OBSERVATIONS: My math skills might not be the sharpest, but as of last week, there are just 12 weeks left in the year. In the year, people! Seriously. Time flies. And what makes me both happy and surprised is how I’ve kept up with this project. Granted, last week, I had very few photos to choose from. I took hardly any and you can kind of see where the so-called filler lies. What can I say? Not every week is going to be rich and full of photo-worthy times. (Or at the very least, some weeks find this mama too busy to pull out the camera—high tech or otherwise—to document life.)
Let’s review how I cobbled this all together.
Ah yes. When you take your daughter’s name tag and a close up shot of a knob on your grill, you know you’re reaching.
I supposed I could have used each of the holiday shots separately, but they work so much more nicely as a small collage.
And I have Aidan to thank for the fabulous photo of Dan and Mary Tyler Moore in downtown Minneapolis. I love that she snaps away without even being told or asked. Imagine that!
Here is the weekly recap.
And last but not least, another filler image but one that makes me insanely happy and comforted. Because Aidan has an iPhone, I can locate her phone’s exact whereabouts using the awesome Find My Friends app. Now in my day, that might have seen a bit Big Brother-ish. Heck, it still does today, but when my girl is out on her Behind The Wheel driving class, I find immense comfort knowing exactly where she is practicing her parallel parking.
A quick side note: did you know it’s really easy to make your own Project Life 3 x 4 cards using some digital paper and word art? Here’s a short video showing you how I took a digital patterned paper and some word art to make the “Love My Life” card. I also made my own card on the first spread that says “Love October.” The possibilities are endless for creating and customizing your own cards.
Make a 3 x 4 card using digital papers and brushes from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
Note: create your card file in PSE to be 2.875 wide x 3.9375 tall for the perfectly sized Project Life card.
SUPPLIES:
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Marilyn says
Hi Cathy. What’s the cute little dingbat on your Love October card?
heidig says
Seeing your PL album makes me want to do it again. I did it for 2 years then decided to take a break this year. I guess that was all I needed. Off to Amazon to prepare for 2013! Thanks for the tutorial!
cathy says
Marilyn, its just a little doodle I drew. : )
Its from a template in my Designer Digitals collection called Love Letter.
Annette says
As always, your PL posts and tutorials are awesome. Love them! How do you take such great photographs of your completed pages? The clarity, the color, always spot on and always fantastic. Any tips you could pass on? Thanks!
cathy says
Thanks, Annette. I try to take clear shots. I have a pretty heavy duty camera and lens. My camera is a Canon 5D Mark II, and my lens is the super sweet 24-70 L Series by Canon, 2.8. I sunk a ton of money into those two pieces and feel like they were very worth it. I still am shakier than Id like to be. A tripod would help. : )
cathy says
I should add: a tip… shoot in a room with lots of light coming in through the window. Not direct sunlight mind you, but I always shoot next to a huge window. Lots of natural light aids the process.
Theresa says
So… MOST importantly: did you or Aidan read the new JK Rowling? And how was it? Must have a non-spoiler review, please!
Chris H says
haha!!! Big Brother-esqe practices don’t exist when the iPhone is being paid for by me!! Just UNWRAPPED my daughter’s iPhone (bday gift) and installed the app. In exchange I also installed it on mine and hubby is too…she’ll know where we are too, unless I switch it off!
The backup feature is “Find my iPhone”
Very handy.
cathy says
Aidan has it on her nightstand. Not sure how far into it she is. I think she secretly wishes it was another HP novel, truth be told.
Theresa says
I think that’s my problem… Well, let us know if/when she finishes and her thoughts.
SusanK12 says
Thanks Cathy! I love that you go the little extra and show us how to make several of these and take to a new work space to print out more than one…what a gal!
Annette says
Cathy, Thank you! I have that same lens and camera. I’ve been shooting my pages with my 50 mm fixed lens but will now try the bigger one. And I’ve even got out the stinkin’ tri-pod! I think the clarity is better but not great. I’m shooting outside, in the shade but the color seems off. I hate to bother with you with more, but… any other nitty gritty details? What are your camera settings on? Are you doing any adjustments to them through post processing? Thanks again!
cathy says
oh, its on Dans phone too. He doesnt like it either. Ha!
cathy says
I generally shoot around 400 ISO, and usually at around 3.2-3.5 with my 24-70. I always shoot on Aperature Priority too. I still dont have the hang of manual, though I have been playing around with Exposure Compensation more, you know that dial where you move the bar to the right on the little readout? It just lets more light into my shots.
When I post process, I use Rad Lab all the time. I love that plug in above all. Seriously. You should check it out if you havent already. So fun to use!
anna says
you are fun 🙂
a
libbywilko says
Loved the tutorial, I enjoy seeing different ways people use ps or pse to make personalised cards etc. I really appreciate that I can use your blog/tute to refer what sizes I need to make mine for PL. Thank you.
Annette says
Thank you, again! You rock. I’ve just recently been playing around with that dial as well! I will absolutely check out Rad Lab. Thank you!
Donna says
Thank you for the “real” size of 3×4. What font did you use for your word art?
cathy says
Helvetica Round.
Vi says
Lovely video! I learn so much from you. One question. If you make your 3×4 cards with dimensions slightly under 3×4, do you make your 4×6 cards also slightly under 4×6? If so, what are the exact dimensions that you use for 4×6 cards? Thanks!
Stefani says
Yay for Adagio Tea! 🙂
Steph says
Cathy where can I find the lovely weather/comment app you use? I’m assuming it’s an app? Every time I see it on your great pages I think “I want!!!”
Thanks for the tutorial. Just plucking up the courage to start Project Life and I need all the help I can get!
cathy says
Hey Vi, no. The 4 x 6s pockets in the PL page protectors are true 4 x 6. In fact, the 3 x 4s will fit, but I have found it a very tight fit in those particular page protector pockets. : )
cathy says
Steph, its the weather app on my iPhone, and I just take a screen shot of my iPhone. Does that help?
cathy says
(oh, then I open it in PSE and add the text). I did a video tutorial on it here:
cathy says
Love Adagio. : )
Lida says
Can you mention how to do a screen shot to get the weather updates?
I think you told us before but I can find it.
Mindy says
Absolutely love everything you do! You are my scrap idol/crush 🙂 I am new to PSE and do not know how to do anything at all besides pull it up. I would love to purchase so many of your templates from Designer Digitals but do not know how to use them. Can you point me in the right direction of how to do the most basic of things (open photos, resize, use your templates)? Thanks Cathy!
cathy says
Sure! You hold down the Home button key on the iPhone at the same time as the On/Off button on top of the phone. Press together and release. Youll hear a shutter release sound.
cathy says
Hey Mindy, awww. Thanks! Okay, a few resources for you:
http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking/GettingStarted.html
That covers many basics and questions. Plus, you can look through some of my basics videos. This is a good one that walks you through how to use a digital template.
This is an older post that gives you a free template download and a video step by step:
https://www.cathyzielske.com/2010/02/a-free-digital-template-download-for-you-because-i-like-you.html
Hope that helps!
margie says
Week 40. So amazing. I love your commitment.
cathy says
Margie, I KNOW! I bet you also love how I time my driving to arrive right on time. ; )
Lida says
Thanks!
Mindy says
Thanks so much Cathy!!
Briohny says
Hi Cathy, thank you for your ‘share’. I have a question regarding printing that I hope you can help with. When I print 3×4 cards they always end up slightly bigger; it’s very annoying when you put cool borders and things around cards and they get chopped off. I’m assuming it’s something to do in the printer set-up. Any ideas?
Briohny
Shannon says
Thanks so much for the instructional video. Looks like even I will be able to make my own cards! (Also the “me talk like robot” makes me giggle.)
Rhadonda says
Thanks for the tut. Always so helpful and make me smile!
AnneLBMom says
Cathy, I thought making my own PL cards would be hard but you made it so easy. Thank you. With some papers that matched the clementine edition and your Sentiments1 stamps (TrulyMadlyDeeply works perfectly), I whipped up a couple of cards in minutes. Awesome!
cathy says
Its kind of fun to do, huh?
Sarah says
Only 12 weeks left?!?!? EEK! I’d better get caught up to finish out the year strong! AND make sure that a new album gets onto my Christmas Wish List!
Hard to believe your baby girl is driving. I’m glad someone else asked about the book. Maybe you’ll update on your blog later if she liked it.
Sindee Schmit says
Cathy, do you plan on using the same color scheme for next year, or do you change it up?
cathy says
undecided. I think I will change it up!
Margy Eastman says
Hey! Your cards always look so nice. What cardstock do you use for the journaling cards?
cathy says
Margy, Bazzill Orange Peel White. The only card stock TO use, in my opinion. Swoon. LOVE that stuff.
Margy Eastman says
Sweet! I’ll have to order me some.
tchris says
Ooh, who’s reading the Casual Vacancy? Is it good? I’m hearing mixed reviews.
Jenny B. says
12 weeks?! And this post is already over a week old! I’m suddenly experiencing shortness of breath and rapid heart rate! In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. Oh my… I need my kids and husband to take a week-long vacation so I can sit an home and scrap and scrap and scrap! 🙂
non geographic numbers says
Technology has really move into next level that even tracking your friends location would absolutely possible. Be a responsible mobile user and know your limits. By the way, you did a great job on the design and the arrangement of photos.