan, but this was really tasty! Of course, I had to leave out the bell pepper or no one else would have tried it. (The crockpot fail was using another crock pot for baked potatoes. They were okay, but I'll never use the crockpot again for baked potatoes.)

Christmas Gift | A very cute, personalized Christmas book.

Christmas Music | Straight No Chaser

http://youtu.be/7E-47VmFopE

Have an inspired weekend!

Ramblings

I'm warning you now, it's going to be a scattered post...

• I was helping Z study for his science quiz about Hypothesis, Independent Variables and Dependent Variables. When I asked him to give me a hypothesis, he said "If I feed Jasper 3 pieces of pepperoni, it will increase his poop rate." I really don't think I need to finish the story. I did ask him to not use any kind of example that has the word "poop" in it on his quiz.
• Jasper was chewing on something dark yesterday afternoon. When I got closer to see what it was, I noticed a tail. Yes, he brought a mouse in from outside. And yes, I started screaming that it was a mouse and for Z to get him out of the house now. Thankfully Jasper carried the mouse back out the door with him. And yes, Z is still teasing me about my squealing.

• Both boys started Open Gym for Basketball this week. Just as I about had the stink gone from Football, it starts up again. :::sigh:::
• As much Christmas music as I have been listening to, you would think I'd have some gifts bought. But I don't. And even worse, I don't have any ideas.
• My office is closed on Friday. Yea for a long weekend for me! I picked up 9 years worth of Christmas photos that I got developed today. Yes, I have high hopes. 

Have a terrific day! Make it count!

Pinterest Love

Need some inspiration? Be sure to check out Pinterest, but only when you have an hour or two to kill...it is addicting, for sure! Pinterest is online inspiration boards that you make for yourself. You name it, there is probably a photo of it. It is by invite, so if you haven't checked out the wonderful world of Pinterest and would like to, let me know.

Here is some of my inspiration this week (all images linked):

My Style 

 Food and Drink 

Christmas 

Quotes to Remember 

Decorating 

That's all for today. Have an inspired Wednesday!

Project Life: October 23 thru 29

It's not a very exciting week as far as using extra photos or ephemera. And this is one of the many reasons that I'm loving Project Life. Because it doesn't have to be anything fancy. It looks nice, and it is done. Memories of the week are preserved. Check it off the list.

Another reason I'm loving Project Life is that I am using photos that aren't so great...in fact, some of them are pretty poor in quality. But they are in there and they are documenting a memory.

Full spread:

After making several attempts, I can't get the other photos to upload. There really isn't much other detail to share on this week, but it is done!