It's no secret I love to scrapbook. And take pictures.
But my life is so busy that I'm usually making only 2-3 pages a month. Not a lot. So that's a couple of stories a month. What about all those other pieces? The other stories I don't tell?
This was really something I wanted to fix for 2011.
And I think I came up with something.
I loved the idea of Becky Higgins Project Life. Collecting photos for every day of the year.
But there were a couple of problems.
Problem 1: I have trouble committing. I know I couldn't promise myself that'd I'd take a photo a day. I've tried the 365 Photo a Day thing in two previous years and I just couldn't do it. I can't even complete themed albums. And I rarely finish online classes!
Problem 2: I liked the "idea", but the products just weren't my cup of tea. They weren't "me". I really love the stash I've created here at home and in my shop. Would I be able to create a system that was similar with other supplies?
But I've come up with some solutions and I'm so very excited for this project!
Solution 1: It's okay to be a commitment phobe! I don't have to stick to the photo a day thing. If I do, then great! If not, that's okay too. I'm okay with filling pockets with bits and pieces from our day... notes from kids, receipts, clothing tags, school work, to do lists. No pressure.
Solution 2: I can make my own system with the supplies I have or have access too.
Here's what I'm using.
- a 12x12 American Crafts album. Right now it's the same one I use for all my other albums, but that can always change. Maybe a different color?
- We R Memory Keeper divided page protectors. (I chose the ones with 4 - 4x6 pockets and 3 - 4x4 pockets.) Right now they're all the same but depending on how it goes I'll add other styles or even a simple 8.5x11 page protector or even the baseball card protectors. Whatever. Totally playing it by ear and seeing how it goes.
- Items in my stash. This is totally wide open. I haven't made a kit of any sort. One thing that will be helpful however is that I trim my paper into 6x8 and 4x6 pieces after I've cut into them. The 4x6 pieces will be the perfect size to put into any empty spots I have.
- A date stamp.
Here's what I have so far.
I'm not 100% sure it's done but here's the title page. Just a quick summary of what this album is. I really think I'd like to embellish it more, but I'll see what happens with the other pages first. I'd also like to reprint the 4x4 photo. I had to print it at home since it got cropped funny at the photo lab, but for now it's fine.
I'd be crazy to think I could make this project anymore complicated, so for me simple is key.
The plan for the weeks of 2011? I'll try for the picture a day. But if it doesn't work out I won't stress about it. I plan on adding memorabilia and other stuff in empty/missed pockets and embellishing others. I'm hoping to get photos printed off every week or two. That combined with my daily journaling (a new thing for me this year) and I should be good to go.
I'm very excited about the final product.
What are you going to do to remember 2011?
