organizing MY 'project life' *updates images at the bottom*

{ran·dom - noun - a haphazard course — at random: without definite aim, direction, rule, or method}

I mentioned 'Project Life' when I made my accidental find of cute little polaroid(ish) Instagram pics. {see blog post here for tutorial Accidental Mini Polaroid Instagrams} I finally started mine and completed the cover page. Having not really been heavy into scrapping the last few years I felt a bit rusty and unsure of where to start. I know my first thought was to make my album simple, clean and uncluttered... well, I'm crazy, random and colorful so once I started I realized the simple, clean and uncluttered style just wasn't going to work for me. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. It's titled... '2011 out -> -> -> 20twelve in!'. 

(click on all images to see them larger.)

I also planned on sticking with specific products to make the whole album flow. That's not going to happen either. I love RANDOM too much! It's very me in the crafting world.

While attempting to bust out some creativity on my mini pages within that whole page I found myself searching for what I wanted to use. Realizing that I needed a clear organization of all the items that came with the Project Life Kit (I have Clementine & Turquoise. I'm mixing them.) and of the products I knew I was going to continue to use for sure throughout my album.

Here's what I found:

A boot tray! Hee, I 'think' I'm genius!  It's big. It's 31" wide by 15.2" deep by 2.3" high. Now how to organize my goodies inside I asked myself. Well, I already had those items at home. So why not use what I already have. Waste not, right? Also, being that I am seriously an organizing product hoarder I was sure these items would work, or I'd find something else in my house to help me out. Here's what I used inside it.

Sorry for the crummy pics. These are both from Target, but I've had them for a while and the metal bins I've had for YEARS, literally no joke! (from the $1 bin which I'm sure some of you recognize them.) The clear plastic ones are from the closet organizing section.

So now here's how I organized it:

You can see all of the items that came with my Project Life Kit are to the right. I took everything out of the boxes they came in. The middle section is all smaller items and to the left are my photos and such. I'll get into detail in the following photos.

 

(Don't forget you can click on any image to see it larger.) 

 

 

In this image:

- upper left, blue box to hold my doodads I collect from the day.

- below that, weekly note pads found in the dollar bin at Target.  I can jot down what's happened that day for reference.

- to the right of that, my photos and Smash journaling cards.

- at the top are my stamps, corner rounder punch, date stamps, tabs & mini banners, tapes & clips, tags, chocolate (gotta have that handy when you're workin' hard).

Here I have my longer items that wouldn't fit in the smaller sections. Then the next two sections are what came in the Project Life Kit. I printed up dividers for the small and large cards.  (see below for close up images)

 

 

 

 

I titled the dividers with a name that made sense to me so they would be easier to find. :) That's it! Here's some random photos of it.

 

Hope you enjoyed my post! Have questions? Ask away, just leave me a comment and I'll answer you back. :) Happy 'Project Life(ing)'!

***ADDITIONAL PICS! (click on images to see them larger!) Sheri asked for close-up images of my journaling card breakdown. So here goes... (ps, some pics are crummy. I was in a hurry.)

Pin It

Comments

[Sheri Twing]

Ok I'm coming over to play! Such awesome organization! I love those cards you made to divide the PL journaling cards. I need to do that. I took mine out of the boxes too and put them all together. Would love to see more of the categories you have for those! Such fun products and such clever use of a boot tray! Thanks for sharing!

[Rachel Carlson]

BOOT TRAY....this is GENIUS Wen. I really wish I were doing ProjectLife again, maybe next year, will save my pennies for that one. Thanks for sharing your tips, you always have good information and I LOVE that you are sharing it with us. I'll be the first in line to buy your book too. love you!

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

Thanks Sheri! :) Come on over. I had to put something between my cards. There's just way too many. LOL I'll take some pics later of the categories and post them for you. :)

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

THANKS Rach! I wish I could see your Project Life from before. :) Yes, save, you must do! I like sharing and you guys are cracking me up with this book thing. LOL Love you!

[tara pollard pakosta]

so awesome wendy! I LOVE IT!
you are great at organizing!
I need to do this soon because my stuff is a MESS!
tara

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

Thanks Tara! I looooooooooooove to organize! LOVE IT! lol

[ERica]

OK get your little tush to Ar. & help me organize my craft room. I could use a little sis time too.

[Jenny G.]

This is so great! A boot tray is genius! Love it!

[momtoprincesses]

This is awesome girl!!! LOVE it!

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

Hee hee... I know it! <3

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

Thank you Jenny! I was looking for a tray and turned right down and isle, looked down and there it was. *ding ding* Bells went off in my head. LOL

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

Thanks cuteness! Love ya!

[Bucket]

So glad to see you are scrapbooking again!! xoxo bucket

[Trish]

You have made this look doable and easy. Could you rub some of your magic on me? Seriously, you have inspired me and I'm going to put my PL stuff in something. Soon. Yeah. No, really. I'll keep you posted. :) LOVE YOURS!

[Leslie Ashe]

Love it! looks fab!

[Mary]

makes me (almost) want to paper scrap again...love your organization Wendy : )

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

Thanks Bucket! :)

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

It IS so doable! Rubbing... rubbing... rubbing.... :) Can't wait to see what you do!

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

Thanks Les! <3

[Wendy Hammer (Reed)]

Hee hee hee.... Thank you Mary! :)

[Liz]

LOVE. Those cards are driving me crazy. I have almost the exact same supplies as you do, so I am going to be a copy cat! Thanks for the inspiration.

[Liz]

oops, messed up my own blog address...need more coffee...following you and reading your archives now!

[Becka @ Just a Bunch of Momsense]

Your organization system is awesome! I love how everything is plain sight! I also love your album page... SO CUTE! I just love your style! Is that really a piece torn from a notebook, or is that something you bought for that purpose?? (the one with the key on it.)

I've just started PL and so far I've done my entire 2011 album (in a matter of a few hours!!!) I'm getting ready to do 2010... which will take A.LOT.LONGER since I only took 300-ish pics last year, and closer to 2000 pics in 2010. Should keep me pretty busy for a while!

Happy scrapping New Year! :)

[Becka @ Just a Bunch of Momsense]

Doh! I hate typos... That should say IN plain sight.

[Collette Osuna]

Wow Wendy!!arent you little Miss Queen of organization?? lol...love this...you rock lady!! and now after reading the apple post below, I need to rganize and cook...thanks alot! lol.

PS..if you make the veggie egg rolls, double the recipe on the honey mustard sauce....its pretty amazign by itself, lmao!!

Happy humpday....and BTW lady, we should totally stay in blog touch:) You are posting some great stuff here!! Adding your blog to my blogroll NOW:)

A Blog of Life & Everything in Between!