{CONFESSIONS OF A DESIGNER TURNED PROJECT LIFER}

Confession #1: I have not created a single traditional kit this year.

WOW!  I have made this entire year of 2013 dedicated to Project Life. Why? Because I believe in it. I know that sounds silly, but I do! Maybe it was the arrival of my fourth child, maybe it was my ever increasingly busy life as a mother, maybe it was a move to a new home, I don't know, but whatever it was, it worked for me. And here is why it works. To me, scrapbooking is, and always has been, about keeping memories. Creating something for my children to look back at, to laugh, cry, and remember. I felt like so much of that was being overrun with creating the 'perfect' page, and that sometimes the photos would get lost amidst all of the embellishing. So...was I keeping a memory book, or creating a work of art? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a beautiful page where all of the shadows are fine tuned, every element perfectly placed, and the combination of papers is to die for, but I didn't have time for that. I wanted my memories preserved, but I just couldn't keep up. Enter Project Life. An easy to assemble format, focused on pictures and journaling. Yes please! Once I started I KNEW this was what I had been looking for.

Confession #2: I have failed miserably.

Once we moved into our new home in August my Project Life album went down the drain. I have some major catching up to do, but I will be done by the end of the year. :) And I will share all of my pages, I promise! :)

So there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed my PL creations this year, and I hope that I've even helped some of you be able to keep up to date preserving the precious memories...or "golden moments" if you will...in your lives. Memory keeping truly is my passion, and I hope that shows through in my designs and pages. It's not about creating a piece of art, it's about creating a keepsake.

{NEW PL PRODUCTS}

The day has arrived my memory keeping friends! I finally have new PL products in the shop! 4 collections, to be exact. It feels so great to be designing again, I feel like it's been forever. To celebrate my return :) I'm having a sale! You could call it the "I'm Back/Belated iNSD" sale...for one week (today through November 24th) everything in the shop will be 50% off. Yep, that's right, 50% off of EVERYTHING!!! Including these 4 new releases:

{THE YESTERDAY COLLECTION}

{THE HAPPY DAY COLLECTION}

{THE AFTER DARK COLLECTION}

{THE THANKFUL COLLECTION}

So what are you waiting for? Go shopping! Enjoy the sale, and scrap away! :)

{GENERATION AWAY}

I'm a country music fan through and through. That being said, I like other types as well...I can appreciate pretty much anything (but rap). However, country is where it's at, Lady A being at the top of my favorites. Their new album "GOLDEN" came out last week...and of course I had to buy it. ;) It's fabulous, but I expected nothing less, really. But there was one song that I REALLY loved called "Generation Away". You can listen here:

The part in particular that struck a chord with me was in the chorus where it says "Hey, what can we do? Here we are, just me and you. So let's take all the pictures we can take for the generation away".

Why did I like that so much? That's EXACTLY what I'm trying to do. It's my goal with "Project Life"...to take all the pictures I can take for the generation away. I want to be remembered. I want my life to mean something to those who follow me. I want my children to remember, I want their children to be able to know what our lives were like. In essence, I want to leave a legacy.

So...are you taking all the pictures you can take for the generation away? I certainly hope so. When it's all said and done, all we have are the memories, and what a better way to help us remember. Go take some pictures of the everyday, mundane, and EXCITING things that make up your life. You won't be sorry. :)

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 20}

Week TWENTY...what?? My how time has flown! Lots of happenings this week! A 2 month old baby Mack, garden planting, girls night, RAINED out camping trip for the boys, and a date night for me and James...just to name a few. :)

Products Used:

Golden Girls Project Life Templates (modified)

Golden Girls Project Life Wonderful Collection

Golden Girls Project Life Calendar Cards

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 19}

Not much to say this week, other than I hope you had a fabulous Mother's Day, I know I did! My husband and my children spoiled me rotten...INCLUDING Mr. Mack. He slept from 10:30 - 5:45!!!

Products used:

Golden Girls Project Life Templates (modified)

Golden Girls Project Life Wonderful Collection

Golden Girls Project Life Calendar Cards

Golden Girls Project Life Multi-Photo Templates

{BELATED iNSD SALE}

Yes...I'm aware that I'm an ENTIRE week late...but better late than never, right?? I've got some great new products for you that I'm SURE you're going to love!

I am loving the unique color scheme for the "Wonderful Collection"! And I'm now offering ALL of my Project Life Base Collections as a bundle. The price is the same, but it's available in one convenient purchase/download. 

Also being released:

So what are you waiting for? Go shopping and get scrapping!!

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 18}

Only one day late this week...but I had SOOOO many pictures from Sunday to sift through that I knew I was going to be later getting these pages done and posted.

It was a wonderful weekend full of partying and family celebrations! This is always a crazy time of year for my family. Within 2 weeks we have had: 5 birthdays, 1 graduation, and 1 baby blessing. Whew! Not to mention throw National Scrapbooking Day in the mix, and...well...I feel like I've been running a million miles an hour. That's why my new products didn't get released last weekend. They're all in the shop now (finally), watch for a sale coming very soon!

Products Used:

Golden Girls Project Life Templates (modified)

Golden Girls Project Life "Wonderful Collection"

Golden Girls Project Life "Party Time Collection" (modified)

Golden Girls Project Life Calendar Cards

FONTS: Impact, Chunk Five, Century Gothic

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEKS 16-17}

TOTALLY dropped the ball last week...and ALMOST dropped it this week too! Life took a turn for the crazier and I just didn't find time to get my pages blogged. They were done...don't worry! Just not posted. So here they are, weeks 16 and 17. I figured I'd better get them on here now before the craziness of this weekend starts! Not only is it iNSD, (so I'm busily working on some new PL stuff for that) but it's also my daughter's 7th birthday, AND we're blessing baby Mack at church. Needless to say we're going to be having QUITE the party around here this weekend!

And with that, I'm off to make some tissue paper balls for the party on Friday. :)

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 15}

Not much to report this week...except that the Project Life "Baby Girl" Collection is just about finished! Watch for it later this week, along with LOTS of other new PL products...and a SALE! Yep, a big ole' Birthday Bash! Not only is it my birthday week, but April also marks the birthday of GG Digital Designs...we're going on 6 YEARS!! I can hardly believe it...

Anyway, here are my Week 15 pages, ENJOY!

{MACK'S BABY ALBUM}

I've been busily working on getting Mack's baby album started using the "Baby Mine-Boy" Collection. I must say it has been a BREEZE getting this all put together. Definitely the only way this little guy will be getting a baby album! I have a cover page ready, but I decided that I'm going to fill it with pictures from his entire first year, so it won't be complete for quite a while! :) But here are his first 4 pages...with MANY more to come!

And here's his little birth announcement I made and sent to friends and family...okay...actually two of them. I loved them both, but ultimately ended up going with the first one to print.

*All products for the baby album are from the "Baby Mine - Boy Collection" from GG Digital Designs.

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 14}

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...I'm sure it will pick up again soon. :) Trying to get in the groove and get a new routine going! Maybe...just MAYBE this week I'll be able to finish my baby pages for the first few weeks and also post pictures of Mack's finished nursery.

But for now, at least I'm keeping caught up on my PL pages...baby steps...right? ;)

I purchased some awesome arrow packs from Miss Tiina this week. She had a 75% off sale on April 1st, so I scored 2 packs for right around $3! I'm loving the variety they are giving my layouts this week!

Products Used:
Golden Girls Project Life Templates
Golden Girls Project Life Calendar Cards
Golden Girls Project Life Serendipity Collection
Miss Tiina Vector This Way That Way V.1
Miss Tiina Vector This Way That Way V.2

{PROJECT LIFE - SERENDIPITY COLLECTION}

As promised, a brand new Project Life collection just in time for the spring weather (around here anyway!) :) Introducing the "SERENDIPITY COLLECTION"! I'm in love with this color scheme and I'm SO excited to use it this month! I've also released an April mini kit that coordinates with the Serendipity Collection, so be sure to check that out as well!

And that's it! I hope you enjoy the Serendipity Collection as much as I do! Don't forget to post your layouts created using Golden Girls products in the user gallery!

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 13}

A week full of Easter festivities! Dyeing eggs, hunting for eggs, and spending time with family...all in the beautiful springtime weather. I am definitely a fan of springtime...and it's not just because April is my birthday month! (although that does help a little...) :)

We are starting to adjust a little more to life with a new baby. The newness is wearing off for the kids (thank goodness...) but not for me yet, I can't get enough sweet snuggles! We are starting to find a new balance and sense of "normalcy". HUGE milestone this week, Mack slept for 6 and a half hours! Yep, practically through the night. I couldn't believe it. He's a little champ and treating his mama VERY well. :) Sorry I never got around to posting baby pages...maybe this week! :)

I've also got a new PL kit just about completed, so keep your eyes peeled. It will be hitting the digital shelves sometime later on this week!

And with that, here are my PL pages for last week:

Products Used:
Golden Girls Project Life Templates (modified)
Golden Girls Project Life Multi-Photo Templates
Golden Girls Project Life Sunshine Collection
Golden Girls Project Life Easter Freebie
Golden Girls Project Life Calendar Cards Freebie

{PROJECT LIFE EASTER FREEBIE}

Just a little Easter PL Freebie for you! I figured (once again!) if I was making a few extra little filler cards for MY pages, I may as well share them with you. :) And seeing as Easter is in March this year (not too sure how I feel about that, by the way...) I coordinated these with the Sunshine Project Life Collection, since that's what I am personally using for the month of March. ENJOY!

:: CLICK THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD ::

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 12}

Whew...I'm keeping my head above water! :) I knew that if I was going to stay caught up once baby came, Project Life was DEFINITELY the only way to go. So far so good, week 2 post baby is complete.

I was kind of at war with myself about these pages. I was feeling guilty that most of the pictures were of baby Mack, but I finally gave in and just left them. It's life. If I have more pictures of him, so be it. :)

Hopefully later this week I'll have some baby pages ready to share with you. I'm really excited with how the baby album is coming together already!

Products Used:

Golden Girls Project Life Templates (modified)

Golden Girls Sunshine Collection Papers, Filler Cards, and Journaling Cards

Golden Girls Project Life Stamps

Golden Girls Project Life Calendar Cards

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 11}

I'm going to be brief because I've got a new little baby waiting for me to snuggle him, but here are my pages for Week 11. Thank you for all of your comments and well wishes for me and the new babe, we couldn't be more thrilled with him, he's absolutely perfect in every way!

{BANNER TEMPLATE FREEBIE}

A little freebie for you today! I've been loving using these little banners on my Project Life Title cards and thought you might too! Use them just like a digital scrapbooking template and customize to your hearts content!  (PERSONAL USE ONLY)

::CLICK IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD::

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 10}

I was really hoping that I'd have some fun baby pictures to share with you today, but no such luck. I'm afraid this little one is going to be quite the teaser...just like his daddy! I thought he was coming Friday, then I thought he was coming on Saturday, but it's Monday and he's still not here. But Thursday is the day. I'm being induced on Thursday if he's not here before then, however I'm not crossing my fingers that he will be! :)

So here are my pages this week, pretty basic, but the memories are captured, and that's what's important! I also decided to do a little more journaling this week since my mind was racing with all sorts of different thoughts and emotions as baby day gets closer. :)

Products Used:

Golden Girls Project Life Templates (modified)
Golden Girls Project Life "Sunshine Collection"
Golden Girls Project Life Journaling Templates (flag on pregnancy picture)
Golden Girls Project Life Calendar Cards

{PROJECT LIFE - WEEK 9}

Whoa! Week 9 already? I can hardly believe it! I hope I can be as diligent in keeping up on this once baby comes as I am now!! :)

I've become a LITTLE bit more lazy about getting my Nikon out and just shooting with my iPhone. But hey, let's be real, when you're 8.5 months pregnant, it's just a LITTLE bit harder to want to get up and go grab it. I know...makes me sound like a TOTAL lazy bum...oh well. The energy will be returning shortly. :)

Products Used:

Golden Girls Project Life Templates

Golden Girls Sweetheart Collection Papers, Filler Cards, and Journaling Cards

Golden Girls Calendar Cards

Golden Girls Project Life Quotables

Extra Fonts - Ostrich Sans, Courier New, Chunk Five 

{NEW PROJECT LIFE PRODUCTS}

Some more Project Life products for you today! I've been busy creating new tools and new collections for you to help record your everyday lives. Just a little FYI: It was brought to my attention that my filler cards are not quite big enough for scrapping traditional Project Life. (you know, paper, page protectors, binder, the "print everything out" way!) :)

So from here on out if you purchase filler cards, there will be 2 files. One will contain the smaller sized cards with rounded corners. These are meant to be used with GoldenGirls Project Life Templates. The other will contain a larger sized card without rounded corners. These are meant to be printed and used in traditional paper PL albums.

So, with that, let me introduce you to the latest collection! Seeing as my baby boy is due in 2 weeks, I thought it only fitting to create a collection that can be used to document baby's first year. And for those of you wondering, YES, there will be a girl collection soon! :)

And now that it's March, it's time for another mini kit!

And something that will hopefully come in handy for everyone...because we all have weeks that are going to be a little more "picture heavy" than others. That's what I found with week 7. Not only was it my husband's birthday, but Valentine's Day as well. Both very picture heavy events. So I created these multi-photo templates. It's an easy way to fit more pictures on a page when you run out of space!

And last but not least, another set of layout templates. These were created with my baby album in mind. I knew I was going to need a LOT more journaling room for documenting all of the things that happen in that first year...more than a little journaling card could hold, that's for sure! So whether you use the oversized space for a special photo or a special story, you'll love having this set of templates in your collection! (watch for oversized journaling cards, coming soon!)

And if you're still trying to decide whether or not to jump on the Project Life bandwagon, go check out CT member EMILY'S gallery, or CLICK HERE to see the pages I've been creating each week.