I love using coordinated kits for my pages - it helps rein in my tendency to include a little of everything, and keeps me to a cohesive look and color scheme. For the first half of September, T was starting her new preschool, so I used Fancy Pants Design's Off to School line. I love the alphabets, numbers and retro-bright colors, and settled on a color scheme of aqua and red. I'm also in love with the simple designs of the fake "washi" tape from Target - I find myself using it more often than my more expensive "designer" tape.
(Click to see a larger version of each photo.)
Aug 27 - Sep 9: zoo, Granny & Robin visit, T's Smartcar and art |
Aug 27 - Sep 9: T's first week at new preschool, yardwork, food in a box |
For the rest of September, I used the Studio Calico 35mm kit which I bought from someone online. I had been coveting that kit for several weeks, but it sold out quickly, and was thrilled to find it at a decent price. It has lots of hexagons, which I love, because it reminds me of OChem. Yes, I'm a geek. I had lots of photos from my new fancy DSLR camera.
Sep 10-30: my new camera, Redmond Town Center, fingerpainting |
Sep 10-30: Indigo Girls + Seattle Symphony, T's birthday, grandparents |
We've had a couple of professional photo shoots this year - family pics in March, Microsoft shoot that T and I volunteered for (I love free photos!), and T's birthday. There are way too many for me to include in Project Life, plus I usually get the photos back weeks after I've completed the pages. So I make simple collages using Photoscape and print them on letter-sized photo paper. The 8.5x11" page protectors fit perfectly in the 12x12" Project Life binder. This is a fast, easy way to include more photos from specific events.
Sep 15: T's birthday party collage (partial). Photos by Phani Kowta. |
I try hard to make Project Life about all of us, and not just T. I'd like to do a better job capturing some of TJ's interests and plans. But I definitely put in my own stuff, like the Indigo Girls + Seattle Symphony concert I went to (alone!). I also wrote down my thoughts on T turning 3 (how/when did that happen?!) and how I felt on the brink of having BabyM. I don't think about what will happen to this album "in the future", but I do know our families like it, and T also loves looking at it repeatedly. That, and the fact that it's fun for me to work on, is enough. I don't have great aspirations to document our lives for posterity or future generations.
On a more practical note, it's also encouraged me to take more photos of all of us. My photography has gotten SO much better just in the past 9 months, thanks to this. And I'm "caught up" in putting those photos in our online gallery, so making our yearly photobook and calendar will be easier this year.
I love that this project gives me a chance to reflect on what we've done as a family, and think about the myriad special moments that happen each week while we're just going about our business. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller:
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Linked up with The Mom Creative for Project Life Tuesday.
Linked up with The Mom Creative for Project Life Tuesday.
Love your PL pages!!! I need to get back on board..thanks for the inspiration
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! When I got behind at the beginning of the year, I just did the current week plus one previous week until I was caught up. No stress or pressure :)
DeleteGorgeous! Especially love the colors in the one with the zoo pics.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I used to think aqua + red don't match well, but it's growing on me :)
DeleteNice pages--all very pleasing to the eye. Love that little car, the blue hands and the dogs nose.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter says that yellow Smartcar is what she's going to get when she's 19. (you know, in 16 years...) hehe.
DeleteCongrats on your new little one! And good for you getting all caught up right before. Your pages look wonderful. Love the picture of your pup's nose. so cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting! I'm having a lot of fun with PL! And the new camera.
DeleteCongrats on the baby! She is so adorable and precious, I love the daily instagram updates :) Awesome pages, I love that red dotted tape too. I keep looking at it, but rarely use it.
ReplyDeleteThat quote is so true and PL is perfect for remembering all the great stuff you manage to fill your days with.
ReplyDelete