Project Life Card Organization

My love for clear containers multiplied last night.  I have been on the hunt for a way to better organize and use my Project Life cards.  I was storing them in my Ikea shelves but I found that to be too much of a hassle because I would be in and out of the different core kits and it was just easier to leave them in a pile in the floor for easy access.. see below

While this was somewhat easier, it still isn't ideal - I don't want the big pile in the floor AND Project Life changed the style of their packaging so now the cards just come in the flimsy tray (see the kit on the top) vs in the nice cardboard box which presents problems with stacking. 

So, I turned to my friends Bed Bath and Beyond and The Container Store.  Since we don't have a Container Store here, my first option was Bed Bath and Beyond.  They had one clear hinged box I thought would be perfect but when I got it home, turned out to be about 1" too short to clear the cards (I want them to be standing up in the boxes).  However, I loved those boxes so much I used them in my bathroom cabinet to give that room a refresh - I think clear boxes are always the way to go!  I need to do a few more tweaks and I'll share an updated look at this cabinet too.  LOVING the clear containers though. 

Since I ended up with an additional 6 containers that didn't solve my Project Life problems, I turned online to The Container Store.  I had a couple reservations with ordering 1) you have to spend at least $75 to get free shipping; 2) I'd be guessing more or less on the products since I couldn't actually see them in real and 3) I'll have to go to Atlanta or Nashville to return (not paying the fee to mail back!) if they don't work.

I settled on 2 different style boxes and placed my order... the next day, I had shoppers remorse and did some online research to see how others organize their cards.  Not many people use completely clear containers and that's really what I was after.  I finally stumbled on a quick youtube video where the lady had used the large shoe storage drawers from The Container Store!  I headed back to the website and placed another order for 6 large shoe boxes and also the dividers (sold separately).

My first order arrived Monday and it was obvious that the products weren't going to work.  I had a complete miss with that order.  Last night, my second order arrived and the stars aligned!

The drawers are such a nice clear, sturdy container and they slide very nice and smooth on the tracks.

 (ignore the mess in the back!)

 Here's a shot of the dividers - I love that you can use them 3 different ways. I chose to section them off side to side and keep a complete core kit together in one section (4x6 cards and 3x4).  They fit perfectly and have room to flip through the cards as well. 

 I added a post it tab to label which core kit is in each section.

 The stack of empty core kit boxes I was asble to transition to the clear boxes! 

 I'm pretty sure the boxes will live like this on the corner of my scrapbook table for easy access.  I do need probably 2 more to fit the rest of my core kits as well.  I also noticed that when the top drawers are completely extended it gets top heavy.  I may stack my pen/scissor/foam mounting supply box on top to serve as an anchor.  

Now I'm itching to get up there and try out my new system.  In the meantime, I can enjoy my eye candy! 

Christmas Party Invites

Because I don't have enough to do, the husband and I have decided to have a Christmas party at our house next Sunday.  We will probably have 16-20 people.  I wanted to do something fun because he has just resigned from the only company he's worked since graduating college to take on a new opportunity in a few weeks!  It's been a very stressful few months around our house.  I'm so happy for him and hope this new opportunity is everything he's looking for.  That being said, we needed some fun, festive invites!  I've decided on a "Santa" theme and this quickly came to be the invite... 

I used the Santa cut from the Cricut Doodlecharms cartridge; martini Christmas ribbon I had on hand; cardstock from MAMBI Christmas pad and a My Pink Stamper Stamp.  Then, I printed the party details on lime green to adhere to the inside. 

Fall Deco Mesh Wreath

My love for deco mesh wreaths continues!  I made this little beauty a few weeks ago and have just LOVED seeing it on my front door when I get home each day.  This is the first one I made with the mesh this tight and it def. used a lot more of the mesh but gives it a much cleaner/tighter look.  Thanks for stopping by!

2010 Favorite Scrapbook Layouts

Just a few of my favorite scrapbook layouts from my 2010 albums - I think I ended up with 2 books for the year!  Nice to have this year finished up and on the shelf! I really utilized a lot of the Project Life products for these layouts and am glad I was able to get so many pics on each page because I always have a hard time picking which ones I want to use!!  Also, I did an INSANE amount of traveling in 2010!!!!  Wasn't even aware of it until I started putting all of this together lol!

Love the fun colors in the title page!  My "full" year of living in Baton Rouge.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

Prime example of not being able to pick just a few pics!  Love all of these pics of Abbie and her 1st Egg Hunt.

Love this little insert that was the perfect size to capture the 8 left over pics I wanted to use without having to make another 12x12 layout

WVU Family!

Another fun page with bright/happy colors -- we got FRIED this day - talk about bright colors!

As mentioned in a few posts ago, LOVE the Project Life storage envelopes - this one has all my birthday cards in it.

This is the first card I ever made Adam!  It was for his birthday - I slid it down in a 5x7 size page protector. 

I like that I was able to incorporate some fun travel tags into this Project Life layout with Miss Abbie. 

I cut apart some zoo 12x12 paper to use in the pockets that I didn't want to put pics in

I made the alligator with one of my Cricut cartridges

My first trip home to Michigan with Adam!

Michael Buble concert in New Orleans - a Valentine's present to me from my future hubby

Quick work trip with a side trip off to see the falls! I cut the New York state shape out with the 50 State Cartridge

Hot Air Balloon Festival with my love in Baton Rouge

Visiting the state capital in Baton Rouge with my mom during her visit

Celebrating our baby boy's 1st birthday - complete with his own doggie birthday cake!

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #219 - Day at the Beach

One of my biggest regrets (at the moment) is not finishing my European scrapbooks from the summer of 2008, when I spent 6 weeks in Italy, France and Ireland.  When I saw the weekly challenge on the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog this week, I immediately thought of these beach pics from my trip to Italy and got inspired to make a layout.  They aren't the fanciest pics but they bring back such fun memories of getting in the ROUGH waves at the beach at Cinque Terra.  The waves knocked us down like bowling pins!  

I used the "Life's a Beach" cartridge for the "Crave the Wave" cutout and also for the wave border.  I also like that I was able to get SO many pictures onto one 12x12 page.

Thanks for stopping by!

Honeymoon Scrapbook Pages

Since I'm stuck at home with the flu and TN was slammed with it's 3rd snow storm in 3 weeks, I passed some time this afternoon snapping pics from our honeymoon scrapbooks.  I am so glad I went ahead and got these books made right away (there's 3 12x12 albums total) - I know I will enjoy looking at these books for years to come!  I incorporated several of the Project Life page protector designs with my traditional 12x12 layouts and LOVE the finished products!

I wish the stickers were more prominent and this isn't my favorite title page ever but I thought these Jolees stickers were too cute to not use.

I carried the "Day X" theme throughout the book

These envelopes from Becky Higgins products are one of my favorite finds ever!  I used this 12x12 one to hold our travel plans and other related documents that I wanted to keep.

This is design B in the Project Life (PL) brand of protectors.  The 2 journaling cards are from the Blush core kit.

This was right after we landed in Tahiti after traveling for almost 24 hours!  I collaged the middle pic at the top to fit 3 pics into one 4x6.  Again, this is Design B.

This is an 8x10 protector and I had the pic developed at 5x7.  I added white thickers for the letters and some little flowers with brads for embellishments.

I find Design P to be one of the trickiest for me to use -- I don't Instagram and haven't figured out how to print my picstitch pics as a square so I just found pics that could be cut down to match the squares on the front and back.

Design B again.  I collaged most of these pics, printed them as 4x6s and then cut them apart to fit into the 3x4 slots.  To decorate the journaling cards, I made the boats with my Cricut.  These jounaling cards are also from the Blush core kit.

The looks of this layout make it one of my favs.  I love that I was able to incorporate the magazine article with info about Moorea and also the map into 2 of the slots. 

Design H with thickers for a little sparkle.

I printed my journaling onto vellum and pinned it down with some brads. 

"Fantasy Island" was cut with the Life Is a Beach Cricut Cartridge.

"Summer of Love" was cut with the Life is a Beach Cricut cartridge.  The handprint pic is printed as a 5x7 to make it stand out a little more -- Love this picture!

Another 8x10 page -- these work great when there's only 1 picture to highlight.  I ordered the pic as a 5x7 and then decorated with cuts from the "Life is a Beach" cartridge.  I decorated the pineapple drink with stickles.

Design G is one of my favorites to use.  Mainly because it's one of the only PL protectors that incorporates both vertical and horizontal 4x6 picture sizes. 

Quite a few of our fav pics were panoramics.  After playing with the options in Shutterfly, I figured out how to print them as either 2 or 3 4x6 pics and then lined them back up as one long picture on my pages. 

"All Dolled Up" and all of the bows were cut from the Once Upon a Princess Cricut cartridge.

Design F -- Love how this front/back turned out!  I was able to use a lot of the pics from the Soiree without taking up multiple pages.  I cut the little hula girls from the Life is a Beach Cricut cartridge

Design I is 3 4x4 squares.

The back of Design I

Design J with journaling cards from the Amber Core Kit.  The colors in the Amber Core Kit worked out great with our pics! 

The back of Design J - this sentiment card is from one of the Recollections products at Michaels.

So I know this layout isn't that fancy/special but can I just say I'm in LOVE with the yellow thickers?!  Something about these exact ones just makes me smile!  What a fabulous pop of yellow.

Yep... more of my yellow thickers.  In love!  How cute are these little bananas I made with the Cricut too?!  I thought this background paper was perfect -- looks very bamboo-ish which is what is in the middle pic at the top.

The back of a 5x7 vertical page protector.  Adventure cut is from the Life is a Beach Cricut cartridge.

Front of the 5x7 vertical page - pic is printed at the same size.

Design G - Accent/Journaling cards are from the Amber Core Kit.

This is the back of Design H -- I used one of the cards from the Cat theme pack in the Project Life cards for my journaling.

The snorkeling girl is something I purchased YEARS ago and one of those that you glue the pieces together (pre-Cricut!).  "Little Mermaid" was cut from the Life is a Beach Cartridge

How fun is this 6x6 envelope to hold their local currency?!  I'm undecided about adding a journaling card because I think it will block the coins. 

The back of Design H with cards from the Honey Core Kit

Design H - Card from the Honey Core Kit and pink thickers

The back of Design H and a sentiment card from the Recollections brand products at Michaels

A traditional 12x12 page with an 8x10 photo.  The palm trees were made into the paper but I used a blade to cut the leaves loose to make it appear 3D.  The stickers are a MAMBI product from Michael's/Hobby Lobby

These stickers are Jolees

By far, one of my favorite pictures.  It just captures the Honeymoon perfectly. 

Then it was off to Bora Bora!  This is Design A and probably the most popular PL layout. 

LOVE this 2-page spread using Design A!  I had an "ah-ha" moment when I realized Bora Bora was 8 letters I knew I had to make this work!  The journaling cards are from the Amber Core Kit.  The white chipboard letters are from Hobby Lobby. 

The back of Design A

Design B with a twist on the pic -- I ordered one horizontal 4x6 as 2 vertical 6x4s to fit into 2 of the 3 vertical slots.  The journaling card is from the Blush Core Kit and I added the fish stickers.

The back of Design B with the same concept applied to two of the pictures in this layout as the one before.  I added some stickers to journaling cards from the Honey core kit. 

Design D

The back of Design D

These little scuba embellishments are from one of those scrapbook-page-a-day calendar things.  I use to always buy 1-2 per year but just have so much to use up I haven't bought lately -- they've been a great investment though and I love that there are things to use for practically every event/holiday!

I can't remember what brand these little embellishments are that I used - probably Recollections or Jolees.  The letters down the sides are fabric covered thickers.

This is another page from the scrapbook calendar

You can see several sizes of protectors peeking out here -- I like the layered look

Another Design G -- I used the Cricut to make the little water guy - He's from the Create a Friend Cartridge.  The cards are one from the Blush Core Kit and one from the Honey Core Kit

Phrases cut from the Cricut Phrases cartridge

Design C always feels like a cheater page to me but it's sooo simple!  Sometimes there's just not much you can do with pics and this is a great layout to use to get a lot on a page

These military pages were in the scrapbook calendar too and it's funny because I didn't think I'd ever have a use for them!  They worked perfect with the cannons on Bora Bora

A fun and simple 2-page spread with a panoramic photo from the iPhone.  The little sailboats were cut with the Cricut

...and the last page!

I hope you enjoyed!  I know this post was picture overload but I wanted to share how I incorporated the Project Life pages and Core Kits into traditional scrapbooking.