I started pocket scrapbooking early in the fall and I love the results I’m getting with it!
Today, let’s break down a digital pocket scrapbook page and show how we can use some of our scrapbooking techniques in this simple blocked style. Any kit can work for this sort of layout and it is a great way to make the most of your supply budget.
Here’s my two-page spread for the week of November 18-24:
Supplies: Slips Ins 5 by Traci Reed, Memories in the Making kit by SSD, Layered Up In You December Journalers by Lauren Grier, InstaFrame by Sahlin Studios (left page), DJB JenLin font by Darcy Baldwin
Let’s take a look at the left-hand side up close:
1 – A border was added by clipping a stamped edge (in the Memories in the Making kit) to a photo. Added a journaling tab and “punched” the typewriter font in by using the typewriter font trick discussed here. Added a 30 point white stroked border to the photo (See how here).
2 – Added the week by typing in black font and then made it more subtle by switching the layer blend mode to “overlay”.
3 – Made journaling cards using the Memories in the Making kit by clipping kit papers to layered journaling card templates by Lauren Grier. A great way to always have coordinated journaling cards even when the kit doesn’t come with them. As always when using text on textured paper, used the trick in Fonts Don’t Float to blend the text with the paper.
4 – Used a quote card as a filler in a box.
5 – Added a faux vellum label to the photo by creating a white box and reducing the opacity to around 60%. Then typed some text and “cut it out” of the vellum.
6 – Used large size Arial font and wrote directly over a photo to add emphasis.
7 – Faked an Instagram photo and clipped it to a frame by Sahlin Studios.
And the right-hand side:
1 – Added a white border to a simple image taken with a point and shoot camera while out to dinner. (You could also just use your phone.) Doing weekly pocket scrapbook pages has encouraged me to take photos everywhere!
2 – Added a simple tag and affixed with with a staple.
3 – Adding in special dates, like Black Friday, completes the week. I just used some black paper from the kit and created a quick (and colour-appropriate!) journaling card.
4 – I’m challenging myself to appear in all of my weekly layouts, and sometimes that means a quick picture in the mirror with no make-up on!
5 – One of the ways to keep the spread consistent is to use the same journaling font.
6 – Writing directly on photos is a simple and effective way to document every day life.
7 – Taking photos of weather is a fun way to visually mark the changing seasons.
Each two page pocket scrapbook layout takes me about 30-40 minutes to make. It’s something that I look forward to sitting down each Sunday to do. Are you doing a pocket scrapbook album or thinking about it for 2013? Tell us about in the comments.
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I have been learning more about project life lately and contemplating on taking it up! After seeing your article, I wonder, is this a sign?! LOL. Thanks for sharing all of these great digital techniques along with links to instructions all in one place. This is a GOLD MINE!! Nice pages by the way and I love how crop your photos and even include weather to mark seasons!
GREAT post. I have been going strong for 47 weeks–all digital–and many times have sat down to write out a post like this. (Even thought of doing a video too.) I think it helps demonstrate how easy PL is when done digitally. I know there is no way I could keep up the “traditional” way–just thinking about printing all of the photos makes my head spin! Long live digital I say!
This is such a great resource Heddy!
This is great. Thank you so much for this post with all of the links that you’ve included. I’m a PL-only memory keeper and having all of these ideas in one place is so very helpful. Best post I’ve seen on this in a long time. I’m going to the big computer now to try my hand at a few of these.
Great post with detailed instructions, something readers love! Thanks!
Thanks so much for this post! I tried the traditional (paper) project life this year and did not stick with it. I love the concept but I got behind with printing pictures, etc. I think maybe if I went all digital it would be more attainable. I may give it a shot!
I’m considering doing Project LIfe in the upcoming year. Did you use a template? On Wiggins website she explains it as more free form ‘scrapping when you can’ with simplified supplies.
I see some stores selling digital Project Life kits–and it just makes me confused. Is the idea in ‘digiland’ to document as in photo a day? OR more like weekly round ups? The digi versions I have seen seem consuming–ie every week, and every day..? Or am I missing something?
I appreciate the links to the technique tips. THanks!
Hi! I used Traci Reed’s slip in, which comes with a template to make clipping photos/cards easier.
Project Life can be whatever you want it to be! I see a lot of scrappers do 2 page spreads covering 1 week of time. You can also just fill in boxes as you have items, not worrying about the timing aspect. Or, you can scrap events using the PL pocket format. And some P365-ers combine their photos with their PL scrapping.
PL “kits” are great because they often have great PL details like date word art, properly sized journaling cards, etc. But, you can use ANY kit for PL. I hope to do a post on this topic in the future.
As opposed to waiting–how do I search for a PL kit? I’d like to find some choices besides the Wiggens ones at JSprague–IF possible that is!
Thanks for this post. it is extremely helpful and motivating.
Plus just an aside– do any of these materials come in 11×8.5? which I could print out regularly at home?
Hi Candy. I started Project Life last January first and here’s how I do it. I write a card every day (ok, sometimes I write two cards in one day because I didn’t get one done the day before but I try to never be more than one day behind or I forget too many little details I want to say). Sometimes I “write” the cards digitally and print out a complete decorated and written-on card. Other times, most times, I hand write the card most commonly on my Becky Higgins kit cards but sometimes on special cards I’ve made or downloaded. I have a little pouch that is always on my desk that holds a few cards, a pen, and a calendar. I use the calendar to accurately date the cards, put the day of the year number in the corner (November 28 is day 333), and to cross off when I’ve done the card for that day. You may want to write one summary card a week instead or some weeks one way and some weeks another.
As for pictures, sometimes I’ll have one photo a day. Then I won’t have any photos for a day. Other days have two (which helps fill in for the days with none). Sometimes I have maybe a dozen pictures and that’s why there are inserts. In other words, the picture part fluctuates for me. I LOVE writing on the photos in Elements before I print them.
I rarely leave the house without a camera in my pocket. I have gotten pretty good at holding the camera out and taking a picture of me in front of whatever thing or activity I want to document. Many of the pictures are horrid, but I use them anyway because they are there and they start looking pretty hilarious after a while. One bad self-portrait is terrible but six of them in a few weeks is pretty comical. My husband and my friends are pretty used to that camera whipping out at the drop of a hat.
An unanticipated side benefit is that I can look things up in my Project Life to figure out when something happened. For example, if I need to know when I got my flu shot, I can flash through the album looking for the photo of the band-aid on my arm with the flu shot clinic in the background.
My advice to anyone getting started and unsure of how they want to proceed: Let it be an organic project that grows and shrinks over time, sometimes being very simple (pictures and cards in their little pockets and call it good) and other days you may want to do strictly digital things with all the digital tricks you know, and still others you may want to go hybrid. Just do it. If you get a better idea later you can incorporate it but don’t wait around for that one perfect idea to hit you (because there isn’t ONE perfect idea, there are tons of them).
And you don’t have to wait for January 1 — start today so you don’t miss anything that happens now.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! I got up my courage, discovered I had Wendy’s actions from last year :s–and gave it a try last night. It was simple–even too easy? If I had planned it out and put everything a folder like the directions said I would even have had a keeper. I just need some of those digital cards and I’m ready to do December! I keep trying to make this stuff hard I guess. You are right–just getting started is the key. Thanks again for your pointers.
How terribly exciting, Candy! Best of luck documenting your life in December and beyond. And you’re right sometimes it is just too easy — you sit down for a pleasant scrap and bam! it’s over. I guess that’s when you make fancier cards!
I am starting my Year In the Life with “December Daily”. I’m really hoping to stick with it this month&year! I’m also experimenting quite a bit with digital art journaling… Will likely use those pages as fillers in my album.
Great idea! That makes me think that doing digi art journaling style 3×4 cards would be a do-able and fun addition to any PL page!
Great article–I love all the links back to previous posts. Great tips and reminders. Thank you!
This was a great post. I’m not a Project Lifer but I love visual examples with explanations of tips and tricks. Great pages, Heddy!