The life and times of Libby Withnall

There are LOTS of posts around about Project Life but a few people asked how I do it so I thought I’d share. I’m a lazy scrapbooker and a lazy project lifer. I figure it’s better to be done quickly and simply than not done at all. Even though we’re almost half way through the month I still hadn’t set up this years project life so I had the brilliant idea to pay the girls to do it – $2 each and it’s done!!

You can just do each week as you go but it’s easier as the year goes along if the inital set up is done. It probably takes 30mins max. to do it. Becky has a great video on how to do it.

Here’s the first page of the Clemintine kit….just waiting on some photos….

And week 1 for 2012….

This is my forth year doing project life so it’s fun to compare weeks.

2011…

2010…

2009… I missed out on a kit this year so just made up my own – using free printables…

Unfortunately I’ve never actually kept up a whole year of Project life.

The first year, 2009, I only journalled till June, and added photos till August…

In 2010 I journalled til May (but then we went overseas for 6 weeks). I photographed the whole year.

Last year, 2011, I journalled till August and photographed the year. Still hoping to get back and finish the journalling.

At least each year sees an improvement on the last so hopefully this year I’ll keep up and make it ALL the way the end. I can print photos at home (on my Selphy printer) which makes it very doable to set aside 30mins a week for printing and journalling. At the moment I’m trying to pick a photo out daily and make journalling notes right on i-photo but maybe I should keep my journalling cards on my desk and just write up when picking photos.

You do see some wonderful looking Project Life albums on the web. Mine really is basic. It’s the kind of project you can make your own and do any way you see fit. even digitally.

Please let me know if you’re joining in this year.

I had so much fun watching my UK pummelvision slide shows I decided to make ones for all our overseas trip. So quick and easy – if you have a flickr or facebook and youtube account you seriously need to make some. I’ve added these to my travel diaries but thought I’d put them here too – since so many of you enjoy our travels. So fun seeing the girls so young, not so fun seeing Kevin and I so huge!

If you want to see the photos at a slower speed they are all on flickr in the same named sets.

Kevin introduced me to pummelvision the other day – talk about a fun way to see LOTS of photos. I made one for each section of our UK trip. Each one is 60 – 90 seconds long and shows 300-600 photos. How fun!!!

Be sure to let me know if you make your own pummelvision.

Firstly, I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to those of you to took to time to comment on my last post – I really do have the best internet buddies. Just to clarify that I really am okay with my life right now. But I’ve been feeling a little flat this week so I’ve noticed myself doing more comparisons than normal. My only real regret in life is my weight so I know I’m pretty lucky. As a few of you pointed out – most of us feel that the grass is greener on the other side. But in truth our life is largely what we make it. So today I’m going to be happy to be me .

As I was scrapbooking yesterday afternoon I looked out my window and saw some black dots.

Okay, you can’t see them, I’ll grab the DSRL and go outside.

Not much better…lets zoom in..

Pelicans!!! About 30 of them flying on the breeze.  And did you notice the sideways heart space in the clouds?

I often see a few pelicans flying around but I’ve never seen this many enjoying the thermals. It was pretty awesome I have to say.

Nothing too eventful happening around my house this week so I thought I’d share some more of the photos I’ve taken for Picture Spring.

9th October – everyday

11th October – hearts

12th October – Awakening

13th October – a different point of view

16th October – Shadows

17th October – Pattern (part of our Halloween witch)

18th October – Appreciation day (grass)

19th October – Hidden messages

Firstly I’d like to share a few photos I’ve taken for my Picture Spring class.

And secondly some of my favourite flickr photos.

1. Sunset in the San Juans, 2. Stonehaven bay, 3. Blue Butterfly, 4. Fly Agaric, 5. Home and Garden, 6. Knit Grafitti Bike, 7. friday’s flower power, 8. * A K I – N O – S O R A *, 9. Let’s Go Canoeing on Lake Kussharo!!, 10. Hoje (06/10) to indo pra Gramado no Festival, vamos???, 11. A happy heart, 12. Alaskan Range, 13. London Fog Cupcake, 14. P1780588web, 15. Untitled, 16. The Mayor – Chilling out in Alaska!

Okay, I’m doing a combined post today about two classes I’m currently taking. The first is LOAD (layout a day). I’m really enjoying the challenges and so far have completed 3 out of the 3 days.

The second class is Picture Spring. I actually bought this class 6 months ago and have been waiting for Spring to come along (in Australia) do the photo prompts. But this morning I got an e-mail to say that BPC are offering this class as a self paced class – meaning you can start at any time. So wish I’d know this was going to be an option as instead of the daily e-mail coming into my inbox I have to go check out the achieves to get my prompt for the day. And I’ve also already paid for Summer and Fall!!! Oh, well live and learn. Here are the photos so far.

Day 1 – Beginnings

Day 2 – part of morning routine (I’ve photographed my morning tea making so much I thought I’d do something different)

Day 3 – 30 steps from where your camera lives

As you can imagine I took LOTS of photos. These are my favourites. Still have SO MUCH to learn about the camera!

As you know I’ve recently been playing with a DSLR. Which obviously means I need a way to carry it with me. I did buy a camera bag for the big trip but it was too big (Kevin ordered it online for me) which meant we didn’t use it all as it was intended and therefore didn’t actually carry to DSLR on our day trip – just using it from the motorhome. I had been eyeing the lovely (but small) range of women’s camera bags but couldn’t decide which one I wanted. Finally I made a decision last week and it arrived today. I am SOOOOO happy with it. And can’t wait to take it out.

This is what I found when I opened the box….

then upon opening the plastic…

Are you ready for the grand unveiling? Of course, part of the agony of choice was choosing a colour once I’d decided on an epiphanie bag. Funnily enough I was wearing the only red thing in my wardrobe today…

I know you’re thinking the bag is a little large for this camera . But it fits the DSLR just perfectly, with room for my wallet and other stuff.

Isn’t the purple lining just gorgeous?

As I already said I am really thrilled with the bag. So worth waiting for. It comes with a shoulder strap as well but it’s so very comfy with the standard straps. Now the bag is not cheap – this was an early Christmas present to myself – but there is currently a 15% off birthday special, which makes it a little more affordable.

Now I have to dust off my photography class notes. Good thing it’s a birthday weekend coming up….

I’ve been feeling down/ flat ALL this week and I’ve had enough. Not sure what’s going on, though I suspect it’s still travel related . I’ve been working on scrapbooking my photos and I just want to go back in the UK on holiday with my family. This is definitely the hardest I’ve had adjusting after a trip – but I guess it’s also the longest trip we’ve ever had. Last week I thought I was back on track but it wasn’t too be.

The worst part about feeling this way is that I’ve

- not been eating well

- not been exercising

- not wanted to do anything or go anywhere

- not been motivated to blog

- been feeling like a big failure

All of which, does NOT help me get over this funk I’m in. Today I’m supposed to go to my book group and I don’t want to – but I’m planning to make myself go. I know I’ll have a good time once I’m there.

I’m hoping the weather will warm up soon (it’s been cold) as I’m sure that would help my mood. In the meantime I need to get myself excited about things that are coming up – like our Halloween party, being able to plant our vegetable garden, getting back in the swimming pool, etc.

If anyone has any great tips for getting past this sort of feeling please share.

Todays “baby” cow photos were taken at John O’Groats in Scotland. And I’m pretty sure cows never have a down day….. except maybe in Winter when it’s cold and they’re shut inside