The Missing Pieces

After David was born in December of 2011, I decided to participate for the first time in Project Life for 2012 in order to document his first year of life. You can read more about Project Life HERE. Also sometimes referred to as Pocket Scrapping, it has really taken off in the scrapbook industry. You can’t go to any scrapbook store or website, or even to Michaels or other craft stores without seeing how pocket scrapbooking has made its way into our hobby.

I completed a weekly album in 2012 and am still soooo glad I did! I know I missed a lot of details in my haste to get it completed that I wish I would have included, but it is definitely something I cherish looking back on. It took a LOT of time investment, but it was definitely worth it in the end. I knew I couldn’t keep up with a weekly format long term so I switched to monthly in 2013. So far, I have completed 2013, 2014, and half of 2015 in this format. It doesn’t take an exorbitant amount of time, so I find that I can get it done and not get burned out.

About a week and a half ago, I read THIS blog post by Becky Higgins, and I have to say, it has reinvigorated my love for Project Life. Even though I am happy that I have something in my albums as a monthly representation of the last few years, I find that I miss the detail. It’s exactly what Becky mentions in her blog post that I miss. If I had a scrapbook from my grandparents, yes, I would appreciate the photos of them, their extended family, and friends, and the activities they did. But what I would really love to see more if their everyday little things. What did their kitchen look like? What did they eat? What did they wear? What were the news stories that affected them?  What were those everyday conversations and quotes?  In a summary format, I get some of that, but feel I miss out on a lot.

I have no idea if this is wishful thinking but I am really inspired (after reading Becky’s post) to try weekly again this year. I am hoping using the Project Life app can help with that and I don’t overcomplicate it. It shouldn’t be too difficult to set a time once a week to complete a layout in 15-20 minutes, right? I know my problem will definitely be overthinking it, so I have to remember to keep it simple. I am hoping I can set a timer on myself and stick to it and whatever it ends up being is what it is. Better in a book and not perfect than not documented at all, right?

I played with the app last week and this is what I came up with. Of course, I wasn't inspired until last week so I didn't have enough photos to make the 1st-3rd into it's own week so I combined it all into one. 

Not too shabby!  One week already done and ready to be printed! My plan is to print them out and possibly add a few minor embellishments here and there to spruce it up. 

 

And last night I also completed my second week and am all caught up! Yes, you did read that, ALL CAUGHT UP!

 

I love being able to say I am caught up on anything, especially scrapbook related

I love that the pages are fine to go in a book as is and don't need any embellishments, those would just be an added bonus!

I love the ease of use and how quickly I am getting these done

I love the Facebook app scrappers group for all of their help and suggestions on getting started

AND I love, love, LOVE that the journaling is being written weekly so all of the stories are fresh in my mind. Although I have gotten better about it with the monthly roundup process over the last year, I feel this fresh journaling and specific details are exactly what was missing from the last few years!

I think I am hooked!