Write. Click. Scrapbook.

The Digi Route

Hi there! It's Celeste here and now you can see the final results of growing out all the dyed hair. I look a tad older, but it's certainly nice not having to spend one Saturday a month at the hairdresser!  More scrapping time for me!

Back in December, I watched as scrapper after scrapper posted their cover pages for 2012 Project Life. I was on the fence for awhile. I looked into purchasing the Project Life system from Becky Higgins and completing it in paper, but as I was adding up the costs and time I just knew I wouldn't do a great job with it. Also, by the time I made my decision most of the page protectors were sold out! I scrapbook almost exclusively digitally now, so a digital solution made more sense. Then I heard that Becky was selling the templates and kits digitally at Jessica Sprague - a low initial investment and templates too! I was sold. I purchased the Clementine kit and the templates. And started my cover page.

I saw this great cover page from Stephanie Howell and loved how she did the journaling. So I stole that idea from her. The rest came together quickly. My journey down the digital Project Life route had begun.

 

HOW I GET IT DONE...

Each week, I start with a blank page in a paper journal and I write all the days of the week on it. Then I fill in events I know are going to happen that week. Each evening, I write down other little things that happened or photographs I took. If I don't have a photo, I'll go on the web and grab one - like movie posters, photos of the interiors of restaurants, places my kids went without me, etc.

Then every Sunday, I try and sit down and put my week together. I weed through my photos and sketch out my design. Then I select my journaling cards and put it together. Some weeks, I do this very simply...

Other weeks I create more elaborate spreads...

Paula Gilarde, fellow WCSer, is also working on an annual project. She took on P365 this year, but she's doing her pages in a Project Life style. I love how she has her seven photos with a simple journaling card and some embellishing. Another digital example that makes Project Life easier!

SOMEBODY STOP ME...

I am addicted to purchasing Project Life goodies from around the web. I keep a long list of products I've bought that I'll use in upcoming weeks. So much for saving money doing it digitally! Some of my favorites include the following...

I typically use templates and I love these digital page protectors from Valorie Wibbens. She sells templates that fit them perfectly. I stick to the same design a lot as I find it takes out some of the decision making for me.

Former WCS team member Marcy Penner's Hello Forever journaling cards are amazing. I adore that Polaroid Camera and the starbursts!

Geralyn Sy's Sayings Journal Cards are bright and fun. So glad she decided to open a store and share her creations!

Robyn Meierotto's Die Cut Frame Cards look like they were cut with a Silhouette! I love how a little color from paper underneath peeks through!

Penny Springmann has a monthly themed kit that is perfect for using in Project Life. I especially love that monthly paper in this kit. I've used that paper for my title card at least once a month.

Peeps & Milo's Geometrik Love Journaling Cards - funky, fun and colorful who could ask for anything more?

Erica Hernandez is an amazing scrapper and a phenomenal digi designer. I love her graphic esthetic. These journaling card templates can be recolored however you like! CLEVER!

Those are just a few. Paper scrappers be sure to check out digital stores. Many digital designers are producing digital journaling cards in both 3x4 and 6x4 for Project Life. A lot of these cards can easily be printed and used over and over again.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, & IT'S REALLY NOT UGLY...

I set a goal for myself to take more photos in 2012 and to tell more stories. Project Life forces me to run and get my camera more often. I'm also capturing lots of little details that normally wouldn't make it into my albums. Photos of myself, photos of my husband, and just more photos all around. It really has been a great boost to my picture taking. My boys will even tell me to get my camera that this needs to go in for the week! Amazing really!

The downside is sometimes on Sunday, I don't feel like scrapping or I don't have time. I've managed to always complete the last week before the next one is over. Sometimes I don't want to bring my camera and I don't have a good camera phone so I'm forced to lug it around. Not fun! Think I can convince the husband to buy me an iPhone 4S??

Overall, I'm really pleased that I have been doing this. I feel I'm covering a lot of events that sometimes I just don't feel like scrapping later. I think I'll be really happy to cover most of Christmas this way, for instance. My boys are enjoying looking at the pages on the computer, but I plan on printing them all in a book or putting them in an album at the end of the year.

If you are participating in Project Life, I'd love to see your pages. Share them in the Flickr gallery and I'll leave some love.

Until next time...

 

ps - a few little freebies for you!

You may download itty bitties here.

 

You may download our life here and our days here.

A Week of Project Life

Welcome to a new themed week! This week we are going to talk all about Project Life. It seems that this year, Project Life has blossomed. You can find it on blogs and sites everywhere! And we have several team members that are keeping their own Project Life projects.

Before I show you my Project Life, do you all know what Project Life is all about? Well, let´s give a little background.

Becky Higgins is the mind behind this project. Think of it as photo album scrapbooking in a fast, easy, and weekly format. Becky has created several products to help make the process even easier. With page protectors in several sizes and arrangements, and note cards for decor and journaling, in just a couple of hours each week, you will have a place to keep track of your everyday life, be it photos, notes, shopping lists, receipts, report cards... anything you would like.

Here is how Becky describes Project Life on her site:

By pairing your pictures and words with these basic products, you will be able to tell your story, in your own way, resulting in a complete album. The Project Life line of products has grown to also include many other items that enhance the memory-keeping process for those who want to do more.

This week, five of us are going to show you our take on Project Life. Some of us use Becky´s products and others has made the project their own with other methods. Everyday will also have a freebie printable or two for you to use in your own Project Life albums, or for your scrapbooking pages.

 

My Album

I started my Project Life album the first week of 2012. I really wanted to use the products that have been made for the project, but as I had a hard time getting hold of them (since I don´t live in the US) I bought some page protectors that I found at my local bookstore and a binder and got started. The page protectors have four pockets, so every week make 8 pockets where I can just slide in a photo or journalingcard. 

Format

Here is a look at my third week, just to show you how a week would look like in my album. 

I often use the pockets to hold my photos. Some weeks I make most of my cards (that's what I call the things I put in the pockets) digitally. Meaning that I open my photo in PSE and add digital brushes, overlays and my journaling and then just print everything out and it is ready to put in the album. I love this option since I can work on my cards even if I am not home to use my scrapbooking supplies!

Mostly this project is hybrid for me. I bought  a few digital journling cards from different online shops that I print out and add my handwriting to and then use with my photos. This project is a great stash burner, since you can use scrap pieces from other projects to jazz up your Project Life cards. 

Some weeks have more stuff than others. This image above shows my birthday week, so I wanted to include the cute birthday cards I recieved. I simply added a smaller page protector and put it inbetween my ordinary weekly pages.

 

Photos

I have used my phones camera alot for this project. I have an app that allows me to upload and share my photos online (much like Instagram) and I download all the photos that I want to use in the album and print them out. These photos (above) show the size that they actually come out of the printer without me resizing them. They fit into the pockets fine and I still have room for journaling of whatever I cant to add to the card. 

Here (above) is an example of the phone photos in a smaller format. This was I can fit in a few more on each card and still have room for journaling.

A few times I have created photo mosiacs to be able to use lots of photos on one card. You can create mosaics on a number of online sites, but I usually use bighugelabs.com. 

And lastly I use 6x4" photos from time to time also.

 

Content

I have included all sorts of things in my album. For example, our weekly menu, movie tickets, weather forecasts, stuff from Facebook, snail mail and emails, books e are reading, creative stuff I am working on, inspirational quotes, Tv show favorites and business cards.

A few weeks I have also had a lot of words. I have made an extra pocket that I have placed over a pocket on my regular spread and placed journaling under a photo or something else. That way I can easily just flip the top pocket to read the journaling instead of getting the card out and take out any additional journaling. 

I don't just include stuff and stories that are happy. Our life goes up and down and things happen that are tough. During my third week I spent many, many hours holding my grandmothers hand while she passed away. I included that and the story that went with it. I have since then used my journaling from my Project Life album to make a special layout about that time. 

My life includes depression and anxiety. That´s in there in the album also. Some days are better than others and I tend to use the extra pockets to include hidden journaling. 

I have also included inspirational quotes, emails and comments from friends and blog readers. I am a team member of Ella Publishing's Take Twelve project and I have included my Take Twelve photos in my Project life album.

 

Thoughts

I love that I started this project. First I was afraid that this would mean I wouldn't make my ordinary scrapbooking layouts, but that has not been the case. On the contrary, I have been able to go back to see which stories I have scrabooked or not by just flipping through my Project Life album.

I haven't fallen behind (yet!) but one thing I have been struggling with is the plain and ordinary weeks when nothing special has happened. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to record the everyday, but I like to have a twist on that somehow. My solution has been to focus on a few particular things those weeks, meals, books, the weather etc. 

The thing I love the very most about how this project has affected my life, is that my husband and daughter also contribute to the album. By sending me their phone photos I can include events where I wasn't attending. I love that! I have also asked my daughter to journal about her weekends etc. 

I hope that you can take soemthing from this post and be inspired to make your own Project Life!

ps. a few little freebies for you...

Download playtime here.

 

Download colored weatherman here and the grey version here.

scrapbook!

 

Oh goodness, what a fantastic baby week! Not only did I get to see all the amazing layouts and projects from our team, but I also got to hold a tiny 5 pound baby, and loved loved loved every minute of it. I am often sad that my tiny baby stage has passed. Was I the only one to shed a tear or two while reminiscing?

(To ward of my sadness, I went ahead and slept through the night and left the house without a need for a diaper or wipes and cheered right back up!!)(Mostly.)

 

I am excited to be back with you for this scrapbook. Saturday! We have three new challenges for you that will hopefully help inspire three new pages for your albums! Back to the gallery we go for inspiration...

 

1. April Sketch

This month, we are going to base our sketch and template upon Celeste's gallery layout. Not only does this template work so well for showcasing multiple photos, but it also seems like a perfect sketch for a card.

And for your scrapbooking pleasure, we have created a layered template for you. Click here!

 

2. Trend Spotting

I often pretend to not care about trends. But that doesn't stop me from noticing them! And Diane's gallery layout uses two hot trends beautifully: hexagons and chevrons. I double dog dare you to use at least one of them on a layout! And if you try putting both on one layout, be sure to measure your proportions carefully! For example, Diane's use of the hexagons is bigger than her use of chevron, and is done is a faint hue, both of which let the patterns add to her page and not take it over.

 

3. April Printable

Monika kindly created a printable for us this month. Gosh, she is just so talented!

If you would like to take home your own copy, you just need to click here!

Look at what a cute layout she made using it!

 

Thank you for stopping by! And because you know I don't issue a challenge I am not wiling to accept, here are my layouts to go with our challenges! I hope they help inspire you to create your own!

1. April Sketch AKA Just Call Me Celeste!

2. Trend Spotting AKA Hexagons and Chevrons Sitting In A Tree

3. April Printable AKA I Love It All, Too!

 

Enjoy your weekend! Here is a challenge reminder (to add to your Pinterest account)!

Mother's Day

I love quotes and how they can more succinctly and accurately express my feelings than I can myself. And I am in the middle of a text art love affair. So for my mom this year (look away, Mom!) I made her a little something for her wall. I hope she likes it!

Here is what it looks like not framed.

If you would like one, feel free to download it here.

I was thinking I might shrink it down for a card front, too. Ooh, love when something gets twice used. Remember there are only 39 more days til Mother's Day! And if you donate 10 of those to the post office, you have just a few weeks to get your presents done!!

scrapbook!

Scrapbook. Saturday is here again and we are so excited to provide you with three challenges today.

 

1.Printable

Continuing with our mini album a day theme for March, today I'd like to share with you some journaling prompts I created some time ago.  Although they're shown in a mini book format, they would make equally charming additions to your scrapbook layouts, cards and perhaps even Project Life albums. Hi there, Monika Wright here with you on this scrapbook. Saturday to share the mini book I created using the free printable you'll see at the end of the post.

 

Life Is Great | Monika Wright

Prompt | Simply the Best

Journaling | Best of Friends...Best of Times! Aruba, June 2008

Prompt | One Fine Day

Journaling | Our View of the Mountains...on Zach's 13th birthday. {he's now 20} November 2005

Prompt | She Said

Journaling | Yes! It was her best decision ever! October 2008

Download your mini book journaling prompts and have fun creating! To see more details of this mini book, and how I designed the front cover, click here.

 

 

 Marnie used them to create a layout, too. (In case you don't like to make albums! gasp!!)

 

2. Sketch

Aly's minialbum offers up the perfect sketch for either a page or an album.

You may download a layered template here. Dimensions are shown for a 5x5 page.

 

3. Design Element Challenge

Did  you notice how plain old corrugated cardboard crept into a handful of albums? Did you love it? Maybe you could try it. Perhaps with a little washi tape and twine?

 

Thanks for stopping! Have fun with the challenges!

Until next time...

scrapbook!

Welcome to Scrapbook! Saturday. Are you glad to be back to the land of scrapbooking? Thank you, again for spending your week with me!

 

This week, we are loaded with goodies. A sketch by Donna, a design challenge, and a printable! Scrapbook Saturdays are the best!

 

February Sketch

Donna has created a sketch for us based upon her layout in the gallery. Here it is.

And for those who prefer, we have again created a layered digital template for you to download and enjoy! You may download it here.

 

Design Challenge

Did you notice how many layouts this month contained lists? Whether randomly scattered, listed in a column, placed inside a design element, or created with visual cues, there are many ways to write out a list of items. This month, especially, lists seem appropriate and helpful.

 

Printable

A couple of music things for your pages. Enjoy!

You may download it here.

 

Here are my challenge layouts:

1. February Sketch

I changed it up a little, squaring off the tipped photos, and switching up their sizes a bit. I tried to leave the photos askew but I just couldn't!

2. Design Challenge

Lists. Such an efficient way to journal.

3. Printable

Here is my layout using one of the elements from the printable.

Thanks for stopping by!! Before you go, I wanted to let you know about some fun things going on at reneepearson.com.

First, this weekend they are running a contest to win a seat in Molly Newman's new class. Here's the skinny.

Want to win one of three seats in iShot That, the iPhone photo class by Molly & Jim Newman? Then you want to participate in our iShot That Twitter Contest. All you have to do is:

1. Go to their contest page and answer the question, “What’s your #1 iPhone photo subject?”
2. Follow @reneenews and tweet about the contest.

The contest ends this Sunday. They’ll announce the winners on Monday, February 20^th.

 

Next, there are two new classes open for registration.

• iShot That by Molly and Jim Newman  -  Start date February 20 
• It’s Elemental by Tiffany Tillman  -  Start date March 12

 

Please take a minute to stop by and visit Renee's site to see the class descriptions and details!   

 

We hope you enjoy the sketch and printable; please remember they are for personal use only! That's it! Three more challenges to help get your ideas moving and those pages finished!

Have a great week! I'll be back next week!

Showing Off - Lunchbox Love

Thank you for spending your week with me! I hope you know how much I love scrapbooking. I love the products, the people and all that scrapbooking is and does. I love the friendships I have made. I love how it helps me focus on my family. I love how my pages reflect me and how they tell our family's love story. I really hope that even though we aren't discussing scrapbooking this week, you still know how much I love my pages.

And I should thank Lavender for standing in for me on the bio photo. The one on record has blonde hair and well, I don't anymore, so I thought maybe Lulu could take my place for this week! She's cuter, anyway!

For our final day, I want to talk with you about a two more little things we can do to sprinkle our lives with our talents.

This year Poppy started grade one. (Or first grade as she wants me to say!!) Which meant that this year, she needed a lunchkit. In trying to get everything perfect for her first day, I realized that I was missing her box. Ack!

But then I remembered how a few years back, we were all making lunchbox albums, and I have a handful of leftover white boxes downstairs. I dashed down, grabbed one, and headed to the computer to make something that would make it more personal. This is what we ended up with.

But if one is making their own, you may as well switch it often, no? We thought monthly would be fun!

It only takes a few minutes but yet it makes Poppy so very happy. And apparently the lunch ladies get a giggle out of it, too!

 

And what would lunch be without personalized notes? I just started this in January, and am so glad I did. Poppy comes home each day, takes it out of her lunchbox and sticks it to the fridge. She tells everyone how she is waiting to fill the whole fridge with my love! (I know, there is a layout in there waiting to happen!)

You have been such a great audience this week, that I wanted to leave you with a little treat. So here are lunch notes you can use if you would like. Just go here to download them.

Thanks again for a great week! It's been fun celebrating your talents and how they can go beyond the pages in our albums!

until next time,

Showing Off: Place Cards & Tags

 This week, I thought we could chat about all the ways we put our mad scrapbooking skills to use that have little to do with formal scrapbooking! The skills we now possess don't only help us create fun pages, but also so much more! Sure, they don't make the bed or do windows, but they do come in handy for other things...

Today we are going to focus on place cards and tags.

 

The Backstory

Long ago I fell more than just a little bit in love with fonts. I love the mood they create. I love how they make my pages so pretty and error free. I love how I can space them to my liking. I love how I can change their color.

I have long used fonts on my pages. Before photoshop, I did everything in WordPerfect. (I, to this day, have WordPerfect on my computer and think it a near-perfect program. Word has nothing on it... Just sayin'...) I tell you this as everything we are going to do today can be done in a word processing program, photoshop is not required. My 13 year old son uses Google Docs for nearly everything he does at school these days, and he could probably do most of it with that. (I'm too old to learn a new product at this point. Apologies.)

 

Placecards

I have always loved a well set table. I grew up in Canada where my mom's jumping off point for manners was the fact that The Queen could possibly come for dinner one day and would we know how to behave. ("Would you put you elbow on The Queen's table?" "Would you put your feet up on The Queen's coffee table?" I had such reverence for the whole notion that I would fall into immediate and complete compliance. I have since tried it on my kids, to much less avail...)

So with a table set properly enough for a queen to appear, one must have place cards. Admittedly, the nice ones only get printed for holidays. Here are ours from the past two Thanksgivings.

(and, yes, I realize there is no salad fork. It wasn't my table...)

 

(Sorry, I did the turkey this year, so the pictures are a bit spotty.)

Two years ago, the names were printed and the owls matched the centerpieces. It was very fancy. (heehee!) This past year, I printed generic placecards and the girls hand wrote all the names. (And yes, I kept them. I love I'm-learning-to-print handwriting.)

I could have purchased some, but why? I am a scrapbooker. I have the skills to make my own. You do, too!

First, divide your document into four to eight cards. From there just add a little digital element (You know mine will most likely come from Crystal. My product crushes run deep and long.) and a bit of text, or the names, or whatever you would like. Here is how mine looked all on one sheet.

This one is just into halves, so I didn't add any trim lines. That way if my trimmer isn't straight (really? how is that possible? grr...) it doesn't leave lines behind.

Here are the 2010s all on one paper. In hindsight, eight per page might have made them a tiny bit too small, but I suffer from Frugality disease.

For paper, I used bulk white cardstock from the Office Supply section. I suppose I should have used linen paper though, in case the queen had arrived. Next year...

 

Handmade placecards. A small touch, but one I wouldn't have done before I scrapbooked. And such a sweet addition to a holiday table.

 

 TAGS

We like to share treats from our house. The girls love to be the delivery people and present the items with great flourish. And while the treat is important, the most beloved part for me is making the tags.

Again, just a little bit of digi product, a few fonts, some white cardstock, and a trimmer and you are good to go. Sometimes I get a bit crazy and bring in a punch or two. Just because I have them. Because I am a scrapbooker and I have cool tools!!

Here are a few sheets of the ready-to-be-printed tags that we have made this past year.

Teacher Appreciation

Year End Teacher Gift

Holiday Tags

And, lastly, Valentine's Treats.

And here are how they look attached:

Aren't you glad you are a scrapbooker so that you possess such fun and helpful skills??

Oooh, don't forget to print one more than you need so you will have it for your scrapbook pages or project life!

 

Please come back tomorrow so we can explore more cool ways to use our skills!

 

But before I go, what would a day of love be without a little present? My cousin gave her husband a year of dates for Christmas! Such a snazzy idea! And perfect for Valentine's day, don't you think?

I put together three pages of printable pages that you can cut out and put together to create a year of dates for your sweetheart. I wanted to make something that could be gathered back together for a minialbum, which means you need to remember to take pictures on your dates!! (Isn't scrapbooking fun??)

download page 1
download page 2
download page 3

I hope you like it!

until tomorrow,

Love Week | Day 3

Ok, today I am sharing a few things that you can make and give to your Valentine. I don´t know about you, but once Valentine´s Day is approaching I often tend to thing of projects like 10 things I love about you and such. But I have done that already, both for my husband and my daughter. Don´t get me wrong, I can happily list more than 10 things I love about both, but I need to come up with new things from time to time. For this year I am planning to cook. Yes, I have a private cook...in my husband :) My husband cooks all the meals in this house, year round. But on Valentine´s Day, I am going to try to suprise him and my daughter with dinner and dessert. I got my inspiration from Rebecca Gough and her dinner at eight blog series, where she shares supercute simple dates with her husband.  

Now, I am a girl that loves to get a card or two now and then. So, I have created 4 free printable cards that you can download and print, fold and voila! Instant Valentines!

Here is the "manly version." ;) Using digital kits from Crystal Wilkerson I created these cards with a more unisex color scheme if you will.

And here are the more traditionally colored cards. I hope that you can use these for something this Love day!

A few years ago during a cold winter, I made rice handwarmers for my daughter. This year I made one more pair + this bigger version. It is about as big as a dinner plate and I will use it on cold evenings to warm up her bed before she goes to bed. I know that she is 12, but she needs heat even if she isn´t a baby anymore, right?! It is made just as the handwarmers, but bigger.

How to: Cut your heart shape out in a fleece fabric (you can certainly use other fabric types as well!) and sew with your machine around the heart and leave a small opening where you can add your rice. After you have added the rice just sew the gap too. Warm in a microwave about 15 seconds, depending on the size and the power of your microwave. Another great use for it is to warm up a car seat for a loved one or your baby's carseat.

 

Have you tried needle felting before? It is actually really easy. You will need a felting needle, whool and a piece of foam rubber and in this case a cookie cutter shaped as a heart.

You will start adding some wool into the cookie cutter and begin to pin the needle up and down so that the needle will pull the wool down into the foam rubber. Be careful though!

Gradually add more wool. You want it to be real firm. I usually take the felted wool out of the cookie cutter from time to time and turn it over so that I can see how the other side is coming along. 

When you think it is firm and thick enough you can add a pin and you have a nice little gift for someone you love or perhaps yourself to spread some love around you ♥

 

Another one of our newest team members, Emily Spahn, made this piece of art for her husband. 

Perhaps you can bake some goodies and use Tuesday's free download to write a note on.

 

Kelly Jeppson made a lovely CD cover using some of Crystal Wilkerson's digital goodies.

On Pinterest I have found a few cute cards and gifts that you can make yourself! 

Lisa Dickinson for KI Memories:

Nora Griffins Mother´s Day card could easily be used as a Valentine´s Day card.

Such a cute craft and gift by Amy Morby!

And finally, here are two freebies for your treats. Here is a multicolor treat topper:

or if you prefer, you may download the pink and grey treat topper!

Have fun and craft on!

Love Week | Day 2

Well, hello love! I remember being in England as an exchange student when I was 13 and a random lady said that to me :)

How did yesterday's post go down? Perhaps you found something you felt was doable for next week??!!

Today I will be talking about scrapbooking. As I prepared for this week's postings I flipped through my albums to see if I had any Valentine´s Day layouts and I found one (1)! 

 

It is a layout that I made in 2009 after a lovely Valentine´s Day we had together. This was the year that I decided to do something nice for him, even though he thinks that this day isn´t anything to celebrate. We had the loveliest time! 

 

I did however find quite a few layouts that feature love ♥

My daughter took this photo of my husband and I on our 9th wedding anniversary last year. I was on a bannner high at the moment and used a printable one for this page. 

 

Amy Sorensen send this cutie layout for me to share with you!

 

In 2010 we had a little short photoshoot on Valentine´s Day! Of course I had to scrapbook it :)

 

Another anniversary photo (7th) that I just wanted to save in my album.

 

A layout that features just my husband (which is, when I think about it, very rare!).

 

I also found a few lovey dovey ones about my Sadie dog ♥

 

Here is a layout that I made just a few weeks ago. If you look carefully...

you will see another download made from Crystal Wilkerson's digital goodies!

You can either click on the image and then just right click + save the image or download the free pdf by clicking the link above. These are the smaller thought bubbles you can download the larger ones here.

If you use it in a project, please share it with us!

 

Kelly Jeppson made this darling layout using two of the journaltags!

 Be sure to come back tomorrow as I share some things you can give away to your Valentine.