Project Life :: 2012
March 13, 2013
I just completed my 2012 Project Life project.
What is Project Life? It's a scrapbooking system that is the brain child of Becky Higgins. For me, it's scrapbooking light. Take the photos, print the photos, journal a little and stick it all in a binder. You don't need a dozen different embellishments or really anything fancy at all. Just photos and words. And as someone who has boxes of photos that aren't in albums along with computer drives chock-full of digital photos, I wanted to have something concrete to look at, to hold in my hands and this system works for me. I have also never scrapbooked before in my life (yes, boxes and hard drives full of photos) and I love this project.
I began working on it in January of 2012 with the intention of documenting each week on a weekly basis. Sometime in April I stopped. Life got busy and something had to give and I guess that something was Project Life. My girls kept looking back at the first three, completed months of the years and asked when I was going to finish. I paged through the album and realized that I had to finish. Over the Christmas holidays, I spent the better part of two days culling through photos and uploading them to be printed. And then over the last two and a half months, I put it all together.
I've captured all our vacations and every day moments in one place. And while the layouts I did at the beginning of the year certainly had more detail and journalling than those that happened later, they all put a smile on my face. I have done a 365 photo project on Flickr for the past 5 years and while I adore that (and am still taking a photo every day), this has far more photos and moments captured than that project ever could. This is probably the best job at memory keeping I have done since, well, forever.
My 2013 album is empty and waiting for me to fill it. The supplies are at hand, the photos waiting to be uploaded. I'm anxious to get a start on this year and catch up to the present. I figure it shouldn't take me too long - maybe a few weeks. No matter. Did I mention that I love this project?
Your album is wonderful! I've just started PL, I'm loving it too, no pressure to cover all of the pages with "stuff" :)
Posted by: Valerie | March 13, 2013 at 09:03 AM
Completely wonderful! Love the 12x12 photo in your last spread. This is what it's all about. Also love that your girls prompted you on. That happens with me more and more lately. They are a blessing. xo
Posted by: Molly | March 13, 2013 at 09:36 AM
Love, love, love it Erin!!
Posted by: Tamra | March 13, 2013 at 10:16 AM
It's so awesome that you finished! I have thought about doing project life. I've also printed out a book for last year. Either way I agree it's so important to have a tangible way to see all the pictures. Kudos to you my friend!
Posted by: rachel | buttons magee | March 13, 2013 at 10:26 AM
SO great, I've been missing having actual tangible photo albums.
Posted by: julia | March 13, 2013 at 10:40 AM
So awesome, Erin! Project Life is the only scrap booking system that has ever appealed to me. Maybe I'll have to try it. Yours really looks great!
Posted by: Amy h | March 13, 2013 at 11:10 AM
This is right up my alley. If you don't mind I have a couple of questions: do you clip your own photo corners? If they come that way, where do you have them printed? There are so many online options, it's good to get a recommendation if you're happy with your printing. I'm going to check out Becky Higgins. I've been ordering photo books after family vacations, but it's the everyday stuff that gets forgotten. Your book looks great!
Posted by: krista - Poppyprint | March 13, 2013 at 11:23 AM
I love this so much. Last week I found myself at a loss as to where to start looking for young Emma pics for her yearbook. The computer? That sorry attempt at a photo album I did a few years back? The dreaded shoebox? You are inspiring me to get started on something like this.
Posted by: Account Deleted | March 13, 2013 at 11:43 AM
Hi Krista! I do clip my photo corners after they are printed. All of the Project Life cards have rounded corners and I like how the album looks more cohesive when the photo corners are rounded as well. As far as photo printing, I use Walgreens. I find the quality good, you can upload from home and then can pick up and pay for the photos in store or have them delivered. There is one store that I drive by multiple times a week so it's really a matter of convenience for me. Hope that helps! - Erin
Posted by: Erin | house on hill road | March 13, 2013 at 12:46 PM
I've been on the fence about this for so long. Your album looks really awesome, and how could your girls not want to look through it all the time?
Posted by: Jenny | March 13, 2013 at 04:19 PM
I absolutely love your album. I just started Project Life last week and have already ordered lots more photo sheets. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Posted by: larissa | March 13, 2013 at 04:25 PM
I've been thinking about going this route. I fell off the scrapbooking wagon with my third child, who is turning 6 next week! These seem like something I could actually keep up with! I just might have to order some and try it out.
Posted by: Kristin | March 13, 2013 at 05:28 PM
Erin, you've inspired me once again! Love your blog. I also loved seeing photos in your album of Melissa and her darling little girl. I have known her (and her entire family) since she was a little girl. Love her so much. Thanks again for posting today!
Cheers!
Posted by: Heather | March 13, 2013 at 10:31 PM
I love this idea. I have TONS of digital photos that I would love to print and do something with, but I find more traditional scrapbooking stuff to be kind of overwhelming. So... my pictures mostly seem to stay digital! This seems like a great in-between solution, and your pages are beautiful!
Posted by: Holly | March 13, 2013 at 10:54 PM
I have been wondering about project life - great to see such a lovely example to spur me on.
Posted by: claire | March 14, 2013 at 06:50 AM
What a treasure! So fun to look through, over and over:)
Posted by: Jeanie | March 14, 2013 at 08:54 PM
Curious if you have any advice for a PL newbie....things you've learned along the way, organizing tips, printing/cropping advice, or favorite supplies. I want to start my first album, but am a tad overwhelmed. Your book looks fantastic!
Posted by: Brooke | March 14, 2013 at 11:50 PM
Your album is beautiful! I love the way your pictures look all together, without any frilly embellishments. I started PL a few months ago too, tried to capture the kids in each year of their life (huge, daunting task). So instead I started clean with 2013. I love how it feels to have the pictures printed and together in one spot.
Thanks for sharing, and I love your cover page.
Posted by: Sandra Reuston | March 15, 2013 at 02:23 PM
Such a great album. I don't (don't!) scrapbook, but I think I could do this. How good to have something to hold in your hands
Posted by: Dorie | March 15, 2013 at 04:38 PM
Greaat job finishing last year and it looks great. This is my second year and I feel 'pressured' by the industy to embellish the heck out of each week. I don't though and try to keep it simple and I adore that you stuck by that principle. That is all it needs to be photos and words and something wonderful to look back on.
Thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing this years album.
Posted by: Mel | March 17, 2013 at 07:20 AM
Best idea ever! My daughter is 4 and I stopped making photo albums when she was 2 1/2; just too many photos! And I never took part in that whole scrapbooking craze...your version of "memory keeping" is brilliant!
Posted by: Christie | March 17, 2013 at 03:21 PM
I love your album. I keep thinking I should do but I am afraid to add one more thing to my list ;-)
Posted by: imene | March 19, 2013 at 01:04 PM
I love it! I am really needing to do some scrapbooking, I like how you've made it work with those plastic insert pages.....
Posted by: ladycordelia | March 26, 2013 at 10:59 AM