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kelleykreates
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 37,012
April 2002
Posts: 5,012
Layouts: 54
Loc: Lehigh Valley, PA
 |  Posted: 1/22/2013 7:15:40 AM
So I've been doing Project Life for a couple of years now, or rather, trying to Project Life. I started back in 2009 with the first Becky Higgins Project 365 kit. I didn't last very long trying to take a photo a day and so that very quickly ended. I skipped PL for the next few years because I just didn't feel I could keep up with it. Tried it again for 2012. Used a Becky Higgins kit. I again used the photo a day approach. I did get farther than in 2009 but I still fell behind and I am now feverishly trying to fill in the blank spaces. I decided to give it one last try in 2013 but I've changed a few things about my approach and I'm finding it is better than ever. I know we are only 3 weeks in but I thought my tips might help someone else feeling overwhelmed.
1- I no longer try the one photo every day. I now do a weekly overview. This is much easier to keep up with and I don't panic if I haven't picked up a camera in a few days. And now I can use more than one photo from any given day. Much less pressure on myself.
2- I still use a Becky Higgins kit (Cobalt) but her kits have gotten easier to use. I like that all of the cards are 2-sided. So on one side I have my journaling but the next week I don't have any photos or journaling to fill in. I just leave the backside of the card as a decoration and it looks really nice. That takes off a lot of pressure too. I don't necessarily have to come up with something for each pocket.
3- I now print both vertically and horizontally. I used to only print horizontally and that left me with 8 vertical slots to fill up with something (I use protector A). Now I will print some photos vertically to fit in the 3x4 pockets. My Epson printer allows me the option of printing a Jumbo wallet, which is 2 3x4's on one 4x6 sheet. Easy.
4- I also like cutting a 4x6 horizontal photo in half to fit the 3x4 pockets. This means I'm not limited in how many 4x6 pockets I have. I have used this technique in my ds's PL baby book and I really like it. It doesn't work for every photo but some lend themselves to this technique quite nicely.
5- I bought some files for my Silhouette that fit the PL theme and I can cut them from cardstock and layer them over the PL patterned paper. This is a neat way to fill some pockets and the files have vertical and horizontal orientations.
6- I now have PhotoStream on my Windows 7 computer and this makes transferring photos from my iPhone to my computer so much easier. I just make an album on my phone's PhotoStream for each week and they magically appear on my computer. And having a small dedicated photo printer is also a must-have for keeping up, in my opinion.
So with these changes in my approach I really feel like this is something I can keep up with this year and not spend the early months of 2014 trying to fill in a bunch of blank spaces. Sorry for the long post but I hope this maybe helps someone feeling overwhelmed by it all. It really is a neat look at the everyday side of life for me. |
Um, this is Two Peas. First world problems are the subject of approximately 93.17% of the threads here. It's our specialty. -Busypea
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've always imagined. ~Thoreau
My pinterest boards kelleykreates
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arelys1228
PeaFixture
PeaNut 422,247
May 2009
Posts: 3,234
Layouts: 161
Loc: Queens NYC
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 7:36:56 AM
im doing weekly too |
| Love Peace Health and Happiness to you...Rosey | |
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ScrappyJac
BucketHead
PeaNut 433,506
August 2009
Posts: 650
Layouts: 2
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 7:51:13 AM
I am in year 4 of doing PL. My method has definitely evolved, too. I think it takes a little time to get in the "groove" and figure out what works best for you. I now have my routine down, so that I know what works for me. I stick with Design A page protectors and just add inserts as needed. I also am a BIG believer in using the core kit. I know that I would never complete the project using my stash (it took me awhile to accept this one).
Thanks for sharing all your tips with us  | |
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mommamoonrn
PeaFixture
PeaNut 128,766
February 2004
Posts: 3,399
Layouts: 39
Loc: in my scrapbooking room
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 7:52:33 AM
sounds like you finally found you way! I am starting this year. Really having fun! |
Becky
The greatest gift of all was given at Christmastime....
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PTScrapper628
PeaNut
PeaNut 212,098
June 2005
Posts: 88
Layouts: 0
Loc: SW Ohio
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 8:42:37 AM
I just started this year. I am going back and doing 2011 and 2012, but just filling in the whole year with photos I have. Sort of like a year in review. I just had 250 photos printed with Snapfish. This year forward I am doing a month at at time. I don't have enough time or photos to do even 1 week at a time. I just like the way the format takes the stress out of producing a layout. I can do as much or as little as I want. |
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Nana2Callie
PeaAddict
PeaNut 674
June 1999
Posts: 1,321
Layouts: 0
Loc: Arkansas
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 8:56:08 AM
Can you tell me more about Photostream? | |
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stashful
PeaNut
PeaNut 561,756
July 2012
Posts: 470
Layouts: 7
Loc: Iowa
| Posted: 1/22/2013 9:05:11 AM
Really great tips. I am doing PL for the first time and have decided that a picture a day isn't for me either. I just take them as the week goes on and sometimes have more and sometimes have less. Definitely will try your suggestions! Thanks |
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Renaeb77
PeaNut
PeaNut 509,641
May 2011
Posts: 247
Layouts: 1
Loc: Illinois
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 9:22:09 AM
I never thought of cutting a 4x6 photo and putting them in the smaller card slots. Great idea! Thanks for sharing. |
Blog: http://renaeslifeinpictures.blogspot.com
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TexasJen
BucketHead
PeaNut 193,131
February 2005
Posts: 1,023
Layouts: 22
Loc: Colorado, but a Texan at heart
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 9:35:21 AM
This is my 2nd year with PL, and I wanted to do a true photo-a-day this year. (Last year I did a weekly review spread.)
I'm already realizing how constraining that can be though - having to take a picture each day, and also only being able to use one pic a day! Honestly, I also already miss the fun of arranging the photos and cards and paper in a slightly different way each week.
I do like the ease of writing my journal card each evening though - I feel like I'm getting better details rather than trying to fill in journaling a few weeks (or months!) later. So I'll have to figure out how to combine the 2! |
-Jen
happily married to Jon, mom to Jack
cat mom to Emma, Ernie and Charlie
Texas Aggie grad - whoop!
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loveforpitbulls
PeaNut
PeaNut 577,998
January 2013
Posts: 216
Layouts: 5
Loc: Northern California
| Posted: 1/22/2013 10:06:49 AM
I am currently hoarding supplies to get ready to start PL for the first time. Mine is just going to be everyday life, there will be no daily or even necessarily a weekly entry. I take so many pictures (mostly of my dogs) that I want somewhere to document it. I am so excited to start. I have been out of the crafting world for a couple years and am just now getting back into it, I can't wait. Thanks for all the tips. |
-Erika
Be Happy For This Moment. This Moment Is Your Life. | |
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mamashosh
Sugar Snap Pea
PeaNut 257,999
April 2006
Posts: 13,365
Layouts: 3
| Posted: 1/22/2013 10:11:22 AM
I'm doing it as a weekly overview as well. I am trying to take more photos of everyday things that I might otherwise skip, but not beating myself up to take one photo every day.
Honestly, I have decided that if life gets in the way, sometimes a spread may include two weeks. Or even three. I am trying for weekly but I don't want to feel like I need to panic or quit if I get a little behind. I will still have more to show for it if I end up with forty weeks documented than if I had done nothing. |
| "Some people should exercise their compassion a little more and their mouth a little less."-- Burning Feather | |
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