2014 Project Life Title Page + Week 1

Hey there! We've had a nice, long Christmas break (extended a bit by a snow day today). I've been busy working and re-working my Project Life pages to start 2014. I still have several weeks to do for 2013. I hope it eventually gets finished, but I think I'm OK if it doesn't. We'll see.

I had a very hard time deciding what direction to go for 2014. I considered several options.
Note: I'm going to explain my thought process. If you just want to skip to the pictures, feel free to scroll down. :)

Options for 2014:

- Digital weekly spreads to be printed in photobooks like I've done in 2012 and 2013, but switching to a different template design (maybe Tiffany Tillman's window system)

- Digital MONTHLY spreads (using the window templates or something else)

- Digital weekly PAGES (not spreads - just one page per week)

- Monthly or weekly collage photo book from Adorama Pix (built online in their system)

- Digital weekly spreads in a lay flat (no gutter) book from Adorama Pix using a Photoshop template of true 4x6's and 3x4's with no paper margin

- HYBRID weekly or monthly spreads in a small 6x8 binder (Studio Calico or Sn@p!)

- Hybrid weekly spreads in the 12x12 Project Life page protectors

So... if you read that list, you might have guessed that I've been agonizing a bit over this. Honestly, in the past several weeks, creating my Project Life spreads had become a chore. So, I knew I needed a change. I just wasn't sure what change to make. And, really... I'm still not 100% sure. But, I have a plan now, and I'm going to try it. Trying new things is good! :)

Here's the new plan (which may change by next week - ha!):

I'll design weekly spreads in Photoshop using a template with no margin (the photo and card spots are true 4x6's and 3x4's). I'll then save all the 4x6 areas (two 3x4's will go together) as individual jpgs to be printed at mpix. I'll then insert them into Design A page protectors. I'll probably get a We R Memory Keepers classic leather 12x12 ring album (color TBD). So... I'm going hybrid, y'all!

Now, in case I change my mind, I'm accommodating for an 1/8" - 1/4" bleed around my pages (just by making sure the subjects of my photos are not too close to the edges), so I can still get them printed in a photobook if I want. I'm leaning toward the no-gutter lay-flat books from AdoramaPix, which I think would be great for this type of full-bleed design.

Why did I make this decision?
I like flipping through my College Years Project Life album (still a work in progress). I like the pocket pages. I like big photos. I'm tired of the paper margin around all my pages. My boys don't look at my Project Life photobooks. They look at the themed ones (camping and Disney). So, I don't think they'll look at a big ring album any less often. I'm also tired of rounded corners on everything. Whether I end up sticking with the pocket page protectors or switching to a photobook, I'll be using these layouts. And... I'm just ready for something different. :)

So, FINALLY... here are my pages!

Title Page


Week 1: January 1-5, 2014


Closer views of left and right sides




Note: I'll delete most of the stitches when I get the photos printed (I'll leave the ones that serve as dividers within a 4x6 that will actually go in a 4x6 pocket), but if I end up going the photobook route, all the stitches will stay.

So, what do you think? Are you a Project Lifer? :) I will let you know what I think about doing it in a "real" album. Happy 2014!

P.S. Click on the images to link to Flickr where you can read a list of all the digital scrapbooking supplies I used. Also... I would like to thank Susan Weinroth for being a HUGE inspiration to me! I don't know her in real life, but I've been following her blog for several months and LOVE her Project Life albums. A lot of the design decisions I made reflect her influence on my tastes. Visit her blog here: a little bit of me.