enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Plwk1

HERE WE GO!! It's week one and I'm obsessed with this project all over again.

I have decided that I'll be making my weeks Monday to Sunday (instead of Sunday to Saturday) so I can keep the weekends together. I will continue to share each spread on the blog, but they will go up a week later instead of the day after the week ends. This will give me more time to be sure I am happy with the layout and not just throwing it together so I have something up on the blog. Ideally, this will NOT just give me free reign to get behind on the project. 🙂

I am hoping to simplify the journaling I share on the blog each week by using a bit of Q&A. This is the first week so things may get tweaked, but text should be similar from week to week as I share thoughts, techniques (when appropriate) and ratio of iPhone photos to "real camera" photos just for fun.

Plwk1full

click the photo to enlarge for a somewhat clearer image.

Week of : January 1 – January 6.

What happened this week? We were up in Sacramento. I decided to include two photos (one of me and one of Paul) from New Years Eve even though technically that's 2012. We were apart most of the week as Paul was hunting in Washington state.

Plwk1left

Yep! I know I spelled "embracing" wrong. The error was caught and fixed after I took these photos.

Anything special in the spread? I used a mini calendar card from Paislee Press, I'll be using one of these in a 3×4 pocket each new month. Because it's a new year, and that is exciting, I tucked some colorful sequins into the pocket as well. I also have a few bits from the Studio Calico project life kit in the spread this week too. I am not a subscriber, but I write for their tips & tricks column once a quarter and am lucky enough to get a kit then.

Plwk1detail

Yep! I know I spelled "embracing" wrong. The error was caught and fixed after I took these photos.

Techniques this week : I talked in my "moving forward with Project Life" post about how I wanted to make my 2013 album "better." At the time that was super tricky to articulate. And even now, looking at this spread, I don't know what makes it "better" but I do know I feel good about it. This week, I used white space on the photos to add handwritten text (which is super normal for me) and incorporated letter stickers right on top of the photos. Love the look and how it feels almost editorial. I'd love to do more of both throughout the year.

Plwk1right

Overall thoughts : I can already tell that this album will have more handwritten "paragraph style" journaling. I am obsessed with the 3×4 journaling cards & simple text designs. I am excited to incorporate two or three a week to share extra stories.

Plwk1detail2

Ratio of iPhone photos to "real camera" photos : 9 to 1. Just the photo of bearded Paul grinning at the camera was taken with my real camera. Most (but not all) of the iPhone photos were processed with the AfterGlow app.

Plwk1detail3

Ratio of photos taken by Elise to photos taken by Paul : 9 to 1. Paul took the landscape one while he was up hunting. The ones of me/us are self timer photos with the TimerCam app for iPhone.

Supplies used : Seafoam core kit, Studio Calico Project Life kit (ampersand 3×4 card & geotag badge), Elise Joy you're my favorite stamp, Paislee Press calendar card, Freckled Fawn arrow wood chip, Meredith Tilton Love Light transparency, American Crafts letter stickers, Basic Gray for Studio Calico letter stickers, Elle's Studio journaling tag, Studio Calico "man" paper clip, Martha Stewart & Avery labels.

Tools used : Design A pocket pages, Fiskars corner rounder, Zig Millenium pen, Rotatrim paper trimmer, Office Depot date stamp, staz-on ink. All photos were printed at home on my HP Photosmart 2575 printer on Office Depot semi-gloss photo paper.

Project Life is a memory-keeping system created by Becky Higgins. I use photos, text and stuff to document our life weekly. You can see all the posts from 2012 here and 2013 here. Do you have a question about how I am tackling this project? Check here.

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54 responses to “project life 2013 : week 1.”

  1. Kayla Avatar

    Looks great! These posts are so inspiring!

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  2. Kristina k Avatar
    Kristina k

    Fantastic. I started project life this year and I love it so far. I have been reading your blog for years now and I think this is the first time I have ever commented. I just wanted to say thanks for inspiring me to play with paper again. My seafoam kit should be arriving this week. 🙂

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  3. christie Avatar

    Long time listener, first time caller here as well : ) Love your blog and your approach to life. Looking forward to getting my seafoam kit in a couple of days!
    Did you know Paislee Press has those calendar cards in “european” calendar format so that they will match how you’re doing your weeks, from Monday to Sunday?

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  4. Cerise Avatar

    Looks really great. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  5. andrea Avatar
    andrea

    Love that spread. And yes, I also see a difference to the spreads of last year. I think, it’s because this spreads has so many neutral colors in it. There is more white and almost no bright colors. The photos have some sort of glow. I really like it.
    Here in europe (I’m from Switzerland) it’s normal that a week starts at monday and ends at sunday. I never understood, how the week could not start on a monday. 🙂

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  6. Tiffany Avatar

    It looks great! I am starting Project Life for the first time this year, after first learning about it on your blog! My seafoam kit should also be here this week. The paper arrived yesterday, and it’s beautiful! Can’t wait to get the core kit and album when it gets released!

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  7. jessica o'brien | jessohbee Avatar

    yay for project life! i too quickly figured out that i may need to post a week, not a day, later too. i’m traveling this weekend and it just seems too hard to turn around so quickly! i loved following your spreads last year and look forward to seeing them again this year.

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  8. Emily S Avatar
    Emily S

    I like how most (all?) of the 3×4 cards in your kit allow the written text to be super flush to the text on the card. I was unhappy with how “off kilter” some of my written text appears on other PL cards b/c the design is in the middle or “ungrounded” – if that makes sense! 🙂

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  9. Alison Avatar

    I love your style. I love that you add journalling date stamp and stickers right onto the photos. Every year that I have done project life (I think this is my 5th year) I have always done at least 6-7 cards of journalling sometimes 8 using all the 3×4 spaces with journalling. This year i want to try and be more flexiable and not feel I have to write something about every single photo. I want to mix it up a bit and add a few more bits to my weekly spread. I love the Seafoam edition and trying to be paitent as I wait for my core kit to arrive, fingers cross today it will be in my hot little hands. Thanks for sharing your PL with us

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  10. kristy.lynn @ kristy.makes Avatar

    ‘editorial’… DUDE. that is so the thought that has been churning in my head, but i haven’t been able to articulate it, about how i want to proceed with my 2013 album. i’ve been eagerly awaiting your inspiration this week, and i love it 😉 can’t wait to see how your album morphs over the year with the addition of baby cripe! 🙂

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  11. Martha Avatar
    Martha

    Elise, I wanted to write and say thanks for your inspiration to ask your husband to take more pics. My husband and I live in different states this year and I asked him to send me 2 or 3 pics a week. He was hesitant at first but he has sent me at least 3 a week so far this month so I am very happy. Wanted to include what both of our lives look like right now. We both have iphones and the new “shared photostream” makes sharing so simple. Thanks for the idea!

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  12. kelly sill Avatar

    This looks great Elise! I love your Q & A format! I subscribed to the Studio Calico Project Life Kit! I think its’ going to be a great compliment to your Seafoam Collection! I’m using your digital version until the paper kit comes in the mail. I still think it is going to be another week or two before it arrives-our military/diplomatic postal service is a bit slow sometimes overseas!
    Can’t wait to see your layout from house-hunting! ~Kelly

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  13. Fiona Avatar

    It looks great! I love how you’re adding more space for extra stories this year. I also plan on doing that. It’s great to follow you in your process! I love the new journaling style for the blog post, too.

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  14. Kelli Avatar

    9 to 1…that makes me feel so much better about my ratio 🙂 LOL…I seriously feel like I forget I have a real camera that I love dearly! Haha! YAY another week of encouragement from Elise! ;0)

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  15. indigorchid Avatar

    Looking good! I agree with the other commenter on color-usage – there is a pretty consistent color-palette in this spread, and I’d bet that’s one reason it’s feeling “better”. I’ve finally decided to join the project life world, but I’ll be using it to arrange old pictures that never made it into albums, mostly travel related (school trip to China, my year abroad, etc). I’m so thrilled to be getting it all done, just have to get the actual album-stuff in my mailbox first, haha!

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  16. eliza.fitz Avatar
    eliza.fitz

    looks great, Elise! I’ve been waiting for this post all year (haha), thanks for sharing! 🙂

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  17. Lauren Hender Avatar

    Week 1, looking great! Looking forward to week 2.

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  18. Brooke Avatar

    Love it. Can’t wait to get my hands on your Seafoam kit. My hubby went a little nuts at Christmas time so we are waiting til his next pay day to purchase it. I’m completely up to date with a pencil and paper version of PL. Working with what I have.

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  19. eek! Avatar

    Great spread! I can’t wait for my Seafoam kit to arrive!

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  20. Sarah Swann Avatar

    Yay! This is my second year doing PL too and I will be getting my Seafoam kit on Tuesday! Been holding off (while taking good notes) to start my album until I got the kit. I can’t wait to dive into all the goodness. Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Megan Anderson Avatar

    Love the idea of a Q & A! It does get hard to write new things about PL every week. This should streamline it! I might have to copycat this idea 🙂

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  22. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    This Q&A format is awesome! I het it makes it much easier to write about each week! I love your layout as usual… The text on the photo is awesome and that little cute paperclip guy as so great! Thanks for the tip about the app your using to process photos, I might check it out!
    Oh, and I’ve been playing around with the digital version of your Seafoam kit, and I have to say, I love it! While the neutrals are awesome in it, I’m obsessed with the colours at the moment… Great choice for the blue, yellow and orange in it! 🙂

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  23. Ali Avatar

    the Q&A format of your post is fantastic! I started off this year from 01-05 (tue through to saturday) – but living in australia it was weird finishing the week on a saturday, ours usually go monday – sunday. I’ll probably change it from this week (week 3) and go from sunday-sunday. It’s felt weird doing it the other way around…
    Love the way you’ve made tweaks to make this year even better to record PL!

    Like

  24. marcela Avatar
    marcela

    Love your 1st week Elise! Always look forward to your weekly spread, as much as it’s boring work for you to prepare, it’s very much appreciated :)It’s great that this year i’ll be using your kit 🙂

    Like

  25. libbywilko Avatar
    libbywilko

    Great start to 2013 PL posts 🙂 I like the Mon-Sun weeks myself as I do like keeping my weekend photos together.

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  26. Amanda Avatar

    So excited to see these updates every week! I like the Q&A style.

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  27. Alison Avatar

    Seafoam core kit, papers and monthly dividers have arrived :)…….LOVE IT

    Like

  28. Jody R. Avatar

    That’s how I decided to do my weeks this year. Last year, New Year’s Day was a Sunday so it made sense for me to do it that way, but I really did not like having the weekends split. Hopefully the kit arrives this week so I can take it to our scrap day on Saturday and get all the dates written in.

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  29. Casey Avatar

    I love how you have decided to post about your layouts this year. Love how you are able to keep it simple but still include so much information and stories within your layouts. Super excited to get my kit out and get started now! Looking forward to seeing how you approach project life again this year! Thanks for sharing 🙂

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  30. mel Avatar
    mel

    Just downloaded the afterglow app and find it very cool indeed. Can you share your favourite filter as there was so many too choose from and I love the subtle effect on your photos 🙂

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  31. elise blaha Avatar

    Thanks! I almost always use Captain

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  32. Angela Avatar
    Angela

    Did you have any of your Clementine kit from last year left? If so will you use it in this album, or use it up on another project?

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  33. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    Lookin’ good so far.

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  34. elise blaha Avatar

    I did! Will stick with the us format, but so glad there are options. 🙂

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  35. elise blaha Avatar

    When it fits I will use it! 🙂

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  36. Bonita Rose K Avatar

    I do my PL too on Mon to Sundays… and well I do my layouts every Monday after that week.. I choose my photos I want to print that Sunday evening… and spend some time on my layout on the Monday.. I DON’T just flippantly or haphazardly throw it together so I have something to share on my blog… that was a rather flip comment I think.. and it made me sad to read it. 😦
    I give thought to my layouts and just because I do mine the day after the week is done, doesn’t mean my layouts are any less great or significant in my life.
    Just how I feel Elise.
    😦

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  37. Marie Avatar

    I simply love your layout! Thanks a lot for sharing and for all the explanations.

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  38. Karina K Avatar
    Karina K

    Thanks for the great inspiration!! I cant wait to get the seafoam kit, I just got an email from Amazon last night saying its been shipped!! I have been sticking the pictures in the page protectors and writing notes on scratch paper in the mean time.
    I do my weeks from Saturday to Friday so I can work on the weeks spread on the weekend since I work a 9-5 job during the week. This makes its so much easier for me and I don’t get behind.

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  39. elise blaha Avatar

    Oh, I am sad to read you applied that to yourself!! It was totally for me. I found MYSELF throwing things together for MY OWN blog. Totally not something that I have seen on other blogs. Totally not something that I would worry about other bloggers or project lifers doing. This project is completely personal. How it works for you may work great for others or not work at all for others. I can only share my experience and my layouts and I never mean to be flip or offend (with any of my posts). I am so glad you have a system that works for you! I hope to continue to develop mine so it works better for me. 🙂

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  40. JC Avatar
    JC

    Looks terrific, Elise!
    My Seafoam kit should arrive today or tomorrow — can’t wait! 🙂

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  41. Natasha Avatar
    Natasha

    Where do you print your pictures out? I saw you stamp on them, I’m afraid the ink will smear. Any suggestions? Matte vs glossy? Certain drug store printing?

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  42. Natasha Avatar
    Natasha

    I didn’t see the monthly dividers on amazon. Could you post the link? Thank you.

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  43. Pink Ronnie Avatar

    Loving your 2013 album already! 🙂
    I’m also in love with your new Q&A format for your PL blog posts – would you mind if I borrowed the idea and did something similar myself? It must make the write-up so much easier…
    Ronnie xo

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  44. Lisa G. Avatar
    Lisa G.

    Great stuff girlie….especially the baby bump!! yah!
    Question, the self timer app, which one do you use, there is a few. I’ve wanted a self time for a bit so happy to see you recommend. Got the afterglow one as well, always needed some better editing that isn’t instagram. 🙂
    Keep up the great work!

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  45. Noreen Avatar
    Noreen

    My seafoam kit is coming tomorrow and I’m so EXCITED!! Hoping to stay more on top of this this year. I am a half year behind on last years album (how do you stay motivated and caught up?!). Love reading your blog!

    Like

  46. elise blaha Avatar

    I really think having the blog and sharing the spreads here helps me stay motivated and up to date. But it is a challenge!! Hopefully Seafoam will motivate you. 😉

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  47. elise blaha Avatar

    TimerCam! Works great. 🙂

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  48. elise blaha Avatar

    totally!! 🙂 use it!

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  49. tiffany Avatar

    Just got my Seafoam kit today. YAY! So excited to do my intro page now! Quick technique question: I have never had good luck writing on photos…even using slick writer (not a good, consistent ink flow) or Zigs (smeary, not dark lines). What do you use? Your writing appears to be solid and black. Looking forward to checking in on your layouts over the year! Thanks.

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  50. elise blaha Avatar

    I use a zig – but I think the paper of my photos has more to do with it. I print at home on semi-gloss photo paper from office depot and never have any trouble with writing or stamping. 🙂

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