It's official. I heart Ali's Week in the Life project.
One day done. I took 259 photos on Monday. What? You so crazy!
I did. And there were many I loved that didn't make the final cut. Photos like these, with lots of wood in the background:
Honestly? I can't remember the last time I was this hyper-focused on visual documentation. For me, written documentation is always going to be easier. I actually have to work at remember to take pictures.
Here are what my album spreads ended up looking like:
I am using Ali's Week in the Life 8.5 Template Pack as the base for my project. I'm using the weekday opener pages and the collage pages that come in the pack for a fully digital page, then printing those on my HP Photosmart using Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl paper.
I'm using We R Memory Keepers 8.5 x 11 divided page protectors for my trading card sized elements, all of which are based off of Ali's template design. I just did some tweaking to suit my needs.
I love the idea of doing a project almost fully digi, and then just printing and cutting apart. I think it looks really slick in my album.
I've chosen to go with grey, yellow and white digital papers for the entire project. I'm using Avenir for my journaling and some of my circle art, to tie in with Ali's design.
I'm looking forward to seeing this project unfold. Thanks, Ali, for the great idea.
Here are my other supplies:
Album: American Crafts 3-Ring Binder, 8.5 x 11, in brown
Patterned Papers: yellow floral is Manchester by Michelle Martin; grey floral is Laurel by Michelle Martin
Digital Cardstock: Just Linens No. 1 by Michelle Martin (white)
Johanna Hörrmann says
This is coming along nicely! I still think my photos are terribly boring, but then I just know the stuff I’m taking photos of so very well. So that’s life, I guess, making them the perfect week in my life pics afterall. Looking forward to see more of your journey!
Charisse says
Really cool. I love the whole idea.
Lee Currie says
Relieved to know I am not the only person to have taken 250+ photos! In two days I have over 500. I too am loving this project. As always, yours looks FABOO!!
Jeanne Pellerin says
Gorgeous! I feel so inadequate by comparison.
Barb says
Love your take on this! 🙂
Ali’s a genius, isn’t she? <3
Christina says
oh thanks for inspiring me. Now I know I need to take more photo. Love your pages.
Stephanie says
Magnificent, as usual! I truly think I will never tire of your simple style of scrapbooking. LOVE it.
I’ve been taking my photos…now I just have to get on the ball and actually make the pages.
linda says
That is definitely a lot of photos…but it is nice to really focus and be able to document every single thing with photos…your album looks fabulous!
Stacy says
Can you please share how you made the card with the circle tag? I bought Ali’s templates too. but I love how the circle tag in the middle of the WRMK pages makes the design cohesive. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 🙂
carlaj says
very neat! I am inspired!
cathy says
Jeanne, you silly! You rule!
cathy says
Stacy, i made a circle shape, put a stroke on it, then simply made the circle white, and added my text. : )
Penny Grimsley says
Great job Cathy. I loved that she did the 8.5 x 11 templates at your request, since I totally fell in love with that size during DYL. My album arrives UPS today. Woot! And I have uploaded all my photos from Monday and Tuesday. I plan today to drop the days into the templates. I heart this project too. I don’t heart all of my photos – still struggle with lighting INSIDE but as my good friend Doris Day says, Que Sera, Que Sera. Whatever will be, will be. This IS life! =) – pennyscraps
Kathleen S. says
I love your circles so much I bought the squares, too. Don’t know if I could take that many photos in a day . . . well, yes, if I included the garden, the grands, and, here’s a thought, me. Neat idea, super execution.
Cynthia says
I know I am so in love too. Why haven’t I done this sooner!!!!! Holy Buckets 350 pics you rock. So so cool!!!!!!! I love the colors you picked:) Tres simple Cathy Z chic!
I am going with the 8.5×11 too. I made a little vintage contact sheet and so am enjoying the process of putting it all together each eve.
AngieS says
I did well photo-wise on Monday, but struggled Tuesday as the day was spent doing much the same stuff and felt I had already taken all the photos!! Doing better today though! I have Ali’s 8.5×11 templates too…having also developed a love of 8.5×11 thanks to your METAV and DYL classes…so thank you for sharing (and inspiring, yet again!!)
{vicki} says
I would like to ask you the same question I asked Ali–
All of the photos you took won’t go into this project (I understand that)—Maybe they will be used on other layouts/prokects (I understand that)—
What do you do with those leftover photos? Do they just stay on your camera/computer—Do you print them all?
Jo says
Love that you’ve completed your day already – it looks great. It’s so good to see other peoples day’s and the kind of photos they take. Thank you for sharing.
Christy says
I love your pictures (the vacuum)! I’ve maybe take about 80 pictures each day and most are duplicates and blurry. I know I’ll have more once the weekend gets here. That’s great that you’ve already got Monday done too!
Phyllis says
You are rockin’ girl – I’ve got lots of photos and notes, but nothing put together. I was going to go traditional, but your digi version looks so good I may have to try that. Thanks for sharing – please let us see some other days.
heidi says
Thanks for sharing your pages. I’m thinking I need to head over to DD to get those paper packs. Love it.
Stephanie Reid says
love this! I think you just convinced to buy the digital templates and notecards. I really love the gray and yellow too!
cathy says
Amen Penny. Love those inside shots, no matter how tough the lighting can be!
cathy says
My photos from yesterday PALED in comparison. Truly. But, i decided to use lots of screen shots yesterday, from Twitter, Facebook, Nike+.com etc. to fill in the holes!
cathy says
I probably will delete a lot of them, unless some are really good. Then i’ll save them in my iPhoto, and add them to my folders of To Print for photo album shots!
Sarah C. says
Looks fabulous! I was sure I was “feeling” those templates, but now seeing them used – I think you’ve inspired me. tfs! 🙂
Tara says
LOVE LOVE LOVE. The colours and the use of Ali’s templates. You so rock Cathy. Thanks for the inspiration
cinback says
I too, am using Ali’s templates and loving the simplicity of them. I completed my Monday pages and posted them on my blog http://seriousplay.typepad.com , if you’d like to take a peek! I am behind on Tuesday’s pages…I have them edited, but not added to the templates yet! What I really love is an album about ME. Since I am usually the one behind the camera, I have the rest of my family documented fairly well, but me…not so much! It will be great to look back and see what I was up to in April 2010.
Molly Irwin says
beautiful! to see the pages come together is a really happy thing.
C. Rayevich says
This is turning out sooo cool!! love it Cathy!!
xo
Kimberly Gero says
I’m also going to use Ali’s templates. I wasn’t going to but then I saw your finished pages and I immediately went and bought them! I do have a question though – maybe you’ve already answered it somewhere but do you shoot with the auto settings or the manual settings on your dslr? Your photos are beautiful and I am struggling with learning all the iso/f-stop etc. Just curious and thanks for all the inspiration1
Wendy says
When I saw the picture of your Adagio Tea goodies, it reminded me to thank you for the $5 coupon to Adagio.com. I used it a couple months ago and I am addicted 100%. I’ve always loved tea, but their tea is awesome! I’ve already earned a $10 coupon and sadly, it was earned by all the orders I’ve placed for myself! So, thank you, thank you! I am in tea heaven!
hcc73 says
Cathy, love your pages! I’m reminded I was going to try the tea, note to self! Can you give a brief reason why you use this particular photo paper, have tried a few and am still looking for my favorite. Thanks, Helen
Cathy Weber says
As I was falling asleep last night I decided to do this day in the life project. Then this morning, I saw your completed pages and actually committed to doing it. They look so great. What kind of dividers do you use. It looks like the kind for baseball cards? What is used for the other page with different sized dividers? I have downloaded so many of your templates and think your stuff is great. Thanks for the inspiration.
Michele H. says
This looks fantastically awesome!
Kay Gregory-Clark says
OK, that’s it. I was still debating, thinking I didn’t know if I could take the time to do this project even if I loved it. But seeing your LOs and especially doing it all digi, I’m convinced. Heading over to DD! Also, I am wondering how on earth I missed your Nov 24 post with the fantastic giveaway!! Any chance you’ll do it again–just your designs? I already bought PSE 8.
Paula Cook says
Have you ever experienced fading with the Ilford paper? I used to use it all the time but it started fading on me. (I use an HP printer).
lori says
I love to see the completed day on a page! Love it! I also bought Ali’s 8 1/2×11 template – I have never scrapped this size, so it will be a nice change. I am really enjoying this week in the life. I have taken WAY to many pictures!
Nathalie says
You ROCK!!!! Your album (already done with day one!!!) looks amazing!!! I love everything, your design, your choice of colors, your awesome photos… You are definitely inspiring me to take more photos (wood background or not!) ! Love the 8.5X11 format too!
Monique says
Hi Cathy, I really wish I could make such beautiful albums like you do. Love your style and your photos! But I keep practising ;o).
Thanks for sharing!
ShellyJ says
absolutely fabulous 🙂 … thanks for sharing!
Juanita says
Hi Cathy, love your album. So glad you demanded the 8.5×11 template. Do you know of a font included in elements 8 that is similar to Avenir?
karen says
Cathy, I have a question. The pages with the large photos, are you just printing the whole thing on the photo paper and using it as is? With the digital elements (not photos) already on there, too?
Colleen Sheehy says
OMG! This looks amazing!! You make me want to go digital… but I am a traditional scrapper and don’t have the finances right now to make the switch. Still, I LOVE your album!!!! I’m so glad you took that many photos. I took 200 on Monday and got it down to 150 on Tuesday. We’ll see what I shoot today. 🙂
Becca says
Great photos and LOs! One of these days I will do a day/week/year in the life type of album!
Love your shoes too…I’m wearing the exact same pair right now! So comfy!
cathy says
I should on Aperture Priority almost all the time. So i control the fstops, and usually the ISOs as well. : )
cathy says
that should say Shoot!
cathy says
Helen, it seems to print so nicely. I really like it. And i trust the Ilford name.
cathy says
There is a link above in the blog post for We R Memory Keepers page protectors. They are really nice quality!
cathy says
Oh, i’m sure i will do something like that again!
cathy says
Paula, not as of yet. Do you mean in side your albums in your page protectors?
cathy says
Monique! you can. just use Ali’s templates! : )
cathy says
Arial would be close, but not really close. I mean, it’s a sans serif face. Avenir is a very special typeface.
Century Gothic is sort of like it…. sort of… not really, but…
avenir is special! LOL!
cathy says
Yep. The whole thing is digital.
cathy says
Becca, i got them last week at DSW! did you get them there? love saving money!
Patti says
This reminds me of my MTAV album. I used the same colors, did it all digital – and I love how it turned out. I’m definitely not up to this project at this time, but I love Ali’s template. Another project for my “someday” list!
These pages look great! Thanks for sharing.
Anja says
That´s so nice. Love to see your album.
I will start another week. Haven´t the time this week.
Excited to your next days,
Anja
Kathleen D says
You’re looking pretty trim in those pics Cathy! Way to go girl!
Leslie says
Go girl on the photo documentation…I’m a word girl too, but sometimes they’re right, those a picture’s worth a thousand words people. Only sometimes.
P.S. I have that same vacuum, and I love it, even though it’s so not trendy. Who needs a dyson anyway?
dawn says
Your album looks awesome Cathy!! I love the colors you chose and your touches to it looks so good. I’m happy your doing this album too. This is my first time and I’m loving it. You look AMAZING by the way. Good for you in keeping with it. Have a fun week can’t wait to see more pictures.
Courtney Walsh says
Love. I am going to check out all of these links and copy you.
Secretly I want to be you, I think. Funky glasses and everything.
Therese says
Cathy, that mug is beautiful! Also, thanks again for turning me on to Adagio. I just wish their IngenuiTEA was easier to clean. Love ya!
Becca says
I think I ordered mine from Zappos, on a quest for comfy, cute flats…wish I had found them at DSW!
robin erdman says
I love your picture of your Adagio tea order I received the almost same exact order this week,16oz irishbreakfast and the glass jar, and my sample of the iced tea was black. I love Adagio
Chatty Scrapper - Kari R'ville says
So at first I didn’t realize this project was 4 pages per day, WOW!, I thought it was a week in a few pages not that much for each day. Are you planning on doing this intermittently or for every week? I could see doing this occasionally but not on a regular basis. I bought your 7 Days template on DD. And thought at some point that might be doable for a full year (And a good way to document the pictures I’m taking each day of my son during his 1st year). But this format seems too much for me. Though some days/weeks I have plently of pics.
Chatty Scrapper - Kari R'ville says
P.S. love the grey floral you chose.