Reflections on Project Life 2010

One year ago, with lots of excitement and a little mix of nerves, I ordered Project Life from Becky Higgins.  Project Life came after her Project 365, which centered on the photo-a-day concept of capturing life.  While I knew keeping up with a photo-a-day scrapbook would be an exercise in futility, I liked that Project Life had more versatility.  I could really set it up however I felt like it, but I could get some quick, clean pages done in a very short amount of time, without having to worry too much about design.  It was initially set up as a chronological book, with month dividers and the idea that you would make a DPS a week.  However, you did not have to follow that if it did not work for you.

As I look at my book, which is a little over half full at this point, I realize that a little over half full is pretty stinking good.  I created 53 pages in a year's time, and that is what I call close to a small miracle.  After printing many of the pics on my printer at first, I switched over to getting them printed, as it was far cheaper once I got the hang of cropping them for lab printing.  Once you have the pics, the layouts come quite easily.  In a way, I felt constrained design wise, as the collection of journal cards was varied, but, alas, somewhat feminine, when I was doing many of my pages about my sons.  However, it helped me get over myself and just archive... no worries about embellishments (unless I wanted to) and the like.

So, here's to you, Project Life!  I am excited about the newest installment, which has photo pockets for vertical photos (that has been a struggle for me.... I'm not solely a horizontal gal).  Here are the latest bunch of layouts I created as we wrap up 2010:

Sadly, the Thickers I was using for the next DPS (see letters CHA) had completely lost their adhesive backing.  No stick, but thick.)

Rather than reinventing the wheel for journaling on these next two double pages, I copied the journaling from my blog and pasted it into self-made cards using MS Publisher.

Recalling my stamping roots for this page.  All Confirmation photos taken with my iPhone4 and tweaked with Photoshop just a bit.  I forgot the Nikon!