Year 2 of Project Life is under way for me. I LOVED this project last year and actually kept up with it (for the most part - we aren't going to talk about December where I barely had time to wrap presents, much less keep up with this project - although I will be finishing up December over the next couple of weeks....).
And, so, I embark on Year 2. A little wiser. A little more sure of what I want to do with this. A little more schooled about what works. What doesn't. What makes sense for me. What I liked/disliked about my album (and others as I read blogland).
Granted, I am only in the first week of 2012, but I already am happy about the changes I have made. I didn't buy a full kit this year. Just the album pages (I like the A pages and will stick with those this year). I have left over materials from last year (stickers, journaling cards). I purchased a plain black album with the knowledge that I will fill at least two again this year. I plan to use more printed cards. Mix it up more. I have a general idea of what I want to include each week, but I have not rules. I plan to go with the flow.
Intro Page
I wanted this to reflect us. I didn't have a GREAT picture of us with the dogs, so I forgave myself for that. I wanted to include the year. I wanted a favorite recent photo of each of the kids. I wanted to type a little note with my vintage typewriter to tell what this is about. I wanted to include some favotire paper (this paper behind the etcetera is a favorite every day by October Afternoon). I love the old Flash Cards and was happy to include our current number (6). I, also, was very happy to include the back side of Year-O-Graphy paper by Simple Stories (the This is Life). I bought enough of this to have at least one for a date card per month.
Week 1
I read on Cathy Zielske's blog how she plans to complete her weekly pages on Sunday's with a nice cup of tea. Sounded heavenly, so I am taking her cue and completing mine on Sunday afternoons - with coffee or a soda and chocolate. Can't miss the chocolate. I sketched in the morning while the kids played, and then printed and wrote and completed during rest/nap time. Worked out well for week one. I will see how things go.
Weekly highlights included Smurf Love, a New Dress, Play-Doh fun and making my hair "pretty."
A couple favorites on the left side are the photo of the park by Madtown's school (at least for winter break) with nearly any snow. It's been 40's here - nearly unheard of for Minneapolis in January - and definitely noteworthy. Avocado Pizza (a new favorite from a pizza place that delivers to my work By. The. Slice.). Waking Madtown up at 10 PM on a Sunday night so she could see the snow falling. A card with highlights from the week (I used the little arrow stickers that I never bothered to use last year from my kit - definitely going to do that more!). Little Man's bath mohawk (he SOOOO needs a haircut).
Highlights from this side include Little Man and his new Smurf doll (which he is currently obsessed with). Play-Doh hearts. Current Favorite Movie: Princess Bride (who can blame them?!). Madtown quote - "Mimi is Wicked Smart." Meaning her (she has a healthy self-esteem, that girl). (By the way - LOVE the smash tablet - those little tags fit PERFECTLY in these 3x4 pockets). Doing homework (back to school tomorrow). Playing Sorry! (Madtowns' current favorite.
So - what have I learned? I like the smaller photos with more paper and writing vs. more big photos and trying to find a place for the stories. . I still love my labels. The more, the better. I am okay if nothing is typed (although I do plan to bring out the typewriter). I am okay if I don't tell all my stories from the week. Love letter stamps. Love colorful taper.
A good start, if I do say so myself.
