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.
