I've finished my first project life spread! I know, what's the big deal, right? But for me, it feels like an accomplishment. Like a first row of crocheting a blanket after just learning how. I'm having fun learning this new-to-me way of expressing ideas, a little bit of a new creative language. And I'm super hopeful that I'll keep it up all 52 weeks, knowing that surely there will come a day when it might not feel so fun. I want to remember this feeling to get me through that. The challenge-is-fun feeling (and accomplishment is fun too).
Pretty much still using a mix of hand me down Project Life products, Studio Calico Project Life kit items (like the stamps above) and my own items or fodder from life (like that bit paper with stripes on top of heart that is glued on a vintage label which was on a package purchased for my December Daily project from Hello Forever.
Arrow printable is my own, and I wrote on it with a favorite new item- a pre-inked calligraphy paintbrush.
The first seemed really special and exciting, so I glued the stars on it. It's also why I decided to do an extra insert vs. the standard 2 page spread. Probably a little bit because I'm excited about the project too, but I figured, why not use that energy while I have it?
I loved the photo of the beach so much I wanted it to be full size. I printed it 6x12 and although they sell page protectors that size, I didn't have one, so instead I made one from a 12x12 protector. I put the photo in against the right edge, and then sewed it on my sewing machine alongside the left side of the photo. To create the edge that goes in the rings, I just held it against that part on another page protector using it as a template and handcut it and handpunched the holes in the same place.
I wrapped a vintage label around the photo and put a geotag chipboard sticker on. I also love the little A with a heart that was left over from making the letters on inside cover (out of playing cards). I'm trying to play with the little items I love without letting them take over or take away from the big picture. I also know that I tend to grow out of itmes, you know, styles change, I don't want to put so many current products in that the book feels really outdated to me in a few years. Just telling you the things I'm thinking about as I figure out my approach to this project.
This is what you see when you flip the page- Three individual photos sized 4x6, 4x6 and 3x6 .
Here's the right side of spread when the flap insert page is out of the way.The photos are blurry and dark, but I'm focusing on telling the story, (and getting it done!) vs. pretty or perfect.
That's why I used this less than pretty sheet from our Hearts card game. It's even a little wrinkled, but I love that it captures the fact that our 20 year old sometimes still calls us Mommy and Daddy. I cut the top off the paper we were using and sewed it on the middle of the score sheet. (It's from the dollar spot at Target.) Then I stitched over the sticker letters because I had to scoot them over a few times to get the placement close to centered, and I was afraid they would loose their stick.
I updated an old journal card with washi tape on the top and bottom, added a vintage label with a heart from the playing cards on top and some arrow stickers. (I can't find the orange, but link is same product in tan.)
...and...that wraps up my spread for week 1...only 51 to go!
