trisha harrison:here at no.30

Week in the Life | 2015 the Album prep.

It's that time of year again, Week in the Life! Project created by my friend Ali Edwards who has been doing WITL for ten years now you can find out more info & how to order this kit on her site here. I highly recommend doing this project if you have never tried before, it is a great way to look at your everyday life from the "outside looking in" aspect. This year Ali set the date for August 17 2015 - August 23 2015.

The gear for this week is much the same of my regular everyday documenting, I do however plan on trying to use more of my big camera but still capturing things on my iphone 4s as that is my go to camera in general. I use my iphone 4s about 80% if not higher for PL it's a little higher this year but hoping to get a good mix of both for this project. It really doesn't matter what kind of camera you have to do this project - just that you take photos.

The kit! This year I purchased the kit from Ali and that is different for me because I like to "make" my own albums and through in papers and embellishments that I find, What made me change it up this year? THE KIT! Really it had everything I was looking for and more the design was PERFECT & well it saved me a ton of prep time.

Here is a shot of the whole kit opened up and this for me is the YES let's do this moment, The part where I get to dive in & make this a book! There are two album choices and I adored the "text" cover for me so here we go.

I am a big fan of the paper as always, but really the colours and the ... well the designs I love it and don't think I will need to add much to this kit at all.

Making it your own - as this is a kit and thousands will purchase the same one, you can still make it your own. I jumped right in with no pre plans on how I would take this on but once opened and had everything in my sight ... I quickly grabbed cut, stapled, trimmed, trimmed again and just kept going ....those transparent dividers up above got cut up and I am using them as 3x4 & 4x6 transparencies. 

The pocket that all our supplies came in was cut down to 2x2 & I used the day text portion of it for the front cover - I am using the 6x8 full page that is divided into  2x2 pockets as the cover page and end page.

The days from the transparent dividers I decided to cut them off and stapled to a trimmed down 6x8 with two 4x6 pockets to just one 4x6 and Stapled it back to the top.

Here is a closer look on how I am setting up my "layout" for the album, I love having this part all ready to "go" it is a huge time saver for later once you have all your photo's + that can be even more overwhelming.

1. The "opening page" or the starting off photo - this is a full 6x8 in this day (Wednesday) I might go full 6x8 or place a template from Ali's set - option is open. 

2. The 3x8 divider pockets that came with the kit, I am making those into the week's title page this one has the day on top and paper on the bottom ... but for other days I am adding in a full 3x8 photo in there. 

3. This is the 6x8 with two 4x6 pockets that I trimmed down and made one single 4x6 pocket. Either journaling or photo will go into this one. 

4. This is another 6x8 with four 3x4 pockets that I cut down to two 3x4 pockets for more journaling and photo's.

5. The "end page" for this day will go into these 3x4 pockets. You can see one of the transparencies I cut down top right with a wood veneer on top for good measure.

So far this works for me in the album and once we get to that point of adding in the photo's + words I don't think too much will change up. 

Title page - 6x8 with 2x2 pockets and transparencies, I also added in a sticker from my kit the page. 

There it is all ready to go next week - I know that for me this project on top of the PL documenting is so very rewarding, it's more in depth, more detailed and different in it's own way even though stories will be double told and shared in both books ... that's ok I want to remember all of it - from all views. 

Thanks for reading, If you are wanting more info on WEEK IN THE LIFE go here. If you are wanting to see my past WEEK IN THE LIFE go here. Happy Monday!

 

 

The Mini-book | in progress.

The Minibook, Beach weekend edition. I haven't done too many Minibook's in the past but a few & I knew that when Ava and I went on our beach weekend that I not only wanted the stories in Project Life but also in it's own little album. 

Here is a very rough in progress shot of the book so far most of the photo's are in & trimmed to fit the pages that I wanted to use. * All the photo's here are doubles from my Film camera only. I loved working with the texture! 

I decided while making the book that I would use a lot of overstock in my office, it was time to use up my stash + stop hoarding it! All the products used are listed at the end of this post. 

For a good part of the book I trimmed down 4x6 horizontals to fit page now measure 4x4 on a 4x6 vertical page. With a few full 4x6 as well. Both pages are still needing journaling and most likely a few embellishments.

I loved adding in these transparent pages. 

I LOVE that pineapple page, I used the silkscreen from my beautiful mess kit + Martha stewart paint on a thick 4x6 kraft cardstock as it is the end page and then stamped 2015 over it! Here are a few shot's of that. 

This was super easy to do just a few drops of paint then take a card and swipe + peeling the screen from the paper! I also did this in gold paint and that one hangs in my office above my computer. 

A lot of sewing in this book to the left is a left over 8x12 page protecter that I trimmed down placed a few sequins in there and the paper then sewn it all in, to the right I trimmed down the "yes,no,maybe" card and stitched all around it. 

This was super fun to make and will give you all an update on the Finished book, Thanks for reading! 

Supplies used : A Beautiful mess messy box kit, cardstock, transparencies, Wood veneers, sewing machine, martha stewart paint + glue pen, Crop a dile punch, I will link all of these in the follow up post. 

Project Life | week six.

 Hey Everyone Today I am sharing my weekly Project Life post this makes week 6 - Feb. 02 to 08 2015.

I made the change to 9x12 this year from 12x12 past years sizes and continue to love this change. Above you can see the full view of week 6 & notice I added a insert this week for more journaling space and photo space as it was a heavy photo week and I also made the right hand page all 3x4 photo slot's with no cards ... that was fun to do too. 

Hello date night! We made it out on a saturday night, We went to four different restaurants trying to find a waiting list shorter than an 1.5 hours, we ended up driving around the city and that turned into an adventure of it's own in minus 30. We ended up downtown then the west side and back to the south side where we live. CRAZY that we totally ended a few blocks away from our home ... it was the conversation piece of the night and I love nights that you just can't plan! My burger was much needed by the time I got it & Drink too!

This week I used Ali Edwards digital brushes as journal prompt cards and printed them out 3x4 on cardstock. "who we are" "what we love" "where we go" and "why we love" are all phrases that I hope captured in these photo's all around them, at first I was going to write out all the prompts then I thought I will let the photo's BE the words here adding in small details. 

This week I added in dates on each photo or a stamp from Elise Cripe. 

Insert tab by avery. 

Here  is another closer look at that full photo 9x12 spread.

 

Ok this part I am really paying attention to this year I am keeping track of the photo's taken on iphone vs my 5D so this week ended up being a ratio of 14 iphone & 3 5D in a total of 17 photos. 

What happened this week ... Date night, movie day with the kids off from school, worked on my One Little Word vision board, pushed my creative self & painted again ... also painted on a MAP, snow, pools, trips to the arena, trips to the fabric store, Ava exploring her creative self & painting away, my space, a horrible chest cold for us all, goal reaching, time together! 

Supplies used :  Midnight Edition cards , tiny attacher, Martha Stewart glue pen,Becky Higgins date stamp, Sharpie marker pen, Avery labels Ali Edwards Digital brushes

 

* Project Life is a memory keeping system & If you are wanting more info on Project Life please check out Becky Higgins site here. 

Project life | week four

Hey, Week four of my Project Life and above a full two page view of the week. I LOVE this project! Obviously.

Full right side view.

 Close up of right side & that "Thankful for this day" circle is from Ali Edwards digital brush set found here.

This week I took Ava the the local Art store & we both spent hours there lost in paint colours and brushes. She is taking after her Mama so much! 

This Week the temps were NUTS for local Winnipeg weather, Minus three in January NEVER happens and we hit a record. 

This week Ava was sick with the stomach flu & that sucked we were up all night with her and even though we were all tired more like exhausted we had to power through and I tried so hard to just keep anything in her stomach between episodes. By 5pm the next day she was out of the woods and able to keep down solids again ... that was only Monday.

Left side view.

Left side close up.

I used Studio Calico Far far away kit again, and love that card with the city line "it was one of those days" cards I stamped "we are made of stories" stamp from other kit & added a "simply perfect" wood veneer with Tiny attacher. 

Another Studio Calico card "everything will be alright" 

Shot of my chicken noodle soup from Monday that Ava & I ate. Journaled "soup for the win". 

"&" card another Studio Calico card.

 

This week was better than last, it always goes that way ... that's life. That wraps up this week and "let the good times roll" right!

This week I used four 3x4 photo's and three 4x6 photo's (one cut in the middle to fit two 3x4 pockets). Six photo's from my iphone 4S and two photo's from my Canon 5D total of eight photo's.

Thanks for following along with my Project Life updates here. 

Supplies used :  Studio Calico far far away kit, tiny attacher, Martha Stewart glue pen,Becky Higgins date stamp, Sharpie marker pen, Avery labels Ali Edwards Digital brushes

* Project Life is a memory keeping system & If you are wanting more info on Project Life please check out Becky Higgins site here. 

Project Life | Week three

Hey, sharing week three here of my Project Life 2015. Right now I am loving my plan of 9x12 I promise I won't keep repeating this but just wanted to share that if you are thinking about trying 9x12 go for it! 

This week : Was Nuts ... it was real life bonkers, But I know that getting through weeks like these are a part of life and that it doesn't last forever even though it feels like it. Moving on, moving forward. Of course there was also good during this week and I really am the type of person that prefers to see the good, always! 

First full 9x12 of the year and this was a true fave in 2013 & 2014 going full 12x12 When thinking about changing to this new size I thought I might miss the BIG photo ... but really the 9x12 worked out just fine. Photo on the left shows the full size and I added in the "life is crazy" card (because it really was) from the Sunshine edition. 

What else is different this year so far, I am loving using more 3x4 photo's (aside from the full photo) this year and not as many 4x6 so far again liking that. 

This week we all made a family trip to the mall to have some lunch + Ice cream + picking up some earrings for Ava (clip on) she is totally into the earrings but NOT yet ready to get them pierced ... yet. So we get the clip on ones at "claires" This day totally upped the good Vs. crazy. Ice Cream is always good. 

That wraps up another week here & things are settling in nice for this year of 2015. January was a great start so far and hope that the plans we have for February keep going in that direction.

Thanks so much for following along here I am so happy that I am continuing this project. It is a true love and this being my fifth year, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 I can't imagine not ever documenting our lives this way. 

Supplies used : Sunshine edition, Midnight edition, Studio Calico far far away kit, tiny attacher, Martha Stewart glue pen, Becky Higgins date stamp, Sharpie marker pen, Avery labels, Elise Cripe wood mount stamp. 

* Project Life is a memory keeping system & If you are wanting more info on Project Life please check out Becky Higgins site here. 

Hello Project Life ... 2015!

I am super excited to be right here ... at the start of another year to document and tell our story. I am 100% still into this memory keeping system and the way I use it. Because it totally works. I know what works for me and what doesn't and I truely had no Idea I had a style until I was getting comments on my IG feed saying "love your style"  I feel like I have found my rhythm with my album and most of which will remain in 2015.

While we came closer to finishing 2014 I started thinking about The title page & it came to me as a mug shot style of us and I wanted to include a "2015 GOAL" as a prompt for each of us, there being four people in our family and that worked out great for the number of pockets and then dividing the journal cards and photo slots leaving four 3x4 slots open - which I placed a 20 + 15 from my stendig calendar. 

I love that each of us had close to similar goals for this year. I love that each of us took the time to sit down and worked on this list - I love that mid -year we get to see how many we check off! 

I Love reading these over and over. 

It was surprisingly easy AND hard to get these out onto paper (mine atleast) because I had a good handful of "Goals" but right now this is where we will start and midway I might add a few if I check off a few. I LOVE GOAL setting! 

So far 2015 has been good and I have been busy with working on weeks 1 + 2. Will post soon about all of these. Thanks for reading, watching, IG liking, commenting! Hope 2015 has all been so far so good to you all too.

 

HOORAY!

Happy news around here I am excited to share that I have been invited to join the new Ali Edwards Digital Creative Team & I could not be more excited about it!! Here is the list of my fellow team mates ... 

• Celine Navarro
• Paige Taylor Evans
• Ginny Hughes
• Pam Baldwin
• Carly Robertson
• Kelly Schmidt
• Sasha Farina
• Trisha Harrison
• Emily Webster
• Annette Haring
• Stephanie Baxter
• Teresa Victor
• Lindsay Bateman
• Donya Gjerdingen
• Cristina C.

I know that things are totally crazy busy right now and with so so much happening good & bad all around us I think that you just need to keep going on that path and enjoy the journey as it comes ... that's why I knew that I would apply to Ali and hope to continue on with my creative adventures. So with that I take a deep breath I keep going and always seek the good. This is very very GOOD!

Cheers!

 

Guest Blogger | Ali Edwards.

Hey everyone Happy Monday and welcome to my first post for my guest blogger series, I am so excited to start this series and more than excited to be starting it with one of the greatest memory keepers I know ... who in 2010 introduced me to Project Life after completing her December Daily ... welcome to my blog Ali Edwards! 

 

So Excited that Ali is here to share with us, I remember opening that replied email from katie telling me that Ali was up for being a guest and I truly think I yelled out "no way, so awesome."  how cool is that, I can tell you that Ali and Katie are an amazing team as you all know. We are all in awe with the recent release of her new site.

 

So here are the Q&A's I asked Ali.

Q -1. What is your current favorite project for memory keeping? Project Life, December Daily, Week in the life, day in the life?

A - I actually like them equally as well. I usually feel excited by the time the once-a-year-projects roll around and then am excited to pack them up again. Both December Daily® and Week In The Life™ are fairly extensive projects for me - especially considering the daily blogging/project photography/etc. I like the variety between the different projects and being able to change it up depending on the day. 

Q - 2. Ali you are an Icon for the memory keeping community .... Who inspires you?

A- Oh lots of people in lots of different places. I'm inspired by people whose words line up with their actions. I'm inspired by people taking leaps of faith. I'm inspired by people who are in the arena working towards some greater good. I'm inspired by my parents and their zest for life - it's not a loud kind of zest but it's wonderful all the same. Three people on Instagram I find really inspiring lately are Chris Burkard (chrisburkard) - takes insane outdoor images, many of surfing in arctic regions, Alison Turner (alisontravels) - another outdoor photographer who's documenting her journeys living out of a camping van, and Bonnie Rush (agoldenafternoon) - she shoots lifestyle stuff and just has a really beautiful eye for light and detail.

 

Q - 3. What are your top favortie supplies, on your desk right now?

 

A - 1. Scotch Dot N Roller adhesive - always in use. 

      2. Tiny attacher - also always in use. 

      3. Stars - any material. 

      4. Labels - just such an easy way to get a few more words/details on a page. 

 

Q - 4. Do you still do block scheduled time for Project Life? If so how has that helped your process?

 

A - I got out of the habit the last couple of months as my work has shifted towards working on things related to the new site. I'm working on May right now so that's a few months behind, but I'm okay with that. When we were following the schedule it worked awesome but as soon as something happened and we fell off everything else went off too. My goal is to get back on a schedule in the next month or so as I adapt to our new routines and responsibilities. 

 

Q - 5. What do you think the future holds for the memory keeping community as it grows?

 

A - I'm really excited right now. I've always been a big believer that it didn't matter what method you use to get your stories told. I love being introduced to people who blog or use Instagram or journal who are connecting with the label of memory keeping - it's what they are doing and it's what I do. Scrapbooking just happens to be the avenue I employ to get my stories told. 

 

Q - 6. What advice do you have for people just starting their memory keeping journey?

 

A - Figure out what matters most to you and embrace that. For me it's really always been about the photos and the personal stories - the imperfect ones and the ones that are so darn close to being perfect I can hardly stand it. Some of my stories are really short and some are super long - I love having that variety and I love mixing in the challenges with the successes to give a more complete view of my life. Start with the stories that are on your heart right now. They might be from this morning or ten years ago - regardless, start there because that passion will likely propel you to tell more if you can remember that they don't have to be perfect. 

 

 

I hope you all enjoyed Ali being here today, I am truely grateful to you Ali for many different reasons mostly For the paving the way and sharing your stories with us, sharing your life with us ... connecting with us and of course for being a daily dose of inspiration! More projects from Ali Edwards below ...

 

 

 

For more information on Ali please visit her site, you have most likely already been there and are currently subscribed to her ... but if not you can find it HERE Thanks again Ali for being my first guest, this was so fun!

 

 

Project Life | Week 26.

Hello Project life week 26 & the end of album number one. This week I added in some brushscripted cards that I made a few months ago. I also made the custom pockets from Design D.

I closed up the 6x4 slots and made more 4x3 pockets ... I am hooked on sewing on pockets! This week I also used Sunshine edition and some wood veneers from studio calico. 

Left hand side of this full page view is Design F with a closed up pocket to fit 12 3x4 spaces. I trimmed down the sunshine edition title card to also fit 3x4. 

Full view of Right hand side. That veneer "june" is from my Studio Calico kit called "hello hello". 

Adding in some journaling on the half & half cards and sewn them up the middle. 

 

Yes to making our way through another long winter and to celebrate summer & getting to the documenting part our life. This is still a favorite way to keep record + document still after four years I am loving this project! I am not yet sure how I will approach next years style in terms of kits and albums ... my 6x8 cookbook I was working on has taken a backseat and I would love to focus on that for a while too.

I am very grateful for Becky Higgins in creating this style of how we can document our lives & I am loving the oppourtunity to be sharing along on the Creative team. 

For more information on Project life check out Becky's site. Thanks for reading !!