Projectlife : Lessons learnt

I am in love with Project Life. FACT.

It has completely changed how I scrap, I don’t feel behind, I know I’ve recorded the everyday stuff - leaving room for my other albums to tell the ‘story’ of our lives. I am so glad I gave into peer pressure and started my album. Even if you haven’t started yours – start now. Take that step. It does not matter you didn’t start on January, you will not regret it.

I have been working on my album since the beginning of the year, and I have learned a few things along the way. And who better to share these things with than you lovely peeps?

Keep it simple. Some weeks are not super busy, or super exciting. There is no shame in having a ‘quiet’ week. Record just that – your feelings about having a quiet week, was their a reason, were you happy about it? I did just that back in Febuary. The week after my son’s 2^nd birthday was so quiet – but we were all SO thankful to have that after the craziness that was the previous week

Be organised. I have seen some AMAZING studios/workspaces set up to work on their albums. I do not have the space for this. So use a system that works for you. Mine is to keep my album out on show (usually next to the computer) to use post it notes to make scribbles and notes throughout the week. I keep my punches out (perfect for quick flat embellishments) and my pencil case.

Use technology. I am an IPhone user and I love the momento app to keep track of my week, my tweets and my instagrams. Very helpful when it comes to the planning stage. I am not a mac user, so I use a free photo software by google called picasa. It organises your photos, allows simple editing and my fave function is creating collages. Great for printing off small pictures or montages. I do this for the 12^th of the month photos.

Be more aware. The everyday life we live is not always filled of parties or happy times. Embrace the normality of your life and put it in your album (you don’t have to share it with anyone else!!) Take photos of your food shopping, your washing pile, the mess the kids (or other halves) leave behind or even just the things you have around (cookbooks, wires, the messy drawer!)

Life stuff. Life is more than just photos and I love that projectlife allows me to incorporate life stuff as well. I have set up now on my computer desk an in tray. Which during the week I pop stuff in. Receipts, shopping list, invites, food labels, leaflets, wrapping, artwork, etc. Then when I come to my planning I go through and deciede what to keep and what to bin (you can’t use everything all the time!)

Filler cards. I love the use of filler cards to just add interest, fill in gaps and add titles. Check out these ones from Domesticated Lady. I adore the bright colours!!

Work to your strengths. Are you an amazing photography? Do you journal with beautiful handwriting? Do you rock digi on awesome levels? Focus on what you love, on what you do with ease. Do not stress out about not being able to take AMAZING photos just take the photos, record the memory and job done. If you do not like your hand writing (though I think you should always try and record some of your hand writing!!) then type and print your journaling. This is your album – make it yours.

Have you got anything you have learnt from doing projectlife? Are you loving it as much as me?

Happy crafting