Project Life: Week 8

Another Week documented using Becky Higgins Project Life.

 

All the cards and most of the embellishments are from the Studio Calico Monthly Project Life subscription kit.  

  

Title Card.  

I'm loving all the enamel dots that have been in the kits lately.  They are replacing my former addiction to buttons.  

Have you seen how people are making their own dots now?  Time to break out the Pony Beads and Perler Beads and give it a try.  More on that later. 

Left Side Page.  

Incorporating pictures from my iPhone, DSLR and Little K's iPad this week. 

Right Side Page - using Design G.  

It's smaller than the rest of the 12 X 12 pages - and would probably work better as an insert - but it was the perfect ratio of Horizontal to Vertical slots for my needs. 

There is a Pull Out Tab under the Glow Bowling Picture.

With a copy of our Bowling Scores.  I remember once - a long time ago - that I used to be a Good Bowler.  Not so much anymore - but we had a lot of fun.  I blame it on the Lights. 

Project Life: Week 7

I finished this weekly spread of Project Life only a few weeks ago, and already I have forgotten some of the sweet events of our daily life.  

Spending a little time reminiscing as I photograph and post about the past few weeks.

Since it was the week of Valentines Day - the color theme had to include Red.

I always start out by printing the photos I want to include - and take my clue from the colors in the pictures.  

Then I sort through my cards and choose ones that work well with the colors in my photos.  

Close Up of Left Hand Side.  

Even though the main colors this week were Red and Black - I didn't want to limit myself.  This is real life, and life is colorful.  So I include photos with all kinds of colors - even if they were not a perfect match. 

I participated in the Monthly Photo Challenge Ten on Ten - and created a collage incorporating my photos from throughout the day into one 4 X 6 photo (I didn't manage to get all 10 photos taken - that's why there are only 8 pictures in the collage).

I used a little selective coloring to highlight the color of the Rose in this tiny picture.  I fussy cut the edges of the ticket and slipped the photo underneath.  

The title card is made from simple black card stock with other elements layered on top.  

Even though the format of the title cards change each week - I almost always include the same details:

 - Week Number (using dimensional stickers)

 - Month

 - Date Stamp with week dates (I am documenting my weeks as Monday through Sunday)

Close Up of Right Hand Side. 

Cards used this week are all from the Studio Calico Project Life Monthly kit - with a few embellishments from my stash.  

Project Life: Week 6

All of the cards for this weeks layout are from the New Becky Higgins Themed Cards Planner pack.

The bright colors make me happy.  This pack has design details including push pins and paper clips (since it's Planner themed) - but it's also just a sweet combination of happy elements that seem to work with many of my photos.  My favorite are the cloud cards.  

Close Up of the Left Hand Page.  All the journaling was by hand this week.  I usually like to include mostly printed journal cards (since I'm not a big fan of my handwriting), but that takes a little more time.  Writing by hand was the best choice this week.  

 

I don't like when I have to use a vertical Title Card. Not sure why I'm stuck on the Title always being in that upper left place.  I've seen plenty of layouts that look great with different title card placements - something about me needs some consistency throughout the album.  Especially since I'm not using one single core kit for the entire year.  

I made the calendar card using the Free - fully customizable tools at this cool site = Time and Date .  Since I do my weeks beginning on Monday - it's often hard to find an annual calendar set up the way I like.  I even made my own weekly check sheet using their tools.  

Some of the embellishments are from the Studio Calico January PL Kit, like the green star clip.  

I love to include memorabilia in our Project Life albums, but try to limit them to small/thin things.  After my first year where I included everything from food packets to pencils, I've learned to keep it simple so the albums don't "explode".  Ticket Stubs are a perfect simple addition. 

Close Up of the Right Hand Side.  

Don't freak out over the picture of my Mum's Eye.  It's showing the stitches from her recent Cornea Transplant (look close in the outside corner of her iris and you can see them).  

Project Life : Week 5

Keeping it Current.  I've had this week completed for awhile, but just not posted.

All of the cards and embellishments (I only used a few) are from the Studio Calico Project Life monthly subscription kit. 

LOVE these cute "location" shaped numbers.  

Close Up of the Left Hand Side.  Weather has been a big thing around these parts (we are experiencing a terrible drought so even a few rain drops is Project Life worthy). 

Remember when I talked about using that cool Flip Pocket last week?  And how I should have adhered it to a picture instead of to the pocket (you can read about it here).

This is what I mean (see up there by the yellow arrow).  Even though the added flip pocket is transparent - you can still see where it is attached.  If I was thinking ahead - I would have attached last weeks flip pocket to the back of this weeks picture.  

Close Up of the Right Hand Side.

It was a busy week.  I included 2 inserts.  Each one was 6 X 12.  I was able to keep the color theme of Blue and Orange throughout the inserts as well (that was a total accident). 

Each insert has a little punched tab attached to the pocket page protector.

The second insert - also 6 X 12 was a pocketed insert.  I love it when the colors come together.  

Getting ready to post about Week 6. 
Moving right along - how about you?

Project Life: Week 4

I feel like I am getting into a groove.  I'm finding a routine that works for me.  My goal is to be done and posted/blogged by Wednesday, even though I haven't made that schedule yet.

I think my downfall is that I'm not scheduling enough time on Mondays to work on Project Life.  I need to re-allocate time on my calendar.

The cards used this week were again from the Project Life Seafoam Core Kit and Studio Calico January Project Life Kit.

I am a big fan of Green and Orange (not just at Halloween time) so the colors in this layout make me happy. 

 

Left Hand Side of the Page.

 

Right Hand Side of the Page. 

 

Title Card using letter and number stickers, washi tape and jillibean soup labels.

 

I made a Flip Up Pocket showing several different views of an afternoon Shopping Trip with Little K. 

You can incorporate 3 different photos (or journaling) in the same space.

 

I made a "lift" tab from washi tape that I thought would show what to do.  My husband nearly tore the flap off as he tried to "pull"  the picture flap.  I'll be adding the words "lift" to that little washi tape tab.    

It's a great way to show the progression of a single event without taking up too many spots in your week.  

I first saw this idea from Barbara on Instagram.  She also did a tutorial on her blog.  

They are made using these clear adhesive backed flip pockets.  I should have thought thought it through a bit more before I stuck the flip pocket to the back of the page protector pocket.  It works great for this week, but in that spot next week (on the back side) you will be able to see the adhesive. 

Next time I'll get it right.  

I had some fun modifying one of the Seafoam 3 X 4 cards.  

The original card says "Remember This". 

I punched out just the word "this" and added some stickers to complete the phrase I wanted for this picture.  

I also used it on a picture of my husband.  I cut away the rest of the card and left a strip beneath the word "this" and again added my own phrase with stickers and embellishments.

(oops, looks like my picture is slipping out of the pocket - Hate when that Happens)

I wonder if this would be considered a Project Life Hack?

Project Life: Week three

I fell a little behind this week, but I did manage to get the layout done and posted....so I'm happy.

I don't love the color combination - I call it Melon and Blue.  I was hoping it would turn out more exciting, but it falls a little flat.

I try to pull colors from my weekly photos when choosing the cards and embellishments.  Some weeks flow together easily - this was not one of those weeks.

The Title and "Remember This" cards are from the Seafoam Core Kit.  Other Cards and embellishments are from the January Studio Calico Project Life kit.

I tend to take a lot of vertical pictures, so I like the vertical slots of Pocket Page Design B, but it really bugs me to have a Vertical Title Card the following week.  

I'm trying to get over it......

 

I used large Letter Stickers on the Title Card.  I like to keep some of the elements consistent through out the year, so you will see some version of this each week in my 2014 album.

I pulled out my vintage Rotex Label Maker to add some black label accents.

The Studio Calico kit included these cute puffy asterisk stickers in coordinating colors.

I used them on several of the cards, as well as some washi tape to add color onto the mostly white journaling cards.  

Not much handwriting this week - most of the journaling cards were printed on the computer.  I push myself to  include my handwriting because I know it's important....but I doesn't have to be all the time. 

Project Life: Week Two

Not too many embellishments in this weeks Project Life spread.

I usually let the colors in the photos dictate what the color scheme for the week is.  As usual, this spread is a combination of various core kits and subscription kits, as well as other pocket cards. 

LEFT SIDE PAGE 

Keeping with my plan for the year, I used stickers for the Week number on the Title Card.

I decided to jump on the sequin band wagon (albeit a little later than everyone else).

I never saw what the appeal was of random scattered sequins, but since they have been in my Studio Calico Project Life kits nearly every month - I figured it was time to give them a try.  There was a little packet that contained a small mix of sequins in exactly the right colors.

I'm still undecided as to weather I like them or not, but I'm happy to give them a try.  One of the reasons I like getting the kits - it makes me use things I might otherwise pass on.  

They are growing on me!

RIGHT SIDE PAGE

I've always liked using arrows to match jouranling cards to the corresponding pictures.  I know many people never used the arrow stickers that came with the original Project Life core kits - I actually ran out of them my first year.

This Arrow Punch is one of my favorite tools and you will see it throughout my pages.

This week I added some iridescent glitter glue on top of the punched card arrows for an extra shine - I couldn't let the sequins on the page be the only thing that sparkled.

 I'm running behind for Week 3.  Usually by now (Thursday) I have several pictures already printed.  I'm not even sure I have taken any pictures this week.  Hopefully next week won't be a complete fail, but I have a feeling there will be some extra filler cards used.  

Project Life: Week One

It's only Wednesday and I've finished Week One and I'm already Posting about it.  

Last year I did a good job keeping current (at least for the first 6 months) but never made time to upload/post/blog.  I've gotten so much inspiration form all the other PL participants - I'm committed to sharing my pics this year.  

I used only a few simple embellishments this week - mostly from the Studio Calico monthly kit.  Loving the transparent overlays.

Every year I like to keep the format of the Title Cards somewhat consistent throughout the album.  This year  I plan on using Thickers to call out the Weeks.  I won't necessarily use the same color/style each week, but the fact that they will all be dimensional, and directly placed  onto the Title Card will 

keep them unified.  

Close Up of the Left Hand Page.

One thing I consistently struggle with, is hand written journaling.  I know it's important to have my personal handwriting included as part of these memories...but I really don't like how it looks.  Mostly because I'm a terrible speller, plus if the words aren't positioned aesthetically on the card - it drives me NUTS (yes....I know I have issues).

I may have found a solution.  Instead of journaling in black or brown as I have done mostly in the past.  I used a complimentary (lighter) color.  Any mistakes that I don't like - blend into the page better - instead of Jumping Up and screaming...."Look at what a mess this is".  

Close Up of the Right Hand Page. 

I probably need more explanation of what's going on in these pictures, but instead of stressing about it - I forged ahead and completed the week with minimal journaling.  

There are 51 more weeks to go - plenty of time to write more later.