Week in the Life 2017

So i had the best of intentions to get my Week in the Life done last year "real time"...I did the project on Becky Higgin's Project Life app.  I used the Currently Edition designed by Peppermint Grandberg (One Little Bird) and overlays from Just Add color (also in the app).  I really had the best of intentions and even had a number of layouts done..but it was that final part of finishing that took me almost a year.  This year I vow to do better!! I will still use the Project Life app - but now with FFT (Free Form text) I am sure it will be SO MUCH easier.....

If you haven't heard yet about this new option, take a look at Becky's blog here and join her Facebook group here.  I was able to use some great freebie dates that Mommyish shared to her newsletter readers as well.  Plus there are a few digital items from various Ali Edwards kits - since of course she is the driving force behind this awesome documenting..  She has had some great posts getting everyone ready for this year's Week in the Life which is this week coming up - May 7th through 13th.

I have Ali's digital cards from 2016's kit as well a whole years worth of Storyteller digital kits that are calling my name...I feel confident that I have plenty of supplies but I definitely need to work on my timeliness....  keep an eye out for more regular posts here on the blog, including my 2017 December Daily which I finished a few weeks ago and finally got a chance to photograph...

So without further adieu - enjoy the picture heavy post!

Cover

 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday - girls night out!

Thursday - celebrating my son's bday early

Friday - headed out of town for a real girl's weekend!

Saturday's festivities with the gals

Sunday - headed back home on the train - it's good to be home!

Closing page of my album

Hope you enjoyed my project.  I am excited to follow along again this year - and while my documenting may not be perfect its certainly something that my family will enjoy in the years to come!  Thanks for sticking with me!

My Scrapping Goals for 2017

I am so excited for my scrapping to begin in 2017.  I am over the moon excited about 2 big announcements that I get to officially make today!  First I am joining Becky Higgin's Digital Project Life Creative Team!!!!  Yes you heard right - my long time idol Becky...one of my first inspirations in scrapping!  Although her style has changed since her original days at Creating Keepsakes mine has changed too!  I love the Project Life system for documenting the everyday happenings in my life.  I have been religiously documenting since Dec 2011 - 5 whole years... that is crazy!!  So much has changed in my life since then but I have all those things documented for me to remember - and maybe future generations too!! I am so excited to see how my style progresses in 2017 and the inspiration I will garner from this terrific group!

Becky's 2017 Creative Team

As I mentioned above my style has changed since I first started scrapping back in 1997 (yes that is almost 20 years now........). A few years ago I made the transition to digital scrapping.  I have talked about some of my reasons before.  I was instantly drawn to certain designers when I made that transition - but always at the top of my list was Just Jaimee from The Lilypad - there was something about her quirky fun and colorful designs that just blew me away with every.single.kit.  I stalked her every release (and bought most of them) - I love the work that her CT puts together every month - and now I will get to be part of that team too!!!

Here is her latest entry - the January Storyteller Kit, isn't it beautiful??

January Storyteller at The Lilypad

I can't believe I will get to work with 2 of my favorites in one year!! 2017 is looking up already! Since I will be busy scrapping a lot in 2017 (don't worry I have lots of older photos that can use some attention too!!) it will allow me to work on another one of my 2017 goals to improve my photography. I have lots to document in 2017 and I can't wait to get started! I will be a much more regular presence here on the blog and of course on Facebook and Instagram.

Hope you ring in the New Year filled with hope and enthusiasm - thanks for coming along!

How I use the Project Life App to Plan and Keep Up in my Physical Albums

Are you a physical Project Lifer? I know, I like holding and creating physical layouts. It gives me joy. Think you have no need for the Project Life app? Think again. I'm going to share with you how I use it to aide in my physical pocket page layouts.

It's not just about pre-planning my pages. It's also a way for me to get some journaling done while it is still fresh in my mind. I love capturing the details that I know I won't remember later. 

I'm not going to go into how to create layouts, there are lots of good ones out there. Becky Higgins has done it here.  I'm going to show you how I organize and set myself up to print the photos. I will note that I don't worry too much about which journaling cards I am using in my app layouts because I usually use something different later, BUT sometimes it's so perfect I just print the journal cards, too.

So after you have created your page, you can save it by the date the photos were taken. Click on the "More Options" under "Completed Pages".

From here, you will click on the page you want to update and select "Update Page Info"

Correct the date to match the layout photo date. There is a spot for a "name", too. I usually put in here a code "PPx", meaning that I have uploaded the photos to Persnickety Prints for this layout.

You want to either export these and save them by date in a Dropbox folder (I do this so I can flip through them easily in order and see what type of pocket page I need next, if it's not the typical Design A.) or leave them all in the PL app. Then, you can go back and refer to the layout configuration and the journaling when you sit down to scrap.

I have a folder in Dropbox called "Project Life" where I save them by year-month day format so they save in chronological order.

Next up, order those photos, if you are batch ordering from a service like Persnickety Prints. And when they arrive, do the happy dance and start filling in your pocket pages!! I just love white borders!

Now, I like to skip around and do which ever page goes with what products I'm excited to work with. Eventually, it'll all be done and in chronological order. Look at all those pages layed out and ready to be scrapped. The best part!

What is your process for getting photos in your albums? I know this may seems unusual but my process has totally evolved for the better (for me) over the last year. It's working and I love it. I'd love to hear your ideas for getting your photos printed!

And if you want more ideas for using the Project Life App as a physical scrapper, Becky Higgins wrote a great article showing lots of other great uses the apps specifically for this. Find it here.

Holly with www.paintedladiesjournal.com
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Hometown Tourist in my MIdori Project #LittleSummerJOY

I'm working on my #LittleSummerJOY midori project again! I've been busy the last two weeks making lots of family memories and now it's time to get documenting. This project has been a fun new way to document our memories and still use my scrapbook supplies.

I got out my shiny new July Take 10 Kits (the pocket kit is sold out but there are some reduced sets that don't include the stamp here and got to work making 3 spreads of our day playing the role of "hometown tourist." I actually squealed when I read this prompt on www.littlepaperprojects.com (It was Lesson 2: Hometown Tourist) because we had just done this. Riding the Chicago Double Decker Bus was on our Summer Bucket List. And really, how perfect is the July Take 10 Kit for this prompt about being a tourist in your own city?? That skyline stamp! Yes!

There were so many fun photos from this adventure, so per typical for my midori books, I chose to make a bunch of collages with the PicStitch App and then cut them all apart to create mini layouts.

This page was a lot of fun to create. My mother and son were sitting across from me doing some dot art while I was working on this. I picked up the stencil from the July Take 10 Glam Bag and ask for that blue and yellow paint when they were done. (yeah, probably not archival, but I was in the moment) I made opposing patterns on each page to create a fun background. I outlined the skyline stamp that was showing through from the backside. If you can't cover it, go with it. I cut out simple strips of cardstock to create titles that would pop on this background. I think it's my fave.

Page 3 of this prompt! I cut up that "Home Sweet Home" Card and used more of the stamp set from the July Pocket Kit. I also had some stickers left from the June Take 10 Glam Bag that are on each of these spreads. I imagine I will end up using that whole set in this book.

Thanks for following along in my #LittleSummerJOY book. Are you participating? Go here for more information on it: www.littlepaperprojects.com

Project LIfe: A Bike Built for FIVE

Did you see my last post about the Day at the Beach? Well, this layout showcases more fun from the same day on the lake front. What a memorable day that was! We found some new bike rentals last summer right at the beach. 

The kiddos tried out all the different bikes, but we rented one that fit three kids on the back and had pedals for two in front, side-by-side. 

I'm using my June Take 10 Kits, and chose cards that would complement the ones from my "Day at the Beach" Layout because these two be will side by side in the album.

Here they are side by side! I love using kits to do a layout. Nicely coordinated and I didn't have to dig through a lot of supplies to find the perfect items. 

That bike! I used a combination of the Simple Stories sticker (from the June Glam Bag) for a simple filler card.

I used some stamps from the kit and more enamel dots in the same color as the ones on the Beach layout. And printed my journaling in the same font/size on vellum. Here's a little tutorial I put together on easy journal printing I shared previously.

Are you out there doing lots of fun summer adventures? They are so fun to document!!

Holly | www.paintedladiesjournal.com
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A Day at the Beach - Project Life Style

A day at the beach is always fun to document, right? Happy faces. Sand castles. Buried toes. It's the quintessence of summer!

 I saw these two cards in the June Take 10 Kit, and new I wanted to record some beach memories. The waves! Perfection.

Ugh! This boy. This might be my favorite photo of him of the summer! Fresh haircut and pure joy on his little face. That was a lucky moment to catch on my camera.

Speaking of fresh haircuts, there was a cute conversation the day before that I wanted to record here, between my son and my husband.
Hubby: Want to go get your haircut? (enthusiastic smiles)
Son: No. (deadpan)
Hubby: You get a lollipop after it's done.
Son: (not missing a beat) When are we going?
I printed it on vellum to let the wave pattern show through. I did a post awhile back on my journal printing process. Go here to find it!

I love having a big blank sky to put a title on! Don't you? Those Simple Stories stickers are very sticky, so be sure you have it where you want it before applying! But, I love them! Find them in the June Take 10 Glam Bag.

I used a label sticker for the date and paired it with a word phrase sticker and enamel dot in the lower left corner of the page.

What are your favorite summer memories to document?

Holly | www.paintedladiesjournal.com | Instagram | Facebook

Using GIANT Elements in your Project Life Album

I don't do weekly PL. So, I like to indicated the beginning of a new month. These giant wood monthly wood veneers are making a GIANT statement in my book....

Field Days! This is a fun week at school. Our school has an opening ceremony on the first day of school. Complete with a running of the torch to the theme song from Chariots of Fire. It's awesome. I'm using the May Take 10 Kits in this layout. 

AND, since it is my first page for June, I added this huge JUNE wood veneer from the set I bought from www.thestudio29designs.com (home to Take 10 Kits - also available as a subscription). These Jumbo Month Wood Veneers fit perfectly in a 4x6 pocket and it's a set of all 12 months. There are a few left if you didn't grab one when they first came out. I love these and all of the wood veneers produced by Sara Mitchell.

I love Sara's wood veneers because they are so thin!!

I've always strived to keep my Project Life albums to one volume per year, but the last two years have so many thick embellishments, they are two volumes each. I know this is common, but I really don't want that many albums!!

I put two coats of acrylic paint on my wood veneer. Eek! It curls up quite a bit, but don't worry. I did stand it up on it's end to dry so that the painted sides weren't touching my wax paper and could dry properly. The "Juicy Melon" paint was picked up from my Target Dollar Spot just last week. I was happy with it for this project.

It curls up but don't worry! After it dries, just put it between wax paper and stick it under a heavy book.

It flattened out within a couple hours.

The three musketeers! This was their first Field Day as Preschoolers last year. What fun it was to experience with them.

My daughter happened to be sitting by her wonderful teacher and I got a quick photo while the whole school was assembling on the field and settling in. We just had our field days this week again this year, so it was fun working on last years page to see what a difference a year makes.

Holly | www.paintedladiesjournal.com

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