Only the sixth week and it’s my first Project Life entry featuring a single page.
Excellent.
Last year I realized that if there were weeks with too few photos to make a full page spread, then a single page would have to do. It was completely liberating for me.
And what happens the following week? Do I try to make that week a single page, too? So they start lining up again the following week?
Nope. Each entry for this year-long album project will simply be determined on a week-by-week basis. If it ends up that I have a two-page spread next week, and that spread will start on the right-hand page, then so be it.
Honestly. It’s not a big deal if that happens. It’s all sequential, right? Right.
This is how I’m approaching it.
One thing I did do was combine a bunch of photos from a single event onto one 6 x 4 canvas (tweaked a bit from the original template) and then I dropped that image into one of the slots. It was a perfect solution because my sports photos are not the greatest and typically look better at smaller sizes.
I started by creating a collage using a Mini Minimals template.
But when I dropped it in, I felt like the image didn’t balance because of its built-in margin. So I tweaked it into this:
I did this simply by adjusting the sizes of each layer mask. I kept all of the “gutters” between the photos the same and simply dragged the center handles out from each mask’s outer edges to meet the boundary of the 6 x 4 canvas. I deleted the line of journaling as well.
You can alter your digital templates in so many ways with a little simple tweaking. I recently recorded a video showing how to combine layer masks to create larger photos. Watch that video here.
I feel like it filled the space in a more pleasing way. If this had been a two-page spread, I probably would have left it in the original template design. But who can say for sure?
Next, I thought a list would add a bit of extra info to this single page entry. I love including what we’re all digging on one single card.
You can add and customize any PNG card file to your Project Life albums. I recorded a short video tutorial showing you how I added the card above, as well as dropping in a custom text box to make a list.
Working with PNG card files from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
Thank you, single page, for making this project a stress free happy fun time.
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Project Life™ is a system created by Becky Higgins. To learn more about her core approach to saving your memories, click here.
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heidig says
Who knew you could tweak a template?! Thanks for always sharing tutorials Cathy. I’d be lost without them.
Kim K says
I have done a single page already this year also. The next year there were two big events so I had enough for three pages that week so it worked out. (1 reg. page, 1 soccer camp page, and 1 page for my sister’s baby shower) But I was thinking that if I did have to go from a one page spread to a two page spread the next week that I could leave the right side blank with the note “This page was left intentionally blank” (Like you see on bills) or do a “Throw back Thursday” thing and just add in some old favorite pictures in memories from years that I haven’t done PL. 🙂
Guess I had a bit to say today. 🙂 Kim Kern
Inês Teles says
Really loving all the tips and tricks you’ve been posting this year Cathy, thank you so much for these!!
Do you have any tips for how to make all the gutters equal? I’m only using PSE, but at the moment I’m literally drawing squares in the gutter as a way to measure them because I find that the rulers aren’t details enough!
Tiffany M. says
Thank you for all of the Project Life inspiration you have been posting! This week I completed my first digital Project Life layout! It was all because you showed that it could be fast and easy. If you are interested, check it out at http://www.blupixy.blogspot.com/2014/02/project-life-february-3-9-2014-digital.html
cathy says
Yes! Turn on the Grid (View Grid). And then in your Preferences, you can change the size of the grid to be larger or smaller. Its defined by how many grid squares per inch. Its my favorite way to space things out quickly in PSE!
Amy says
I LOVE those mini minimals templates. I do all my project life in 4×6 (keeps the decision making simpler for me) and those templates are a great way to include extra picts that aren’t really standouts on their own.
Kim Kern says
How do you do the zoom in by selecting like you did in your video? Thanks
cathy says
Love that, Amy!
cathy says
Whoops! I usually mention that command. Hold down your Space bar and the command or control key, and the cursor turns into a Magnifying Glass!
cathy says
Great job, Tiffany! I see you have a photo in front of Archivers, sniff. : ) Enjoy the process!
Inês Teles says
Of course! Thank you!
Lindsay Moreno says
Hello Essential Oils again. I think you’re slowly working into addict status. 😉 Super love that simple clean style of your PL books.
Corina says
Oooh – I love you love Imelda May. She’s a pretty rockin’ Irish lady and my Nana compared my hairstyle to hers once (My Nana was pretty cool too!). Is she creating a buzz over there or how did you get introduced to her?
cathy says
I think Dan saw her on a tribute concert… oh man, the name is slipping me. Famous old guitar player… anyhoo, he LOVES her. Cant get enough.
Cheryl says
I’d have to do a filler page/large photo if I had a single PL page … hello OCD. 🙂
Marilyn says
Cathy, I love the new minimal look. What size font are you using on your PL pages?
cathy says
9.5 Bariol. : ) For most of it. Except on the cards, it can go down to 9. : )
cathy says
Ha! You could say that! : )
Darcie says
I love the way you scrapbook – always have. I even have your books in hopes that some of the digital-ness would rub off on me. However, I am a strictly traditional scrapbooker, mostly because I love the whole concept (playing with paper and glue) but I have so many (literally thousands) or photos that I would like to put into albums that I honestly don’t think I will live to see the day that I am “caught up”. Question – would you please come to Arizona and spend the week with me teaching me to digitally scrapbook? . . . No? O.K., then how about leading me to the best place to get started? I seriously am technologically challenged, so go easy on me. Thanks so much in advance for any help you can offer.
cathy says
Darcie, theres a new placed called Scrapaneers, and they have a very good beginner course called Paper Sans Scissors that could be perfect for you.http://scrapaneers.com/workshops-2/beginners/
You could really learn a ton!
Darcie says
Thank you – I’ll check it out and let you know how it goes. 😉 Where there’s a will, there’s a way.