Project Life: Week 7

Tuesday, February 28, 2012


This week's Project Life covers the week of February 13-19.  My theme for this week as I was putting together my Project Life was: Break the Rules!!

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Yes you read right, Break the Rules.  I think it's funny how as crafters we can establish a set of unspoken rules we feel we must follow.   I feel like sometimes those "unspoken rules" could limit our creativity.

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One of the first rules I "broke" in this week's Project Life was displaying my photos chronologically.  I have always felt that I should place the photos from approximately monday through wednesday on the left side, and on the right side should be about thursday through the weekend.  All appearing in order of course.   Well, I decided to mix it up a bit this week and included a photo from Thursday in the top left corner (shock!).

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It occurred to me that the correct "chronological order" of my week is not what I want to remember about our lives years down the road.   I want to remember the stories and special moments from that particular week.   So if a photo looks better placed in a different spot, then I am going to go for it!!

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The second rule I broke, was I created a layout specifically for Project Life.   I dabbled with this a bit in last weeks post, however this layout is much more geared toward Project Life.  First of all, it's double sided.  Second, it incorporates Project Life "elements", such as a catalogue cover, my prescription bottle cap, and my children's Valentine's from this year.  These are not items I would put in a regular layout, And it took much less time to create!   I am in this place where I am really inspired to see layouts and Project Life intersect.

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For this layout insert, I created an 8.5 x 11 layout that's double-sided.  One element that I love about it, is that there is a doily sticking out on the side as a "tab".  With that doily, I wasn't able to place the layout in a regular 8.5 x 11 page protector, because it wouldn't fit.  I am over at Elle's Studio today sharing a bit today how I used a 12 x 12 page protector and made it work for this layout (oh and there's also a giveaway today at Elle' Studio, so check it out!;)

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The third rule I broke, was limiting my self to each compartment of the Project Life page protectors.

I adore  Kelly Purkey's style and how she approaches her Project Life album.  I have noticed that she  frequently uses enlarged photos and breaks them up into many different pockets in her album (you can see an example of this here).   I was too chicken to try this with an actual enlarged photo, so instead I used a Downton Abbey DVD cover to try it out. (ok next time i WILL cut up a photo:)  I think it's a fun way to break things up a bit, and add a different element to your page.   I also think it's a great way to highlight a photo you love, OR a great way to still create a great Project Life page if you didn't take many photos (just pick one!)

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Thanks for swinging by today and I hope this inspires you to "Break the Rules" a little!!


Project Life was created by Becky Higgins as a way to simplify how you document life and preserve memories. Photo pockets used in my Project Life are created by Becky and can be found here. You can read all of my Project Life posts here. 







17 comments:

Julie Coryell said...

Awesome week! I also love the "no rules" approach. Love all your extra tidbits you've added. I too love how Kelly P. adds the enlarged photo so I tried that this week.

Thanks so much for sharing! Always love to see your pages.

Jules said...

More fabulous pages. I love how you used the split photo concept to show the Donwton Abbey love. And as for 'no rules' well I think that's why I love PL - I do it my way, and don't feel obliged to follow any rules. Aren't we rebels?!

shire said...

ooooh, your projectr life looks so so great!!

Cami said...

Oh I really adore your pages.
I was cracking up about breaking the rules. Isn't it hilarious how we really do think there are rules that we are breaking when they are just OUR pages. Silly, but I totally get it.
I loved the results of all the broken rules this week! Keep breaking them. It's working!

Anonymous said...

wow, love it all. love all the life in there - its so vibrant and dynamic. love it. will be a regular for the inspiration you provide ;)

Lisa Johnson said...

I ♥ ♥ ♥ Downton Abbey and am OBSESSED with it as well. I'm so sad I'm all caught up w/ Season 2 and can't wait for Season 3 to start up in September. What a great idea to include it in PLife.

Anonymous said...

Love all the rule-breaking you did. Your pages look amazing! I keep seeing people talk about Downton Abbey EVERYWHERE! Maybe I need to go check it out...

Mariska W. said...

Just follow your heart ! No rules is the best there is. Photo in correct order.. why should you.. I never do. Love it that way. Really like yours this week !

Kimber-Leigh said...

i LOVE how you broke the rules! i've been wanting to break up a photo a la KP too :) love how yours turned out!

Kellie said...

I love seeing your project life pages they are always amazing!

Catherine at Design Editor said...

I'm going bananas over your Downton Abbey inserts. Right on!! I'm a big fan.

tirzahdawn said...

LOVE this! I think I just may have to give it a go!

kate adderley said...

hi jenni, beautiful pages, love how you tied the string around the card with the heart, and lm also a big fan of Downton Abbey, cant wait for it to come back, l got the dvd for christmas and watched it again, love your work

Liz Snowden said...

WOW! I just love it all!

Keshet said...

Just love this, Jenni! We've been SO into Downton Abbey also--although way behind this season! I'm just hoping for a happy ending!

Nirupama said...

haha, yay for rule breaking! that thursday photo really deserved it's special spot. It's so funny, I used that same catalog cover in my week 8 (great minds..). I love your PL layout idea.

Kelli said...

first off, love the doilies, the little addies you have all over this week, so cute! the colors go so well together! I challenge you to print a big photo and cut it up girl! I will do the same :) I cut up photos last year, but never thought to do a big photo...I definitely want to try that this go around. So go for it week 10 :) Keep Calm and Project Life on!