I have talked here before about my love or memory keeping - (
this post sums it up best I think), I love everything about it - taking the photos, keeping the notes, sorting through them and printing photos and then completing the pages in my Project Lie albums. Years ago I used to make photo books - they are lovely but I have found that the regular pockets of time Project Life requires suits me better than the big once off effort of making an end of year book does.
I love turning this (my notes every week on the let with photo numbers added and my planned layout on the right:
And this: (prints)
Into this: (Project life pages or the same week as the notes above)
To me it's therapeutic, it's creative and it's fast compared to traditional scrapbooking. I do think what a lot of moms forget is that photos on a computer or phone is just that - never really looked at or shared. And certainly not by our children who make up most of those memories in any event. I can not begin to tell you how often they sit and page through either there albums or our older photo books and talk about things we did and places we went to . And with the celebrating the everyday that Project Life offers - the remembering of those everyday bits and pieces too.
It's true that this all costs a bit of money and takes time but its worth every cent and minute. I have been printing my photos at Qphoto for a long time as the quality is always great. With this in mind I have to tell you of something quite wonderful I have found:
You can thank me later. And it's the honest truth - I ordered my first 60 (I only paid or 10) and collected it - in a little box with a contact sheet as in the photo above. They do deliver at a fee - that is still less that 50 prints in any event. So for a year you can order 50 free jumbo prints a month if you register now!( I was in no way asked to do this by Qphoto - I am sharing it or my readers to use) You are welcome. Please tell me if you use this and how you will be sharing your prints - frames, albums, for grandparents - it's 600 free jumbo prints over a year.
So lets print some photos and share the memories.
I love seeing what other people do with these things but it's not something I see myself ever doing. Whenever I have an idea of a scrapbook or memory book or whatever, I find myself getting frustrated when it doesn't turn out the way it looks in my head...
ReplyDeleteIts all about letting perfection go MeeA - and just doing it
DeleteI love your perspective, Cat, and I agree with it wholeheartedly. Although I'd gotten waaaay behind with starting back to work, I'm {finally} catching up with my pictures. It is such a blessing to have those memories...pictures and notes for me, too...and to have them accessible for the girls to look at regularly. Not only does it remind me of how my babies are growing and changing, it helps remind them of the fun things we've done. And I love your note about appreciating the little things, too. That's so important...for the girls to see the pictures I took of them engaged in everyday activities, not just the big and flashy events.
ReplyDeleteI see we share the same school of thought
DeleteAlthough I love this myself, I just cannot get my butt in gear. I think I've got up to a year in Liams photo book and he's 6 in 2 weeks time. Sure, we have pics on the PC but like you said, they love looking back at their own little book. I've forget how small Liam was until I look at his baby pics
ReplyDeleteThe best advice I have is to start today - record and print from today and catch up when you get a chance.
Deletemmmm I think I misread their mail - I got it earlier and thought it said "order over R1600 and get 50 free jumbo prints" - let me check it again :) (Although their photobooks are impossible to do - I eventually just gave up)
ReplyDeleteHave made quite a few photobooks with them and yes, an effort. But I promise - totally free. The worth of those 600 free photos is R1800.
DeleteYou are so right about printing. I get three canvases printed for every professional family photo shoot. With the others I have fallen way behind. I used InDesign because the Qphoto thing was so expensive to print. I take my books set up in sheets of 40 at a time and get them printed out on large sheets and cut. The shop then wire binds. Not as nice as a properly bound book, but way way cheaper.
ReplyDeleteI'm not big on printing pictures but I have to admit it's always a pleasure to look through pictures printed in the past! I have tried making photo books locally - such s hassle I gave up. I use shutterfly and I've had 4 books made!!! Thanks for sharing this Qphoto deal will check it out
ReplyDeleteI love this idea Cat. We were looking at ancient albums, just this afternoon, and it was great turning the pages. My little complained about not having hers in an album/book form as it's mostly electronic with a few pics in frames here and there. I'll thank you now :)
ReplyDelete