Project Life Pocket Scrapbooking Overview

Fast * Affordable * Done!copyright Sandy McManus

That is how easy the scrapbooking system is with Project Life with Becky Higgins and Stampin' Up!

Not familiar with Project Life? Have you been living under a rock the last five years? Just kidding!!!

Becky Higgins has been a lifelong documenter and worked for many years with scrapbooking industry magazines. She started her own company and her own methodology of scrapbooking about 7  years ago. She wanted to simplify the process to just what it needs to be, pictures and a little journaling.

All the albums are D ring style. No need to fight with adding on posts or straps. Just pop open the D rings to add or rearrange your pages, any time you like. The sizes available are 12x12, 6x8, occasionally there is 8x8 but people have found that to be hard to work with at times because pictures are naturally printed 4x6.

With Project Life you purchase a card collection, actually, you don't even have to use a card collection. Instead of starting with a piece of cardstock, or an album page (proprietary Creative Memories albums), you start with a page protector! Yes, a page protector which has already been divided up nicely for you to drop a printed picture into a pocket on the protector, or trim one down to fit into one of the smaller pockets.

There are several styles of pocket pages. The pockets always load from the top or side. Create your pages from front to back, not a 2 page spread as other systems recommend. It makes it a snap to move pages and rearrange your pages as you build your album.

So already you do not need to purchase 12 x 12 papers or cardstock. You do not need to buy separate page protectors. Its all built into the pocket pages. (snarky Sandy) Do I need to state the obvious that you already are reducing cost and supplies by not needing additional papers or sheet protectors.

The next step is to add your card collection, which contains journaling cards and filler cards (the pretties for your page!).

Stampin' Up! Project Life card collections come with 100 cards - 12 4x4, 24 4x6 inch, and 64 3x4 cards that are all double sided and usually are oriented vertical and horizontal. This is one of the reasons I love Stampin' Up!s card collections. 100 cards. When you purchase Project Life card collections through a retail store or directly through Becky Higgins LLC the card collections contain anywhere form 570-616 double sided cards and come in a heavy, stores flat and falls all over the place box.

I hear so many people wonder what to do with their excess cards from the collection. Some trade their extras, others just let their stash build. 100 should be enough for an album or for a several events. If not, you can always order extra. But I would rather not store excess. We all have storage issues.

Speaking of which, our card collections come in upright storage sturdy boxes that are clearly labeled with the collation name. There is even room in the box for your corner rounder, pens, scissors and adhesive. And a cover that slides on securely. Honestly, a great storage plan if I ever saw one.

Now it is time to add some journaling. Stampin' Up! carries Project Life Journaling pens. See supply list below for information. I still go by the WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY HOW when I journal. That way I do not forget important stuff. Do not forget to add dates to your page. You will thank me later!

Originally the Project Life style was to round the corners. Stampin' Up! carries a great sturdy corner rounder. No offense to Ms Higgins, but I have sold a lot of corner rounders to people who have originally purchased her own and they fall apart right away. Our Project Life Corner rounder is made the same way the rest of our punches are, strong, clean cuts, stores flat. This makes pulling photos and cards in and out of the pockets less likely to get crimped corners. Plus it is an aesthetic that some like.

Final steps: add an accessory pack of goodies, or your own goodies. I like to store these, until I am ready to use them, in an Project Life envelope pouch at the front of the album. Pouch is also good for storing your ephemera later on - tickets, ribbons and such.

I do know some scrapbookers build a years album buy getting their page protectors and adding the card collection, then add printed pictures as the year goes on. Again, no right or wrong way, its a very personal choice and you need to find a system that works for you.

Tips from Me!

POCKETS – load from front always. Either top load or side load. You do not need to buy page protector because that is your base page.

STYLES – Stamped in lower left corner.

POCKET SIZES – 4x6, 3x4, 4x4 in inches always. There are some 2x2 and 2x3

ALBUM SIZES – 12 x 12 and 6x8. Becky Higgins does have an 8x8 line but I have heard some people say it is harder to figure out layouts.

PICTURES – Place uncut pictures behind your clear plastic sleeves to see positioning, and what to cut. * decide what pictures will be your 4 x6 first.

CARD COLLECTION – Each Project Life Stampin’ Up! Card Kit Collection includes 100 cards. 12 qty 4x4, 24 qty 4x6, 64 qty 3x4 ***** All cards are double sided. Thicker weight paper. Comes in an upright, self-storing box, which can store scissors, pen, and corner rounder too.

ACCESSORY PACKS – vary the contents, may include, washi tape, woodcuts, ribbon, sequins, specialty laser cut cards, paper clips, stickers and more. Plenty to embellish an entire album.

INK - recommend our archival ink – comes in black or gray. Don’t forget ink refill. 104931 black

CORNER STYLES – The Becky Higgins style is to round the corners. It is a personal choice.

PLANNING YOUR ALBUM – Load your pages front to back, not the traditional 2 visible page layout. Why? Makes moving your pages a snap. Sometimes your books may not be in EXACT chronological order because of the front to back. THINK viewing direction when placing sideways photos. I orient mine toward the binding.

ALBUM CAPACITY - 60 pocket pages that have mostly flat embellishments.

Supplies Available through Stampin' Up! (see also downloadable PDF file)

§ * Card Collections are $16.00
§ * Accessory Packs are $10.00
§ * 12 x12 pocket pages include 12 sheets for $12.00
§ * 6 x 8 pocket page packs are $6.00
§ * Framelits are $25.00   ***Paper clips die is adorable!
§ * Corner Punch is $6.00
§ * Journal pen 2 packs are $5.00
§ * Grid Cards are half off $1.75 for 50 cards. -  No longer available.
§ * Albums are $10, $24, $30
§ *  Stamp Sets vary

Example – entire album, 16+10+12+8+pictures = Done $46

My Project Life Notes PDF (written for a class, but very useful information).

Stampin' Up! Project Life Products PDF for you to use.

The album that I show in the video, I put together what I show there, including journaling, in less than an hour, and that was stopping to video the process for you also. I still need to complete the album, and I will continue to work on it in the next few months. I will be adding 12x12 not pocketed pages with a few pictures I enlarge, for the finished album.

Still not convinced you should try pocket scrapbooking with Project Life? Contact me if you need any more information. I have been pretty darn thorough though! lol

Thank you for stopping by and learning about Project Life. I really believe it is an easy and affordable system everyone should try. I know you will love it if you do!!! ~Sandy