Many of you have your Project Life kit.
You’re ready to roll.
You’re ready to ring in the New Year with a strong resolve to do something with your pictures … to tell your story … to document life.
GOOD. FOR. YOU.
Just when you thought I was taking a break from videos, here’s a video tutorial that will walk you through setting up your album, step by step.
Music is A Change Would Do You Good by Sheryl Crow.
SIDE NOTE: The album I put together in this video is actually a gift to our niece Kyra who is getting married next week. What I wouldn’t do to have an album like this from our first year of marriage (or any year, for that matter).
…………
As I’ve said before — and I’ll say it again and again — it’s your story, your way. That means you set this album up however you want. It means your approach doesn’t have to be like your friend’s approach to Project Life. It means if you only want to include a few favorite pictures here & there, that’s great. It means you can try taking a picture every day if you’re feeling ambitious, but if it turns into monthly layouts instead of weekly layouts, so be it. It can be a mixed bag. Keep it chronological or focus completely on themes and topics in no chronological order. Maybe your approach is to go back through the past 5 years of pictures and get those memories into an album.
The album will adapt to your needs.
That said, those of you taking the picture-a-day approach may be contemplating this: On which day do I start? I am personally going to end our family’s 2010 Project Life on Saturday (tomorrow), January 1st. Our new 2011 Project Life will begin Sunday, January 2nd. The reason for this is that I’m a Sunday to Saturday girl. That’s how a calendar is laid out, so that’s how I see weeks in my head. And so that’s how I lay out my weekly layouts in Project Life.
How about you? What’s your approach? (If you haven’t already looked, there are some awesome ideas & links in yesterday’s post.)
Tags: Project Life
I am going to do a double page spread for January 1 with a picture of each of our family members and pets and in the journaling blocks tell how old each of us are, what grade the kids are in, etc. Then I’m going to start the actual spread of weeks on January 2. This year I’m going to do Monday-Sunday weeks so that my weekends stay together. I can’t wait to see it all come together. Thanks again, Becky!!
Great idea Alanna! I like the idea of Mon-Sunday to keep the weekends together! I also really like the idea of starting off with a picture of everyone in the family!
I agree! And now I’m contemplating the same. : )
I LOVE this idea! I also complete my layouts Mon-Sun so am definitely going to do a picture of each of us and get my family to journal their own card. Also going to get my daughters to print their handprint and footprint onto 8.5×11 cardstock and insert this into the album, so I can look back and see how big/small they were on the first of this year (it’s already 2011 here in Australia…HAPPY NEW YEAR!!)
What a great idea, I think I will do that too and then my last double page layout Imight do the same and note how we have changed over the year especially my boys who seem to grow so much in a year and change their interest over that year, maybe even do one in June as well. Thanks for sharing your idea
I did this to start my album last year! I took a picture of each family member doing something they like to do and the journaling block I stamped name, age, occupation, hobbies, etc. Then each person filled theirs out:)
Wonderful idea Alanna with doing an intro page. (12×12 perhaps).
I am new to the Project Life world and just received my Torquois Edition. I love, love last year’s red kit and was wondering if anyone out there has an extra one they would like to sell???
I did Project Life in 2009 but not in 2010 so I will be starting with Jan 1. My first page will include a picture for Jan 1 and also a photo of me with my white box and a photo of our family.
Very helpful vidoe-I hate to charge on to the next thing–but could you share some of the ideas you have for your upcoming school kit–I have been waiting to start organizing my kids school stuff so that I can see your suggestions.
Thank you for the video! This is my first time doing Project Life and I was wondering what “filler” cards were. I am going to start on Jan.1. Because I want my weekends together, I’ll start my week Monday-Sunday. Since my first spread will only have Jan.1 and Jan.2 on it, I plan on filling it with little tidbits. I’m having my husband, 2 kids and myself write down one major goal on journaling cards. On the 4×6 spaces, I want to do something fun like “Places we visited” and write down as the year goes by all the places we traveled together as a family. Since it’s in the beginning of the book, I think it will be easy enough to just pull out and write down quickly little things. Another 4×6 space will be “Places we often visit”. Since we live only 70 minutes away from Disneyland, we go there quite a bit. I thought it would be fun to tally how many times we go to Disneyland (or any other place we visit frequently like the zoo and Sea World) in 2011. I’m super excited!
I’m so glad you posted this. This is my first time using Project Life (I’ve been eye-ing it for the last couple of years, lol) and I put it together how I thought on Wed when I got it. Now I’m thinking I’ll re-do it. I like the way it flows. I’m really looking forward to having this type of medium to get my everyday photos off of my camera and computer. Plus, with the crazy year we’ve had (moved from Alaska back to the lower 48 this fall) I’ve had very little time to scrap and most of my stuff is still in storage until we buy a new house. I’ve missed it. Thanks, Becky, for giving me the jump-start on scrapping I needed.
For 2010 I started on January 1st and I’m ending with a photo from today on the last page, I really like the idea of doing a picture of each family member on the first page, there are currently 5 of us (with another baby due in July). I have really enjoyed doing this project & my 3 boys enjoy contributing pictures & looking back at everything that’s happened in the past year (good & bad). I also love having the journaling there for things that I want to put on traditional layouts, so when I get around to doing the pages I don’t forget anything.
I am definitely a Monday-Sunday Project Lifer. Our work week and school week starts on a Monday so that’s how I do mine. It’s also important, to me, to have our weekends together — our Sat and Sun photos side-by-side, but like Becky says there’s no right or wrong way to do it. It’s just whatever works for you! Thanks Becky for helping so many of us capture our everyday lives! We’ve looked back at our 2009 365 book, and last years PL book countless times. Happiest of new years to you and your beautiful family!!
Well Becky, this is my third year doing PL. First year did it digitally with the elements you allowed us to download, last year with the kit and this year with the Amber kit. This style of scrapbooking has CHANGED MY WORLD! I now have beautiful completed albums that we LOVE looking through. I bought three kits last year (one for our PL family album and one each for my girls’ album. Once I get on top of these, I’m definitely going to buy the Turquoise kit and scrapbook the ‘early years’ of hubby and me…so from about 2000-2008 (yep 8 years…and all those pics are just sitting on our computer and waiting for the day they’ll be printed!!) THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for an absolutely AWESOME product. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
When can we purchase the extra pages with horizontal slots?
Do you think there is enough room in the binder to do a 365 Project Life and “One Little Word” all together. Will the pages Ali says to buy fit in the Project Life binder??
Hi Becky
i purchased a pack of the other page protectors. Are you able to show an example on how to use these in the album as unsure on how to use the cards in them?? please help
thanks
Dannielle
I’m thinking I’m going to try the digital Project Life this year. Do you know when the 2011 version will be ready?
Valerie, I just checked out the digital products and the new designs are up!! They are fabulous! I was even able to download pictures and insert them into the new designs. Good luck, I hope this helps!!
Thanks for sharing this, Becky. This is my first time so I’m really excited about starting and today is Jan 1st in Australia. Love the idea of the Monday to Sunday so the weekends are together so I’m going to take pics of us today and write some bits and pieces about us and some goals for the year.
Can I just say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this Project Life idea!! This is my 3rd year of doing it now and it just keeps getting better!! Love your videos Becky……we LOVE our amazing daughter!!
You are GREAT!!
You must be a very proud Mum!
I’m starting my album with a double page spread of my goals for the year (everything from healthy eating to my reading list). Periodically throughout the year, I will update my progress (or lack thereof). I will report my weight loss progress weekly.
In addition, I will use one day a week (tentatively Thursday) to incorporate a Gratitude Journal into Project Life. My picture and journalling will focus on a blessing for the week.
Hey Becky, this is for all your deaf and hard of hearing fans…..where is the transcript for this video?
Thanks for all you have done for all of your fans, hearing or otherwise!
Quick question
I don’t remember the 1-10 stickers being included in the 2010 kit… and i’m racking my brain trying to figure out what to do with them in this kit… What was the intended purpose of those?
Thanks!
ps… LOVING the graphic design of the Turquoise kit!
They are just another way to label your pictures. So if you aren’t doing day by day pictures you could use them to match up the picture with the journaling card. ie. picture 1, pic 2, pic 3, and so on. I will probably do that this year because I don’t always do a picture a day. Some days I have three and other days I have none. Just one suggestion.
Tricia
I am starting my book tomorrow…so excited about this venture. I bought the turquoise set. My friend is getting one too as well as my sister ( I got her one for Christmas)….I am going to run saturday-friday as that is how the days are running.
Would love some feedback on those just completing the digital version for 2010. We see alot of input for the paper version but not much for the digital one. I’m putting the final touches on it and wonder if anyone is adding additional photos to the front and back cover, adding their own title or completely changing things up.
A nice addition to the digital would be the ability to add pages, for example, when you have a big event and want more photos, it would be nice to be able to add a digital page like you can do in Shutterfly or other online photo books or like you can do if you have the paper version.
Just some thoughts.
Thank you so much for this video. I have also enjoyed reading the many responses so I can get some ideas as this is my first time doing a Project Life album. Looking forward to getting started!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to add another video. I started back in 2009 but didn’t finish. I didn’t do anything last year but this time around I am more motivated than ever. Project life is being “talked about” all over the web. I’ve gotten so much inspiration not only from you Becky, but many other people in cyber-space. Its kind of cool that this one idea brings so many people from around the world together. I know this will be helpful and keep me going all year. Happy New Year!
So, exciting to see set up the ablum. I would love to start one too! Maybe If I am lucky enough in the near future. thank you!!
Becky, this is a random question… what is that ‘beeping’ noise in the video? I kept thinking it was my dryer – my dryer makes that sound when it’s completed the cycle. I know, I know…. so random….
You aren’t the only one that was thinking that Stephanie!! I kept thinking it was my coffee pot!
So funny! I was wondering the same thing! I thought there was something going on in my own house!!
My refrigerator makes that noise when a door has been left open. I kept telling my daughter to go close it. LOL.
I am so glad to hear someone else heard the beeping!!! I seriously thought I was going crazy thinking something in my house was beeping and I couldn’t figure out what it was!!!
Becky.
I love, love, love the Project Life concept. I am so excited to take a picture each day. I started last night with a family photo at our favorite hamburger restaurant celebrating the New Year. I was thinking of enlarging it and putting it in the front of the album. My question is this, I can’t afford the kit right now but I am hoping to do so in a bit, do you think all of the kits will be sold out by say March? Thanks, Sarah
I started my album on a Monday because I wanted to start with this Christmas – my sister visited early for Christmas so I wanted to start there on Nov29th – my sister came on Dec 2nd. When someone mentioned that this would keep week ends together I thought that was cool too.
My Amber Kit was delivered on Christmas Eve – Merry Christmas to me! I have it all set up, just in the process of adding the days of the week to the journal cards. This is just too much fun.
Becky – when you shuffled the ‘week’ cards on the video it just about drove me crazy – who says I prefer order! I am setting mine up the same way you do as far as order goes. I have already added some 81/2 x 11 page protectors for our favorite Christmas Carols and will continue to add things throughout the year. Love the flexibility of the album!
With using your site and BPC and your referral sites I am hoping to keep up with this wonderful project!
P.S. Your Canadian distributor is doing a fabulous job!
I plan to use the Turquoise kit to document the first year of my son’s life (I’m due April 26!) Right now, the plan is to do a monthly spreads (and it will probably vary by month – some months 1-2 spreads, others maybe 3-4?).
Also, I’m planning to go ahead and stick ALL of the journaling cards in with some of the filler cards as well, so when I sit down, exhausted from a newborn, I dont have to shuffle cards – I can just add pictures and subtract cards or switch them around as needed.
THANK YOU, Becky, for the video tutorials. I love them – keep them coming!!!
I will probably also use the cardstock to do a regular 12×12 spread of my “bump” photos to start off the album
I plan to give my daughter project life tomorrow when I see her (can’t wait!) as she is expecting her first baby any day now. I think it’s a perfect system for documenting a baby’s 1st year. I’ll share the link to the video tutorial. I think it’ll be very helpful.
Very cool! I would love to see what she does with it!
My daughter was born Dec. 30, 2009. So my project life for 2010, I took a picture everyday of my daughter and 7 year old son. It was so fun to see the two kids grow over the year. For the filler cards, I used pictures instead of my baby girl in all her outfits that babies outgrow so quickly. I am so grateful for PL because I probably wouldn’t have such a detailed journal w/pics of her first year. Congrats on your coming baby boy!
Kristie
Just ordered the kit and can’t wait for it to get here. I haven’t done this before but love the idea of it. I know it won’t be a picture a day but more like a page a week? We’ll see how it goes. I love the idea of setting it up with who we all are when it starts. And doing the Monday to Sunday thing.
Becky,
Didn’t you say last year that you were doing the digital version (or maybe it was the year before)? If so, any chance you’d make a video showing what a completed digital PL looks like? Thanks so much!
Great suggestion. I did the digital version for 2010 but have not yet finished the journaling on the last couple weeks. I am so anxious to see what it looks like printed and wish there was a blog or link for the digital users to share advice on.
I am so jealous! I can’t get the Aus distributor’s website to work so I can order – is anyone else having this problem?
Hi Karen,
I am in New Zealand and was having the same problem with the distributor so I rang them(phone number is on their website) and ordered it over the phone. They were great! Hope this helps.
Lisa
This is my 3rd year doing project life. I do Monday-Sunday and start with Jan 1st. I will have 2 picture on this year’s title page.
I think we need a picture tour of your house! Looks awesome! Love all the colors and that tile in the video too. Thanks for the videos You are great!
It does lisa thank you – I have emailed them as friend on the Scrap Lounge forum in Aus said that was how she got her kit ordered
Becky, I couldn’t order my Project Life until yesterday, but am so excited to get it AGAIN! Did it this year and LOVED it! I love the fact that you are so accessible to those of us who follow you on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Even though you are in the spotlight, it seems like you are one of us, and I guess that’s what we all like so much.
Oh My Word!!! That tile (or whatever it is) behind you in the video is so awesome – what is that and is that just a feature wall in that room or is the whole room like that???? I’m racking my brain trying to figure out where I can put that in my own house!!!!!!
Love that Sheryl Crow song.
I’m thinking of getting one of these….I just can’t decide which one? How am I supposed to choose?
I have taken a picture of my daughter every day since she was born (okay, I’ve missed a few here and there but not many!), so when Project Life came out, I knew it was the perfect thing. Her birthday is in August, so I bought 2 kits last year to go back and start doing all the pictures of her…so my books go from August-August:)
I am new to Project Life and super excited. Hopefully my album will arrive tomorrow so that I can take it with me on my scrapbooking retreat and use the lessons learned from this video to get it all set up. I am going to try to take a photo each and every day and want to try to have themes for each week. Wish me luck.
I wanted to do Project Life last year but it just wasn’t in the cards. This year … I AM DOING IT!!! I have more time and sincerely hope I can take advantage of this wonderful idea!! I am going to do the Amber digital version and I have never done anything with digital scrapbooking. So, I am a PL Virgin and a Digital Virgin!!! I must say that it was fairly easy once I figured out what I was doing. I started today (Mon 1/3/11); photo uploaded and journaling done and it feels good!!! Again Becky, THANK YOU for Project Life and THANK YOU for making it so easy!!!
This is just so, so cool. There are so many places you can take this. I am glad I came across your site
I just received my kit today and I LOVE it!!! I am so excited to start this project. I am so behind in my photos because I feel overwhelmed. I am expecting my first child this year and this is going to help me so much in preserving my memories!!!
I, too, contemplated for a long time…probably too long…on when to start my album…
Sunday? Monday? I settled on Saturday. I know. Weird, right? But here’s how I looked at it: Saturday was January 1, 2011. Saturday is the beginning of my weekend, sooooo….Many of my weekend pictures will “go together” so to speak and if I start on Saturday, then the whole weekend is on the same layout. I know it’s a little crazy but it worked out pretty good in my head [in theory anyway]!!!!!
[...] You can also refer to the Beck Higgins website HERE for a truckload more information, ideas and videos. In fact Becky posted a great video herself on the way she sets her kit up which is fabulous and well worth a look HERE. [...]