Project Life 2014

As part of my resolution to simplify and get things done, I've started doing Project Life digitally.  If you aren't familiar with Project Life, google your little heart out.  It's amazing.

I have been doing it for the last two years, and it was wonderful to do last year during my pregnancy. (It's amazing what you can get done with nine months of insomnia.) The problem is, I've started both years but haven't finished either.  I LOVE toying with physical scrapbook items (can we say hoarder anyone?), but it's not the most time efficient process for me.  I start with big plans, and end up sitting on the floor pawing through a box of paper or stickers, and not actually getting a whole lot done.  With my teeny man around, I have even less free time that I did before to get things done.

Insert digital scrapbooking.  It's time efficient, cost efficient (no more Hobby Lobby shopping raids. Who am I kidding?  For scrapbook stuff anyway), and I LOVE that I can print an entire year in a single, sleek bound book at the end of the year.  It does mean that I'm scanning all my ephemera/momentos and not sticking it in pockets pages.  I'm scanning and then throwing the stuff out.  I know.  I had to breathe into a paper bag the first few times.  But honestly, getting rid of the clutter can be quite liberating. I can save the memories, but not the junk.  (I'm even selling quite a bit of my old stash if anyone is interested).

So far, I've kept pretty close to updated for 2014.  I'm going to try to go back in between and finish 2013 (ahem, and 2012).  Here's what it's looking like so far:

Week 1:

For this week, I used the "style A" design, and chose text and embellishment colors from hues in my photos.  I love packing in the pics, so I've used quite a few collages (mostly from Cathy Zielske).

She also made the calendar card, and the cute little label.  The main font I used for text is Bebas Neue, with a smidge of Chunk 5.


Week 2:

Since I had so many photos this week that I just couldn't leave out, I did the format a little different.  I ended up with several pictures/cards/text for each day of the week, and I kinda like it this way.  This may be the new norm.

Again, I chose colors from photos in the layout, and made my own embellishment cards from favorite quotes (and a heart .png from a Spendid Fiins 2013 calendar card set).

 Since my sweet baby turned seven months old during week 2, I added an extra two pages for his monthly stats and photo shoot.

I answer the same questions each month (which I found circulating the blog world), and take Jack's picture in a birthday sticker and white onesie.  It's not always on the 8th of each month, but it's close enough.  

The empty white box is for a QR code for the video of his 7th month.  I haven't made it yet, but will add the code in when I do.  I like that adding these codes makes the scrapbook a little more interactive. 

Week 3

Still loving this format, which lets me incorporate more photos and journaling and less decorative fluff.  

I switched the main font to my personal favorite, Ostrich Sans, but made embellishment cards using Miserably Lose (because I love the handwritten look of it).  I think this particular font compliments the Ali Edwards Photoshop brushes, so I can see it becoming a new favorite.

I tried to get my DSLR out more this week, and I think it makes a huge difference in the overall look of the pages.  

Since I had a lot of pictures and a card that I wanted to scan from my sweet hubby, I added a second set of pages.  

When I'm searching for items to fill up spaces in a layout, I always love to include QR codes for videos,  text messages that I want to save, pictures of what I'm currently loving, and lists of all kinds (beauty items I'm using at the moment, what I'm reading/watching, books we checked out from the library, blogs I'm loving, etc.  You get the gist).

This was too sweet not to include.  I scanned the outside of the envelope, front of the card, and the inside.  Now I can keep this card forever without keeping it forever.  Know what I mean?  Simplify.  Less clutter = more happy.