Project Life: Weeks 1 - 9

My supplies - stickers, date stamp, stamp pad, Midnight Edition Core Kit, journaling cards, scissors, pen, corner rounder and Heritage Edition cloth album.

1 - 5 January 2014

6 - 12 January 2014

13 - 19 January 2014

20 - 26 January 2014

27 January - 2 February 2014

 27 January 2014 / 3 - 9 January 2014

10 - 16 February 2014

17 - 23 February 2014

24 February - 2 March 2014

I've been meaning to share my Project Life album with you since I first began it at the start of the year, but until yesterday, I still didn't have an actual album to put my pages in. My local craft shop has finally restocked their albums, and now my pages have a home.

I have gotten in to a rhythm each Sunday evening of going over the photos from the week, editing them and uploading them to an online printing site (I use Harvey Norman because it is convenient to me). I pick them up from the shop on our way to the weekly family dinner, to save on postage, and eagerly cut them up and slip them in their places once we get home again. 

To make the smaller images, I use picmonkey.com and this tutorial to print two 3 x 4 images on a normal 4 x 6 print. I also use picmonkey.com collage to put the white bars beside the instagram images. I draw a little map of where the images will go and tuck them in to an empty page while I wait for the photos to be printed, and often write the journaling cards and stamp the dates on one of the printed cards at the same time. I keep a note in my diary of what has happened each day, or funny things the kids have said, that I want to record in the album.

When I started I decided on a week to an opening, which has been working well for all but one spread of the nine. This worked out anyway, as I had enough photos for three pages for week 5, but only enough photos for one page for week 6. 

Already I am enjoying being able to flick back over the year and see all these little, wonderful snippets from our everyday life. I was a bit worried about whether I could make the commitment, but I'm less worried now, as I am enjoying how simple it is. I've realised I just like to keep the pages simple and not use many embellishments, but include things like the Valentine's card and paper flower Cohen made us. I wanted it to be less 'scrapbooky', more photo album with notes, where the layout of the photos helps tell the story. 

I love how it reminds me to document our everyday, to stop and take notice of all that happened in the week past.

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I'm guest posting all this week at the Bespokezine blog. I'll be talking about all things jewellery, inspiration and small business. Do pop over and say hi!

Project Life

I realised recently that I had a bit of a problem with my 'memory keeping' skills. This was about the time that it came to my attention that it had been two years since I had had any photos for the dear old photo album printed. Which meant that our photo album had no knowledge of Emerson's birth or existence, along with a hundred other things. Bad Mama. The task had certainly gotten away from me and seemed quite, quite overwhelming. I kept putting it off, then feeling guilty it. Dave's assistance became necessary, as I finally began the mammoth task of compiling and editing thousands of images over the holidays. Several hours and 800+ photos printed later, the situation is almost remedied. I have been sorting the final stack of photos in to chronological order while repeatedly promising myself not to repeat this particular turn of events. Now to slip them in to the photo album as if nothing happened...

It occurred to me that I needed a different system. (Or any system at all.) Then I was reminded of 'Project Life', which I have stumbled upon on various blogs over the years. Inspired by the likes of Pink Ronnie and many a Pinterest pin, I visited Spotlight and brought myself a starter kit and some accessories. And I think I am on to a win. Combining my love of photography and craft with my desire to create something precious to hold our memories? Tick!

I'm really looking forward to working on this project this year. Of course, I'm a little concerned that my resolve and commitment may waiver throughout the year, especially given I have a baby due in May. But I am pleasantly optimistic. I'll keep you posted.

Any one else have their own 'Project Life'? 

How do you keep track of all your family photos?

Anyone else been as naughty as me when it comes to staying up to date?