plans for project life and project 'my' life in 2016

PLANS FOR PROJECT LIFE 2016

I know we've entered into the new year and often bloggers post about this at least a week or more before the new year, hey I usually do too.   My December was pretty full on, and to be honest I didn't really know where I wanted to go with memory keeping in 2016.  I'd already started to go digital via the project life app for the second part of 2015.  But I miss the craft aspect of it.  I plan to finish out my 2015 digital and print in bulk when done.

I did have a thought to not even do project life at all for 2016...  It was a quick thought that I squished moments later.  At one stage I thought I wanted to give 6x12 a try again, but then looking over the start of 2015, here,  when I did try this size, I realised there just wasn't enough room.  I still like to add pretty pocket page cards.  I toyed with the idea of doing one design A pocket a week in the 12x12 size.  I knew 6x8 was too small and this is my scrapbooking size. 

Since getting back from our summer camping trip I've had a few people ask what my plans for memory keeping in 2016, the answer is, 9x12.

• I plan to try and only have one album for the year.
• I've given up on the idea of journalling with my own handwriting.
• I loved including drawings and cards from my girls and I plan to do the same for 2016.
• Use what I've got.  I'm subscribed to the Messy Box kit and plan to use it each month.
• Blogging either once a week or once a month, this is something I'm not decided on just yet.
• Use my digital stamps more, still getting used to going from clear to digital myself.

PLANS FOR PROJECT 'MY' LIFE 2016

I still plan to continue with my project based on me, myself and I.  I take a lot of photos of my crafts, food, coffee, and more coffee and often they get pushed to the side when it comes to documenting our weekly memories and so I decided to start an album called 'project 'my' life.  I've really enjoyed doing this in the 9x12 sized album using the black and white striped A Beautiful Mess album.  With still room for another month I plant to document in the same album and documenting monthly and not weekly when it comes to this album.  

• What are your plans?  
• Have you got it set already?  
• Are you doing a album on yourself? 

Leave a comment, let's chat about it?

Comments

[Renae]

Sensible choices!
I'm downsizing to 6x8 this year and trying monthly. My weekly album was getting a bit repetitive for me. I have a pile of snap pockets so I'm just in the midst of deciding if I'll buy a snap 6x8 or a BH one as they both take the two hole pockets. I thought I was going to use the 6x8 Kaisercraft albums but they are really small ring size.

I'm also following your lead and doing an album for me, I'm using one of the new Kaisercraft planners and it'll be part journal, part photos of stuff I no longer want in my Project Life album (like coffee pics!)

[Anna]

I'm still going to do Project Life 12x12" as my family album - I'm yet to finish one though! Maybe this year will be THE year I actually complete a full PL album...I can dream ;-)

I am pretty sure that I am also going to devote an album to just me - 6x8" I'm thinking. Just for that extra stuff that doesn't make it into our family album and where I can get a little more (or a LOT more) personal and deep :-)

Love your choices! look forward to seeing your life and albums unfold this year xx

[di @ studio10creative]

I'm doing PL weekly using the app this year. I need it to be quick and portable to be able to keep up. I'll be printing out as/when I've got enough to make it viable. I figure I've got enough other projects that give me enough touchy/feely! I'm going to use my gorgeous Heidi Swapp A5 planner to document more about me. Looking forward to seeing your albums as the year progresses. x

[Kellie Winnell]

I love your idea Di. Something I seriously considered was going digital only. I usually still use it as a guide for my week so I wont forget, so who knows if I'll change my mind like I usually do haha! But for once I want to stick to it and finish the album out like I used to when I was doing 12x12. I myself am also using a Heidi Swapp planner, aren't you doing that weekly challenge to keep me on track haha! Thanks for taking the time to comment Di x

[Kellie Winnell]

Oh I really hope you share your album about yourself Anna as I would absolutely love to see your progress.

This is the year, I can see it already, an album will be finished Anna x

[Kellie Winnell]

I did try monthly for one month in 2015 also. My 2015 album I feel like is such a mess and all over the place. First I start doing 6x12. Then I do 9x12 and loved it, but fell behind, so I decided to do monthly and then I went A design via the app.

2016 I want to be all in the one album, a girl can try right?

I hope you share glimpses of your album about yourself as I would love to see it throughout 2016.

I'm also working on a Heidi Swapp planner, but I think it'll be more so to remember what happened, as I know I'll fall behind at some time in the year, haha, preparing already, and this should help. Plus I love my instax printer and want to use it for it.

Thanks for sharing your plans Renae x

[Mandy Elliott]

I enjoyed reading your goals Kelie! I've set mine, I am also doing 9x12 this year since I also need the room... In addition, I believe a small 6x8 for a personal scrapbook. I also intend to do some digital layouts with everyday photos so my annual physical album doesn't fill up too fast. Thanks for sharing your goals, wish you all the best in the new year!

[Amy W]

I'm just getting into scrapbooking, so this will be my first year doing PL! I love the 9 X 12 size, but can never seem to find that size of album and page protectors locally. And with the Canadian Dollar being what it is, it's not really feasible to buy online through ABM/Studio Calico. I'm going to do the 12 X 12, mainly with design A pages, on a weekly basis, but with some flexibility. Some weeks I may only do a single page (as opposed to a 2 page spread), and some weeks (like when I'm on vacation!), I'll probably add in extra pages with different page protector designs.
I'm looking forward to it, and to following along with yours!

[Stef]

I'm sticking with 12x12 this year, using the Design A pockets. That way I have room to use one 12x12 page (or two, if there's enough photos) per week. I have my album and pockets already, and I have plans to organise my coverpage/front this week when a couple of supplies I'm waiting on arrive. My album is about me (not married, don't have kids) but I think it's a nice way to look back on everything I've done in the year. I found the best way to stay on top of everything was to add all my photos to the Collect app, journal on those and then print them (so very little of my own handwriting is there, which I'm not too worried about).

[Kellie Winnell]

I can't wait to follow along with you in 2016 Mandy. Your digital always inspires me and looks so amazing as do your pages you share. Wishing you an amazing 2016 x

[Kellie Winnell]

I love seeing 12x12 pages in albums. Some times if I am planning ahead I will get a 9x12 print done and it just looks awesome.

Can't wait to see your cover page. I can't believe I didn't think about the cover just yet? I'm usually always planning that. Best get onto that this week.

Yes the collect app is AWESOME and I only just started documenting onto it as well. I liked the look without the text, I'm funny like that, haha! But found it easier to remember more if I did.

I'm not a fan of my handwriting and it's been an inner struggle should I or shouldn't I. I looked over the album that I did journal and while yes it was easier to just journal there and then, even I struggle to read it, haha!

Thank you for sharing what you have planned Stef, I look forward to checking out your progress in 2016 xx

[Kellie Winnell]

Welcome to the craft world Amy! You are going to love the project life process it's so much fun. Being from Australia I know exactly what you mean with the dollar. Thankfully when they had a sale some time last year I stocked up and so I should be ok, but will be waiting for a sale again haha! I should just look into the fuse tool and make my own... Hmmm thinking, thinking....

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your plans for 2016 Amy! How exciting x

[Sue FitzGerald]

After trialling a different album size for each season last year I arrived in spring and used the 9x12 and have decided it's the right size for me so will stick with it for 2016, not so big as the 12x12 now that my three older boys have moved out but still can fit a lot in as opposed to the other sizes I tried throughout the year. I'm not doing weekly spreads, too much pressure, I just put the photos in as I take them. Sometimes my creative energy is high and there are lots of photos and lots of pages and other times nothing much is happening so nothing much goes in. I think after so many years of trying to 'keep up' I have found the format of including every single thing in our lives not realistic in a busy house hold. So yes there will be some gaps now and then but I'm ok with that. Most of our memories are being recorded, the kids still love looking through them and I get my creative play time so it's all good. Number three son (almost 20) was home over the weekend and he put it all in perspective "Mum, I love these albums now but they are going to be amazing in ten years time"

[Jess]

After 4 years of 12x12 I'm switching to 9x12. Not sure how I feel about it yet. It will be my last year doing physical as once I cant get ink for my picture mate I'm probably going to try the app. I'm going to try and use only what I have left and not buy any more stuff.
Can't wait to see how you go. I'm glad you're still doing the project my life. I love looking at that. 😊

[Raisa]

Hi, I thought about what album size I wanted to work with for 2016. I worked with mini albums, 6x8 and 12x12. For me, 12x12 albums are overwhelming so I decided to go with 6x8 album(s) for this year. Minis for documenting my trips and people. I want to make mini albums this year and use give them as gifts.

[Pam]

I'm looking to switch to 9x12 too! The size just works better for my VERY limited apartment space. I still don't have an album for it but I'm cutting up a couple of 12x12s page protectors to get started!

Pam x
http://craftedbypam.com

[Charlie Loves Paper]

Im switching to 9x12 this year. I used 12x12 my first of doing Project Life but it was too large. I sometimes found 8x6 too small last year, even though it's just me hubby and the dog, so hopefully 9x12 will be just right!
I also have a love/ hate relationship with my handwriting - quicker to journal but it just always looks messy!

Charlie.

https://charlielovespaper.wordpress.com

[Kellie Winnell]

Sue I am hearing you, sometimes I have so many photos and don't know what to do with them all and then other times I sit to create the week and find I've only taken 3 photos and wonder how that happened.

That is so amazing of your son and heartfelt, I love it Sue x

[Kellie Winnell]

I love your plans Jess and I'm telling myself NOT to buy anything but pocket pages and ink. Other than that use what I have and I still have my messy box subscription. Let me know how you go Jess!

[Kellie Winnell]

That is such an amazing idea and people will love the gift that has come from the heart Raisa x

[Kellie Winnell]

That is such an awesome idea to get pages ready and you've now made me think about cutting up some of the MANY 12x12 pages I have stored away from when I used 12x12. Thanks for commenting Pam x

[Kellie Winnell]

Oh Charlie it's like I wrote your comment in a way, minus the no kids part haha! I've done 12x12 and I've done 6x8 for the project just about me and even that was too small for just ME! The handwriting I am with you ALL the way! I guess we have to find that balance in what works best for us? While it's time consuming for me as you said, I love that I can read it haha! Thank you for commenting and leaving your blog address x

[Tracy Smith]

I stopped my traditional scrapbooking in 2007 & picked it up again mid last year PL style. LOVE pocket scrapbooking!
Back in the day I had already decided to give up 12x12 as the albums are just too big & cumbersome - I had visions of housing hundreds of albums! - & had started doing 8.5 x 11 single page layouts in digital albums.
It was only natural I do PL that size as well. I really wanted to try 9 x 12 this year as I know it would be simpler, (less odd-sized pockets & therefore less trimming), but alas, supplies were just too difficult (& expensive) to source. So I have fully commmited to the 8.5 x 11 size & stocked up on lots of page protectors and albums to go back & document those years I didn't scrap.
When the 9x12 is readily available in Australia I am sure I will do that size. It seems to me like the perfect size.

[Laura Wonsik]

I love that other people struggle with how to manage it each year as well! I just started last year and feel a little overwhelmed at the idea of having 2 12x12 albums a year for the next who-knows-how-many years. I think 9x12 is a great option- do you have any idea if you'll use the same type of page protector each week or switch it up? I've already started with 12x12 again so I'm gonna continue but may do 9x12 next year. I am so worried my daughter is going to have to rent a house just to store my scrapbooks!!

Also, what are the cards in the first photo? They're so pretty. Did you design them?

You're awesome and thanks for sharing!!