Project Life | Week Five

Hello Project Life | Week Five.


Click any image to view larger.

Page one:

First page insert:

This week I added in one 8.5 inch x 11 inch page protector.

I didn't feel like doing any cutting and stitching so inside the page protector I slipped the cute certificate from the hair-cut place, a little envelope with Anna's hair, the story of her first hair-cut printed on a long journaler, and a little photo of her adhered to the top of the long journaler (I just moved my text down to make room - look for a video tutorial on working with these overlays to be posted later this week).

I attached the little hair envelope to the certificate with one of Tim's Trinket Pins.

On the other side of the page protector I included the program from an event Chris and I attended on Saturday night.

Close up of page two:

This week I asked Chris if he'd write a bit on a card.

It was his first week back at the Capitol and there's usually a couple weeks of transition for him as he gets back in the swing of the workload and time. Here's what he wrote:

Our babysitter is also great at getting in on the documentation. Here's a card she inserted this past week:

I also included a bit of handwriting from Simon in the form of a little yellow sticky note:

Anna decided to draw on Simon's little note too.

Something new I added this week is a 4 inch x 6 inch journal card. Some days/weeks I want to add a bit more writing that's a bit longer than a small journal card and less than a long journaler.

This new set of 4 x 6 journalers will be available at Designer Digitals on Thursday (the first day of the quarterly sale). The set includes PNG files and a PDF file for easy printing. Days of the week plus a few other sentiment journal blocks are included.


This week I also wanted to share some work from Nicole. She made her own version of Project Life using many of my digital products from Designer Digitals.

I love how she used the 365 overlays as journal blocks. She opens the PNG files in Word, inserts a text box and adds her journaling, and prints.

I also received some cool examples via email from Angie who is printing out my Title + Journal Photo Overlays Vol.2 for her Project Life album:

Thanks to Nicole and Angie for sharing their work!


Project Life is a product created by Becky Higgins. It can be anything you want it to be. The album kit is available for purchase through Amazon. If you live outside the US check Becky’s site for more information on sources. View all my posts about Project Life here.

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

46 thoughts

  1. dawn says…
    02/08/2011

    I love seeing Anna new haircut picture in here, so neat how you saved her hair from it also. What a great picture of Simon and the one of you. So nice that your babysitter helps out with this album, your kids will be so thrilled to see this when they are older. Thanks for sharing with us again.

    p.s. Love the note from Simon about not liking new food, he will get a laugh later on about that.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. cinnibonbon says…
    02/08/2011

    How wonderful. Your pages are a real gift for your family. I have to say that my favoite is Simon's note!!! hehe.I feel the same about new foods too!! Great haircut for Anna too!! Plus I also love those mini polaroids!! Have a great week.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Tweets that mention Project Life | Week Five | Ali Edwards -- Topsy.com says…
    02/08/2011

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by kelly mc willette, Josephina Mydreama. Josephina Mydreama said: Project Life | Week Five: Hello Project Life | Week Five. Click any image to view larger… http://goo.gl/fb/7zQxB [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Suz says…
    02/08/2011

    Loving all of the different ways individuals make PL their own! Thanks for posted some of these ideas here on your blog Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Kim Shimer says…
    02/08/2011

    I haven't really worked with overlays, but the more I see, the more tempted I am to give them a try. LOVE Nicole's use of them for her journaling blocks. Ali, it must be so nice to be able to use all your own templates and still have them in your own handwriting.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Kendra says…
    02/08/2011

    I'm already behind!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Christina says…
      02/08/2011

      so am I. I haven't even finished last years album. I have 4 months of catching up to do there.But everytime I see Ali's album it's a reminder and I go and do a little more. Keep showing your pages Ali, you inspire us to go on.

  7. Tara says…
    02/08/2011

    That's a beautiful photo of you Ali.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/08/2011

      Thanks Tara :).

  8. Alexandra says…
    02/08/2011

    So happy that you made the 4x6 journalers. Can't wait for them to come out on Thursday - they are exactly what I have been needing.

    I also love that you included a bit about your Saturday - I never think of writing out what we did when there is no photo and, more specifically, never think to write out what my husband and I do in the evening after the kids go to bed. Thanks for this - a great opportunity to document things like 'date-night-at-home' :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Val Irwin says…
    02/08/2011

    The 4x6 journaling cards and the smaller journal cards are a great idea, I will definitely have to get some new overlays. I love the idea of Project Life and decided that I would do it for 2010, I took it on vacation with me the past couple weeks and ended up completing 4 months in only a few hours (a lot different from how I normally scrapbook). I'm enjoying it so much that I just ordered the Amber version so that I can do it for 2011 and actually get to fill it in as the days go by instead of after the fact.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Ellen McKinley says…
    02/08/2011

    Do you use the Project Life format just for the daily recording, or do you do other scrapbooking that way also? If so, can we see some?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/08/2011

      Hi Ellen - I do both. I've got a whole archive of layouts available here: http://aliedwards.com/about-ali/portfolio/scrapbook-layouts

  11. Kristie H says…
    02/08/2011

    A--Before I opened the post, I thought, oh, that blond girl must be their baby sitter...=)
    B--I love the new overlays/journaling cards. I was just thinking the other day that I want my Project Life to be all about capturing a story a day instead of a picture a day. Those overlays will be perfect for that!
    can not wait til Thursday!!! =)

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. beth lo. says…
    02/08/2011

    Ali: thank you so much for posting each week of project life. b/c of your posting about it as DD was wrapping up, i decided to give this a try this year for the first time and i'm so glad i am. i am already loving it so much. i always save those "little bits of everyday life" thinking i'll scrapbook it, and then never do. PL is totally working for me and i'm so grateful to you for sharing it with us-you're keeping me motivated and excited.

    looking forward to getting the new 4x6 journaling cards on thursday.
    have a lovely week!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Mrs. b says…
    02/08/2011

    Thank you so much for posting each week - it gives plenty of inspiration!
    But at right this moment I am too excited to read it all - I just fetched my Project Life deliver from the post office! I am so excited that I am about to burst - I have waited so long for it to arrive (ordered already before Christmas, the delivery spent most of that time getting here over the ocean :-)

    Ahh, two hours left before the kids go to bed - I can't wait until I can unpack the box properly!
    (Until that - I'll need to go snuggle and spend time with them :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Sabrina says…
    02/08/2011

    Thanks for sharing your album. I love seeing what you do each week. I still need to get started on mine but morning sickness is kicking my butt. Maybe if I put my cards next to the couch I'd work on it while I'm lounging.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Birgit says…
    02/08/2011

    Ali: I love your overlays, too. I purchased both you "long journalers" but have to admit I have a hard time figuring out how to work with them in word. It sounds so easy: "opens the PNG files in Word, inserts a text box and adds her journaling, and prints" I have signed up for both of your classes OLW and YAT at big picture and was wondering if there is a tutorial somewhere that explains it in more detail, so someone who doesn't have photo editing software can use word or adobe reader to use the journalers. Thank you very much - love what you do with all the everyday tid bids and memories. I wish there would be more time in the day to play with it all. Birgit

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Birgit says…
      02/08/2011

      Hi Ali, I will look at those. Thank you. Birgit

    2. Ali says…
      02/08/2011

      Hi Birgit - check out the Word journaling tutorial in the Week Six YT classroom or there's also a tutorial on adding a text box in Word in the January classroom at One Little Word.

  16. Cindy says…
    02/08/2011

    The 4x6 journalers are super clever. I have the Project Life set, and I definitely see a use for them. Not at all current with it yet, but photos coming this week, so I am hopeful. Yours is looking awesome - thanks for helping me keep it top of mind. And also, thanks for the tip to date the cards up front from a couple of posts ago. It had never occurred to me, but it is a great way to keep organized for doing those tuck-ins as things come into your house rather than waiting for when you have pictures. Super helpful. Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Kylie says…
    02/08/2011

    Your Project Life is awesome. I also bought the Project Life album this year and am using it in a a similar way to you, lots of bits and pieces, collecting photos and memories and stories in one place ... back to the concept of a more 'traditional' scrapbook. I wondered though, how do the receipts that you keep in your album hold up over time? Do you find they fade? I'm not really inclined to keep mine if they're going to fade significantly. Would be interested to hear your experience with those.
    Thanks Ali and thanks for your generous sharingn of stories and inspiration!

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Ali says…
      02/08/2011

      My long term experience (which is not long at all :) - maybe five years) is that they haven't been fading. In looking back at my Week In The Life albums they look fine so far. I like tucking them in here and there in this project - if they last that's cool and if not then that's ok too.

    2. Renée says…
      02/08/2011

      If your receipts are made of paper, they will not fade (or barely). If they are made of "heat transfer paper", they will fade, especially if left in the open or in the sunlight. Basically, this receipt printer doesn't spray ink, it "burns" the letters/numbers on. This paper is thinner than regular paper and a bit shiny, a lot like the old fax paper that came on rolls. Hope this helps!

  18. Juanita says…
    02/08/2011

    Looking forward to getting the 4x6 journaling cards Thursday. I am making my own version of Project Life, and I think they will be just perfect.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Amy Albert says…
    02/08/2011

    Love, love the 4x6 journal cards you have created! Will they only be something that you can get digital, or will there be a place to actually buy hard copies....my printer is old and can't handle anything at the moment! Thanks

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/08/2011

      Hi Amy - just digital :), no hard copies at this time. You could definitely print out one set and photocopy them or take them to somewhere like Kinko's and they could print them out for you.

  20. Josie says…
    02/08/2011

    I'm a first time commenter! I'm so pleased you're posting your pages every week and I'm always really excited to see what you've come up with! I just LOVE your scrapbooking style...it's nice and simple, with a focus on the photos and journalling, not the decoration. The polaroids and bits and pieces look great :)

    I'd LOVE to do Project Life, too! But I'm in New Zealand and they're all sold out :( They said the Turquoise edition sold out really fast. I keep checking the website everyday to see if they're getting more. Wish me luck!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Raylene says…
    02/08/2011

    I got my first Project Life kit the end of Jan and have now caught up. Being a digital scrapper, I find I'm not using the cards much, maybe about 4 so far. I am printing my photos at home and find that I'd like to design and print out my own cards and journalers, using the awesome digi products I have in my stash. But I am LOVING this process . . .all because of Ali's December Daily!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Lindsey W. says…
    02/08/2011

    Hey, Ali! I recently bought the B8550 printer. My colors seem off when I print my pictures. Do you notice this problem? Do you know if there is a way to calibrate the printer so what I see on the screen matches what I print? Thanks!!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/09/2011

      I haven't done any specific printer calibration. What I have done is learn to adjust the colors on my monitor (usually lighter) to achieve a better color result with my prints. Lots of just messing around (how's that for a technical response?)...

  23. Alida says…
    02/09/2011

    Awesome B&W of Simon! Those eyes.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. audra says…
    02/09/2011

    Ali - I was wondering if you'd ever condsider creating STAMPS for your 4x6 365 days overlays? I know you have these available through Designer Digitals, however with PL I'm doing SO much more printing @ home on my selphy, I would love to use a stamp of these right over my picture with some white Staz on ink.
    Any chance of doing this?

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. MaryM says…
    02/09/2011

    Ali, do you expect to fit your whole PL year into one album?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/09/2011

      I'm not sure yet...I anticipate if I keep adding in other things each week that I will need 2.

Sign in or sign up to comment.