There is nothing like flipping through an album I've made and reliving the special memories that I have created with my family and friends. As we've been traveling around the past year, I've felt an overwhelming need to record everything. But it's kind of hard to pack up scrapbooking supplies and take it all with you when you are traveling for a year. I did take lots of video footage and tons of photos (check out my recent travel posts here) because I had big plans to get caught up once we were settled.
Once we finally got moved into our new place, operation "Get Caught Up" began in full force! I was about 4 years behind and it was overwhelming, to say the least, but this project was and is important to me so I made up my mind that it was going to happen no matter how long it took/takes.
I settled into my spot on the living room floor with my supplies spread out around me and got to work with the motto "done is better than perfect." Previously, I've been very meticulous with the pages and journaling and getting every last detail absolutely perfect and that takes up a lot of time. I don't think there is anything wrong with super intricate pages, in fact, I adore them but for this project, I had to simplify. True, the pages may not be as detailed and beautiful as they could have been and the photos aren't very high quality, but this album is "perfect" in my eyes because it's my memories with the people I love most!
Products I use that simplify getting caught up:
THIS PRINTER - I got this printer (an older model, though) as a gift a few years ago and it is a game changer. One of the hardest things with physical scrapbooking is printing photos. This guy makes it so dang easy because you can print right from your phone through wifi!
Project Life Core Kits - this is the first kit I got and I most recently picked up this one! They're both so stinkin' cute!
Project Life Pocket Pages - This variety pack was gifted to me when I got started and I'm still using it! I also have this one for a different size & layout to mix things up a bit. The pocket pages are typically 4x6 (standard photo size) and 3x4.
My method:
All of my photos are backed up to Google Photos so I go through them by date and download the ones I want to put in the album. Next, I pick the pocket page layout that works best for the pictures I've chosen. If I want to put any photos in the 3x4 size pockets I'll edit them in a photo editing app (I actually use the free Project Life app) to have two 3x4 photos on one 4x6 layout so I'm not wasting photo paper (you can see some of the photos in the smaller pocket sizes in the photo above). Then I print the photos using my printer and trim them if need be. Next, I insert the photos into the pocket page, select some cute filler cards to insert as well and write any journaling I'd like to add to finish the page. Repeat over and over and over until you are caught up! Each page takes me approximately 5 minutes to complete so it is quick and easy and turns out so, so cute!
I've officially done about 2.5 years worth of pages in only a couple of days and have 2 years to go until I am documenting current events. It feels SO GOOD to be working toward this goal and to finally be making progress!
Not a physical scrapbooking kind of person? Stay tuned for more posts on digital scrapbooking using the Project Life app so you can easily get caught up on your own memory keeping!
Wondering why this is so important to me? First, it's in my blood. More on that here! Second, it brings me so much JOY and I believe that it can for you, too! Documenting helps us realize all of the things we have to be grateful for, it motivates us to intentionally create our own story, and it creates connection. What are you doing to record your memories?
xoxo, Chelan
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