Week In The Life™ 2015 | Monday In Album & Video Overview

Monday was really all about the photos. 

For any of you just joining in, I'm sharing my completed Week In The Life™ album day by day. 

As usual, let the ideas I share here be a jumping off point for you and inspiration to create your own album any way you want. This isn't a competition or something that is meant to make anyone feel less than - embrace what you have in front of you right now: your style, your words, your photos. Celebrate them for what they are rather than what you might wish them to be. These are reminders to myself as much as they are to you. Remember, we are in this together because we love the same thing: memory keeping

One observation for me as I was working through this first day: this has definitely become a words & photos album vs. originally when I included much more daily memorabilia. I thought about this when I saw an image on Instagram from Julie Campbell (JULIE_STAMPS) where she was including a good amount of "stuff of life" - I loved seeing the mix of type and texture. It's definitely something for me to think about as I approach next year - which will be in the Spring in order to move it away from the Fall. I do tend to include those sorts of things in Project Life®, which might be why it doesn't feel like I'm totally missing capturing those kinds of things. 

A FEW THINGS TO NOTE

  • All text I included on the photos came from my Monday words & photos blog post, unless otherwise noted (such as on the photos of each kid in the pool). 
  • All photos printed here at my house either on my Epson R2000 (all 6 inch x 8 inch photos) or my Epson PictureMate Show (4 inch x 6 inch and smaller). 
  • Monday is super photo heavy and includes quite a few 4 inch x 6 inch that are adhered back to back. I probably won't have that many on other days. 
  • I love this project. 
  • It might be a couple days before I'm back to share Tuesday. I've got a couple other projects that need some attention before early next week. 

Here's a look at my Monday in the album: 

I shared this one yesterday in my First Steps post. Just a reminder that I have the divider coming after my daily intro photo. 

First up, the 3 inch x 8 inch page protector (if you want more of this size you can get them here). Rather than using this timeline card for words I added photos which were cropped to 2.5 inches x 1.75 inches. On two of the photos I added words that came from my blog post before printing. 

Throughout the day I added a bunch of 2-inch Avery Index Tabs to the outer edges of the 3 inch x 8 inch page protector and to the photos adhered back to back. They are a staple product around here. Inside the tabs I stamped using the stamp included in the Week In The Life™ kit (digital version of those stamps available here).

The back side of the 3 inch x 8 inch page protector includes a photo. I cropped my photo to that size in Photoshop and then printed it on an 8.5 inch x 11 inch piece of photo paper and cut it out (I printed both the Monday and Tuesday 3 inch x 8 inch photo on the same sheet of paper). 

On the right you can see the first 4 inch x 6 inch photos that are adhered back to back and then holes punched to fit into the album. Along the edge are the Avery Index Tabs with stamped sentiments inside. 

As you might have read in my post yesterday I considered adding more page protectors but decided that the route of adhering back to back would work just fine. 

On my photos I'm adding a few different things: phrases from the perforated strip sheet in the kit, chipboard pieces (often with the initial of the person added using the white letter stickers), or stickers/chipboard from past Story Kits™.

Use the day of the week cards from the Week In The Life™ kit to add a little extra to your overall story. Here I hand-wrote "we are" using a Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Big Brush and then typed up a few fun facts about each of us right now. I also laughed out loud when I reviewed the Monday video from last year and heard myself read what I wrote on a similar card last year - Dave Matthews of course. Tis the season as Aaron and I get ready to go see him at the Gorge again next weekend.

For printing my text on the 3 inch x 4 inch card I measured the open space with a ruler and then created a text box in Photoshop that is 2.5 inch x 1.5 inch. I typed in my journaling and then did a test print on a regular size sheet of paper. Next I held it up to the light and temporarily adhered (with just a bit of adhesive) the card right onto the first print and re-ran it through the printer. Voila

On the left is the back side of the 4, 3 inch x 4 inch pockets. I added the "monday" wood veneer + a chipboard geotag to my cookie photo. 

On the right are eighth more 4 inch x 6 inch photos that are adhered back to back to create new pages. 

This next section of back to back photos enabled me to include 8 more 4 inch x 6 inch photos. 

I added the yellow label using foam dots to lift it up a bit off the page. 

Here's an example of where I used chipboard from a past Story Kit™. 

Words & photos. 

I love that I was able to get those photos into the album.

Take advantage of this opportunity to write a bit more about the people you are including in your album. On these two photos I added details about who each of my kids are right now - their interests, their strengths, and their challenges. Might be my favorite page yet. 

The last spread for Monday includes 2, 4 inch x 6 inch photos + a 3 inch x 4 inch decorative card + a full page 6 inch x 8 inch photo. 

I liked the idea of adding another something extra between these two pages - especially after adding so many photos earlier within the day. I wanted a different texture than the page protectors. This is also a great way to add in some patterns to your album. Love the layered look too. 

On the back of the heart card I adhere the yellow stripe pattern with the phrase "a week in the life of us." 

On the last photo for the day I added one of the chipboard stars with an "A" for Anna. 

Here's a video overview of Monday: 

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES

In addition to the  Week In The Life™ kit I'm using: 

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51 thoughts

  1. JennMc says…
    08/27/2015

    This is awesome, Ali. Thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. JenBradshaw says…
    08/27/2015

    OH my goodness. Beautiful an inspirational as always. Pardon me while I shamelessly copy everything about this.... ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. SarahGiles says…
    08/27/2015

    So beautiful and inspiring! Thank you! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. jchurch2 says…
    08/27/2015

    Just wow!! Thank you for that video. My mind is exploding with ideas right now. Absolutely LOVE your different sizes and the tabs. Wow again!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. smultringunn says…
    08/27/2015

    Well dagnabbit, here I was all "I'll just see this as an opportunity to use some of my overflowing stash", but after seeing this post, I clicked my way over to order the kit. Oops.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. maiken says…
    08/27/2015

    Yeah WOW! So cool. I took notes, got ideas for next year. So glad that my pics are already sent out to print. I could otherwise have suffered from severe "comparement sickness" Now, I can see your album for what it is; YOUR album. I can see my album and ideas for what they are; MINE. So glad that I've jumped on this WITL project for the first time this year. I've gotten my inspiration for PL back. I loved every second of last week. I didn't take enough pics to do as you have - and I'm so glad that I'm okay with that. Thanks for the inspiration. Looking forward to doing DD for the second time this year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. nusasb says…
    08/27/2015

    Very inspiring. Wanting to start mine on Monday....you've given me a lot of ideas. Love the videos.....keep 'em coming.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. abragg79 says…
    08/27/2015

    I love the small photos on that 3x8 morning/afternoon/evening card! Clever (and I may borrow the idea).

    Thanks for the ideas and inspiration and thanks again for sharing your process with us!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. steffievandenakker says…
    08/27/2015

    Thank you so much for the inspiration Ali! I am doing my very first WITL this week (because this week represents my weeks better than last did) and it's a great challenge. I am not taking very many photos though, and every night I try to pick 7 that I like best to have printed. I obviously don't take enough because somedays like today I have a hard time gathering those photos, but I am trying not be hard on myself! At the end of the week, I will have a pretty good collection to represent my week. Looking forward to put my pages together. I always love yours!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. StudioM says…
    08/27/2015

    Thank you for doing a video. Tomorrow is payday and hope I can still buy a WITL kit. xo, Marian

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. mdith4him says…
    08/27/2015

    Love it! I'm at work, but my photos were just delivered, so I get to play when I get home! Thanks for all the sharing and explanations you provide. This is such a fun project!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. pierek14 says…
    08/27/2015

    Thank you for sharing all of this inspiration, it makes my heart happy to see the everyday because isn't that truly what our lives are about? Looking forward to starting my WITL on Monday, August 31st. Thanks again Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. aelinallegood says…
    08/27/2015

    This is so stunning! Quick question: in the section with the photos without page protectors, do you ever worry about photos sticking to each other? Have you had that problem? Thanks for your incredible inspiration for memory keepers around the world!

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. angymuse says…
      08/27/2015

      yes id like some advice on this too.

    2. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2015

      I had some like this last year (photos back to back) and I haven't noticed them sticking when I flip through that album. Might be the kind of photo paper used - some might be "tackier" than others. You could also make sure they are totally dry (some printers are more "wet") before putting them into your album.

  14. angymuse says…
    08/27/2015

    so happy for the idea of the 4x6 pictures back to back out of pp. I have the most photos on monday and really want to include them all. im using the 2x2 pocket page too so that i can make that happen. awesome awesome awesome.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. skant says…
    08/27/2015

    I always get so inspired by your posts. For various reasons, I didn't get nearly as many photos this time around. I'm trying not to be disappointed and look upon it as an opportunity to be extra creative. So glad I have the cute kit too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Braniff says…
    08/27/2015

    Love this...thank you for sharing so much detail. I have a question-how do you make sure your word art on each of the day's opening 6x8 photos is similar in size? All of yours seem to be the same or very similar in size and I like how that looks. I find I have to change the size due to the specifics of each individual photo, but I'm thinking I still want them to match.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2015

      Hi - I just used the exact size I have included in the 6x8 template pack (which was the same for each day) and then moved them to where I wanted them to be for each day (I didn't use the other options on the templates for the opening day with more photos - I just deleted those extra spaces and added my photo and then moved the word art). Does that make sense?

  17. w33blegurl says…
    08/27/2015

    Fantastic - I am pondering still on how to move forward. I have done the same as you and chosen a 6x8 for each day. Now to narrow down the rest of the pics!! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. gina200 says…
    08/27/2015

    Thanks Ali! Love the extra tips "try this idea".

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. mtercha says…
    08/27/2015

    It's beautiful. Your photos, story, the album, all of it. So lovely, and inspiring. Thank you. Michelle t

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. jlmomma17 says…
    08/27/2015

    When you adhere the tab, are you putting it in between the back to back photos or on the outside of the photo? (Sorry if I missed that)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2015

      On the outside.

  21. lime says…
    08/27/2015

    Loved how you fit so many photos into the album without making them small 2x2's. Looking forward to start putting my pages together (once I have my photos printed (doing it out-of-house)), for some of the days I have so many photos that I like and tell a story about our life right now - now I have an idea on how to include most of them.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Msaula says…
    08/27/2015

    Love it! So inspired by all your wonderful tips!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. loripsm121 says…
    08/27/2015

    I'm sure there is a simple way to do this, but I can't seem to find it. How do you switch the word art/brushes or digital stamps for that matter from black to white in Photoshop Elements? Love seeing your work and I'm glad I'm only up to Wednesday so I can add some of your ideas in, like the 4x6s directly in, rather than doing photo flips.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2015
    2. loripsm121 says…
      08/28/2015

      Awesome. Thank you!

  24. KarenC says…
    08/27/2015

    This is wonderful! Your life is so colorful! and did you notice your food coordinates with your clothes? it's just lovely to look at. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Bingcherry says…
    08/27/2015

    Would you mind sharing what font you're using for the text on your photos?

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. desilei says…
      08/27/2015

      She is using Remington Noiseless. I wish I had it :(

    2. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2015

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