Project Life : Let Go

I LOVE project life. I love looking back each week as I make my spreads and see ALL we did! I love looking back through the different months and seeing the little things that make up our lives. Thing I know I would of totally forgotten. It really is such a beautiful and fulfilling project! It’s also quite the undertaking as I think many of you all well know. I think the hardest thing to conquer is the commitment and constant weekly attention. As we now have entered our 42nd week this year, I’ve learned a few things.

1. Go Simple -SERIOUSLY! You can always go back and elaborate your pages if you have the time but if you don’t don’t sweat it! It’s the photos and the journaling that will speak millions later.

2. Large Photo’s Rock - I love letting my photos do most of the talking. Period. Done.

3. Print at Home - I know I know, they’re not going to print perfectly or be the best quality, but it makes doing this project SO MUCH EASIER! -And really, once they’re in the sleeves, they just automatically shine!

4. Pattern Papers are your Friend - Sometimes I will initially stress when i’ve only taken a few photos that week, but by the time i add those photo’s, add some cute journal cards to record the things that happened that week and some pretty pattern paper- I’ve filled up the week!

5. Behind? SO WHAT! - There’s no right or wrong way to do Project Life. No one says you HAVE to do it each week! It’s YOUR project! I personally wouldn’t stress over missed weeks. If you can and want to go back to those missed weeks, fine- great! If not, no biggie, -move on! In the end you’ll love seeing the pages you DID record!

6. Get Inspiration -YUP! Get those juices flowing with the tons of Project Life eye candy out there! BUT don’t get carried away and not actually do yours. Yes we all do this….but stop. Pick up just a few ideas to incorporate this week. It’s too easy to get distrated and overwhelmed!

7. Don’t Compare - your work or style to others. It’s too easy to get caught up in that miserable mentality and that’s the surest and fastest road to giving up.

And lastly?

8. Be Flexible - Some weeks, so much will be going on and there’s so much you want to record. And some weeks, nadda…. The weeks you have more going on- use the 2 page spread or more, but on the the weeks you don’t or forgot to take any photos, just do a 1 pager or whatever fits THAT week!

It makes me sad when I hear (ALOT) how so many stress over the perfection they expect from themselves with their Project Life. Project Life is suppose to be fun and it IS when you don’t stress. Stop feeling guilty or like you’ve failed for whatever silly reason. Life is not perfect, nor will be our record of it.

And now … I leave you with some eye candy! Notice the different ways we tackle this project!

by Amanda - love her large beautiful photos

by Jamaica -LOVE her fun and different style! (and notice her July! NO Stress!)

by Kayla - love the little bits of cuteness everywhere

by Angie - again LOVE the different style and 8.5 x11!

by Charla- LOVE the squares- again, pictures say so much….

and then- here are mine from the past week . . . all photo’s were taken with my phone, printed at home - no stress, no guilt!

Have a beautiful rest of the week everyone! Remember, take the stress out of Project Life and leave the guilt by the curb!!!

Valorie