project life : 2013 plans.
Status: I am currently 7 weeks behind. I am undeterred. I am not only determined to "catch up" – I am really looking forward to my 2013 project. This has been my first year completing this project, so I'm giving myself a big "atta girl" for sticking with it. Here's the thing – I am so happy with, and so proud of, these albums. If you come to my house for dinner, expect that you'll be forced to look at my Project Life albums. What I love MOST about these albums is that they are a reminder that the yuck of this year was only part of the 2012 experience. Not one person has looked through these pages and said "wow. what a sucky life." In some ways, that has been a lifesaver. Project Life has reminded me to look for the good.
My general philosophy (read it here) won't change for 2013. A few things about my process that will change -
1. Buy a Project Life kit core kit. Right now, I'm leaning toward the Seafoam Edition. I went into 2012 wanting to use up a bunch of supplies that I already have. I have certainly made a dent, and I'm happy about that. However, I want/need the convenience of having stuff pretty much done. I'll continue mixing & matching, for sure, and I have no plans to abandon my hybrid ways. I just love the simplicity of a fall back plan.
2. Establish some repeaters. What's a repeater? It's my word for things like Elise's quote cards and Susan's calendar cards. Not only do I like the cadence that it lends, I like the simple fact that it's one thing that is already decided. I may follow the quote tradition, or might do a song/lyric of the week. I'll be doing a monthly calendar during the first week of every month. Not sure if it will be an insert, or just a card.
3. Choose 4 core fonts. I spend an inordinate amount of time wandering through font sites and I end up coming back to the same handful of fonts anyway. So, I'm going to pick 4 fonts – a sans serif "all purpose", a headline, a script, and a wildcard (probs a typewriter font).
4. Schedule Project Life time each week. I really fell off track during summer, when schedules were loosey-goosey. Having a specific time slot on my calendar should help with that (and might also help me continue to avoid housework, laundry, and bill paying).
5. Organize photo files by week. I currently have monthly folders on my hard drive (and external hard drive – back up, folks!). I am going to add in weekly folders to reduce the amount of "huh? When did that happen??" time.
6. Combine OLW & Project Life. I did not keep up with my OLW album this year. I think that Ali is brilliant, the prompts are fantastic, and I definitely honored my word this year. I think that combining the albums will help to keep my word even MORE present. Oh, and yes…I've chosen my word. More on that soon!
What did you learn about your process this year? What will you do the same or different?
6 Comments
josie
great tips
i am well months behind for 2012
but i started organizing my photos week which has helped
Editing and printing is the hardest – need to keep it simple
i did order the weekly planner from paper coterie to keep all my notes in one place
sarah
i’m about seven or eight weeks behind too. though, photos are printed, i just need to journal + embellish.
i’ve found that when i attempt to schedule time it feels forced… so i’ve been leaving my book open and when the mood strikes i type up a couple journaling cards and something here or there, etc… that said, i HAVE scheduled in an hour tonight. i’m really going to try and hold myself to it.
i love repeaters in the album. i do a quote a week as well – though mine is 4×6 (i always use the font: bebas) and i try really hard to match the quote to the week, occasionally taking it from a tv show, movie or a book. i also have a calendar card at the beginning of each month. i’m a fan of repeaters.
oh and i’m planning on using a combo of seafoam and olive. my friend amber + are are going to split them so we each have half. i think they’ll mix + match quite nicely.
gabby
you = brilliant.
i know i need to figure out a plan for how to simplify my process next year.
and how to GET DONE with this year.
and like sarah– i want to split a seafoam and an olive (yes, due in large part to my olive, i cannot tell a lie)– i just need to find someone with whom to split them!
xoxoxo.
Louise Fortune
Thanks for sharing this, I always love hearing about the plans and organisation of others on a project that I am participating in.
I too have thrown my hat into the PL creative Team 2013 ring – I am not holding out any hope though – I don’t think that I have shared enough of my PL journey on my blog, so I have everything crossed for you.
I am with you on the repeater thing – this year mine were my “week and number card” and my “week in review card”
In 2013 I am probably still going to stick with the WRMK system and use my stash (financial constraints and US shipping prevent me from using the official products”
Although if they are getting distributed through American Crafts that may change)
I make alot of my own printables and I like that flexability, but it does make the process more time consuming too and leaves my open to some serious procrastination, which is never a good thing.
I don’t own an iphone but I have been hijacking my son’s ipod to use instagram which I have found really helpful, but I have put an ipad mini on my christmas list (bob hope and no hope I think ! )
Keep up the good work and stick with it.
Lee Currie
YAY – you are AWESOME! I have to learn to scale back and realize that Project Life is NOT a perpetual Week In The Life – it’s just a glimpse of life with a few stories, not EVERY story. I have all fingers and toes crossed for you to be chosen for the Creative Team! I’m caught up to week 40 and anxiously await more photos to arrive this week. So worth it! Thank you for your consistent inspiration my friend 🙂
Tricia @ Daring Hue
I like these ideas. I started a mini Project Life album this year, got 16 weeks in (with partially finished pages), and then it all fell apart. I think I need some repeaters too. I plan to make a few layout cards in Photoshop, and use them nearly every week. I also need to get organized and put all of my supplies in one container. Looking forward to starting fresh in 2013!