enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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Annnnnnnnd, we're off.

PLweek1

(click to enlarge & it will be a [somewhat] clearer image)

Lots of pressure this first week, no? I feel like I wanted to set a bunch of "rules" for how I would complete this album. And that's totally lame and not going to work because undoubtedly it will stress me out when I break MY OWN rules. What I am trying to remember with this project is that the whole is going to be much greater than the sum of its parts. I have to just take it a week at a time.

The blurred out photo on the right page is a picture of our new house number. I'll be sharing the recipe for that bread in the photo tomorrow.

Detail

I do like the idea of doing a simple "round-up" of the week's details. I doubt they will always fit onto a 4×3 card and I think I'll run out of those arrow stickers (part of the Clementine kit) before the end of the year. But part of the "no-rules" theme is it doesn't have to match exactly from week to week.

PLweek1detail2

I painted stripes on a piece of kraft cardstock and added some more personal journaling in addition to the list of details. I know some weeks I'll have more text and others I'll have more photos, or more paper or more stuff and that's okay too. I included that photo of Paul (which he was sweet to email me). It's actually from December, but it had to go in the book. I know I'll love having much more than I will care that it's not from 2012. I added the journaling right onto the photo in PSE. The "P" is a letter sticker from Office Depot.

PLweek1detail3

I wanted to include fabric scraps from our built-couch cushions and it made me awkwardly happy that there was a "12" on one of the scraps. Total luck. I think I'll be using the smaller pockets for all sorts of scraps – collecting them is probably going to be my favorite part of putting together this album. I also love that the 3×4 pockets hold a vertical iPhone photo without any cropping.

PLdetail4

I included that Jack Kerouac quote because I heard it this week and ties into the theme of the album and "matches" the quote on the title page. It would be awesome if I kept up with the quote collecting and continued to add them. I printed out my January goals photo from last week and stuck that into a pocket. It would rad to have that each month too. But again, I am staying relaxed on the rule setting and trying to focus on the big picture.

Overall, successful week one! I was so excited to get started on this project and played around with it all week. I am always like this at the beginning of something new. The challenge is going to come the first week of February and every week after that. I am so committed to making this work for me though. I already love it.

supplies / Hambly transparency, Paper Source ribbon & labels, American Crafts Amy Tangerine chevron paper, Design A page protectors (which I hear will be restocked in Feb), Clementine core kit, that quote font is Bebas. Confused by Project Life? Start here.

ps / a great drinking game : drink every time you see the word "week" in this post. but not really, because it's 8am Sunday morning. 😉

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47 responses to “project life : week 1.”

  1. alice Avatar

    I love your first week ! You are so talented at laying everything together. When i see your photos i think : “i want to do Project life so i’ll have something that looks just like what Elise does !!!” I don’t think i’ll do it this year though… maybe next year ????
    Thanks for sharing. Have a nice day.

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  2. Jill Avatar

    Thanks so much for sharing your progress, Elise! I love following along with others on this project. I just flipped though my 2011 album and it’s so true what you said – the sum is much more exciting than the weekly parts. It’s worth sticking with, even if some weeks seem lackluster when you stick stuff in the pockets. So worth it! Happy Sunday 🙂

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  3. jodi Avatar

    it looks so great already!! i think i’ll have to give it a whirl in 2013.

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  4. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    So this comment is not related to PL (although I love your layout and am also excited to have finished my first week of PL as well)!! I want to talk about brussels sprouts. One of MY resolutions is to branch out with my veggie recipes. I have always hated sprouts – but I’ve never really attempted to make them on my own since I grew up, moved out, got married, etc. Could you share some of your recipes? Thanks!

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  5. Erin Gail Avatar

    I am absolutely in love with that Kerouac quote. Perhaps you’ll paint it & sell it in your shop? Maybe? And I could be the first to know? 🙂

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  6. elise blaha Avatar

    hey! This is my go to way for them : http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2011/10/how-i-love-brussels-sprouts.html. Lately, I have been adding pieces of (already cooked) JennyO turkey sausage into them and it is so good. 🙂

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  7. elise blaha Avatar

    hi Erin, thank you! I probably will not paint that – but I am thinking about making and selling something with all the quotes I stick into this album… I just need the right idea. 🙂

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  8. Libbi M. Avatar
    Libbi M.

    Elise… you are an inspiration to all of us. I love your start to P.L.. I did P.L. for 2011 and I am so happy I did this. I am on my way for my 2012 P.L.. You are so right when you say you have to make it work for you and your lifestyle. I don’t stress about taking a photo a day but just to document about my goings on one-week-at-a-time. Elise… I am a mother of 2 and I have a full-time job. If I can fit this into my super busy schedule, you can too. You can do this Elise. There are so many blog readers that are going to cheer you on the whole year. Go Elise!! Go Elise! You can do this! YES YOU CAN!!! Thank you for sharing and I am so looking forward to your next P.L. post.

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  9. Katrina Avatar

    Hahahaha on the drinking game. 🙂 Great start!

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  10. christen Avatar
    christen

    i love what you’ve done! i’m so tempted to do this too. maybe next year?

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  11. Sarah W Avatar
    Sarah W

    Love this. Looking forward to seeing your album throughout the year. So very inspiring.

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  12. Katherine Aguilar Avatar

    love how your PL is coming along! Your right with the rules, you kind of just have to go with it. That was my motto this past year. I was so stressed that I missed most of the summer and I’m like I will never finish it before the end of the year. And thinking to myself “great another project down the drain” but in December I caught up with almost everything! You just have to go with it. I did the quote a week thing too at the very beginning of 2011 and I love that idea! But then I took too many pictures every week and didn’t have any space. But I will try to put more quotes in this years PL. Thanks for sharing!

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  13. elise blaha Avatar

    haha, thanks! I am not too worried about having time. More worried about keeping motivation! But I will try to keep at it, for sure. So happy to hear you loved your 2011 album. 🙂

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  14. Nat Avatar

    From far away (aka on my Reader), I thought the house number photo was a picture of the ocean!

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  15. libbi m. Avatar
    libbi m.

    Ali Edwards is a big motivator for me. Also, just watching the progression of my album and viewing the pages I have created is my motivation. Also, watching my kids flip thru older pages makes it so very worth it. Go Elise, Go Elise! You can do this!

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  16. Cynthia Crysdale Avatar

    Elise your first week looks great! Try not to stress too much about PL, you will be amazed at how it evolves for you. We have an 18 yr old and 3 dogs so not a bunch of young kids which one would think make for more photo ops. However, I have found that there are always pictures to take; I take lots outside and of the dogs of course and then just everyday life. Have your husband collect things in Afghanistan (he probably comes across a lot of ephemera in the day which once your mindset is such you start to see it) and perhaps he can take photos – you can always keep space for it later if you know. You can also put in receipts of your day to day life. It is amazing how much stuff we collect, use, go through in a day.
    I think some of the most important stuff I have learned from Ali (I realize that PL is Becky Higgins but follow Ali’s PL – she is so much more creative than I) is that it is just living everyday life that is special and meaningful; and documenting it helps one to appreciate that.
    You have such a zest for life and living this project is going to be a LOT of fun for you! So nice to have found your blog site!

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  17. Cecilia Avatar

    I love your week 1. Every time I see people’s spreads from Project Life I think to myself, this would be the perfect solution to all the things we save throughout the year anyway- receipts, movie stubs, maps and programs from parks and events we go to.

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  18. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    i love it! so glad you’ve decided to share your pages. i just finished my first week up and love this process. so much fun. it makes me want to DO things so i can put it in the book.

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  19. Bridey Avatar

    I love seeing your page updates – so inspiring! I’ve got big plans for finishing some albums over the next few months. Once they’re sorted I might have to look into Project Life, it looks like such a great idea.
    And I’m hearing you about making self imposed rules, when I have an album I always feel like it has to be consistent no matter what… no rules sounds like a better plan.

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  20. fafuna Avatar

    I love your Project Life! And GUESS WHAT? Thanks to YOU, I’ve decided to try this, too! I’m going to start on my 20th (!!!) birthday (in March) and I’m so excited!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙂

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  21. amanda*rose Avatar

    Hi, Elise!
    I have to say I’m one of those who don’t get annoyed by Project Life posts…I’ve been actively seeking them out actually. 🙂 teehee*
    Your first week is lovely-pie, and your {olw + PL} approach to documenting this year has me hooked, lady. I’ve decided to follow suit and do the same. ❤ ❤ ❤
    Thanks for the inspiration today and everyday.

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  22. Kathy Avatar

    Great start and it will be so easy for you to keep up with this given the number of photos you take in any given week already…a little bit of journalling and you are done. I’ve finished my first week of 2012. I definately love Ali Edwards’s weekly updates. Very motivational. Love the new apartment and what you have done with it.

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  23. elise blaha Avatar

    I adore Alis updates too. Her album is a big reason why I am tackling this project!

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  24. Miranda Avatar

    Love your first week!
    I think I’m going to tackle my PL in two week blocks…that fits more with the number of photos I take. I’m constantly writing down quotes I come across on post-its all over my computer monitor and at work. I hadn’t thought of including them in the pages too…thanks for the inspiration!

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  25. Liv Avatar
    Liv

    Same here, I was like ‘oh that’s cool’!

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  26. Nicole Avatar

    I love it Elise! (Big surprise, haha!) 🙂 I really like how you used the little arrow stickers. I wasn’t sure about how to use them in a fun way and I love your idea. Thank you for sharing with us!!

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  27. Jessi Avatar

    Love the first week! Mine is much more generic. But your creativity is definitely an inspiration for me to play around with my layout more each week. I’m excited to see how my layouts develop as the year progresses and I’ll definitely be checking in here for ideas!

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  28. caro Avatar

    Hope this is okay to ask you a bit about printing the iphone photo’s that small size? You are printing at home, so do you just set the picture size to that and it comes out as a “full frame size” (aka uncropped)? Is it really that easy? Cool info!

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  29. Cheryl Avatar
    Cheryl

    I love your project life. How do you print your iPhone photos?

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  30. MichelleB Avatar
    MichelleB

    great start! I started last night too – but still waiting for my binder and core kit to arrive in the mail ( I think today!) I did one last year (actually still working on it) but it was monthly rather than weekly. I am going to keep up on the weekly in 2012 (well that’s my plan). I am like you though – try to think of a plan and stick with it , but really should just go with the flow in terms of PL. I can’t wait to see your album for the rest of 2012! Love your style 🙂 Are you still going to be making those great mini-books of yours?

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  31. Allie Avatar

    Absolutely gorgeous Elise! I was so excited that you decided to do this project! I was worried when you said you bought the Clementine kit, because I wanted to see what YOU did with the project, but I’m very happy to see how much of YOU is in it already. Total inspiration 🙂
    I didn’t decide to do Project Life in time to buy the Design A pages that I wanted, so I am working out of 4×6 divided page protectors. I love that you put so many journalling blocks, etc in your 4×6 sections– they give me a few new ideas!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  32. Black Tag Diaries Avatar

    BAH!! thought about taking you up on the drinking game, but wasn’t sure it was entirely appropriate for a monday morning at the office;) cracked me up.
    how are you printing your photos for this project? printing them at home? using a online photo lab? that always seems to be my biggest struggle… getting the photos in my hands. i’m really good at keeping little piles of crap… i mean memorable scraps… but printing the photos is a different story…
    i LOVE how your first week turned out. as always, thanks for the inspiration!

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  33. oh shoot Avatar

    I love this! I am waiting for more of their products to come back in stock and then I want to start. The only thing that I am worried about is finishing it. I have a hard time finishing BIG projects like this. crossing fingers 😉

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  34. elise blaha Avatar

    I am printing at home. Between the paper and the ink, its expensive but it saves time and for me is easier. 🙂

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  35. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you. It is hugely important to me that this album stays ME so I will try and keep it up. Did you see Kayla Aimees post today? She is using the 4×6 page protectors, but slipping 3×4 cards in the middle ones so she can just switch to Design A when they are available.

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  36. elise blaha Avatar

    I am totally planning on making the summer book again. And the holiday book. Those are always my favorites. Not sure what else 2012 will hold for the shop, but we will see!

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  37. elise blaha Avatar

    hi Caro, I upload them to my computer and then print them using a similar method to what Ali shows in this video : http://aliedwards.com/2012/01/video-tutorial-printing-two-3×4-images-on-a-4×6.html What I mean by them not being cropped is that the ratio of the photo is 3×4. 🙂 hope that helps!

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  38. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you! I upload them to my computer and then print at home. Ali has a good tip for getting two 3×4 photos (which my iPhone images are) onto a 4×6 canvas for printing : http://aliedwards.com/2012/01/video-tutorial-printing-two-3×4-images-on-a-4×6.html

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  39. Allie Finch Avatar

    I have such a basic question: do you round the edges of your photos by hand or use a tool or template for cutting them? I love the clean look & how the round edges add separation to each image in the protector (yet blend well), whereas flat edges would sit more closely & might offer less distinction. Beautiful work as always.

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  40. elise blaha Avatar

    I have a fiskars corner rounder that is not the best ever, but works just fine. It is this one : http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-01-001448-Twist—Flip-Corner/dp/B001GSEKSI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8qid=1326145611sr=8-1

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  41. mich Avatar
    mich

    love, love, love the quotes. okay, i kinda love everything about this.

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  42. Drea Avatar

    I had a really hard time coming to terms with the truth that Project Life is not right FOR ME right now, but I’m so loving watching you go through it. You’re doing a beautiful job! As always, in inspiration.

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  43. ali Avatar

    gorgeous Elise! I spent new years eve holidaying in Vietnam and am in-between houses at the moment (am moving). I want to document my 2012 somewhere between your 2011 album and project life. At this stage I’m planning on a project life type monthly recap in a normal scrapbook album.
    thanks for the inspiration!

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  44. em Avatar

    your posts on project life made me think ‘damn i want to do this’ but it’s not available to buy in the uk so those plans have been scuppered.
    Love what you’ve done though.
    em

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  45. elise blaha Avatar

    I think I saw something on twitter about it being available in the UK. Here is more info : http://www.scrapbookersinnercircle.com/shop-becky-higgins-project-life-uk-europe/ 🙂

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  46. Kimber-Leigh Avatar

    i love your take on PL…love the fabric swatches and the photo from your husband. (i love the idea of including what’s going on for someone else in the family while they are away! thanks for that idea!)

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