Project Life Ideas

Well, I've been unable to source anything locally that has clear pockets in for putting photos and card into in the way Project Life is done in Becky's videos. One alternative would be to use a card or page base to stick everything on like in standard scrapbooking.

For Roo there would be too much to do if he was to do choosing, printing, writing AND sticking etc particularly as he has sensory issues that affect how he uses his hands. We'd probably not achieve more than a couple of sessions. Simply inserting into pockets would have worked for him.

Tisha would get distracted and want to make a hundred and one different craft projects as soon as she saw glue or sticky tape.

So I'm thinking that maybe digital would be the preference for them. The Occupational Therapist wants Roo to learn to use a keyboard, and Tisha has started learning to use my scrapbooking software already, TJ's nearly an expert. I spent a little time one evening playing with grids to make some digital templates and it was rather therapeutic. Craft Artist templates can be programmed so you drag drop the photo above the photo space and it snaps into position, and by drag dropping a background over the layout it swaps with the existing one. Nice and easy for the younger ones. Nearly as fun as pockets.

Template tests using Giny's Cardboard Basics for the backgrounds.

This could also lower my scrapbooking to do list as well. I am thinking that if they all do project life starting this weekend, then they would take over their own scrapbooking albums that way. I'm upto 4 years behind on their albums and am still doing mine, so that would give me time to catch up. Obviously I could still do special pages for those moments that mean something to me, are family occasions, or I really want to do, but most of the 2013 pages would be done by the children themselves. The pages will be much more meaningful too as they will be their own rather than mine.

I am planning on introducing this as special time with mummy after school a few days a week of about 10-15 mins each. We would discuss the day and I'd help them pick pictures if there are any, or they can get the camera out, or use the scanner, and I'd help with the journaling too. Each child would need different degrees of help but they would all get talk to mummy on my own time while being creative, well that's the theory anyway.

Related Tutorials:

• Creating a Project Life (or P365 or P52) Styled Digital Template. (generic for all software)
• Programing a Digital Template into Craft Artist. (to be written, will add link when ready)

What about Me?

I'm going to continue my art journaling journey that I started last January and start a new scrapbooking album for the year. It's not quiet Project Life, and it's NOT digital. What? I am going to do some traditional scrapbooking? Yes. Last month I won a 12 x 12 scrapbooking album with large 12 x 12 pockets in and I'm going to use it.

I'm going to do a 2 page spread for each month this year to put in the album. I will work a month in arrears, so I will do the January Pages in February, but gather the photos, themes and journaling etc together as the month goes along. I don't have any physical scrapbooking kits, but I do have a lot of paper crafting stash including 12 x 12 papers and card stock. I'll use that to make my page kits with the CKC way.