Year in Review.....a Project Life Spread

Hi there Creative friends,

 

Today I'm sharing my first project for the year for Scrap Matrix.
 Our first challenge for 2019  is A Year in Review!

 

I decided to create a Project Life Spread.

 

Some of you may know I try to complete a weekly Project Life spread. I've been doing this for a few years now, however this year I've dropped the ball with all my other creative commitments taking over and I'm 6 months behind.  AaaaH!!

When I saw this challenge, I knew I could do a final spread for 2018, and hope I can catch up the rest later.

What you can't see in these pages are that there are lots of interactive lift the flap pages and also a couple of mini pages too.

 

Here's a closer look at the left hand side:

 

I'm sorry for the blurriness, no matter how I photographed it, it kept happening, so I gave up!'

 

Here's the right hand side:

 

Of all my creative projects, this one totally has my heart as it captures the everyday moments around here.

I love looking back on it and remembering totally random things I had forgotten - what we were reading, watching, eating, achieving - it's like watching a re-run of our life.

The kids love looking at it too.

 

As this was the year in summary, I really wanted to add all the family members voices, so I asked them their highlights and then added them to cards.

 

I made many of the cards myself, which I'll explain further below, and I also added a few smaller pocket pages - it was a big year as usual, and I had so much to cover!

 

Here's a look at the extra pages:

 

 

 

 

So let's take a look at how this began....

 

 

 

I used a couple of sheets of the 7Dots range - Messy Head, and a sheet by My Minds Eye. 
I also found a few of the pages from the Pinkfresh range fitted in perfectly.

 

 I trimmed them all down, and just love that they are the correct sizes for my pockets.

I laid them all out - here you can see the mini pages I added in too. These are from Snap - a multipack and they are great if I've got a lot to say!!

This is how I plan my pages, so I know what size photos to print!

 

You can also see I added in some white watercolour pages.  These will be used to add in the individual highlights of each family member, so there are 5 in total.

 

Time to make them non white!

 

I used Jane Davenport's Watercolours, and applied colour using the 'packaging technique'.

 

Just add some paint to some old packaging, add a bit more water and then splodge it on.

 

 

I then added stamping.

 

I used the Ideaology Alpha Stamps and added each persons initial.

I then added a few fun stamps too, leaving plenty of room for words and a photo.

 

I used stamps by Carabelle and AALL & Create.

 

 

 

 

I then added some embellishments - I used the AWESOME Snarky Stickers. These are hysterical and absolutely perfect for my Project Life.  I also used some MAMBI Chips, and some of the Escape the Ordinary ephemera from Pinkfresh.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the 5 finished cards:

 

Two of them I turned into pockets/flaps - mine and my daughters cards.

 

I always have so much to say, and my girl had a massive year which all needed a mention!

 

I just run some Washi tape along the side of a card and attach it to another card so it creates a hinge.  The bottom card then gets slotted into the pocket and the top card sits on top, over the plastic.

 

 

 

 

Sorry about the glare from the plastic!

 

Here's a pic showing the 2018 card I created - I stamped with the Alpha Stamps and wrote around the edge.  Too easy.

Here's a couple more cards I created:

 

 

I created that black and white striped card by using paint on a watercolour card.

Love the simplicity and boldness!

 

 

 

 I really love that quote card - this came from the Simple Stories sheet.

 

So what are you going to do for our challenge?  A layout, a journal page, a project life spread. You could summarise the year, like I've done, or document a significant event that happened in 2018, or you could add in your resolutions, or write down your bucket list. There's so many possibilities and you could win a Scrap Matrix Voucher and a guest design spot. How fun would that be, to come and play along with us?!?

 

 

Just load your entries into the 'Year in Review' Folder over at the Scrap Matrix Shares Group on Facebook and let us know which Scrap Matrix products you used! That simple. You don't need a blog.

 

Well that's it from me for today, I'll be back again soon with another share (I can't wait to share this one, it's been a while in the making!!)

Have a magical 2019

 

Luv Tam

xxx

 (you can always check out my blog HERE for more of my creations)


Scrap Matrix Products used:

Simple Stories Story of Us paper
  Snap 6x8 Page Protector
Pinkfresh Escape the Ordinary Paper - Search
Pinkfresh Escape the Ordinary - Ephemera
Ideaology Snarky Stickers
Ideaology Alpha Stamps
Carabelle Stamps Azoline Textures - small flowers
Carabelle Stamps Scribbled leaves/textured circles
7Dots Messy Head Paper
Mambi Chips - Chalk - Makes me Smile
AALL & Create Stamp #60
Jane Davenport Watercolour Set Glitz Sea
Dina Wakley Washi Tape
 

 

FINAL Epic USA Trip Project Life Share

Hi everyone

I'm sharing the FINAL instalment in my Epic Project Life USA Trip documentation.

Did you hear that?? Yep the FINAL!! Woohooo!!

It's been a HUGE job. Firstly, the creating process - condensing the photos from 4000 down to 400, and then creating 15 Project Life spreads. Secondly, the photographing/blogging to show you.  Oh I have nearly given up quite a few times, but as I've received so many lovely comments saying that it's inspired you to persist on documenting your trip, or even start, I've plodded on and now it's done!!!!

Such a great feeling, doing a happy dance let me tell you.

So may I present the final 3 spreads.

This spread is about leaving Texas and landing in Los Angeles.  It highlights our hotel, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Madame Tussaud's, Beverley Hills etc.

Here's the left side:

And the right side:

I included lots of my washi tape hinged 'lift ups'

I love how this is a simple way to include more photos and journaling

and I love the interactiveness of these.

This last one is like a whole mini book, I had so many photos!! By creating these flips I get to add lots of photos without losing any more pockets.

Onto the next spread:

This one is all about our day at Universal Studios.  So much fun!!

The left side:

I included some of my lift-ups too:

The right side:

More washi tape hinged 'lift-ups'

In between the left and right side, I added an envelope to hold our maps.

As I didn't want to punch holes directly into the maps, and I also want to be able to take them out and look at them the envelope works really well.  I just added a cardstock strip to the edge to make it a little stronger, and this is where I punched my holes to add to the album.

I then decorated the front and the back.

The next spread is about our day trip down to Muscle Beach and Santa Monica.

Here's the left hand side

Here's the right hand side:

I included a few of the washi tape hinged 'lift-ups'.

Such an interesting place.  Bit of an eye opener for the kids.

The final spread is all about us flying out:

Here's the left side:

You will notice that there a few blank cards.  These are the only thing I need to finish!  I've added one for all of us - on each one I've added an alpha sticker and I want each of us to add some journaling/thoughts/highlights about our trip.
I really want everyone's 'voices', not just mine.

Here's the right side:

Again, you'll notice the blank cards, waiting to be filled.

 

In between this spread, I added a couple of envelopes, one to hold our plane tickets and plane menu, the other to hold some maps of L.A.

 

I simply punched holes directly into a couple of envelopes, and decorated them.

You will notice that I added a cardstock strip to the envelope that contains the maps - this just makes it a little stronger.

 

Well everyone, that is a WRAP!!!

I hope you've enjoyed these posts and I hope they've been helpful to you.

I'm so glad that I took the time to document this trip.  Even though at times I felt overwhelmed and ready to quit, I'm so glad I didn't.  It's really important to make the time and make it a priority.  You see life gets crazy quickly and it can easily become one of those jobs that you leave and you think 'yeah I'll get to it later'.  All too often that later never comes.  I know I have other trips and projects that I've really wanted to complete, but well it just hasn't happened, and now time has gone by.....years in fact, and I'm already struggling to remember the details.

So yep it's totally worth it.

If you'd like to see my other posts on this you can find them below.
Part 1 is HERE
Part 2 is HERE
Part 3 is HERE
Part 4 is HERE
Part 5 is HERE