{recording life} My Take on Project Life

If you’ve read my blog from the beginning, you know that I am a big fan of Project Life.  2012 marks my third year using this “scrapbook system” and like anything, it has changed and molded to fit our life.  Want a peek?

When I first started PL in 2010, I did a 365/Picture a Day approach.  In 2011, I found that that method didn’t work for us anymore.  Some days I took tons of photos, some days the camera stayed on the counter.  So I moved to a weekly approach and so far, it’s working wonderfully!  

I’m sure you’re confused, so here’s an example: 

These two page protectors represent one week in our lives (last week).  In theory, you can consider each 4×6 opening one day (Sun-Mon) and the smaller pockets places for journaling.  For my weekly approach, I simply see them as a place to put pictures and pieces of our life for this week. 

Here is a close up of the left side.  I took lots of pictures this week, so I cut a few down to fit the smaller pockets.  I also included the wrapper from these cool flavoring straws that my aunt sent the boys.  They were a BIG hit, so I wanted to add it in. 

 Right side.  All of the photos on this page were taken the same day.  Also included is a cute drawing made by D and Garfield taken from a coloring page M did this week.  Lots of journaling about our week too.

The reason I love this type of “scrapbooking” is because I am quite sentimental about paper things.  I keep letters, birthday cards, and don’t get me started on the kids’ artwork!  With Project Life, I can keep the most important items and have peace about throwing the rest away.  Here’s an example: 

This week, M sketched out a figure on construction paper and wanted to know how to spell ninja.  I loved his little handwriting so into the PL binder it went.  I keep a bunch of 8×11″ page protectors (the kind you can get at the office supply store or the paper aisle at Target) onhand for this. 

Another fun idea is one that I learned from Jenny (the same Jenny from the Life List series!).  She writes weekly notes to her kids and includes them in her album.  I don’t do this every week, but I am always grateful when I do.  I just punched holes right into the card.  (I got the coffee card in Target’s Dollar section!)

So that’s my intro to Project Life, the Big White Farmhouse way.  A fun and easy way to hold your pictures and your family’s memories.  The great thing about PL is that it can be anything you want it to be.  Don’t have enough “stuff” for a week?  Do a monthly approach!  It’s totally up to you. 

Here are a few links to get you started if you’re interested:

• Product line for Project Life (be sure to check out the video at the bottom of the page…great overview of PL)
• Ideas for different ways to use the PL system
• Getting started – a step-by-step guide

If you have any questions, please ask in the comments!  I’d love to try to help!