I drank the Kool-Aid

I finally did it. I jumped on the Project Life bandwagon. What is Project Life you ask? To quote Becky Higgins web site "The Project Life "way" of memory-keeping is so crazy-simple, it has become known as "revolutionary" in the scrapbooking industry. All you need is one of our Core Kits, a Binder, and a Big Pack of 60 Photo Pocket Pages. By pairing your pictures and words with these basic products, you will be able to tell your story, in your own way, resulting in a complete album".

I had coveted this project for a few years now but thought I couldn't do it. First, I have a cat and a husband no kids what kind of stories could I tell. Second, doing it weekly was way to much of a commitment for me. Then one day I was at Michael's checking out the new Heidi Swapp products and saw this small chipboard album. Inside were tabbed dividers and little pocket page protectors. I had to have this album--for what I did not know--but by the time I got home it hit me: I was going to do a mini Project Life album! *angels singing*

Oh it doesn't stop there. I was going to do a page for each month how easy is that. Each page protector only had 3 or 4 pockets for pictures or journaling cards anyone could handle that right? Well after I did my second month I said "this won't do, I must have more space". Holy cow I had been abducted there was no use turning back. I still did not want to do it weekly but I wanted bigger pages so I could put more pictures or journaling cards etc. But, as my buying craft supplies has been curbed due to my unemployment status, I had to think creatively. I actually went shopping in my craft room. I had these 8 1/2 x 11 9 pocket page protectors from and my One Little Word project (which I never finished...sorry Ali) which I thought would be perfect! Nine little bits of stuff for the month. I have to confess I did take my 40% off coupon and run to Michael's to get a new album: plain brown chipboard my favorite, nothing fancy.

I don't have an iPhone (my husband won't let me get one!), and I don't carry my Canon around with me, but I do have the cutest little Sony Bloggie video/still camera. I love that little sucker. So I can look cool like all the iPhone users and take a picture on the fly for my album. Not the same as my Canon but when in Rome....

I also went to work on my Silhouette machine creating journaling cards. I created a rounded rectangle that is 3.5 x 2.625. This is the size of each picture and any cards I put in there. I am thinking I will follow this up with a short YouTube video on how I make these journaling cards. Easier to see than to explain.

So now it is April and I am hooked. I just take pictures throughout the month, print them out as I want, tuck them in the pockets then when I am ready I do some journaling or add bits and pieces (movie tickets etc.)
I even did 2 pages for March as it was a busy month. So you see, there are no hard and fast rules for me on this project.

Here is a sample of some of the pages so far. I love the calendar card for each month..the March spread doesn't show one as it is a second page.

 

I made up the "currently:" journal card from one I saw online (I am known for my thievery). This is also a first as I actually used my own handwriting on the card! GET OUT!

I will try to get a video done soon on how I make the journaling cards but, as I don't have a good video editing software, it takes me forever--so don't hold your breath! If you really want to know just let me know; I would be happy to explain.

(this post was edited for grammar by my niece Meg who has 2 masters--it's like having a plumber in the family!)