Project Life Wednesday
Do you know 2012 was my fourth year doing Project Life and I have never totally completed an album?
True story.
But 2012 is going to be the album that changes things!
This week I made a video to show the five spreads I completed yesterday (YEOW!). I thought it was the best way to show you all the layouts that I have completed over the holiday break.
I still have to finish December, but I think I can get that banged out this next week, so expect another video next week wrapping up 2012. 🙂
Becky Higgins is reporting that the new Project Life kits for 2013 will be in by the end of this week. I will be sure to post when the kits are available – both here and on Facebook. I’m planning on ordering the seafoam kit.
I plan to share my first 2013 layouts on January 15.
Can’t wait to see your pages below. Also do you have any Project Life questions for me? I thought I could do an FAQ post about Project Life, my process, what I have found works well, what doesn’t, etc. Please leave your thoughts/questions in the comments. 🙂
First year and I will complete it. Haven’t got December done yet, but I plan on ordering pictures tonight. I got my 18 year old cousin (a boy) doing it this year. That was his graduation present last year and since he decided to work for a year before starting nursing school, he saved it to start this year. It will be so much fun us doing it together! Plus I think I’ve almost got our cousin convinced to document her 50th year with PL. And this year I think I will try to blog some of my layouts and link up with you 🙂 Great job, Jessica!!
That’s so cool that your cousin is doing it too. I love convincing others to do Project Life. 🙂
Are you just FREAKING OUT at the prospect of having a whole year complete! Amazing! Way to go, Jessica. I’m still working on the exact weeks that you showcases in the video, so I’m not too incredibly far behind you. I’m hoping to get caught up within a couple weeks so I can jump in to 2013 when Seafoam arrives!
Question: I know you’re a Sunday-Saturday gal as well, so how are you handling the break between 2012 and 2013 with the New Year starting on a Tuesday? I’m thinking of just repeating a very similar layout at the end of my 2012 book and then using the same photos to create the first layout in 2013, but with the Seafoam stuff. Thoughts?
My last week will be longer to accommodate through Dec. 31.
My first week of my new album will consequently be shorter, as I plan to start on Jan. 1. I don’t plan to duplicate any photos.
Moving forward, I will keep my Sunday – Saturday format.
And YES, I am freaking out. SO darn proud of myself, especially with as crazy as 2012 was. 🙂
You have got so much done!!! Loved seeing a peek of your album 🙂
Thanks!
Awesome! I was SO behind. The last week I had completed was Sept. 23. But on Christmas Day my husband wrangled the kids and I got to sit and work all afternoon. Right now I’m finishing up my December spreads and then I’ll be finished. Such an awesome feeling. I was dreading starting 2013, and even considered not doing it, but now I’m actually looking forward to starting a new book.
I know that feeling of dread. Being so behind you wonder, is it worth it? But every year, I have started over – even when the previous year was unfinished because IT IS WORTH IT. Our families’ stories matter. Kudos to you for getting it done! And aren’t we blessed to have husbands who get it?! 🙂
Hi, Jessica! I am working on an elementary school project life album. It’s my first time using the system. I really like the process so far but I am curious what different products you use to label on top of pictures/protectors. Since I’m printing 3×4 and 4×6 photos, I don’t have space below or next to a picture (like you would with a 12×12 page) to add journaling separate from the picture itself. (I am leaving a slot completely open for titles/journaling but sometimes I want to add a bit more information about a particular photo that isn’t covered in the general journaling slot). Do you put labels directly onto the pictures or on top of the page protectors in the appropriate spot? What types of labels do you use? What markers do you use to write on the pictures themselves? Also, I have some page flippers from Paper Adventures that I bought years ago that have been great when I don’t want a separate insert but want to add a flipped page for additional photos. Do you use or your readers have any other recommendations for similar type products that help add photos without needing a whole other page/insert. And…on a separate note…what is the deal with washi tape? Not sure I understand its use/appeal. Thanks! And Happy New Year!
Is it very expensive to do Project Life with the kit and all? I don´t need an exact number of course but about how much do you spend per month in project life, including the picture printing and kits
I can’t speak to the cost of doing Project Life with a physical kit but can tell you what it cost me to do it digitally for 2012. I bought a few digital kits and templates during the year which cost me about $25. No printing costs, no paper, no albums, no page protectors. I sent my digital book to be printed last week.
I ordered a 12×12 hard cover with 105 pages (with custom front and back covers) for $109.
My total cost for one year of Project Life is about $135.
I worked on my 2012 album yesterday. I use PL to put ALL my pictures in. I am extremely behind, but I got a lot done yesterday. I am on March of 2012. And March is a big month for pictures since my parents are usually here for a month. Yesterday I worked on it almost all day. I put in 164 (!!) pictures, using the Clementine kit with matching patterned paper, different page protectors and a bit of washi tape here and there. I keep it simple or I will never get all my pictures in. Still have so much more to do for March. But i made a big dent in it. 🙂
I enjoy your posts!! Thank you.
This year I is t do a PL style album. I am still working on 2012. We moved and it slowed things down. This year I am doing a mini album with similar concepts but only hitting the highlights. Only rule is I can not buy anything for the album I have tons of stuff and feel its time to use it or donate it so I am using what I can then will donat the rest by the end of the year 🙂
Love your blog!!!
Being done is exhilarating! So worth the diligence. It helped me in December that I was doing December Daily, because I just chose to do December Daily in a format that would slide in with Project Life. That way I didn’t get behind on PL while focusing on DD.
I look forward to seeing your 2013 pages on the 15th!
I absolutely love how you make Project Life seem so doable. In May I am expecting my first baby and just ordered the baby kit to make her baby book. I am SO excited. I’m also contemplating doing a 2013 album of our family life but I was wondering if you think (since you’ve done PL before and had a newborn before) tackling two albums at once would be too much. Also, since she’s our first child I’m wondering if there would be a lot of overlap in both albums. Any thoughts or opinions that you–or anyone else–has on this are welcome and appreciated. Thanks!
I have done Project Life every year since my daughter was born 4 years ago, and now I just got the baby kit for baby boy who is due this month (and I think I’ll get one to go back and do one for my daughter because the kit is so amazing). So I’ll be doing a baby album and still doing the normal Project Life this year — different since I already have a child BUT I would do both if I were you:). It’s really really fun to document every single day of your child’s life and then the baby album will be great for more of those milestone/firsts type things:)
I read in one of you posts that you worked on your Project Life on the road. That would be awesome! How do you organize and do that? Thanks!
I edited photos on my laptop while in the passenger seat. 🙂 That said, I did most of my editing, layout planning and photo printing at my in-laws. I simply packed my album, a pack of pages, my journaling cards + journaling pen and I was good to go. I printed photos at the local Walgreens and inserted 5 weeks worth of photos at my in-laws too. 🙂
What do you recommend for the printing of Instagram pics? I generally use Picasa to edit and create collages from my DSLR and iphone pics but I haven’t looked into the easiest way to print from Instagram.
Love your blog! Thanks for the motivation. I have pictures back to July waiting to be placed in my album but I am not giving up!
Thanks so much!
Would love to know what you do with vacations? Do you just do a few pics and make a separate album (PL?) (photobooks?) or do you just add tons of Inserts ? Also same question for birthdays . I saw that you make a photobooks for bdays do you also add those to the PL album ?
Thanks so much for sharing all you do
Love your album and love that you are almost finished with 2012 so exciting!! I am almost there as well:) I like how you cut the journaling card that you put on the picture! Love that look! Thanks for sharing and being such an inspiration to other project lifers!!
So exciting that you will have a finished album for 2012!! Can’t wait to see your pages for 2013 🙂
I just discovered Project Life and am starting with 2013. I’m a little unsure about how to start and am looking for lots of ideas! Very glad to have found your blog! Any tips to share for my first week?
Hi friend 🙂 I’m not sure you have answered this before but when you do a mass print when you are behind how do you print the different sizes, do you plan the layouts of each one you are behind on and then print? Just trying to get an idea of what to do that will be cheap. Also do you edit all your photos? that’s not a PL question persay just curious 🙂
I remembered that you had mentioned doing a FAQ about Project Life. I think it would be a great idea to share everyone’s favorite products that they use with Project Life (ex: pens). Thanks!!!
Perfect. I’ll add it to my list.
I keep missing the Project Life Tuesday Link TOol. Is it only open on Tuesdays? Thanks.
I just received my PL and am not sure what to put in it. LOL! I am a grandmother who stays at home and has not taken pictures of her 10 grandchildren because they don’t live near me. I do have school photos that were sent, but none from this year (2013). I’m not sure what to put in my PL binder, for photos that is. I am just now taking photos of food I make and capturing screens on my computer of things I love.
Any help you can give me would be appreciated.
My friend Sara was homebound and still was able to take a picture of something different every day for her project life album. Check out Gitz Bits on her blog for loads of inspiration: http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com/#uds-search-results
where do you get your Project Life supplies? I really want to start one but don’t know where to start by getting the stuff. thank you for your time
Everything is available on Amazon. Click on any of the links in this post. 🙂