Thursday 19 March 2015

More Of Sort Of A Project Life


So far this week I've been spending my scrapbooking time sort of keeping going with my Sort Of A Project Life. And that means I'd love to thank everyone who cam up with suggestions to improve my album situation. Thank you! I did have another look through my supplies and I found some 8.5x11 page protectors in the back of a Journal Your Christmas album I made in that size; and so that's where I've sort of lodged my Project Life for now.



How I'm Working It

A few observations:

- I've never been much of a project planner before. But because I had decided on a clean "magazine-y" look, I started out by flipping through some pages in a couple of favourites and then I made some rough sketches of the look I was after. Drawing little boxes on graph paper turns out to be deeply satisfying and I can see a lot more graph paper planning in my future.


- This kind of planning  speeds up what is, undeniably, a laborious process of deciding which photos need printing, which new images to include, what needs to go large. I turned myself into a batch processor, which is also a new way of working for me.

- Looking at magazine spreads gave me a chance to think about design details: maintaining margins around the edges, letting things bleed off the side of the page, when to leave some space and when to cluster things close; all useful stuff to keep in mind on any page.



- I had thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try out a photo printing service - maybe Prinstragram? - but I've had good results with my own little Selphy printer. It's not even the wireless version which prints from a phone (now that would be nifty!); but it can print two little or one big square on a 6x4 print and that's working for now.

- So that I can use my Dad's old typewriter I've had to trim a tiny sliver off the 8.5x11 card. If I don't it doesn't fit and the thought of jamming up one of my favourite possessions is too much to bear: 8.25 is just fine by me. The typewriter makes it simple to place journaling wherever I want on the page: doing this with our printer would involve some head scratching. I don't get on with our printer. It won't print on card, although it will

- print on sturdy photo paper, so at least I can do full page photos. I've considered flipping the photo paper over to see if it will print onto the other side, which would at least give me something heavier than paper for labels and the like.


- I still haven't worked out a way of photographing my pages to my complete satisfaction. They curl at the edges after being in the typewriter and I have to gently coax them back into shape. 

- But it's fun! I don't often play around with so many photos and thoughts all at the same time. I'm enjoying it. (She's trying Girls Rugby, I'm trying multi photo pages. it's all change here..)

- Most of the small scraps of paper are by Gossamer Blue, Pebbles and Simple Stories, from the February Gossamer Blue Kit, as are the diecuts, which are Simple Stories Life Documented. The stamps (including the very useful typewriter in the previous post) I bought from Crafty Alchemy on Etsy

And that's it for today. I'm sort of hoping I'll have a chance to do some more pages later. Sort Of A Project Life? It's completely addictive.

20 comments:

Jane said...

it's all looking very classy, not sure I could keep it up but I love the results x

Barbara Eads said...

I think your PL pages are coming along nicely. I like the idea of just focusing on a few daily details. Your 81/2 x 11 format looks great too!

scrappyjacky said...

I think they are working wonderfully.

Eileen T said...

I really like the clean uncluttered style you've chosen. Personally, I'm not too keen on lots of embellishments because, for me, the photos are the important part of any layout.

Lou said...

Your version is brilliant Sian. the magazine-y look is fab and I have to say the Rugby page is the best lol!!

Ruth said...

I think this magazine style of pages is working out brilliantly! Love that TNSSO has an Edinburgh hoodie!

Jennifer Shaw said...

Oh it's looking good and your plans sound terrific. I'm toying with a PL version too. I have the supplies but still haven't started. I find it a scary thought. Maybe next year. The end result is so rewarding.

JO SOWERBY said...

I am loving this series because it is so modern, stylish and you. I love all the drawings on the graph paper and I have to be honest one of the reasons I stopped project life was as it was so laborious
Jo xxx

alexa said...

It makes my heart sing to hear you get enthusiastic about page design - a scrapper after my own heart. You'll never look at a magazine page the same way again! Welcome to the world of scrapping daily life :).

Cheri said...

I love the idea of using magazines as inspiration for page layout. Now to pick a few of my favorites...

Karen said...

i'm huge fan of graph paper and frequently sketch my Project Life layouts in a spiral notebook filled with graph paper. I collect these notebooks with graph paper---my favorites for journaling, sketching out ideas . . . I'm also a huge fan of your Sort Of Project Life pages. And that young lady of yours is looking so grown-up!

debs14 said...

A couple of years ago I was given the job of producing the school newsletter every six weeks. An open excuse to put words and photos on pages, kind of scrapbooking other people's stories! Getting paid to play around with layouts? Priceless!
Loving how this project is sort of evolving for you!

Abi said...

I love your style Sian. The magazine look is beautiful. I love how clean it is and with that typewriter too! Beautiful! Hope The not so small one is enjoying the rugby. She looks fab all kitted out!

Sheena said...

Loving the style of your pages & glad you found some suitable page protectors too x

Maria Ontiveros said...

Sian,
This is such a departure, yet still so you! I love the way it showcases the evolution of your unique style.
The pages are just stunning.
Rinda

Lizzy Hill said...

I'm glad your addicted. Makes me feel better, and I love your individual interpretation of it! The big little photo mix is fabulous! I tend for small only cos I don't want my albums to get too big. And that ain't working!!!! And the typewritten bits sooo go with your 'mag' twist. Fabulous!!!

Lizzy Hill said...

You're. Sorry, annoyed me!!!

Jo said...

I've really enjoyed reading your process for getting your pages done, they look really lovely.

Missus Wookie said...

Ah yes the Joy of drawing boxes on grid paper then seeing in your head how will all turn out. Looks good and I completely understand the idea of using a typewriter although I might well have trimmed a bit more off and mounted it on another piece of 8.5 by 11.

Anonymous said...

The pages are looking really good. I like how you told us how you came about your style for this and all the planning. So looking forward to seeing more.

Related Posts with Thumbnails