Ok so here's the deal. I was reluctant to take on project life. I thought about it in 2010. Almost ordered a kit in 2011. But in 2012 I thought, this is my 40th year... If ever I'm going to do this project, it's now. So I jumped in and fell head over heals in love with the project.
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| Loving even the rough times with Project Life! |
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| Project Life is a place to document all those little details |
Although I am known to fall behind on lengthy projects (just ask my grad school thesis advisor), I unbelievably stayed completely caught up on doing 2 page spreads every week for the first 6 months. I felt like I deserved an award! Then the summer hit and I had my first taste of feeling 'behind'. For the first time my craft room began to evoke stress rather than dissolve it. So I embraced the flexibility of the project and modified it to accommodate my busy summer by completing 2 2-page spreads per month instead of 4.
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| I moved to 2 spreads per month during the summer when life got busy |
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| 4X6 photos and filler cards make PL easier and quicker |
By the end of summer I was back into my PL groove and looking froward to an exciting trip to NYC. I've loved scrapping trips PL style, and even my smallest local trips get their own beefed-up section in my PL. It seems like PL is just conducive to being creative with travel pics. Heck, Becky Higgins herself even tweeted and posted to FB my idea for incorporating QR codes into my Disney PL (I still sometimes think I dreamed that!)
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| My first QR code in Project Life links to a video from Disney World |
My trip to NY was supposed to be perfect fodder for PL playtime. Except it actually was the most painful scrapping I've ever done. Don't get me wrong, I liked the pictures, and I liked some of the process. I love the outcome. But by the time late September rolled around, I think I was Project Lifed out. It took me 4 weeks to document the photos and stories of 4 days in NYC. I found myself in a creative slump that was the antithesis of what PL was supposed to be.
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| Lots of pictures and lots to say about NYC! |
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| I used lots of the Abroad collection from Studio Calico and paper I bought at the Empire State Building |
Then when I finally completed the New York pages, there was a mad dash to get caught up on the 4 weeks that passed me by while I PLed my trip! I did get my mojo back and enjoyed the end of the year, and particularly loved the relaxed approach I took to my Christmas section.
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| Elvin, our Elf on a Shelf got his own 2-page spread |
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| Christmas makes for an easy PL because so much pretty ephemera is all around us! |
But I have to say I couldn't care less if I capture any of the everyday moments of 2013. I have a year of everyday life. Two busting at the seams binders. I feel like that is enough.
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| A 2-page spread per week, plus extra spreads for vacations and special occasions leads to a pretty think Project Life! |
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| I can't believe I did all this in 1 year! |
It makes me a little sad because I love the divided page protector method of scrapping and I love the cards and ease of adding ephemera. Oh, and the supplies are to die for!
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| The Project Life section of my scrap room |
Part of me is going to miss project life. I've already found myself putting things aside for PL this week, only to remember, I don't need to! I've had to shake my instinctual hold onto everything because it might make a cool background for PL. I will still use the pocketed page protector approach to scrapping events and trips (I will probably find it more enjoyable when I'm no longer doing it weekly). It will likely replace the role that mini albums used to hold in my scrappy life -I've burned myself out of mini albums and run out space for them too. But I think I'm done with the everyday/every week/ every month PL approach. I just want to do layouts, and I'm trying to curb my spending and how thinly I'm spreading myself, and you can't do it all, right? I don't regret doing it for the year, and for the most part, I loved it (the process and the outcome). But when I ask myself what do I really want to do with my scrappy time, the answer is never project life. That might change someday, but for now I'm focussing on layouts.
I have another couple of exciting (to me, anyways) little projects to focus on soon, and I'll post about that when I have more details. But don't expect a project life spread about it ;)
PS if you want an overload of info on my Project Life 2012, just look for the tab at the very top of my blog. It has pics and videos of the whole year!
I understand the feeling completely, but I'm so happy you did PL for the year and shared all of it with us. You inspired me and many others because I have seen many people mention your videos (both PL and layouts). Thank you sooooo much for all your inspiration. I look forward to what else you have up your sleeves :) Karin
ReplyDeleteI think when something gets to be more of a chore than a pleasure it is time to stop and rethink the process. I did Project Life last year and kept up every week, never getting behind. We don't do a lot of travel and don't do a lot of special events. Mine is just the everyday,that includes what I love. I thought about not doing Project Life and then looked around my room at all my supplies and stuff and decided to do it one more year, using what I have for supplies and not buying more as not sure I will still feel this way next year. Thanks for sharing your one year with all of us and I look forward to seeing what is ahead for you.
ReplyDeleteI commend you for doing it for the whole year. Very inspirational, coming from someone who hasn't tried it yet.
ReplyDeleteI decided to take the Project Life approach to my kids' school albums. Just an idea if you ever want to pick up your Project life stuff again.
It's funny - seems like people either really love and continue PL as their preferred method of scrapbooking or they stop and continue "traditional" scrapping. I did a lot of both this year but I think PL is winning out for me. I love the real time aspect of it.
ReplyDeleteYour project life videos this year were amazing and thank you for taking the time to show us your process. I really loved how you incorporated travel pages into it and hope to do more of that for 2013.
Here's to a fabulous year!
I love it! It came out awesome! I want to do it myself but just havent made that leap yet! lol Oh the decisions we have :)
ReplyDeleteI also decided on project life in 2012. I put it together digitally. I started because I wanted a to have a chronological album. Like you I was on top of it for the first 6 months. Then we took a 3 week vacation and from that point on I seemed to always be behind and it became more of a burden than fun. I felt such obligation. So this year I will not be using that approach and I certainly understand how you feel about it. I'm happy to just slip photos in an album for chronology's sake then just scrap what I want.
ReplyDeleteI want to enjoy my scrap time and not feel burdened by it. Good for you for going with what will ultimately bring you joy in your hobby. I love your process videos, they are so inspirational and they have definitely helped me. I know you are going to cut back but I would love to see your process of organizing then choosing photos.
i'm so sad. :( (i need a few minutes to get myself together...) :)
ReplyDeletea lot of my PL inspiration came from you, oh how i will miss it!
i will look forward to your other projects. (pls don't stop you process videos...oh how i love them!!!)
thanks for taking us with you are your 2012 PL journey. i. enjoyed. ALL. of. it!
i will be rewatching them over and over. :)
take care and may your 2013 journey be filled with a whole lotta fun!!
take care!!
I am sad to see you quit PL mainly because I have so enjoyed your videos and all the great tips you gave and I hope will still give. Hope your year is a great one.
ReplyDeleteI started PL last year when my husband turned 50, 2 months later I turned 50. I started knowing I was going to end it when I turn 51 this summer. PL for me was to document our lives as empty nesters at 50yrs old. I too feel this will be enought for now. I enjoy it but only want to document my day to day life for those 60 weeks. I will use pocketed pages in my layout albums for a hybrid method of scrapping though. Thanks for sharing your PL, I enjoyed it all.
ReplyDeleteYou couldn't have said it better. I feel the same way. My first love is traditional scrapbooking. Love the feel of the embellies, the placement, the possibilities. I got caught up in PL and how everyone else was doing it and all of the sudden products were coming out JUST for PL like stamps etc.
ReplyDeleteI felt too pressured to do it and stopped enjoying it. I like printing out photos for layouts, not 20 for a spread. I am going to save PL for big events , school things, vacations etc.
So glad to have found someone else who felt like me lol. I LOVE your style and videos. You were the first person on YT I followed :) Truly inspiring me.
Marisa
Thanks for all the PL info. Haven't done it but used the divided protectors for the 1st time this year for an old vacation. Did seem easier than a mini album-just need to limit my supplies better. Am considering PL for 2013. Tried a smash album last year but didn't work for me for some reason. Concerned I might feel burdened/behind but if that happens I can always just put those pages in our "About Us" albums and go back to regular LOs. Do like the school album idea. We homeschool and do a lot so if I could keep up with that album weekly, it would be so much more complete as I forget things quickly. Also like the thought that Pl would be easier to pack for a crop as long as I stay on top of the printing of photos. Thanks! Glad I found you in 2012. Tracy Z.
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