Project Life 2013: Week 16

With finals + moving I've gotten so behind on project life + blogging, but I will be catching up soon! So don't worry if you don't see many posts for the next couple of weeks, this is why, but then things will be back to normal [non-finals time]. Yay!

Week 16 was a fun week, I had my end of the year journal alumni dinner + Phillip and I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Here's the left side:


I included a couple of inserts this week, one is Becky Higgin's Design I and the other is a regular 8 1/2 x 11 page protector that I cut down to size and closed up with washi tape.


Here is the right side:


I had so many photos from the botanical garden I wanted to include, it was so hard to narrow them down! I included a couple using my polaroid template and some others in a grid.


I created a flap to include an additional photo + hidden journaling. The flap was simple to make, I just glued a photo and my journaling back to back and attached a tab. Then I taped it to another photo using washi tape to create the flap. I slipped the photo on the bottom into the pocket and the flap stays right in place, perfect!


Now back to cleaning, laundry + packing. Phillip's family is flying in tomorrow to see him graduate from law school + then we're moving Saturday. I can't wait for things to get back to normal!

Project Life: Freebie Template "Instagram Polaroid" 3x4

I am always looking for ways to simplify + streamline my project life process without compromising the look of my album. But, let's face it, I'm busy + I don't always have multiple hours to dedicate to each spread. One problem I come across is that, thanks to instagram, lots of my photos are square + the pockets I want to put them in are either 3x4 or 4x6.

However, I started noticing a quick solution to this problem all over blogland, make those square photos into polaroids! So I've made a photoshop template that is simple to use + helps me slip those photos right into my album.


Click here to download
If you don't know how to use a template that's okay, it's very simple:
1. Open the file in photoshop + open your instagram photo [or other photo you want to use] separately.
2. Resize your instagram photo to fit [image->image size]: document size 2.75 inches + 300 pixels/inch. [For a slightly easier process if you don't mind cutting off a little of your photo, make it 2.8 inches]
3. Drag your photo onto the polaroid template directly above layer 1 [the grey square].
4. Right click on your photo in the layers panel and select "create clipping mask". This will cut off any parts of the photo that hang off of the grey square.
5. Line up your photo how you want it, then "save as" + print!
[note: in my photo above I rounded the corners on some of the polaroids w/ my rounded-corner punch, this template comes with square corners]

You can print these at home like I do, or send them to be printed where ever you normally print photos. I use glossy photo paper + love writing on the glossy white part w/ my sharpie pen, stamping using staz-on ink or adding some small embellishments/washi tape. Or you can leave it plain, either way it's an adorable polaroid!

Then you can just slip the polaroid into a 3x4 pocket + it's done, simple! As you can see, I've been using these in my album lately...


Let me know if you use it + I'd love to see your pages when you do! Of course, these aren't just for project life, you could easily slip these onto a 12x12 layout or in a mini album. I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Project Life 2013: Week 15

Once again, week 15 was a one page spread, opposite week 14. I love how these two pages came out though, I feel like my album keeps getting better + better as I add to this project.

Here's the full page:


Week 15 was really busy for me with journal events, classes, court for CASA, grading papers, studying and just normal life. The cloud card [which you can see behind the sun pocket from week 13] + the title card were both from studio calico. I used Amy Tangerine Thickers, Dear Lizzy fabric stickers + washi tape to decorate the title card. I definitely think it is one of my favorites so far!

I wanted to make this layout simple so I created a couple of journaling cards in photoshop that I know I will be using again + again. Check back later if you like them too, I will be sharing them soon.

When I went to Brooklyn for court I took a photo of the wall in the subway station + used the tile as my journaling spot. I love using photos for journaling! I also embellished it with some washi tape, sequins, a masking tape sticker + a date stamp.


You can probably notice from this layout that my style has been changing throughout this project + I love it! This project isn't just about documenting the things that happen in my life, but also reflects how my scrapbooking changes over time. Also, you might have noticed my corners aren't all rounded anymore. That started on week 13 when I had a bordered photo that just wouldn't look right with the corners punched + for some reason I just loved it. So now I've been rounding some + not others. Which is weird, because when I started this project I needed all the corners to be rounded, but now I like them squared. Lets see if I keep with this new approach...

This week I'm linking up with Shimelle's NSD challenge in addition to Project Life Tuesday as usual.

Project Life 2013: Week 14

As you are probably aware if you ever read my blog, I have been very busy lately, but not with much to document, so Week 14 is only a 1 page spread. Here's the full spread:


I didn't do a lot this week that really would've made an interesting photo, so I decided to take a photo of the globe right out of the subway stop near school, with most of the photo being sky. I love using photos like this in my album because then I can just journal right on the photo. I printed the word "Wednesday" directly on the photo from photoshop & added a strip of washi tape for extra decoration.


My favorite part of this week's page is the little pocket I made. I hand stitched a piece of vellum onto a filler card [made by me] and then slipped a few details in the pocket: my name tag from a journal event & a little tag with journaling on the back. This is definitely a technique I'll be using again!


For more project life inspiration, be sure to check out my Project Life Resource's Page which is also accessible through my blog header :)

Tiffany's Smashbook: Top Ten Layouts

This Month we are going to focus on a "Top Ten" layout / spread for our smashbooks. I had this awesome journaling card I got out of a Smash Top 10 pad. For me this whole spread started here. I knew I wanted to do something with it. Likewise I had this awesome map paper page picked out, and I thought what better than to make a "Top Ten Places I Want to See"? So, with supplies in hand, it was off to Pinterest and Google. I googled and checked Pinterest for pictures of places I knew I wanted to visit. I save my favorite 10 and Printed them off via, windows media center using the Wallet (9) per page option, they are just the right size for smashbooking.


Once I had to pictures printed it was time to get the page organized. I started with the Top Ten sheet. I listed the places I wanted to see in order, and taped it down with Washi tape at the top so I could lift it if i needed more room to add things. Then I decided I would add the pictures in numerical order. So, I put picture #1 in the left corner. Once I got to #5 and 6 I realized I didn't have enough room, so there again I added Washi tape to the top of #5 to create more room and layer photo #6 under but sticking out some so you could still see it under the other photo. I then added #7-10 on the other page and it was time to embellish.


I added brass brads to give some dimension to the pages along with a "vintage feel" then I added a few stickers from Amy Tan, and a quote (left page bottom right) that I had found on Pinterest. Also to give it a vintage feel, I used a distress ink along the sides and added some crackle paint. The last touches I made were the airplane brad on the Top Ten list, and the world brad that I added to photo #5.

Some other ideas you could use for a Top Ten Page could be:

Movies
Songs
Things to Accomplish This Year
Things About Last Year
Moments of the Month
Or you could use mine....Places to See

I'd love to see what y'all come up with, so either post a link in a comment to where I can see your projects or email them to me at TiffanyNoelle21@gmail. Till next time Happy Smashing!!

Ready for Summer 2013

This photo was taken by me this last weekend at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
I know you're probably expecting a project life post today, but sadly I've gotten behind & am working on weeks 14, 15 & 16 all at once! So, week 14 should be on the blog next Monday.
For now, things are starting to wrap up at the end of the semester & I'm getting prepared for the summer.
To get ready, I'm making a list of my goals for this summer.
Some are fun, some are serious & most are somewhere in-between...

Goals for Summer 20131. Get a good working experience to put on my resume.
2. Be prepared + have a solid plan for my final year of law school.
3. Go to the beach, multiple times.
4. Get a nice tan.
5. Take tons of pictures + keep my project life up to date.
6. Go to the Statute of Liberty.
7. Study for, take + pass the MPRE. [Ethics test for lawyers, you must pass it before you can sit for the bar]
8. Stretch everyday + make a conscious effort to get back in shape.
9. Run.
10. Increase my blogging traffic + posting.
11. Get all our favorite recipes in our recipe book.
12. Finish my 2012 album. [I know, seriously behind]
13. Finish reading "War + Peace" and start another book. [Hopefully one I'll like better!]
14. Get a passport.
15. Go to DC for post hunt.
16. Work on improving my Russian skills + look into a class for the fall.
17. Go to a water park. [This might not happen, it has the past three summers though + is one of my favorite things, so hopefully!]
18. Take a new facebook profile picture.
19. Go to Niagara Falls + Canada. [see number 14]
20. Help Phillip study for + pass the bar.

Yay for it being almost summertime.
What are your plans/goals for the summer?

"The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work" -Harry Golden

It is coming down to crunch time. I hate this part of the semester, it seems like no matter how hard I've worked all semester, I'm still behind.
And it seems like each semester gets worse as I go.
So, you've probably noticed my lack of posting lately, this is why.
I'm actually even starting to get a little behind in documenting project life.

I just had a great discussion this morning with Phillip about project life, that began with this post here. More about that later.
But for now, you've probably noticed my lack of posts other than my weekly project life spreads. That is only temporary, I promise.
I appreciate the readers that return even when life is busy.
That is what motivates me to keep blogging.

And I have so many ideas for posts that I will hopefully get to soon, including a second post from my new contributor Tiffany on smashbooks & a huge, amazing announcement.


But for now I am studying and embracing the spring weather we are having.
Job hunting, grading, studying, attending class, writing a massive paper, attending journal events and networking.
Trying to keep my sanity.
Spending time with my boyfriend and friends whenever I get the chance.
Catching up on project life in spare minutes here & there.
And taking the time to sleep & catch my breath.

Tonight we have the end of the year event for our journal, a formal dinner at a nice New York restaurant, so I'm excited.
But for now I have a lot of reading to catch up on, class to attend, errands to run & papers to grade, so I need to end this post.
But please stay tuned, every comment and hit I get makes me smile and brings joy to my life.
And I hope that my blog brings you inspiration & happiness as well.