One of my goals this year is to get my pictures off the computer. Last year, I took a lot of pictures, but I didn’t print many. They’re still sitting lonely on my hard drive, waiting on me to do something with them.
I wanted to start this year differently, but I also knew that I needed to figure out a way to use more pictures without making it a huge, time-consuming activity that I would end up putting off and putting off. I wanted to come up with something kinda like scrapbooking but a way to make it more efficient.
I settled on using a mixed media spiral notebook, printing the pictures on regular computer paper {so they wouldn’t add too much thickness}, and spending less than ten minutes on each page. I got January and February done in about two hours, because I limited my supplies to pictures, Sharpie fine tip markers, washi tape, tags, cardstock, glue sticks, and cards that my husband and I had received in those months.
I collect things like the “bracelet” I wore when I got my sinus CT scan in March, the post-it notes that my husband wrote down recipe ingredients on, and kraft envelopes I receive in the mail. Now, I have a place to put them.
And, for any cards that I get, I glue the envelopes right onto the pages and put the card inside. This has been easy for me to keep up. If you’ve been looking for an alternative to traditional scrapbooking that isn’t as time-consuming and feels like less pressure to make beautiful, you might try something like this for the everyday moments you capture.
I’ll still put together photo books for “bigger” events like birthdays and weddings, but now I have a way to get those ordinary moments off the computer and onto a page that preserves the memory of things I don’t want to forget.
Hey April,
I love this idea, thanks for sharing! After all, it’s the small things that turn out to be the big things 🙂 I’m travelling at the moment so a physical scrapbook is out of the question… but it’s inspired me to start taking pictures of tickets, receipts, lists and so on and store them in Evernote. Not quite as romantic, but serves the purpose 😉
Yay! Yes.
I actually take a ziplock with some materials in it when I travel. A glue stick is essential. That way I can glue everything in and not have to wait.
Hi April!
Love this idea! Last year when I turned 40, I did Project Life and took a picture every day for the entire year (well, almost…!). Since I’m on the computer every day all day…and often all night….I I love to do traditional scrapbooking with paper and scissors. But I knew I needed an easier way to keep up with Project Life so I digitally scrapbooked the whole year and it helped me keep up because it was easier and faster.
I want to do a “victory log” (an awesome idea from Jack Canfield’s The Success Principles book) to remind myself of all I’ve accomplished this year and this looks like the perfect way to do it! Thanks for the inspiration!
I love the idea of doing something each day for a year–and I especially love the photo a day! And, a victory log in an interesting idea, too. You could definitely adapt this one for that. 🙂
April, I love the idea. It’s a simple, quick, but valuable visual diary!
I might start doing this too!
Yay! Do it, lady! 🙂
I love your journals and this is another one that is gorgeous. I love that it is quick and simple but it gets it done. Similar to Project Life and Smash Books but with less materials and fuss. A few years ago I did a book of the year – which was just layering a few bits of scrapbook paper on a page with a small journal tag or something and then with envelope inserts every few pages for each month where I would slip little notes, movie tickets etc inside. It felt do-able which made it more fun. Love seeing these projects of yours.
Thanks Coral! Yes…I needed something that wouldn’t take me long. I want to remember all these memories. You think you will, but I look back on some of my older scrapbooks and if it wasn’t for the pictures/stories, I wouldn’t remember it all.
I need to do something like this too. I have over 6000 fotos on my hard drive not to mention what’s on my iphone and other USB sticks. I know it’s pretty bad. I love taking fotos, but I need to do something w/ them and although I love scrapbooking, the idea of it w/ 6000+ fotos makes me pass out w/ overwhelm…hahaha. But I like your concept of “just do it” and don’t worry about making it perfect. The point is getting it done.
Hahahahaha…yeah, it can be completely overwhelming when you think of ALL the photos you need to include. I have thousands on my computer and SD cards that I haven’t printed. I knew I needed to break the habit of snapping pictures and keeping them just on my computer. This works really well for me!
This is a really great idea, I might try this! Thanks Niki x
Yay! I hope you do! 🙂
I love this idea! I have piles of pictures and scrapbook supplies in my office that I never get to because I tend to do these huge scrapbooks that take forever to finish. I already have an empty spiral notebook that I could use for a quick and easy everyday moments book. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Yay! That’s exactly why I created this book. It’s helped me get pictures off my computer and SD card which was taking years otherwise. Then, it frees me up for more traditional scrapbooking when there is a special event. I don’t feel I like I have to go through seven hundred and twelve photos to get to it. 🙂
Totally love this. I always find it kinda sad to let all those photos just sit on the computer … especially since I own – of course – many kids photos as well. Love how you made it easy. My word of the year is actually “simplify” – guess I should apply that to creating photo books as well. Thanks for the awesome ideas and reminder!