I've been working on finishing up March in my pocket page album (which I call Project Life because I think Becky Higgins really invented, or made popular, the simplified documenting-the-everyday-in-pocket-protectors concept, and because a large number of the supplies I use are official Project Life items or Studio Calico with Project Life. It's all so confusing though, and surely boring to read about, so I'm just going to call it Project Life or PL.)
I'm nearly done and every time I work on this family album, I am reminded of how fun it is. I don't know why, it just is. I love that the little bits of playing with photos and paper add up to such a tangible result for the family. I do wish I had it out and kept up with it regularly though, I don't like the feeling of being behind. Although I tossed around the idea of monthly, not weekly, documenting like many others are doing this year, in the end, I just felt like weekly was easier for me; it's what I did last year, and doesn't involve too much thinking. I'm not trying to forge any new paths here, I'm really just trying to see our lives differently, and get photos and words about it documented in a way that is pleasing enough to my eye. I say enough, because I still feel I haven't totally found my voice yet, (and I am fine discovering it, enjoying the journey actually ). I don't put a lot of my PL here, on the blog, because I feel like most that visit, aren't really "into" that. It seems like quite a departure from my normal arts and crafts to me, and likely not too creatively interesting to those coming for a diy or art journaling etc. But, if you are interested, I post my weekly spreads over in my gallery here.
Anyway... back to wrapping up March. I had a photo of our kitchen "island" that I thought would make a good weekly date card, with a perfect spot for the date on the three drawers on the bottom:
I thought it would be fun to use little wooden alpha pieces (seen above- I colored them with a Copic sketch marker) for the date vs. other things like alpha stamps, stickers or even handwriting. So then the challenge became how to keep them in place. I thought a see through pocket made from a page protector that I would then slip in place would be good.
Wrong.
Sometimes, the result is not worth the effort, and that's how I feel with this one. It's fine, I'll use it, but it was a pain to keep those letters in place while sewing and the result is messy looking. also, clear protector under clear protector just bugs. See:
It's hard to get a photo without glare. Another thing I don't like is the thread- messy and showing too much. Which leads me to ask you; is there such a thing as clear thread for machine stitching? (I feel like I should know this answer already, lover of crafting supplies that I am.)
Trying to get you a clearer photo...pretty much gonna look like this, with the reflection to the naked eye too- it's the page protector under the page protector effect. Live and learn. You gotta try ideas right? I am a huge believer in trying, following whims...they can't all work out, and that's all part of the fun really.
I guess this post is about what I don't recommend in crafting experiments,ha! It might be useful to save someone those 30 minutes of dealing with itty bitty letters moving inside itty bitty pockets, all while under your sewing machine foot. ;)
Oh, but an idea I DO recommend? This one, that I found via someone I follow on instagram (who I think found it on pinterest):
Have two keys the same and find yourself guessing the wrong one often enough to drive you crazy when standing at the lock? Paint one with nail polish! I can't believe I've never thought of that! Of course, there are those plastic covers for keys, and other solutions, but this is so much more pleasing to the eye, and I didn't have to leave my house to do it.
That's a result I love!
(I'll have a March "favorite PL parts" post on the blog soon.)
As always, thanks for visiting!
