Project Life | Week One
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I'm excited to be underway with Project Life again.
Here's a look at where I've got it placed in our house. For me, out and available is the key.
Last year Project Life lived in my office. It sat on the ledge of a chalkboard and that worked great.
This year, because I'm wanting to get my family more involved in the process - and make it even more visible - I've set up a place for it at the far end of our kitchen counter. I'm also hoping this will help me keep more up-t0-date than in 2010.
Here's the wide view of our kitchen. Project Life is in that back far corner near the door that goes to our laundry room.
And here's an up-close look:
This station consists of the album and page protectors (I'm just using a black We Are Memory Keepers album - the only reason for this is that I like plain albums), a vase that holds the journaling cards + pen + corner rounder + scissors, my Fujifilm Instax camera, and a new little 4x6 Canon Selphy printer.
I'm still in the testing out mode with the Selphy printer. I love the idea of it I'm just not sure that I love it. Giving myself a bit more time with it. I'm also used to printing upstairs so I'm working myself out of that habit and into this one (at least attempting it). I want the whole process to be simple and d0-able.
Here's what my first week looks like:
And the spread:
I've pre-stamped the date for each week onto the rounded corner cards so those are all in the album and ready to go.
Some of the things you may or may not notice:
I'm not journaling everyday.
I'm journaling when I encounter a story I want to tell or something specific comes to mind. Most of these are little moments type stories or conversations.
I'm using a pen to write directly onto the cards.
I'm definitely including lots of little bits of life: receipts, grocery lists, wrappers, packaging, things the kids draw, etc.
I'm not worrying about taking a photo a day.
Here's a look at the start of this week:
For things I want to include that are larger (like the program above) I'm just sewing and trimming the page protectors to fit. It's very easy. You can see a short video I did about sewing on page protectors here.
If you don't have the counter or table space available to leave it out, consider pulling out the page protectors for the week and putting them up on a bulletin board. You could use binder clips like I do with my calendar (shown above) to hold it up without punching holes through the page protectors.
If you're looking for more support, ideas and encouragement don't forget to sign up for the free Project Life community at Big Picture Classes.
NOTE : It looks like Project Life is currently sold out at Amazon. According to Becky they should be getting more in stock very soon!
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158 comments
I love your work you did on last week of Project of Life. Can't wait to start mine. But living in the Netherlands means international shipping and that takes a while. But, my package arrived at customs last week, so it wouldn't take too long. I've been taking pictures every day of the week since last week, so there's a lot to do.
Love the idea of getting the family involved. This schoolyear my youngest started to learn how to read and write, I love the way she writes and will certainly ask her to write some journals.
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Ali,
What size did you print your pictures to fit in the small pockets?
Thanks!
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The photos that are in the small pockets - just a couple of them - are from that little Instax camera. If I did print any they would be 2.5 x 3.75.
Thanks, Ali! Guess I should have been more specific. I meant the small pictures on your intro page. I measured a card and used it as a guide to print pictures to go in the small pockets, but I must have been having an "off" day! I printed them all 4x3 and had to crop them to fit. Thanks for the measurements. I'll try that next time and see if it works better. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Ah gotcha!
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this looks great Ali. love the set up. I have mine in a place in my scraproom. Can't wait to see more.
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My kit just came in today's mail:)!! SUPER excited to get started. It's so helpful to see your station--makes it seem really do-able. Very much looking forward to scrapbooking this years memories with less guilt and capturing a little here and there, not everything!!
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Are you finding it difficult to fill all the space if you don't take a photo per day? I'm afraid I'd end up stuffing stuff in there just to fill the space, and not because it really adds something. Thanks for the inspiration!
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I'm actually totally cool with just stuffing things in if I don't have a photo - for me that's part of the process. I'm always on the hunt for cool/different/real life things to add. If I have one whole week of just that stuff I think that would be cool.
Also - you can always add more than one photo from the same day into the pockets. I'm mixing it up as I go.
And things that might seem silly to stuff in there now might be the COOLEST things to look back at later on down the road.
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Hi Ali -
Your new kitchen = awesome!
Thanks for sharing your project life album process. In 2009 I did a picture a day (I didn't get a kit so I made my own) and for 2010 (I did get a kit) I jotted down notes throughout the year and just printed my pictures for 2010 last week (still waiting on the prints from Snapfish). I didn't realize how much I was stressing myself out committing to a picture a day but I certainly took a lot more pictures that way. I am going to find a balance between those two processes this year. I totally missed ordering the kit this year so I have wait until they are back in stock. For some odd reason I thought it wouldn't sell out this year.
It's so cool to look back and my little girl (3) loves to look at them. I look forward to seeing how your project goes throughout the year.
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Hi Ali - you may've helped me with a breakthrough here. I have PL, have printed my photos for week one, but can't seem to do more than that, because I have too too much to say. brevity is not a strength o' mine. ;) i love what you've done with yours & it's helped me see that it's those "little" things (that aren't at all little) that i'm always jotting down on sticky notes and hoping to somehow get on a layout that need to be going on my PL journaling cards. the quotes, the conversations, the moments i hope i never forget & the moments i don't want my kids to forget. you're reply to Kristie H was nothing short of inspiring.
thank you! for posting your album. I, along with everyone else, hope you can keep it up and keep us inspired (wow, no pressure there!)!
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thanks, Ali - GREAT idea. I followed along w/ week in the life (took photos, journalled...but have yet to bring it all together!), but missed these somehow - perfect for my oh so long journaling.
AND wanted to say that i've just finished my december daily! my first finished project in quite some time - thank you for the inspiration and direction there!
Cool Kirby - another thing you could always do, especially if you have a lot to say, is just print up the journaling, add it to a page protector and be good. You could also do something like I did with Week in the Life last year and add in my "long journalers" (or make your own). You can see those here: http://aliedwards.com/2010/05/week-in-the-life-bringing-it-all-together-%E2%80%A2%C2%A0the-completed-album.html
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quick question...
do you wait until the week is over to determine which photos and stories/thoughts you are using for that week??
I'm aware of the fact that what seems the most interesting today might not be as noteworthy as something that happens a few days from now. I want to make sure that what I document represents the week well. Just wondering how you approach this.
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Because it's in the kitchen I fuss with it here and there. I've printed a couple photos on one day or just one. This past week I wrote one card at the end of the week.
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Thanks for sharing. One thing that struck me right away was how very clean your kitchen is! Wow! I'm impressed.
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HA - thanks! It's a daily endeavor :).
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I love how you are leaving your album out to work on. My daughter loves looking through our album. Mine is usually on the coffee table so I can work on it when I have time. I also love the We R Memory Keepers black album but keep mine in the Project Life album until I am done with it for the year that way I don't worry about that album getting beat up with the constant use. I am a tiny bit OCD.
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Thanks for sharing! I love that your whole family is going to be part of this. I am trying to get my husband more into ours so I may need to sit in a central location. Awesome idea!!
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I've been looking forward to seeing your project life album. The direction you've taken with the kit is exactly the direction I think I'll take (once they become available again). Question? Have you noticed issues with the page protectors not turning well (wholes not big enough)? I'm not going to let that deter me from buying it (not going to sweat the small stuff) but I was wondering if it was a fluke with a few kits or if everyone was having the same issue. Can't wait to see more. I'll check back daily ;)
PS: I'd love to see more of your new home. Love the open feel I've seen thus far.
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Hi Jennifer - I have had no problems with the page protectors turning whatsoever.
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Ali - I love your Kitchen! The white and the plain wood is lovely and it looks so big!
I also love the start of your Project Life - just need to source the folder, page protectors etc (here in New Zealand) and I am away. Can't wait.
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This is the first time I have seen project life. Is it designed specifically for documenting every week of the year or could it be used as a general album to document my son's life? I like the look of the divided pocket pages - would it work for use as a general album?
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Whoops sorry didn't see the link - thanks so much:)
PS - I love your kitchen too!
Thanks so much! Where do you source your plain binders from? I am also a fan of plain:)
Janine - in the post up above if you click on the part where I talk about the binders it will take you to Scrapbook.com where I often purchase them (I try to link products whenever possible).
Here's a direct link: http://store.scrapbook.com/wr-40337-1.html
Project Life is a very versatile product. It can highlight a picture-a-day, a week, a month, a span of years and events. The kit itself comes with page protectors and journaling cards which make documenting and organizing a breeze! As Ali mentioned, check out the Big Picture community, there you can see several different approaches.
It has lots of ways it can be used - one of which is just simple documentation (vs. doing it over a specific period of time - like a year). Here's a link to Becky's site directly that can give you more information: http://www.beckyhiggins.com/products/
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Thank you so much for sharing your Project Life! It's so inspiring to see what other people are doing with their albums. I hope you continue to share!
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Love your kitchen Ali - so bright and clean!! Thanks for sharing your PL. this is my first year attempting it. I am excited but alittle overwhelmed. Thanks for the ideas!! I am not taking a picture a day (too stressful for me). And I was thinking splitting the month into 3 - first 10days/next 10days/last 10 days and then maybe a monthly overview (ie:movies watched/books read/family photo/gratitute list for the month from everyone in the family. I do have a question - is the backside of your spreads blank?
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The backside of the spreads are not blank - you can see my first page here: http://aliedwards.com/2011/01/ae-approach-project-life-2011.html
I'm already filling in stuff on the back of the second page with content for this week (see the image above where I included the program and cut the page protector).
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Super great idea to leave PL out on the counter like that.
please give an update on how you like the printer.
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Love the idea about keeping it in plain sight. I also have extra counter space in my kitchen. I'm thinking I would like to find (second hand) a table-top podium to elevate my album. I will be on the look-out at Goodwill and estate sales.
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Hi Ali, I have done a similiar set up with my printer and album as well. Also, I did as much prep as possible - date, cards in the slots, page protectors in, etc...I am hoping that this will simplify the process and I can keep up! m
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I'm so glad you share all this! I'm doing Project Life for the first time. I just received my kit today and got it all ready to go. I love to scrapbook so I am so excited about this new project!
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