enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Plwk8

Week eight and this project is totally amazing.

Plwk8full

(click to enlarge & the image above will be [somewhat] clearer)

This was The Big Week. Paul came home! My family has two people who live in the same house again!

Plwk8right

I knew exactly what I was going to do to document such a big moment for us the second I saw Kelly Purkey's phenomenal Project Life title page. Printing a photo large? Chopping it up to fit in the pockets? SO RAD. And I knew the homecoming would be a perfect event to capture this way.

Plwk8detail2

It was easy to do – in PSE, I cropped the photo into a 12×12 square and then cropped it into smaller pieces to print at home. (Two 6x8s – that I cut down – and two 4x6s.) I decided to round the corners of each piece which sort of breaks it up – but I'm a little too OCD to let the non-rounded corners show through on the next page. Obviously there couldn't be a week without a quote and so I just left that part of the photo out. Originally I had planned on using a photo from the actual homecoming, but I LOVE that I went with the ocean photo. That quote makes even more sense now.

Plwk8left

I had that whole left side (and most of this post) created before I picked up P on Friday. I knew I had to basically squeeze a week into just a page so I made sure it was done.

Pl2k8sequins

That birthday pocket is one of my favorites. I stamped my birth date on a grid card, tossed in some sequins, ran it through my sewing machine on a zig-zag stitch and then added number stickers right on top of the pocket. Turns out adding sequins is addicting. In the above photos, you can see I stuck some gold sequin stars to the coming home photo pockets too – although those are stapled into place, the birthday ones "float" around.

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I also used my first scrapbook divider this week. These can be used to document months, but I decided I'll use them to mark important events this year.

Plwk8divider

I added a flair button from Ormolu right on top. On the backside I stuck a circle sticker because you could see the back of the flair button through the divider and added a "C" (our last initial) on top.

Plwk8openPlwk8insert2

All that text from yesterday's post and the photo that I pulled from Facebook (thank you Emily!) from the homecoming needed a place and so I added an extra insert this week. That is a Project Life Photo Design D Pocket page (from the variety pack) that I chopped the right side off so it was just to vertical 4×6 photo slots. I printed the text from the post on three different 4×6 pieces of paper. I used an American Crafts file tab to highlight the insert like I have been doing throughout the album.

Plwk8detail

I printed that photo from my birthday and hand-wrote the text from my birthday post right on top with a recollections marker which is very similar to an American Crafts slickwriter. It sticks right to the photo paper and I always love my handwriting with these pens. The text on that light blue cardstock came from my "more" post.

Yes

OH BOY – this project about to get interesting. To be clear – I don't think Project Life is something that you need a family to work on. Far from it actually. I think it's an awesome documentation tool for anyone and had a blast keeping it it up for near eight weeks with just me. But my family is two people and right now, we're both living together home for the first time since the end of June. I am so excited to document what our daily life looks like together. I have never really done that on such a grand scale before. (It's difficult to tell, but I think Paul's excited too. 😉 )

supplies / Paper Source circle label, rectangle label & ribbon, gold glitter paper c/o Scrapbook Circle, American Crafts letter stickers and file tab, Ormolu Thursday tag and button, Design A page protectors (which are available in this variety pack), Scrapbook Dividers, Clementine core kit, Bebas quote font. I use a Fiskars corner rounder (it's not amazing, but it's lasted the longest of any corner rounder I've ever had). I am using a Zig Millennium 0.1 pen and Recollections glossy marker throughout this album.

Confused by Project Life? Start here. See all my Project Life posts here. Heads up – I'll be traveling the next week and a half so the next two weeks of Project Life will not be posted until March 13th-ish.

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58 responses to “project life : week 8.”

  1. Pink Ronnie Avatar

    So glad I popped by your blog before going to sleep over here in Sydney. I KNEW you’d have a post up since you’re so good at getting them up first thing in the morning (your time) every day. Totally inspiring. I hope you are having the most amazing time with Paul (I’m sure that you are!), and thanks for these Project Life overviews every week. I just love them so much. Maybe one day….
    Ronnie xo

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  2. Jessi Avatar

    Ahhh! My FAVORITE week of your’s so far!! I love the sequins you used for your birthday. I love that you shrinked down that blog post and printed it on a 3×4 card. And that full sized photo cut up and put back together?? Ah.maze.ing. Thank you for sharing that idea. I will definitely be using it at some point! Ah, and I’m so happy Paul is home to you! It will be so great to be able to include him more now. Just lovely!!

    Like

  3. Sonja Avatar

    I’m looking forward for more posts about E&P 😉
    I love your blog, your spirit and your soul!
    Thanks for all!
    Sonja

    Like

  4. susan Avatar

    Amazing Elise ! Love LOVE that big photo chopped up & all your lay-outs You are super talented & always so upbeat & enthusiastic which is nothing but – inspiring ! thank you.

    Like

  5. Sarah Starr Avatar

    those floating sequins = genius! you’re definitely one of my favorite PL inspirations 🙂

    Like

  6. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    I had some up and down moments with the Project Life layout. I’m always checking out sites to find new ways to put together scrapbooks/photo albums. I realize now that the times I wasn’t sure I liked the page construction of the project were really due to a lack of imagination on my part. I LOVE the full page picture. It puts the other pages in context and emphasizes the freedom this particular Kolo system affords. I’m definitely looking at this method it in a new light. Seems perfect for an upcoming project of mine.

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  7. Rose Avatar

    The week you’ve been waiting for! So glad it finally came.

    Like

  8. Nicole Avatar

    Love the sequins, love the photo enlargement, love the quote, love that you added a page divider to this week to show when Paul came home (my favorite, for sure!). I’m so looking forward to seeing how your Project Life progresses as a family. Amazing stuff, Elise!

    Like

  9. kristen Avatar

    This post has inspired me to start this project. I have wanted to for some time now but really could not get motivated. I love the large photo cut up! Buying stuff this week. Thanks!

    Like

  10. betsy Avatar

    Just stumbled over here – love your work. You are doing a lovely job on your photo book!

    Like

  11. JayEssJay Avatar

    My favorite part… the “He’s Home!” tab. What a wonderful birthday present!! You’re making me really wish that I had started Project Life for myself this year. I was too worried that without kids each week would look exactly the same… can’t wait to see how yours evolves now that Paul’s home.

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  12. Ali Avatar

    The stars on the big photo are just perfect.

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  13. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    Love it 🙂

    Like

  14. Kristy Avatar

    I’m a little OCD-ish.. and while I LOVED the dividers, I couldn’t manage to think in my head it would be ok to mark a month, when the week fell between two months.. OK.. maybe I’m ALOT OCD-ish. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE (LOVE LOVE) the idea of using them to dog-ear major events in the year. AWESOME! Totally pinning this.. and regretting I didn’t snag some already!
    Ps. I totally get you blogging eventhough Paul is home. SO excited to read your coming home story.. I remember mine.. and it was 11 years ago.. Brings back lots of memories.. and jump started my day with a good cry. Your blog is my EVERYDAY read.. can’t start my morning without my EJBC fix. no joke! 🙂

    Like

  15. trish Avatar

    Loved your innovative ideas this week! I’ll be following you now lol!

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  16. Jo Avatar

    really enjoying ur project life journey elise. i am doing one little word instead this year. love the big picture all cropped, perfect picture as well.
    jo xxx

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  17. Sammy G. Avatar

    I love it. I read your post about Paul coming home to my roommate who is also waiting for her boyfriend to come back from Afghanistan. He comes home in a few weeks and she was crying as I read it to her she was so excited. I almost teared up as well. Love the big picture.
    For the quote font, I saw you post what it was but what is the script font that you incorporate into it?

    Like

  18. janetk Avatar
    janetk

    It’s not too late to start….and I hesitated to do PL because I do not have children & now I am so glad I am doing it!

    Like

  19. em Avatar

    I am loving your Project Life so far! And I love the big picture page – I did one of them too (http://www.ohgoshem.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-life.html)
    Can’t wait to see how it goes with Paul home. x

    Like

  20. Beth H Avatar

    Love seeing your pages. And you make me feel old — I can remember 21 years ago I was 27 (almost your age) and the thrilling feeling of having my husband back home with me after being deployed with the Navy for the First Gulf War for over 8 months. Enjoy each other and keep sharing your great work — you inspire me.

    Like

  21. elise blaha Avatar

    I am happy to hear this is inspiring to you! Just want to clarify though – this is not a kolo album… I am using the Becky Higgins Project Life system. 🙂

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  22. elise blaha Avatar

    I handwrite that script after I print the rest of the text – so its just my writing with a pen. 🙂

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  23. Melodie Avatar
    Melodie

    Love that this post was featured on Becky Higgins facebook page! You inspired me to start Project life a few weeks ago. Thank you 🙂

    Like

  24. northcarmen Avatar

    I adore how you used the Design D page protector, the big photo (the rounded corners make it look even cooler, I think), the sequins, the divider…. So many neat ideas in one post!! And your birthday is the same day as my daughter’s, so I needed some special ideas for capturing her 2nd birthday (she turned 2 on 2/22/2012). Thank you!! And I’m very excited for you about your husband finally being home — that’s so great! I can’t imagine being apart for so long — military spouses amaze me.

    Like

  25. Hannah Avatar

    I’m single AND without kids (blasphemy to some it seems, haha) and I started one this year and it’s quite awesome…if I do say so myself!! Each week of mine is so different, but yet I love how it all comes together to tell my story. I’d recommend it to anyone –

    Like

  26. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    oooops…well, that was embarrassing.
    Thanks for clarifying the product name. This will save me considerable search time 🙂

    Like

  27. nicole @ I am a Honey Bee Avatar

    I love your week 8 PL work.
    Glad you are nejoying Paul being back home!

    Like

  28. Design Editor Avatar

    AWESOMENESS. Love the subtle He’s Home divider.
    Heartfelt thanks from this Army brat to Paul for his service!

    Like

  29. Jennifer Avatar

    I love everything about this! Especially the sequins. I am kicking myself because I am so behind! Oh well!
    Have a great day!

    Like

  30. Kimmie Avatar

    I just found your blog through one of Ali Edwards’ tweets. 🙂
    I was reading this post and when I saw that your husband was wearing camo, but in the Navy, I thought to myself… hmmmm… there aren’t too many sub-branches of the Navy that wears camo. LOL And as I read your about page, I noticed that you are stationed in Port Hueneme right now! OMG! We were stationed there 1996 thru 1999. It’s a lovely little place, isn’t it?
    Before we got our base housing, we lived on the beach, too… on Surfside Dr. 🙂
    Such a small world that I found you through a PL post on Twitter. 🙂

    Like

  31. lindsey Avatar

    ooh, fun! looking forward to more e+p photos, the beach one- genius. quotes- perfectly designed. and your shirt with paul on the beach- shirt and scarf… just a shirt? it’s fantastic!

    Like

  32. Skye Avatar

    I LOVE the big ocean photo and the quote that has the word “wave” in it. It looks great with the rounded corners. I think it’s my favorite page ever. It just radiates happiness!

    Like

  33. Kimmie Avatar

    I also wanted to say… Enjoy the next 7 months with your sweet hubby!!
    I just read your coming home post and it made me tear up remembering standing on that exact same airfield, watching the lights from the plane coming in on the night sky, reading all those signs while driving on a base that was not our own…
    Thank you.

    Like

  34. Dgibson381@cox.net Avatar
    Dgibson381@cox.net

    I love your full page photo at the beach! Your PL layouts are fun!

    Like

  35. Alexandra Avatar

    LOVE this week from you– amazing. The big picture is so so so awesome.
    It’s so nice to see someone who is married (but without kids–yet!) documenting this journey as well. Thanks for being such an inspiration!

    Like

  36. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    Oh that us fabulous! Welcome home Paul, and great job to you both for making it through. I remember the day my husband came home from his first deployment (17 years ago) like it was yesterday. You will cherish that photo and journaling forever, and hopefully generations to come!! Best wishes to you both as you transition back together, and into your new normal. It won’t always be smooth sailing, but you already know it will be worth the ride!

    Like

  37. elise blaha Avatar

    thanks so much! and I am wearing a gray sweater + scarf. 🙂

    Like

  38. Libbi M. Avatar
    Libbi M.

    I love the way you are putting this together. I can’t wait to see more E & P stuff added. I absolutely love project life and it’s simplicity. Thank you so much for taking us along on your journey. And I am so very excited for you now that Paul is back home safe and sound. God Bless the two of you.

    Like

  39. Cindy Avatar
    Cindy

    What kind of pen do you use to write on your photos? I love your blog and the photos are all great. You inspire me to get my blog back on track. Thanks!!

    Like

  40. MaryAnn P Avatar

    Oh this is beautiful! I love everything about this layout! I wish so much that Project Life would have been around prior to having a family!!! It is so important for people to realize that everyone has a story to tell no matter the time period in their life!!! I adore your work and your ability to complete your goals…. so happy for you that Paul is home!!!

    Like

  41. elise blaha Avatar

    hey Cindy, they are mentioned at the bottom of the post. and I love American Crafts black slick writers.

    Like

  42. Pink Ronnie Avatar

    Quick question Elise (which I’m sure you’ve answered somewhere already) – does Kolo sell binders that are suitable for Project Life?
    Ronnie xo

    Like

  43. Rae Veda Avatar

    This is amazing. I love the big picture you put into all of those pockets. Such a great idea. xo, rv
    http://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/

    Like

  44. amanda*rose Avatar

    These are my favorite pages of yours yet! So many fun ideas I want to try! 🙂
    Love how you conveyed the magnitude of him bein’ home. ❤ ❤ ❤

    Like

  45. Alison Avatar

    love that big photo chopped up! i saw Kelly had done that too – what a fab idea! I’m only doing project life by month – and it’s fun! I love it – and gives me more of a reason to collect and keep all those bits and pieces in such a purposeful way!

    Like

  46. Tracy O Avatar

    First of all…Welcome Home Paul & thank you for all you do…and Elise, from one military wife to another…thank you!
    Now on to the crafty goodness…I love the sequins, the enlarged photo and the cute starts. At first I thought you had actually punched them into the photo until I looked a bit closer. Everything about this layout is gorgeous. We are coming up on a deployment right now and I think I am going to tuck this little beauty into the inspiration bank for our homecoming.
    Thank you for sharing the inspiration. Have a wonderful time documenting the 2 of you..

    Like

  47. r8chel Avatar

    I love the way you used one big photo to highlight this momentous occasion!

    Like

  48. Michelle LaPoint Rydell Avatar

    Wow! I love your take on Project Life! Your chopped up photo is fantastic, and I also love your unique idea for the dividers! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  49. elise blaha Avatar

    Technically any album can work for project life, but they dont sell plastics with different sized pockets.

    Like

  50. Khloe1911 1911 Avatar

    hello! I like very much your brilliant style!
    you are a big inspiration for me!
    Khloe Estrada, Italy

    Like

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