Project Life:I Want To Do It But Where Do I Start?

I have several friends that want to start Project Life albums this year but feel overwhelmed and are not sure where to start. Can you sympathize? If so this post if for you!

Let me start off by saying that I am in no way affiliated with Becky Higgins or Project Life. I’m just a customer who loves the product and wants to help!

The Good Ol’ Days:
I miss how Becky used to sale her kits. It was a one stop shop type of thing. You paid for a full kit and got everything you needed to complete an album in one whack. I’m glad I started Project Lifeing (It’s a cool word let’s go with it) before the change. Now everything is sold separately and you need to purchase the items you think you need for your kit. I get it but I can see how this could be overwhelming to someone who is new the whole Project Life craze.

Nuts and Bolts:
The great thing about PL is that it’s simple. It’s all done for you. All you need is a little time, printed photos, and a pen. That’s it! You can take it as far as you want to go after you have the basic items or you and keep it simple.  With that being said the Core Kit is a big part of the simplicity of Project Life. It’s the design element that’s pulls it all together. This is where you want to start!

Select a core kit that you love. This year I’m using Clementine! 

 

 

The Album:
Now that you have your design elements picked out it’s time to add an album to your cart. Becky has an album designed to match each core kit. You can select your core kit’s album or choose her solid white album. I always go with the album that coordinates with the kit I’m using.

 

 

The Pages:
This is where it can get a little tricky. There are several different photo page designs and Becky is not the only company that sales great quality photo pages that work with the Project Life album.

My suggestion would be to start with  a pack of Design A. Get to know it use it in your layouts. THEN decided where you want to go from there. There are tons of ways you can use this layout.

Once you’ve become familiar with the Design A layout you can decide if you want to keep going with it throughout your album or mix it up a little. I’m one for mixing it up!

Design A and D (shown below) are the 2 designs that I use most often.

Becky tends to run out of photo pages. Don’t let that stop you! Check out other companies such as We are Memory Keepers for photo pages protector options.

Instagram 
We love it……right? It’s great for capturing those precious yet random moments which is what Project Life is all about.  If you’re a big Instagramer like myself you may want to include your Instagram photos in your album.

 

Love this photo page proctor for my Instagram photos!

 

The Extras:
You can go as far as you want with this. Nothing below is necessary. In fact my 1st album only included the items we’ve talked about above and it’s beautiful BUT if you want to add a little extra love to your album here are a few simple and cost effective ways you can do that!

Washi Masking Tape: You can find it online, at Target, and at you local craft supply store 

 

Smash Book Goodies: I love to use Smash Book accessories in my albums. They’re easy to find and not too pricey! You can find them at Target, online, and your local craft store.

 

Scrapbook Paper Kits: Becky sales scrapbook paper that coordinates with the album but I like to find design elements that coordinate while adding a little something different so I don’t purchase her scrapbook paper.

You can purchase scrapbook paper by the sheet or in a kit like the one shown below. I love that the kits usually include coordinating letters and design elements. Look for scrapbook paper kits online, at Target, Wal-Mart, your local craft store and even  discount stores like Tuesday Morning and Ross. Be sure you take a coupon along if your purchase yours at Michaels or Hobby Lobby! Every little bit helps, right?

 

Alphabet stickers: Yep! I use them a lot in my album! Easy and cost effective way to add a little pop to your pages! 

 

Stamps: Because they’re cute and easy to use! Tons of great stamps out there! Find a few that you like that complement the overall look of your album.

 

The Personal Touch:
Love that you not only add photos to your album but memorabilia as well. Here are some personal items I like to add to my Project Life album.
-Printed Blog Post
-Recipes
-Receipts from outings or things I want to remember 
-Letters/cards/invitations
-Printed out emails or fb comments
-Drawings
-Magazine articles or pictures that I like 
-Tickets from a movie/concert/show
-And the list goes on………

So what do you think? Are you ready to get your Project Life on? If you’re still not sure what to do I’ve included links to everything you’ve seen in this post. You can follow the links and just purchase what you see here and you’ll be good to go!

I’ll be sharing my Project Life layouts through Instagram! If you’re on Instagram let’s be buddies so I can see what you’re doing with your album as well!

 

Quick and Cheap Photo Gallery

This little project takes places in my studio!
The plan is to eventually order canvases for the walls BUT we have a problem.
I’m SUPER indecisive when it comes to deciding on something I’m going to be locked into for awhile.  You should see me trying to pick out a yearly planner or paint color……….oh man it’s bad!
I have tons of favorite images which changes daily. How in the world am I supposed to pick a small handful stick with them?
This is a decision that will take some time and these walls needed a little love while Mrs. Indecisive over here makes up her mind! The quick  yet temporary  fix?

!ENTER TODAY’S PROJECT!

 

It’s exactly what the title says!

Quick: It took me 30 minutes to put this together! I hate measuring things!

Nope this ADD gal does not have the attention span to measure everything thing out perfectly which drives the hubby nuts!

I just eyeballed it! Not prefect but eh it works!

Cheap: I printed a few of my favorite images. Ran to Walmart and bought mini clothes pins and twine which you can find in their craft section. 

Place a little nail at the end of each section and twist the twine around the nail head until it’s secure. Get your clothes pins and go to town!

There ya have it! The perfect fix for the indecisive girl!

Another great thing about this project is that it’s super versatile!

It’s so easy to change the photos out. This would be great for Instagram photos and random mementos!

This big blank wall above the changing table screams “AWESOME GALLERY WALL USE ME” but until I make up my mind this will do!

Because we all love a little behind the scenes shot here’s some of my prop stash.
Notice the key word “some”.

Yeah there are 2 other shelves on the other side of these and a garage full of stuff!

Ummm and no I'm not preggers silly!
Just in case you missed the top of this post this project was done in my studio. Don't let the changing table and welcome Savannah sign throw you off!





Ps….Have you seen our super cute new blog button? I love it!

     

Fall Porch Décor–Pumpkins Galore

Didn’t want to go too crazy with this year’s fall porch décor.

Nah

Last time I made my own glaze, painted pumpkins, crafted up some fall themed tea lights.

Yeah it was cute and all but it was a lot of work!

This time I just wanted to throw something together.

Here’s what I came up with………

 

 

I’m still using the same fall wreath I made a few years back. It’s been around for awhile but I love it so it gets to stay!

 

I thought I would save myself some time and just plant pumpkins instead of pansies. You don’t have to water pumpkins……well after they’re off the vine you don’t!

 

My shadow aka Brady aka The Tornado was having a hissy fit that he had to stay inside.

I didn’t  realize he was photobombing until I looked back though the pictures. Only 3 1/2 months old and already rocking the photobomb what a little genius.

 

On Friday I’m going to the World’s Longest Garage sale with my mom. In fact by the time you read this I’m probably already getting my shop on!

Y’all I can even tell you how excited I am. We’re talking miles upon miles of awesomeness! I’ll be taking pics and video so I can share. If you would like to follow along find me on Instagram. I’ll be posting throughout the day!

Trust me you’re going to want to see this!

 

Gussied up Notebook and Calendar

I picked up these notebooks from Goodwill for $.25 cents a pop and the mini calendar from Hobby Lobby for $1.00.

Yes I prefer to keep up with important dates the old fashion way……pen and paper!

Since I’ll be using these items in for work I wanted them to match my branding so I gave them a little love using things I already had on hand.

 

 

I picked out coordinating scrapbook paper pulled out the trusty Mod Podge and went to town! 

 

 

Tip: When I’m using Mod Podge I always get out my rolling pin. In fact I use my rolling pin (which I bought at Goodwill by the way) more for crafting than baking. Use the rolling pin to roll out any air bubbles that may be trapped under the paper. This will help with wrinkling!  They make a mini version of this just for scrapbooking but why buy that when I already have this honker!

 

 

And there ya have it! Simple, easy, and cute!

I added a couple die cut Ks….well because my name is Kendra and my business is Kendra Pryor Photography. Makes sense right?

 

This would make a cute gift as well! You could include a matching pen and a pack highlighters!

 

 

Side note:
I’ve found some really cute clothes at Goowill lately!
Later today today (10.21) I’ll be doing a thrift store treasure post via my Domestic Princess in Training’s facebook fan page. Want to see my thrifted threads? Come on I know you do! Well hop in over to my NEW fan page, click LIKE and follow along! 

Click here to find Domestic Princess in Training’s facebook fan page

Root Beer Sample Pack–The Gift for the Guy that’s Hard to Buy For

Of all the people in my life Kent (my husband) is the hardest person to buy for. He doesn't get excited easily and doesn’t have a love for materialistic things like I do. Yes I’ll go ahead and say it….I love THINGS!

Cute things, sparkly things, colorful things. I’m easy to buy for but Kent is soooo not!

This year I had the perfect gift in mind!!!!!

A root beer sample pack!

Kent loves root beer almost as much as he loves our little Chihuahua Abby. As some of you long time followers know Abby is his princess! I searched high and low hunting down all kinds of bottled root beer. If you decide to do this let me save you a little time. Central Market and Whole Foods had the best selection of bottled root beer that you can buy per bottle.  I had no idea there were so many different brands of root beer.

 

This hardest part of this project was hunting down the root beer. After that I just threw everything together and walla! The container is just a wine bottle holder I picked up for free at Central Market.

Oh and on a side note……..I got carded when I bought the root!!!! She was confused as to why I was confused and I was confused but we got it all worked out…..hehehehe. Made me chuckle a little. Yes I chuckle!

 

I also picked up a glass mug and a pint of his favorite vanilla ice cream so he could make root beer floats which are also very close to his heart.

 

This gift was a success!

He even said it’s one of the best gifts I ever given him and we’ve been together for 10 years so that’s a lot of gifts!

 

 

I’m linking up with:
The DIY Showoff

Hostesses Gift/Birthday Gift Idea & A Little Bridal Shower Love

My bridal shower was last weekend and boy was I spoiled! It was beautiful and quite possibly the nicest bridal shower I’ve ever been to!

I wanted to do something special for my hostesses with the mostesses so I put together a little coffee gift basket as they too are fellow coffee lovers!

On a side note reason #1,405 why I LOVE having a facebook account for this ol’ blog here. I needed some ideas for a hostess gift so I jump on facebook and asked my lovely fan’s (oh it feels weird to say fans, lets go with bloggie friends)! Anyhoo I had several people willing to share ideas. Jillian suggested a coffee gift basket and 2 out of the 3 hostesses are coffee lovers so it was a great idea! Sonya suggested a charm which was another fab idea because my mom (who happened to be hostess # 3) has a Pandora charm bracelet and I knew she would love to have a charm to remember the occasion. Thanks so much for all the great ideas! Y’all are awesome!

  Okay back to the project………

 

I hit up Target and bought for all the fixins for the gift basket! I should have bought extra pails…..I see many a project for those little guys!

Target carries my all time FAVORITE travel mug. It’s made by OXO. It’s their liquid seal travel mug and let me tell ya it’s the bomb! I can fill it will coffee and throw it in my purse and never worry about it spilling. No I’m not in any way affiliated with OXO I just really like the mug….can you tell? 

 

I filled the bottom of each pail with a torn up cereal bar box to give the goodies I filled it with a little height.

 

 

I used my hot glue gun to glue the biscotti around the outside of the pail. Then I filled it will a little shredded paper from the Dollar store and added the rest of the goodies to the pail.

 

 

Once everything was nestled inside I wrapped it up with a cellophane gift bag and tied it with a little raffia. I like the way it turned out!  

This would be a great birthday gift as well!  

 

**************************************************

On to the shower!

I was busy being the guest of honor and failed miserably at taking pictures. My mom manned the camera for me a bit so I have tons of pictures of me doing this……..

              

Flattering right! Don’t worry mom I’ll get ya back! ;o)Remember she doesn’t read my blog. If ya don’t read my blog you’re fare game, HA, HA, HA, HAAAA! ;o)

     I tried to break as many ribbons as possible. Lots of babies for us please! Kent wants 2 but I would be smitten with 3 or 4! That way if we have a screw up we can still have hope for the others…..I kid, I kid!

  

We had lots of yummy food!

The decorations were beautiful! My sis-in-law made the wreath above. She’s pretty awesome! No really, she’s pretty AND awesome! She paid me to say that. ;o)

 

 

We got some really great gifts!

Oh yeah, and someone officially became my mini me…..TWINS! I can’t believe we were almost wearing the same thing…too funny!

It was a GREAT shower. I wish I took more pictures but what can ya do! I’ll make up for it at the wedding I’m sure!  

3 weeks till we say I DO!

Links found in this post:
-To find Domestic Princess in Training on facebook click HERE
-Want to buy my all time favorite coffee mug? You can find it HERE
-To visit my sis-in-laws blog click HERE
-Want to know what a Pandora charm bracelet is click HERE

New Fluff in the Craft Room

I found some black bunny vinyls at Marshalls for $1.50 on clearance. I know shocker! I’m surprised people weren’t jumping at the bit to by these. ;o)  I kid, I kid! I think I’m the only one who would want black bunny vinyls.

Well since we do have a black bunny I thought it would be fun to use a few of them in my craft room (which is where Ninja our bunny lives).

I attached one to a white plate I bought at Goodwill. This little shelf is on the wall right above Ninja’s little bunny condo.

 

I popped into Ninja’s bunny condo to see what he thought about his new bunny decorations and he said LOVES it! ;o)

 

 

 

The planter and frame were pervious Gooodwill finds that I first showed you HERE. I put the frame away until I came across for the perfect picture to put in it. I was cleaning out some stuff and found a greeting card that I’ve been holding on to for awhile……I’m talking since high school. I’ve always loved the print! It just so happed that it fit perfectly in my frame and went great with the color scheme in my craft room! See sometimes holding onto things pays off!

Tip: If you have a cherished greeting card from a loved one or see one at the store you like think about framing it. If you need to fill a larger space on you wall think about finding a series or cards that you like and frame the series in multiple frames on your wall!  That’s what I call cheap art!

*To see my craft room make over click HERE
*To see the before and afters click HERE and HERE