My Plans For Memory Keeping In 2015
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I've been thinking a lot over the last few months about how I want to approach my memory keeping in 2015.
I'm ready for a bit of an adjustment. I want something more loose and less structured (as in less emphasis on weekly) and from what I've been reading around the web that seems to be a bit of a trend.
I'm ready for album for my stories this year.
One 12x12 album to hold pocket pages, traditional pages, and stuff of life (kids artwork, notes, etc). I don't literally mean that I'll force everything into ONE album because I might fill up one and need another, but I mean for all my stories this year.
This one home will be a mix of pocket pages and traditional layouts in 12x12 and 8.5x11 and 6x8 and it will hold stories from 2015. Supplies will come from my Story and Stamp Kits™, from Studio Calico kits, and from other things I find here in my stash or from Scrapbook.com.
This isn't new or revolutionary. People have been combining layouts and Project Life® style documentation since it's inception and I've been using divided page protectors mixed in with my traditional pages from time to time for many years.
I think really what I'm ready for is something more organic and less structured and more focused on stories. I still love everyday life documentation - which has been my passion since I first started this adventure back in 2002. I still love capturing little and big things and I'm definitely not stopping any of it. But it's time for me to mix it up.
This means I will not be committing to weekly Project Life® documentation in 2015. I'm up to date until June of 2014 and I plan to finish that as time permits (lots of photos already printed and "stuff" in pockets, but it needs some TLC). I anticipate that I will still do some specific weeks-at-a-glance like I've been doing the last few years, but it will be significantly looser than in the past (and include more of a mix of divided pockets when I do use them vs. always using Design A). I'm ready for that change. Just writing that out feels good. Does it mean I will never do weekly Project Life® again? Nope. My first Project Life® album was in 2010 and I've loved the process but I'm ready for the next evolution.
And if none of this makes any sense, know that it's a work in progress and I'll be figuring it out as a go.
Here's a look at how I'm starting my 2015 story album:
The album begins with a divided 6x8 page protector from Becky Higgins (this is inside a black 12x12 We Are Memory Keepers album).
"Hello Life 2015" is a new digital set now available in my shop. I cut it out with my Silhouette and vellum. I've got a tutorial here that shows you how to trace PNG files with the Silhouette software here.
The big ampersand was from a previous Studio Calico kit (can't remember which one). I embossed it with black opaque embossing powder on both sides.
Along the edge of the page protector I added a 2-inch Avery index tab and stamped 2015 using this awesome Pebbles rolling stamp.
On the back side I added my favorite 2014 photo of the three of us. I'm just about done over-using it (taken during Week In The Life™ and used as my Christmas card). Note to self to take more group shots of the three of us.
I like it so I'm going to use it. Again.
The next pages is a 12x12 page protector from this variety pack that I cut to 6x12.
"Give" in vellum was a left-over mistake from the end of my December Daily® album (the thread came out of the stitching). I decided to give it a home here as a nod to my One Little Word® for 2015 (I do have a separate album for documenting my experience with my word but I like having it included here as well). The "hello" label on top is actually on the outside of the page protector.
The monthly paper and the floral 3x4 card are from the Park Avenue Studio Calico kits.
The gold glitter remember card and the canvas 3x4 card are both from Heidi Swapp Project Life® kits (available via Michael's if I remember correctly). This was a 4x6 card that I cut down to 3x4.
The letter stickers for "our" and the small word stickers are from my Firsts Story Kit™.
It's a very simple beginning to what I hope will be an awesome mixture of long and short stories from 2015.
Here's to stories and documentation and flexibility and evolution and giving myself permission to loosen up the way I'm documenting, holding, and sharing my stories.
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93 comments
I have been wondering (and meaning to ask) how you have tackled it in the past as I know you have several 12x12 or other sized lyouts but also did Project Life. So you have answered it for me. In my quest to answer this questions I think I have decided to go in the opposite direction. I am REALLY inspired by your story kits & stamps (still eagerly waiting for my first kit to arrive) to delve deeper and write some more stories. I feel that with Project Life I am always focussed on capturing daily stuff and focus less on stories, feelings and reflections which is what I want do do more of. So After 4 years of solid PL I am going to step out into something less of a comfort zone and try some more story telling this year while still punching out the Project Life spreads. I feel it is achievable because your Lens of Joy, Week In the Life and December Daily have given me the confidence to do it. I don't know if I can do it but I will give it a try. Even if I get a few more deeper stories done that'll be a few more than I am doing now. Best to try and fail then never try at all right?
Replies to petrac
Love that!
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This sounds like a great solution for memory keeping! I can't wait to see how it comes together for you. I think it will be a really fun and interactive album! I'm sticking with my digital PL with weekly pages, but using a huge amount of enlarged photos and more bits and pieces of everyday life.
Also, I recieved the art print you sent for the December Daily kits yesterday. Thank you for the pleasant surprise in the post! It was a really lovely and completely unexpected surprise and I plan on using it in an art journal I am making for my partner this year :)
Replies to J3SS1C4
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I see some "give" in your approach to the process this year. Well done, ma'am!
Replies to nicole2112
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In a way these are your scrapbooking resolutions for the new year! And dovetail nicely with your word since you are giving yourself the freedom to change things up. I like to see what you do and your blog offers inspiration that carries over way beyond scrapbooking. I'm looking forward to seeing what classes you offer next. I loved Lens of Joy. My plan for 2015 is to take more photos and continue to journal but not necessarily make scrapbooks. I have a love/hate relationship with pocket pages and big heavy 3-ring binder 12x12s. For me, they take up too much space and are heavy to pick up and look at but they make it easy to slip in a photo and a journaling card. I like 12x12 layouts but I don't like them behind plastic. I think I'm a dinosaur. I love the tactile aspect of scrapbooks. My old Creative Memories albums are favorites. The last few years I've done small travel journals, Christmas albums and printed books of photos. I haven't done a 12x12 page in a long time. You and your design team are very inspiring though, so maybe this is the year I start doing 12x12s again.
Thanks for sharing. You obviously work very hard and you do it so well!
Replies to KarenC
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This approach has worked for me for a few years now. I have one home for all our memory keeping. It's a mix of pocket pages, weekly story telling, all my children's awards and their chosen artwork goes into this one home. My head would explode and pink mist of overwhelm would fill the room if I had to manage more than one album. Having 'one home' is really manageable. Consolidating and keeping it simple.
Replies to PolkaDotCreative
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I gotta say I LOVE this, I "feel" the same way, YOU love all the project life stuff, you STILL love the idea of traditional pages, I do exspecially when I have amazing pictures and you just have to use them all. This is perfect Ali, just perfect, and is it just me OR does it always seem more "ok" if Ali is doing it:) A perfect Monday post!!!
Replies to gabbimia
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Awesome! I've been thinking to break out of the weekly aspect of Project Life for a little more than a year but my husband convinced me to not drop out (or change my way) because Project Life was my best album for him. That's what he said. But this year I decided to cut my scrapbooking time so something has to go and it will be the week by week Project life album! Like you I'm more interested in stories than in the time frameso I'll add my random and rather small stories as they arrive. Ill continue my separate albums for my two girls and the one for my husband and I for denser stories, but the everyday life kind of stories will go in the "Projct Life" album as they get documented and not by week or in a systematic way if that makes sense...
Replies to mpcapistran
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I've been doing Project Life this way since I started. I call it Freestyle Project Life. This will be my 5th year & while I still love it I am struggling with the journaling. I want to tell more stories & less of the 5 W's. That's my goal for 2015. Can't wait to see your 2015.
Replies to Staki_Mama
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It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who finds the layout-per-week a little daunting. Still a lover of Project Life though!
Replies to Carliep
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Ha! I thought I was alone with the struggle of a weekly layout, but I also love the new approach. I'm still behind on my 2014 (up to date in may, but no more pics printed or stories after that...sad face) and previous years (2012 and 2013) don't have any journaling (in the computer) just pics. This year, I was thinking about using a smaller album like a 6x8, but I have another 12 x 12 again, and my new approach would be to document what really happens around my life, instead of trying to get every pic I could so I can get them in the album. This 2015 I want to emphasize more in the little details, instead of the big picture and maybe just with a monthly events approach instead of weekly. Hope to start soon and not get behind so I can catch up with old projects and start my new one.
Replies to Monique0977
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Interesting. "Like minds" and all that....I've sort of done this for some time, but it was more out of frustration or rebellion than a concerted plan! I don't like being stuck with one size & format; yet I like the consistency & appearance it presents. What a dilemma! But as some have said, now that Ali is doing it, it's OK to mix everything up—in fact, as I recall, you were the first person I heard of who put different size page protectors together & I thought it was the greatest thing! So, I'm officially giving myself permission now to do this for 2015. I do have some UFPs (unfinished projects), albums in progress, that I want to keep working on with special themes, but for new work—I'm going the mix-it-up route. Hey! A new style: "ECLECTIC SCRAPBOOKING." (just like my decorating style)
Replies to prairyk
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I've decided to do MORE with PL this year- as it relates to stories, coincidentally. I am using my PL album As a diary/ gratitude journal. There's a stack of blank 3x4 cards inthe drawer by my chair so every day the plan is to write one good/funny/ amazing thing that happened. We just went through a 3 month period of crazy, stress inducing, out of control busy-ness and i dont remember any of it. There are photos, but no storiesof how we got here and what i am feeling. We'll see how it turns out down the road :)
Replies to carlatte7
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I was so excited to read your blog post ali, i have actually been stressed thinking about everything i want to do this year, OLW, finish my december daily, do some random art and project life, story stamps, one week in the life, lens of joy. And of course family, friends, travel and spontaneous fun!!! Having project life not be so structured is perfect. Im following your lead. Thank you.
Replies to Lwills54
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I'm not going to lie, this makes me a little sad. :(
Replies to juliepaule
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This approach has also worked for me for a few years now. With kids grown and grandkids, some times are uneventful, others are more significant. I really just use the pocket pages for their ease of use, as a snapshot of what's going on, but a page could be several months or just one day. And then, sometimes a picture of story deserves more space, or a different format. I love that mix! Really this goes back years to the first class of Ali's I did - Scrapbook on the Road - and the freedom of format that enabled me to capture a month-long trip to Italy (2 full 12x12 albums) that would have otherwise taken me 3 years to finish; and I loved the result and felt it was much more creative. I think this approach is like life - sometimes it's just the everyday, and sometimes we need to pause and tell a deeper story.
Replies to maudi
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Cool, and heres to more family unit group shots! I'm trying to get one set each month with the self timer / remote and not just group selfies. Good luck!
Replies to Rina_AbbottJard
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I have done this for several years now. My husband and I are empty nesters and my kids all live in other cities. My husband travels for work and I work from home. I go in spurts where I scrapbook quite a bit (when the grand kids are visiting, I'm at home with Mom and Dad and my brother and sister, I'm traveling, or I take time to go out on photo junctures), then there's times when I'm so busy that I don't scrapbook at all or I have very few picture. I have to remind my daughter to send me pictures of the kids often or I get them off of FB. Usually there's already a story written about the photo when I get the photo off of FB. This set up has worked best for me. I think it's freeing and very artist. It's more like life. I love to flip through and see all the different sized pages together (PL pages, PL pages I've cut down, and traditional pages, even single photos). I'm even doing that in my 6x8 December Daily. I have to remind myself that there are no rules and this should always be fun and relaxing, not a chore. My goal this year is to document more pictures and tell more stories on a more regular basis. I want to keep my DSLR with me as much as I can. I have relied on my phone camera too much. I agree that the best camera is the camera you have with you, but I miss a lot of GREAT shots I could have taken. Plus I want to learn to take better pictures and not rely on auto shot. I'm excited to use your Story and Stamp kits to help me accomplish my goals for scrapbooking and storytelling this year. They are small enough to take with me wherever I go, but they pack a great punch. I think you're going to love this new process you're doing. Cheers! Here's to a new year and many "firsts".
Replies to Sandra_Lomas
I'm in a similar space---almost an empty nester. Family and close friends are not nearby, so I often have many photos and stories when we are together, but the day-to-day is, well, quite different from when our child was young. I often include pages that are really just folders for the material I pick up at museums, concerts, craft shows, etc.
I also want to take better photos and that is a goal for the year. It requires more time than I put into snapping a moment with the iphone.
I'm not sure about putting everything in one album, but throughout the year, I need a mix of 12X12 and the ease of PL.
BCBC, i know the idea of putting it all in one albulm sounds crazy, but I hope you try it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I hadn't been keeping our tickets and memorbillia , but I was inspired by Ali to start scrapbooking even some of that again. In her December Daily she told a story about taking Simon to a movie and she scrapped the tickets. The way she told the story was very clever. I know that every movie I go see or every museum I go to isn't as big an event as her and Simons outing, but there is a story behind them. Maybe just the details of the ordinary day or just the way I'm feeling that day even. Those things can go in PL pages. It really is a very artful look when you put it all in one book. I did put my December Daily in a 6x8 albulm even though I was temlpted to include iit n my larger albulm. I think the grandkids will enjoy flipping through the smaller albulm more that way. They already have and I haven't even finished it yet. It's about doing what works for us. I love to see everyone else's ideas and their pages for inspiration. Sometimes I even scraplift pages. I just want to keep it all as simple as possible. I don't know if you get the Stamp or Story kits, but those really are very versitile and useful. The packaging that the Story Kit comes in is perfect for making a take along bag to scrapbook. Together with some mini ink pads, a tape runner, scissors, a few pocket pages, some card stock for tradition pages along with a 6x8 or 8x8 paper pad and your good to go. I'm probably going to store my monthly stamps in the story kit. I havent scrapbooked 12x12 pages in a long time so that makes it easiier to carry around... In my opinion. I spend a lot of time helping with my mom who can no longer be left alone for very long and can't drive anymore. She lives about an hour and a half away and Im there at least 2 or 3 times a week for a few days at a time every month. When I'm there it's pretty hectic. I'm helping her get ready for dr appts and taking her to therapy. My dad does a lot, but I try to help with the house and give him time to get out and play golf or spend time with friends or my sisters kids. Sorry for the boring details. All that to say I've had to rethink this scrapbooking thing and make it fun and easier for myself. Good luck with finding a way that works best for you. I'd love to know what you come up with. Happy New Year.
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Love it Ali! I was also getting burned out of keeping up with my PL and wasn't planning on doing one this year at all. But your approach to it this year makes so much sense! As always - thank you for all the inspiration!!!
Replies to jenjeb
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Ok, I'm going to lie down for a while....he-he, disappointed Ali, but looking forward to what's next.
Replies to Lize
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One of my favorite things about your approach to memory keeping is the idea that it's OK to do things your own way. I've been doing project life since it was project 365, and I love it but I have found the albums a little cumbersome. This year I plan on doing the same format but in digital form. Becky's new app is great for quick and simple documenting anywhere. I can create pages on my phone or ipad anywhere! I love the idea of having our year in digital format so I can print out books for the kids in the future. I plan on printing the pages at home and also including more detailed stories. To me this seems like a simpler way to continue with the daily documentation I love while telling more in depth stories.
Replies to mom22cherubs
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