Getting Started

The very basics that you need to complete an album are:

1. 12x12 Binder
2. Project Life Core Kit
3. Big Pack of Photo Pocket Pages

*NOTE: These 3 items are sold separately. There is NO FULL KIT. You get to choose which Project Life items best suits your style + your needs.

Once you have those items, you are ready to get started. Flip through these slides for tips on how to put it all together, step by step. Don't let the number of slides intimidate you. The process is super simple but we know that detailed pictures help, so that's exactly what we did. You can click on the arrows or use your left/right arrow keys on your keyboard to flip through the slides.

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  The basic components you need to complete a full scrapbook are a

  12x12 Binder + Big Pack of Photo Pocket Pages + Project Life Core Kit

  Of course you'll need your photos and a pen for journaling. That's it. You will not need any other tools or supplies or gadgets... not even scissors! Don't let the number of slides intimidate you. The process is super simple but we know that detailed pictures help, so that's exactly what we did.

  Note

  This is Brandi with the Clementine Edition. You will see the Clementine Edition of Project Life throughout these slides but of course you have several other editions to choose from and these step-by-step tips apply to any edition. The Project Life products are the same - just different graphic design options.

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  The first step is to open up your Big Pack of Photo Pocket Pages and open your Binder rings.

  Note

  Design A is shown and is our most popular Photo Pocket Page design, but there are other options. The Big Variety Packs are great, and offer more options.

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  Place the entire stack of Photo Pocket Pages in the Binder.

  Note

  All Big Packs of Photo Pocket Pages have 60 pages, which will fill a 12x12 binder nicely when the pages are full of photos + journaling cards + title cards. Keep in mind that adding a lot of bulky or dimensional items will result in thicker pages and then you may not be able to have all 60 pages fit as nicely into a single Binder. If you need to spread out into a couple of binders, that's perfectly fine. It's really your choice.

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  Now all of your Photo Pocket Pages are loaded into the Binder.

  Tip

  Don't let that 12x12 white box go to waste! It's a perfect size and great quality for storing other 12x12 page protectors or larger memorabilia.

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  Next you are going to reach for your Core Kit and pull out all of the 4x6 and 3x4 cards that are specifically designed for the first page and last page of your album.

  Note

  There is no rule that says you have to use these cards on the first + last pages. These cards are designed to keep this project absolutely, completely simple for you. However, many do prefer to personalize the first page by including more photos than cards, for example, or using other embellishments.

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  How do you know which cards are designed for your first page + last page? They will be indicated with a placement suggestion on the back of the card.

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  The guide on the back of the first page + last page cards is only a suggestion, but if you don't want to think about it at all, just follow the guide, slip in your cards, and be done.

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  This is what the first page will look like (until you personalize it).

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  You will do the same thing for the last page of the album in terms of slipping the pre-designed cards in the pockets. The suggestions on the back of each card will take out the guesswork.

  Note

  This shows what it looks like from behind; the next slide shows the actual last page as it appears.

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  This is what the last page will look like in your album.

  Note

  Just a reminder that you are seeing the Clementine Edition. Each edition of Project Life has its own style.

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  Next, take out the stack of 4x6 title cards from your Core Kit.

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  Slip a title card (any title card) into the upper left corner of each layout. You'll do this for every 2-page spread in your album. There is no suggested "order" in terms of where you place which cards. Some people like continuity and use the same design for a month's worth of layouts, for example. Some people prefer to mix it up so there is no rhyme or reason.

  Note

  Doing this now is part of "setting up" your album ahead of time, saving you steps later. But you certainly can keep the title cards in your Core Kit and insert the title cards one layout at a time as you work on them if that is what you prefer.

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  Let's talk pictures. Say you want to create a layout per week in your Project Life album. Chances are you may want to print your photos in batches - a week at a time. The number of pictures you decide to print is up to you; typically this would be 7 photos because you already have a title card in one of the 4x6 pockets. In addition to pictures, don't forget to include any memorabilia from the week that is worth saving.

  Note

  As mentioned before, Design A is most common because most people take pictures in the horizontal format, most of the time. But there is absolutely room for flexibility with this, which is why there are several other Photo Pocket Page designs to choose from (see the options in our Products section).

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  Insert your photos into the 4x6 pockets.

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  The 3x4 journaling cards will be found in your Core Kit. Go ahead and pull some of those out.

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  There are several 4x6 sheets of stickers to use if you'd like. These are found in your Core Kit as well.

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  With your journaling cards and stickers handy, you are ready to write your captions/anecdotes/stories - typically one card per photo. Don't have anything to say for one of the spots? No problem. That's what the filler cards are for.

  Note

  The best kind of pen for journaling is the kind that you are most comfortable using. If you want to stick with archival and acid-free quality, you can find these at your local craft or art supply store (or online, of course).

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  Start writing. Whatever comes to mind that you want to share about that particular photo, is going to be perfect.

  Note

  Don't like your handwriting? Oh, how I wish that everyone could understand that "neatness" or "style" isn't what matters when it comes to handwriting. Please know that your handwriting is completely unique to you and that's what is so awesome.

  Have more to say? Flip the card over. Have even MORE to say? No problem. There is a stack of bi-fold journaling cards in the Core Kit that will give you twice as much real estate for writing. Fold on the already-scored line and the cards will fit perfectly in a 3x4 pocket. Or you can leave it un-folded and slip it into a 4x6 pocket.

  Tip

  Involve others in Project Life by having family members share in the fun of writing notes and stories on the journaling cards. Your kids will love being a part of the project. Having a variety of handwriting samples and perspectives is literally like a time capsule.

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  The purpose of the stickers is to help you identify which journaling card goes with which photo in your layout. Should you choose to use these, place a colored sticker anywhere on your journaling card.

  Note

  Also included in the Core Kit are DAY-OF-THE-WEEK stickers. You can use these however you'd like. They are designed specifically with the "Photo-a-Day Project Lifers" in mind - those who happen to be using Project Life to document a picture every day for a year.

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  Place the completed 3x4 journaling card in a 3x4 pocket.

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  Now find that same number from the CLEAR sticker sheet and place it over the correlating photo - on TOP of the Photo Pocket Page.

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  The clear stickers are obviously going to be more subtle but they serve their purpose in matching photos with journaling cards.

  Note

  Note that there are arrow stickers in the Core Kit as well. You can use these to literally point from the 3x4 journaling card to the 4x6 picture that you're referring to.

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  There is a stack of 3x4 FILLER cards in your Core Kit. Choose one of these that goes well with the layout you're working on.

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  Place the 3x4 filler card in any of the 3x4 pockets - IF you have an extra space to fill.

  Note

  Typically, you'll include the filler card somewhere on the left page and this is why: When looking at a 2-page spread, you will likely have a 4x6 title card in the upper left corner (because that is visually a very natural place to see a title before your eye leads to the rest of the layout). This leaves you with 3 photos for the left page. If you have 3 journaling cards on the left page, naturally you will have one space leftover. So with this kind of set-up, you would likely include your filler card somewhere on the LEFT page.

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  You are DONE. You have completed a layout in your Project Life album! Repeat, repeat, repeat until you have filled an album.

  Note

  You'll notice how the number stickers (or day stickers, if you use those instead) match each journaling card + photo to one another.

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  You have now experienced the simplest form of scrapbooking EVER. You didn't crop, trim, glue, punch, hammer, emboss, distress... anything! And yet, look at the result. Beautiful scrapbook pages that are not only organized and easy to enjoy, but still very custom because of your photos and your written memories.

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  Project Life is a back-to-basics approach to scrapbooking. It's all about your photos + your stories, and letting go of that pressure to do anything creative if you don't want. Get your memories into a book and feel GREAT about the results.

  Note

  Project Life is designed to be absolutely simple. Anyone can do this - older, younger, male or female, children... even those who have never done a bit of scrapbooking in their life. Of course Project Life is super flexible and appeals to many experienced scrapbookers as well. We see a lot of people adding all sorts of flair and creative touches to their Project Life, which is wonderful too!

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Thoughts on how to use Project Life.

You may choose to keep your photos chronological and highlight just a handful of pictures from each month per layout, resulting in an album that holds several years worth of memories. You may want each layout to take on a theme or event (holidays, trips, birthdays, back-to-school, etc.) that has nothing to do with chronology. Or you may use this album to organize years and years of old pictures (ex - from your childhood, or some family history).

You may even get ambitious and include a picture-a-day for an entire year - one week per layout. The result of doing this is a very unique way of preserving a wide-angle look at your real life, here and now. A little something every day. I have personally done this for the past couple years and it's very cool... BUT please don't think that the picture-a-day or 365 approach to Project Life is what you have to do.

If you are interested in documenting everyday life I strongly encourage the following approach: One layout per week, but not necessarily a picture-a-day. This means that you go about your life, taking pictures of little moments and saving memorabilia here and there - if you want. Instead of being committed to having a picture to represent every single day (which is fun but definitely ambitious)... you would simply gather whatever you want to include on a layout for that week. Perhaps you do end up with a picture to represent each day on some weeks. Perhaps all the pictures come from one particular occasion that week. It really doesn't matter. This approach is a bit more "relaxed" and flexible than a 365 approach but you end up with the same kind of album that paints a picture of your life as it is right now.

The point is this: You can use Project Life however you want.

I can't emphasize this enough: Project Life is meant to SIMPLIFY the process of memory-keeping. If you use it at the most basic level, you are more likely to succeed in "keeping up" - if that's your goal - and you'll still have an amazing album. For inspiration on keeping it simple, please be sure to see THIS blog post.

Yes, of course you can get creative if you'd like. Many people love adding their own flair with extra embellishments, etc. We love to share inspiration and ideas. In fact, we have a whole Creative Team that is full of talented women who regularly share their amazing Project Life pages. By the way, we'd love to see more from guys and kids - trust me!

However you make this system work for you, the Core Kit has everything you need: The title cards are intended to label your layouts. The journaling cards allow you to write notes & memories to accompany your photos. The bi-fold cards are for when you have more to write. The filler cards are designed to be placed in the 3x4 pocket where you don't have a journaling card. The arrow stickers and day + number stickers are all included to label and identify journaling that accompanies the photos.

Keep it simple or get creative or maybe a little of both. This is your life, your style, your approach... your Project Life.