Ali Edwards's Blog

Currently | April 2019 AE Creative Team | DESIGN Story Kit™

Project Life® 2019 | March

Around here March was dominated by work and travel. It was a busy month that ended with a whole lot of much needed sunshine and relaxation (as relaxing as it can be taking five kids on vacation).

For March I identified three stories I wanted to highlight in my
Project Life® album:

A few random photos of me working, girls in the office, and a photo of Woody who passed away (I'll be doing a longer story about him another time).
Aaron and I took a quick getaway to San Francisco to see Hamilton.
Spring Break with the whole crew in Hawaii.

One of the main thoughts that went through my head as I was bringing this all together include how manageable I find this type of yearly documentation. Doing this once a month vs. weekly has a completely different rhythm - not better, not worse - just different. Weekly Project Life®, for me at least, told a different kind of story. I probably included more photos over the four spreads than I'm including weekly, but with weekly I'm identifying stories that are getting a little more depth vs. what I would have included in weekly Project Life®. I have no idea if that makes any sense at all - ha - but it's a bit of what was running though my head as I worked through identifying and telling the stories for this month.

I love that we each get to choose how we tell our stories.

Here's a look at how it all came together:

The first thing I wanted to document about the month of March was how much work I tried to get done leading up to the travel that happened at the end of the month. I printed out a few different photos and used the graphic card from the March Stories By The Month™ Kit to hold a bit of the story. In addition I added label stickers to each photo and added a bit more of the story. I also added yellow chipboard stars that were available as Add On's for last months Design Story Kit™ (these are still available with a subscription until April 13th).

I used the plastic envelope from last year's Travel Collection Kit to hold some things from our San Francisco trip.

On top of the envelope I added one of the large rubber pieces and a "go" circle chipboard from last year's Travel Collection release.

For the first part of the story of our San Francisco trip I added in a 6x8 page protector. I printed a daytime photo view from our hotel room and an evening view from the same spot. In the bottom pocket I cut up a map we picked up and added a label sticker on top. Along the outside edge I added an Avery Index Tab and used the Travel Phrases Stamp Set.

The back of the page protector includes three photos. The bottom one is from a story I posted to Instagram from our horrendous travel day. Love that I can just save and print those out.

To hold more of the story I printed out a full page 9x12 photo and added my journaling on top before printing. I also used a White POSCA Paint Pen to add a little sentiment at the bottom of the journaling. I love playing around with different photo angles.

To tell the Spring Break portion of the trip I printed another 9x12 full page photo (loving the blue sky in this one and in the one from San Francisco). I used the POSCA Paint Pen again to write a bit of the story and a chipboard piece from the March Stories By The Month™ Kit.

In addition I added a couple random pieces from the trip - the welcome card that our hotel keys came in and a photo from a restaurant near the hotel where they take your photo. I am up for any opportunity to get all of us in a photo together. The fun puffy sticker I added to this photo and to the other one on the backside are from Crate Paper All Heart Collection.

To finish off this month I decided to go with the 3x3 pocket 9x12 page protector to hold a variety of photos from this adventure. I don't plan to do a travel album or additional projects from this trip as this was one of those where we literally went either to the pool, lagoon, or beach each day and including it here feels like it's enough.

I cut up 3x3 inch pieces of white yardstick and added small adventure stickers that are included in this Travel Sticker Bundle and a puffy star from the Crate Paper All Heart Puffy Stickers. I also added three chipboard pieces on top of the photos.