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Post by ctpea on Jun 29, 2014 16:37:28 GMT
I do monthly project life album for our family but I have 2 stepdaughters and have started to do albums for each of them and am working backwards. They're 13 and 11. That's a lot of years and can get very overwhelming. Here is what I do to simplify....
After lots of trials and tribulations (it's not supposed to be that hard right??) I have simplified things for myself by using mostly design A as Tracie stated above. That way I can feel free to print my pics 4x6 and any vertical shots I print 3x4. I can print smaller if I want to but I mostly stick to these sizes. If you have seen Becky H.'s create live classes (they sometimes run it for free), I do the batch process that she mentions in it before I even knew there was a term for it. Who knew?!? I select and print my photos, select the cards and begin putting them in the sleeves. I do this for all the pictures I have printed. Once the cards and photos are in the sleeves then I go back and start the journaling any add any embellishments I want. Also by trials - I have been using less and less bulky embellishments. It makes it much easier when I'm journaling all at once because I struggle with this by completing one entire LO with everything and then breaking the flow to start a new one if I had not done the batch process.
The batch process is also great if you go to crops and take your PL.
Good luck and don't hesitate to reach out if you're stuck.
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Post by Frazzled Mom on Jun 29, 2014 16:49:29 GMT
It takes me forever, too.  I don't print most of my photos at home so I never have the right size or orientation for the back side of the protector page. And the ephemera never seems to fit in right either. I am so mystified by those PL videos where everything falls perfectly into place and then seems color coordinated, too. I just can't seem to make that happen.  |
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Post by lilacgal on Jun 29, 2014 17:10:01 GMT
I am so mystified by those PL videos where everything falls perfectly into place and then seems color coordinated, too. I have no idea how some people can do that all the time! I gave up color coordinating everything. It was too much of a headache. Every once in a while the stars will align and I can get a layout where everything matches. Mostly, I will try to match a card with the picture or just say, "Screw it," and let everything just be a jumble of color. It's eclectic that way, right?  |
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Post by Laura in OK on Jun 29, 2014 17:16:21 GMT
It takes me forever, too. I don't print most of my photos at home so I never have the right size or orientation for the back side of the protector page. And the ephemera never seems to fit in right either. I am so mystified by those PL videos where everything falls perfectly into place and then seems color coordinated, too. I just can't seem to make that happen. Sorry for the double post. Trying this'd from my phone & I'm NOT tech savvy. I do project life this way also. I start with all of my pictures for several pages, then go back & add pl cards, journal, & finally embellish. Send much faster & easier this way. |
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Post by Laura in OK on Jun 29, 2014 17:17:14 GMT
It takes me forever, too. I don't print most of my photos at home so I never have the right size or orientation for the back side of the protector page. And the ephemera never seems to fit in right either. I am so mystified by those PL videos where everything falls perfectly into place and then seems color coordinated, too. I just can't seem to make that happen. |
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Post by meridon on Jun 29, 2014 17:56:53 GMT
I just mix in different styles of pages and page sizes. For instance, say I have 3 more pictures for that week or for an event but not enough to fill up a whole other A style page, I'll take a page that has 6 4x6 slots and cut it in half and put those three in. I use washi tape to seal the edge. For the back, I'll cut up some coordinating paper or maybe add in some of the kids' artwork or ephemera (receipts, ticket stubs, etc) from that week. Or I'll use a 5x7 or 6x6 or 8x8 page if I just have one or two "extra" pictures. I don't mind that my pages aren't all the same size. I kind of like the variety. k
I also keep my album out and fill in things as I go. I have a Selphy and so if I'm really wanting to plan out a particular week, I'll put post its on the pockets with a note about what pic I want and then print them all at once. Yes, I guess it takes a little more planning, but with three kids, I always have some little drawing they have done or something I can stick in an empty pocket.
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Post by mrscraftyadams on Jun 29, 2014 18:33:04 GMT
It took me several weeks to figure out my PL flow. I don't place my pictures chronologically on the spread - I put them wherever they fit. Then I fill in spots with cards. I have a ton of pocket pages and I just lay out my pictures and see which page would work. Stick with it - it gets easier!!
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swtonscrappn
Full Member
Posts: 135
Jun 25, 2014 23:58:28 GMT
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Post by swtonscrappn on Jun 29, 2014 19:14:41 GMT
I am just finishing up my first PL style album...a Disney trip from a few years ago. I don't know if I just don't think about it, or I just happened to have the photos or the page protectors I needed...but making my photos fit the pages was hardly a blip on my thought process. However, I don't think I saved any time in actually scrapping in the end. I still spent lots of time embellishing and making things "just right". I have really enjoyed it however, and Im liking how it turned out (its a combination of a divided pages and whole ones)
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Post by anniefb on Jun 29, 2014 19:23:05 GMT
I like the tip about doing things in batches too. I think that does speed up the process a bit - I usually print one month's photos in one go and then work on decorating etc. I do all my own printing at home now and that does make it easier.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Jun 29, 2014 19:41:51 GMT
My big aha moment was when I read a post that suggested just doing the PL layouts on card stock. This way I can configure each side the way I want it with the added benefit of making a dent in my Bazzill stash. Not to mention saving money by not having to buy the pocket pages. Using those pre-formated protecters was too frustrating and I had way too many blank pages with filler cards because my pictures were the 'wrong' size.
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Post by ametallichick on Jun 29, 2014 20:35:55 GMT
One way to make it much easier on yourself is to pick a page protector design and stick to it. That is a very good idea. I didn't think PL would be this hard either. I did my second PL LO last night at a crop and it took me just as long to do that as it would a traditional 12X12 LO. May be because I am just starting out in PL. But, when I am sitting down to do a PL LO, I have to choose what page protectors I am going to use based on the pictures orientation that I have printed =( |
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eyee
One Post Wonder
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Post by eyee on Jul 1, 2014 2:04:00 GMT
I don't constrain myself to a week or month or whatever in a page/spread. I kind of think of it as a "story" per page/spread. I might combine Monday (pics of my dd comparing her face to the size of the muffin) and Thursday (our stack of empty plates at the sushi restaurant) into a story about "stuffing our silly faces". If it takes less than a page I use filler cards or repeat pattern papers in the empty pockets. If a story takes more than 2 pages, I further break it down into smaller stories not necessarily by days, like people shots, food shots, at a family gathering.
As for photos, I print all landscapes in 4x6 and portraits in 4x3. I don't even photoshop the photos, except to adjust brightness/saturation/contrast. If I crop it is with the trimmer! Then I stick it onto a card for the appropriate pocket size.
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Post by pb on Jul 1, 2014 15:22:43 GMT
Thank you everyone for the great tips.
I haven't started my monthly project life yet (yes I am officially six months behind) but I have found the pocket pages useful for the vacation albums I have been working on. Sometimes I had more photos then I needed for a completed page and the pocket pages worked. My main complaint was it was hard to put things into the pocket. But I love the variety it gave the album.
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Post by scrapbookwriter on Jul 1, 2014 15:51:32 GMT
I am a traditional scrapbooker from way back (1987!) and I scrapbook 8.5x11, so Project Life had never been an option for me. But I am putting together a lifetime of my sister-in-law's photos for her and her sons so I decided to use Project Life.
Project Life is certainly time-consuming. But also, it isn't fun. It feels like work. There's no creativity involved. I miss the joy I felt when I was putting together a layout and made something beautiful.
I'm still glad I am using Project Life for my sister-in-law. She can easily move photos or make changes if she'd like. The album doesn't have my personality to it - it's generic. I hope she will add her own writing to the journaling cards. But even if she never gets around to that, at least the photos are in place.
I have learned a couple of things.
1. When putting together hundreds of photos at once, I have found it is easiest to just get the photos in the pockets without worrying about the cards. It's much easier to re-arrange photos this way, which I have done a lot. I am constantly finding more random photos of events as I sift through her box of photo envelopes.
2. When an entire album was done I added the decorative PL cards. This helped me keep a continuity to the album and prevented me from using the same card on two facing pages. And also, it is wickedly fast.
3. I found I like the generic cards the best. I used the Kraft core kit for one boy and the Cinnamon core kit for the other. I love the Cinnamon kit. It's all black, grey, and tan and doesn't distract from photos. Plus I love the flourishes. Plus it looks equally good for Halloween and for weddings.
4. I used just two pocket page designs - A and G. I hated having to plan the back of a page at the same time as the front. By necessity, sometimes events are slightly out of order. Oh well.
5. Because most of these photos are old, they are not all 4x6. I mounted many smaller photos on 4x6 cardstock or grid cards or even title cards from the kits. That was time-consuming, too, but far less time-consuming than it would have been to scan and reprint all those old photos.
6. I had some large pictures - family portraits and school photos - that needed traditional 12x12 sheet protectors. I found that I liked using corner mounts to place those portraits on plain black cardstock. I added a journaling card from the kit and called it good. Those were the fastest pages in the albums.
I am nearly done with the last album. I will be returning to my regular scrapbook pages and can only hope the joy is still there! |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 10:40:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 16:19:48 GMT
I completely understand what you mean. I do project life, & I make it very embellished. It is not a simple scrapbooking thing for me, but I enjoy it, so I'm okay with that.
Last year I did week to week, and I felt way behind. This year I am doing month to month.
I always print off all of my pictures and sit down with different page protectors and make it work. I cut up page protectors to make my own inserts so that I can use whatever pictures I want. Very seldom do I have a huge issue because I take mostly horizontal photos. I have found that even when I do take vertical photos, I can typically crop them down into a horizontal if I need to. Basically I just make it work for me.
I like project life because I have three little kids and it makes it easy to capture the day-to-day moments that our life is all about for not just the big moments like birthdays and holidays.
Sorry this got to be such a rambling post! :-)
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Post by cynipidae17 on Jul 1, 2014 16:55:07 GMT
I find my style of project life to be very complicated. It is rare that I ever drop more than one or two photos into the pockets without doing something to it. I also use mostly square pictures in my spreads so I will attach it to a card and essentially make it into a mini scrapbook, if that makes sense. This is my second year doing project life and I really like it as a way to document my girls while they are still little. My main problem is I take TONS of photos so for now I just put the photos that best tell the story in my weekly spread and save the rest for a more traditional page. I will say that I think I spent more to get my photos printed with this method because I don't print at home and often haven't decided which pictures to use yet. I really need to work on planning my pages prior to printing my photos.
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Post by MissBianca on Jul 1, 2014 17:29:36 GMT
OMG I was lamenting about PL last night. I have a Disney trip that I want to scrap but it was a crappy trip so I just want it done! I thought about PL but after going through the pics, I don't know if it will work. However, love the whole lay it out on 12x12 cardstock. That way if the pockets work out I can do that, but if not, it's still ok. And I can use the smaller albums. I have found that the WRMK and PL albums are bigger than the shelf with my other albums.
And it's weird because I've done 2 Project 365 albums but I think was was easier only because each page was exactly the same, CM picfolio album, so I knew ahead of time I needed 5-7 pics 4 in each direction and it would work.
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Post by penny on Jul 1, 2014 18:22:43 GMT
Shimelle just posted a video on how she's tackling Wonder Boy's baby book PL style... Maybe there are some tips there that can help  She talked about picking a common pp design, using neutrals plus two colours, how she's organizing it so that she can do bits and pieces as time allows... Plus it's cute and you can hear Wonder Boy in the background...lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jul 1, 2014 19:20:30 GMT
ITA with what you are saying. I am 1-2 yrs YEARS!!!!!!!! behind. But I don't want to give up, bc I find my kids looking through the books I have. and that means a lot. I do find the picture part the hardest. I try to print a month or two at a time. If a picture needs to be printed to fit in another way, I bought an Epson Charm so I can print it out quickly... otherwise I stop and it takes me a while to get back in the swing of things!
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Post by katiescarlett on Jul 1, 2014 20:30:26 GMT
Come to the darkside - switch to digital PL and you don't have to worry about the picture orientation, LOL. I have a basic template and I can resize the photo inserts however I want for the particular photos. I put in my photos first, then select journaling cards and embellishments. If they don't match, I can change the color of the card with the click of a button! Easy peasy!
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Post by MissBianca on Jul 1, 2014 20:38:16 GMT
Shimelle just posted a video on how she's tackling Wonder Boy's baby book PL style... Maybe there are some tips there that can help She talked about picking a common pp design, using neutrals plus two colours, how she's organizing it so that she can do bits and pieces as time allows... Plus it's cute and you can hear Wonder Boy in the background...lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk How in the world have I missed her blog?!? Such cute layouts! |
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loco coco
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,662
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Post by loco coco on Jul 1, 2014 20:39:28 GMT
Im not doing PL but Im doing WRMK Albums Made Easy.... isnt that basically the same thing? help!
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Post by anniefb on Jul 1, 2014 20:51:34 GMT
Come to the darkside - switch to digital PL and you don't have to worry about the picture orientation, LOL. I have a basic template and I can resize the photo inserts however I want for the particular photos. I put in my photos first, then select journaling cards and embellishments. If they don't match, I can change the color of the card with the click of a button! Easy peasy! Yeah, I've now started doing digital PL layouts and they are a lot faster. I use templates which I just switch around to suit the pictures I have. |
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Post by anniefb on Jul 1, 2014 20:52:21 GMT
Im not doing PL but Im doing WRMK Albums Made Easy.... isnt that basically the same thing? help! Yes, I say PL but mean pocket scrapbooking in general. |
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Post by Neisey on Jul 1, 2014 20:58:13 GMT
I'm not into PL myself but as a standard 12x12 scrapper I do this same type of thing when I go away to crop. That way I have a variety of sizes to choose from and it doesn't cost that much more as I am often putting multiple photos on a 4x6 print. ( I don't often change orientations too but have on rare occasion if a photo spoke to me ) |
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,546
Location: London
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Post by uksue on Jul 1, 2014 21:15:24 GMT
I am using project life style pages, but I use a card in the back of each photo to journal about it. I know it doesn't look as pretty but I have completed almost 200 photos quickly because I don't have to worry about the reverse side! To be honest though I am just preserving memories for my kids,I don't really care about the pages looking pretty. I still have loads of stuff if I ever get the urge to do a proper pretty scrapbook page |
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Post by ceciliacoleman on Jul 2, 2014 5:22:49 GMT
I know exactly what you mean! I got to week 14 and haven't done a thing since!! I love the look and enjoy doing it, but do agree it does take a little more time and planning...
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Kath
Full Member
Posts: 446
Jun 26, 2014 12:15:31 GMT
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Post by Kath on Jul 2, 2014 12:59:21 GMT
I only print 3x4 and 2x3 pictures on my selphy. This allows me to put the pictures into any slot I please, often backed on cardstock or patterned paper to fit the slots, especially if horizontal. The 3x4's will fit the vertical slots on an A style page. There are usually about 16 pictures on a 2-page weekly spread.
I never have to worry about planning the backside of a page, I always use the A styled pages, and I color coordinate the cards with the colors from the pictures for that week, so one week may be all greens and blues and yellows and the next week might be oranges and browns.
Printing the pictures smaller allows lot of room for embellishment, mini-titles, and journaling. The flow is always smooth both in working on the album and in looking at the album due to always using the same format of page.
The only time 4x6 pictures are used are on the first and last page of the album, with two 12x12 albums a year.
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Post by krc11 on Jul 2, 2014 13:19:48 GMT
Okay, I'm going to answer and then go back and read all the posts. I don't do PL often, just every once in a while and I don't necessarily try to pick photo orientation that works. For instance if I have a 4x6 photo and there are say two 4x4 slots. I just slice the photo and mount on cardstock to fit in those two slots. Maybe add journaling or embellishment to the extra space. It doesn't look bad. It's barely noticeable. Now I probably wouldn't cut someone's head down the middle but I've often cut the right side of the photo off and put it in the pocket next door. Try it. It's scary at first but after you get used to it, it's fine. And people looking at your book rarely notice. Well, the scrapbookers probably do but the rest don't. I used to do this for photos on a 2-page spread that the photo needed to be cut and part on left side and part on the right side. Okay, back to look at the other answers.
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rhondaintx
Junior Member
Posts: 91
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Post by rhondaintx on Jul 2, 2014 13:22:54 GMT
I'm doing PL-style layouts as a way to catch up on all the photos I've never scrapped. Here's how I make it easy on myself.
- I picked one page design (A in my case).
- I printed all my photos as 4x6. If I need a smaller size, I print them at home. Since all of my vertical shots need to be 3x4, I do those at home.
- After I've gotten a few months done, I go back and stick in the cards. I try to make sure there are enough journaling cards, but I don't worry about it too much.
- I still end up with pages with too few pictures. I either fill in with cards, or a pretty piece of paper.
- I'm not embellishing at this point. I plan to turn some of these into 12x12 layouts, so I don't want to spend a lot of time embellishing when I'm just going to take it apart later.
The biggest help for me is picking one page design. When I tried to mix up page designs, it was a nightmare. I pick the one and make it work.
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She talked about picking a common pp design, using neutrals plus two colours, how she's organizing it so that she can do bits and pieces as time allows... Plus it's cute and you can hear Wonder Boy in the background...lol
