These are the January pages in my project life album. As I originally started my album in 6x8, I cut up the 6x8 title page to fit into the larger page protectors. I really like how it turned out - Hamburg in January is usually pretty cold and gray so this layout fits the mood...








In addition to the 9x12 page protectors, I use these 6x12 ones to include some horizontal images and cards as well. Plus, I really like how it breaks up the album.
I tried to keep it simple and to only use my  favourite images of the month so I might end up using only one album for 2016 (and not 3 as for 2015)... We'll see how that goes!

You can see my 2016 title page here.

Kathi


Supplies I used:

• Album
• page protectors: these, these and these
• Color Theory monthly tab stickers in gray area
• In a Creative Bubble Recorded Journaling Cards No. 1
• Studio Calico Seven Paper - Amelia phrase stickers
• Studio Calico wood veneer hearts

I love to read blogs. Seriously. My favourite activity (apart from netflixing and paper crafting and yoga) is getting lost in reading blogs. I was once at a point in my life where I couldn't start to work in the morning without having browsed my favourite blogs for an entire hour. I worked on that (I had to with my current job starting very early), but I still really enjoy diving into the personal stories and visual narratives that blogs can tell.

I had a huge crush on A Beautiful Mess a couple of years ago. Elsie's and Emma's blog was actually the starting point for me to get into scrapbooking. Branching out I discovered Elise's enjoy it blog (love her writing so much), Design Love Fest, Paislee Press and many others.


In 2012, I was working as a geographer in urban studies and I got the chance to spend some time in London at the Goldsmiths College. I took a class on urban photography which grew into a passion of mine.


During my time in London I took so many images so I started a blog as a way to share them with my fellow students (and a potential audience). The Urban Display was born! After blogging more or less consistently for about a year, I stopped eventually because I was unhappy with the results. Why was I sharing these images? How could I add value to someone else's life with my photos? In the end, in my opinion unless you're really good at and extremely passionate about (urban) photography, no one will read your blog. At least, that's my experience. Long story short, I quit blogging and started scrapbooking. Which was a fantastic decision after all!


So why start again now? There are three reasons for me. First, I really enjoy sharing what I create on instagram and I value the creative and encouraging community there. As a way to share my projects in more detail (and with better photo quality) I think of this blog as some kind of gallery. Second, I'd like to use my blog as an archive for my paper crafting adventures. Posting here is meant to make me more accountable and actually take more time to sit down and create. The third reason points more into the future. I've always dreamt of becoming part of a creative team and at some point, I'd love to submit an application (favourites: Ali Edwards & Paislee Press - a girl can dream right?).


As a way to show my appreciation for the blogs I enjoy the most, I'd like to include a short list here with my 10 current favourites (in no specific order):

1. Ali Edwards (so much fun! However I didn't discover until last year how amazing everything she does is)
2. Caylee Grey (inspiring, motivating & leaving me envious of her creativity)
3. Cocorrina (for design and illustration inspiration)
4. Azzari Jarrett (for the most beautiful photography and project life)
5. Into Mind (for personal style and minimalism)
6. Create Share Love (for Andrea's well organized approach and because she participates in all my favourite scrapbooking projects)
7. Copper & Gold (for Ines' minimal project life style)
8. Scattered Confetti (for Kathleen's colourful style)
9. Kaisa Creates (for Kaisa's perfect taste)
10. In A Creative Bubble (because I would like to have everything Geralyn designs)

After enjoying December Daily so much, I couldn't wait to start another Ali Edwards project in January 2016: one little word. Ali encourages you to pick a word as your mantra or simply as a guiding thought throughout the course of a year. You can read all about it here.

My word is minimalism. Minimalism as a concept appeals to me in terms of style, wardrobe, consumerism and peace of mind. These are the pages for the first promt "intentions".

I use a white 6x8 album by Ali Edwards from the December Daily Collection. It had a "2015" on the spine, so I adhered a label sticker from the One little word 2015 kit.


The 3x8 title insert is made with a digital file from the One little word classroom. I like to keep my spare page protectors sorted by type at the end of an album I'm working in (you can see blue post its as tabs on the right side). This way I always know how many I have left.








What's your one little word (if you have one)?

Supplies I used:

• One little word kit 2015 and 2016
• White 6x8 album
• Black StazOn ink
• Project Life Everyday Edition chipboard stickers
• Crate Paper Wonder vellum with gold foil triangles

At the beginning of the year, I started my new project life album (in 6x8 like in 2014 and 2015) enthusiastically with a title page and a manifesto.

Today I'd like to share with you four of the things that I really like at this moment. "On display" can be a freebie I found online, a new product release by some of my favourite designers, a wallpaper for your desktop or phone or just something visually fascinating:

01 My current wallpaper found on Design Love Fest by Dash and Ash
02 A wonderful illustration by Cocorrina that reminds me of Garance Doré
03 Printable filler card by Push Print Studio that I discovered today while I was watching Kait's lovely project life process videos on youtube.
04 "By the hour" - a new release by Paislee Press that I might include in my week in the life album

Happy weekend!
Kathi

Getting ready for week in the life involves the four following steps for me:

1) Gather supplies

At first, I gather the supplies I intend to use for my album. I bought Ali's kit and my plan is to use it mostly as it came with everything I needed for my album plus the colours work perfectly together. Usually, I'm more a black/blue & white (plus gold or kraft accents) kind of project lifer, but I just love the combination of light green, shades of pink and soft orange.


For the album, I chose the grey stories album. In addition, I'll rely on my essentials: tape runner, jet black stazon ink, dymo embossing label maker, tiny attacher, paper trimmer, black sharpie (for writing on photos), black pilot pen (for journaling).

2) Find inspiration

#weekinthelifememories. I love to browse other people's past week in the life albums for ideas I want to try and for general inspiration. Favourites: Azzari, Andrea, Ali (this or that).

3) Set my intentions

My intention is simple: it's about capturing a week in May 2016. In order to avoid getting overwhelmed or to feel the pressure that comes with comparison to other people's approaches, it's helpful for me to think about the following questions:
What am I good at in terms of photography? Taking photos of flowers, coffee, my feet, my home and of what I eat.
What am I not good at in terms of photography? Taking photos of me, of social interactions, of me in other places. Let's be realistic, I'll never place my camera on the floor in a supermarket at set the timer, but nevertheless, I'll try to get out of my comfort zone.
What am I good at in terms of words/writing? Making "currently" lists and describing what my day looks like, what I do, where I go etc.
What am I not good at in terms of word/writing? Telling stories of the everyday that show more generally how life looks like at the moment. I'll try to get some of those stories told, too.

4) Prepare my album

Another reason why I prepare my album is because it inspires me and (hopefully) keeps me motivated throughout the week. Just look at those beautiful colours!




What are your keys to success for week in the life? I would love to read about your experiences in the comments!

Kathi

First of all, thank you so much for you kind comments here, on Instagram and elsewhere for my new blog and my first post. I'm so happy you like it!

Today, I would like to share my day in the life mini album with you. On march 29th, I participated in Ali Edwards' challenge to document an entire day and to look closely at routines, habits and often missed everyday details. You can read all about Ali's project here. Doing this project was so much fun and a great preparation for week in the life, which starts next week.













Here, I added some hidden journaling covered by a flip up card that I attached with washi tape.





After printing the photos, assembling the album only took about two evenings... I loved this project and I can't wait for week in the life!

Kathi


Products used:

• Pink Paislee Citrus Bliss 4x4 album
• Page protectors in 4x4 and 2x2
• Dymo embossing label maker
• Studio Calico wood veneer
• Ali Edwards grey labels from an old one little word kit 
• "Reason why" stamp