Free Spiderweb SVG File from SVG Cuts

I love free cut files!  SVG Cuts frequently offers free SVG files that you can download from their site.  Here is a very cool Spooky Spider Web that will be great for all your Halloween crafts this year.  Tomorrow is October 1st!  Don't wait until the last minute to get started on your Halloween decorations and crafts.  I know - easier said than done.  Happy Halloween Crafting Everyone!

Project Life: How Are We Doing?

If you started Project Life back in January, then you are entering the “home stretch” of your venture now.  In just a few short months, 2013 will be over, and it will be time to start new projects and set new goals for the coming year.  So how are you doing with Project Life?  Have you stuck with it, or have you abandoned it?  Are you sailing along smoothly, or are you struggling to keep afloat?  It’s time to assess your progress.

I started Project Life last August, so I’ve already completed a full year in my album.  I do monthly layouts, and this system has worked very well for me.  I set aside one night, either at the end of the month or the beginning of the next month, and work on my two-page layout.  Using the right products is key to making Project Life flow easily.  I’m using the Jade Project Life core kit by Becky Higgins, but I’m also using other products that have been designed to work with Project Life.  For example, Echo Park includes a cut-apart journaling card sheet with all of their collections.  KI Memories has an adorable line for birthdays and other celebrations.  Using these coordinating pre-designed products has made it very quick and easy for me to create my layouts, while keeping them looking fresh and new. 

     

Another reason this project has been going so smoothly for me is that I’m still doing 12” x 12” layouts for those memories that require a longer story or more details.  I find that doing this provides a nice balance for me, because there are times when I want to go into more detail or get a little more creative with my pages.  I see Project Life as a part of my scrapbooking, not my only method of scrapbooking. 

So, is Project Life working for you?  If it is, keep doing what you’re doing, because it’s obviously the right way for you.  It would be great if you would share your tips on Scrapbook.com to help out the members who are having a hard time.  What are your plans for next year?  Will you continue the project?  Will you try something else?  Will you add to it?

If Project Life isn’t working for you, you really should figure out why.  Is a weekly time frame too much of a burden?  Maybe you could “catch up” if you’re behind, by doing a few monthly layouts.  Perhaps you could use pre-made supplies and simplify your designs.  You also might want to re-think your approach for next year.  Keep what’s working and change what isn’t.  I think that if you’re struggling, you should also post on Scrapbook.com.  Tips on what didn’t work for you are just as important as tips on what did work.

My plan for next year is to keep doing what I’m doing.  It’s working for me.  There are only two things that I’m going to change.   I want to be in more of the photos.  I also want my family to send me a picture a week to include at the end of the month, so that it will become “our” Project Life instead of “my” Project Life.

If you’re behind, in a rut, or just aren’t motivated, please don’t give up.  You can change what isn’t working and do more of what is.  There are no rules in scrapbooking except the ones that we make for ourselves, and those can be broken or changed without any repercussions from anyone but ourselves as well.  Lighten up on the demands that you place on yourself, and enjoy your scrapbooking, whether it’s Project Life or any other approach that you take.

Other products that you might find useful for Project Life include:

• - Lazy Days by Fancy Pants
• - Forever Family Collection by Adornit
• - My Hero Collection by Best Creation
• - Irish Farmhouse Soup Collection by Jillibean Soup
• - Happy Campers Collection by We R Memory Keepers

Scraplifting Yourself

I hope you enjoy the article at Scrapbook.com!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Intro to Trick or Treat + a treat bag from start to finish

I had to share this adorable treat bag video from Lawn Fawn.  I'm definitely going to make these, and I have a whole bunch of Halloween stamps that I can use.  This set is very tempting, though....

And I found the perfect treat bags to use for this project on Amazon: