I've been getting quite a few questions about my Project Life process and how I print my photos. I have messaged many folks back, but just thought I'd put it all here too in case anyone is interested. :)
I hope this information is helpful to those curious on how my process works or wondering about something.
I print 95% of my photos from home on my Epson XP-300 (my favorite printer, HP something or other konked out on me months ago and I needed something decent, but cheap, the Epson was it!) on semi-gloss, sometimes glossy photo paper if it's all Amazon has! ;)
I use iPhoto on my Mac.
The top photo shows my iPhone plugged into my laptop as photos were being transferred from my phone to my computer. I try to do this at least twice through my week so it's not such a daunting task when it comes to work on that week's Project Life spread. It works for me. :)
Weeks in advance I draw up sketches of the page protector designs I plan on using (most of them being Design A because I work with it best) in a cheap-o notebook. I also put the week number with the week's to and from dates.
Throughout the current week I try my very best to jot down the photos and notes that I know I want to include in that week's spread. I have learned a hard lesson about not doing this and it really got me stressed out! haha. I want to be sure to enjoy this process, not feel stressed or obligated to do it or to do it "right."
I try my hardest to always write what photos/cards/stories I want to put where in pencil just in case I change my mind along the way. Again, lesson learned by using pen and it being an even worse mess than it already is! ;)
Oh, and Post-Its have become my best friend! I use them for royal messups (like this week ;)) and for sketching an insert I may have. So, pretty much every week!
Once my photos are all uploaded into my computer (from both my iPhone and Canon) I group them all into one folder, that way when it comes time to print they're all together. I may even try to edit them if need be as I upload them throughout the week just to make it less crazy and time consuming when it's print time.
Once I've decided what photos I want and the sizes I need them (sizes are determined as I "sketch" where I want where) it's time to get to printing. Oh, and I print on 4x6 size sheets of photo paper. I know some print on 8.5x11 sheets. I've tried it and it just doesn't work for me right now. :)
The above photo shows how I get the more square size photos. I get 6 of them on 1 4x6 sheet if made to 1.80" x 1.80" size.
Above is my current favorite size for a 3x4 pocket in my page protector. It gives me a white border and fits perfectly! This took me forever to figure out. Haha. Enter 2.75" x 3.65" Easy peasy. (Now. haha!)
Once all my photos are printed, now comes the fun part! Deciding on what cards to use and creating! This is the time I decide on what general "feel" I want to go with, whether it's design of the cards or usually the color vibe. I have't always done it this way. Just in the last few weeks have I put this process in place, because as I went back to past weeks (like weeks 1-16 or so) when I would just work on a card a time and put it in with no real rhyme or reason...I don't like them as much. I still love the memories and stories, I just feel like I needed more "clean?" (is that the right word for my pages? Prolly not! haha) design.
So, anyway...I choose the general cards I think I may want, lay them directly over the page protector pockets, always paying close attention to my sketch so I know where I have things planned.
I have to admit, sometimes I get overwhelmed with the options. Between all the Core Kits and the Project Life kits and the printables I doubt I will ever, ever use them all...but I'm grateful for choices because I think the same thing over and over again would get sort of boring!
Once I've decided where I want everything, I usually begin with the top left and work around. That's when I add embellishments, dates, journaling, etc. And again, always referring back to that notebook. It holds the dates and stories better than my brain could ever remember!
That's why it's so important to me to jot down as much down as I can as each day goes by. Or else I forget.
:)
This is for week #22...it's coming along. :)
So, there's my general process to creating a spread for this awesome way of documenting!
Feel free to let me know if you have questions and thanks for dropping by!
