Click on an image below to see Each Year’s Weekly Pages
I haven’t completed every year yet (the ones that aren’t linked don’t have any photos yet) but I’m working on getting caught up. One thing that works really well for me is that I keep a paper planner on my desk to track each week. I’ve found it very helpful not only for planning my days, but also when going back and scrapping pages, especially on those weeks where I haven’t taken a lot of photos. Life gets busy, so I do what I can. I recently completed three years at college, so I did fall behind at bit, but like I said, I’m working on getting caught up. Thankfully I have my photos and my weekly planner to help me remember things after the fact. It’s a system that works for me, which is key. In order to be successful, you don’t have to be perfect… just find out what works for you and go with it. Do what you can, when you can.
Once a whole year is completed, I have it printed into a hardcover lay-flat photo book and keep it on the bookshelf. I get my books printed at Printique. They’re not cheap, but they are really excellent quality and always turn out gorgeous. Worth it, in my opinion! They have various sales throughout the year, so I keep an eye out for one of those when I’m ready to print.
"In order to be successful, you don't have to be perfect... just find a system that works for you and go with it. Do what you can, when you can." ~ Natasha
Each year I make a few simple design choices to help me stay visually cohesive. I generally start with a template set – something with enough variety so that the pages are similar in style, but not all the same. I also tend to keep to a more neutral background paper which helps keep the book a bit more cohesive overall. There were a couple of years that I used one background paper and a set of a few elements for the entire year, but I’ll be honest… that got boring quickly. The finished pages turned out pretty enough, but I was bored scrapping them. I give myself permission to switch up styles and patterns whenever I choose, although I do like to complete each year with the same overall style. I think my favorites so far have been the basic pocket-style grid with a stitched border (2021 & 2022). I switched it up for 2023 but I’ll probably go back to that style for 2024. The key is to find something you like to do so that you’ll stick with it.
Some of my basic choices, that tend to be consistent from year to year:
- One page per week… I don’t have to fit in every photo I take. I choose one or two photos and write a few words about it. When it’s been a slow week, sometimes I add “filler” photos like a picture of my lunch or something equally exciting! That’s also a good time to use extras like pocket cards or clustered elements.
- I typically choose a neutral background, usually a very simple wood or grid pattern, which helps tone down the visual clutter and keeps a somewhat cohesive look to the overall book.
- I like a white border around my photos to help them pop off the page.
- Most of the time the text goes right over the image to save space. When there’s more room on a page or I have a longer story to tell, I’ll use a dedicated block.
- I let go of the idea of “perfect”… and that’s a tough one for me! I quickly came to realize that real life rarely gives us those perfect photo moments, especially when you have uncooperative subjects. I take photos whenever I can, and I get what I get. Sure I love getting great photos, but even a not-so-great picture is still a reminder of the day. It’s better than nothing.
- Ultimately, these books are for me. I scrap my memories, my way. I love it when someone wants to take a look through one of my books, but realistically how often does that happen? Maybe once or twice, or when I get a new book printed. These pages are my way of remembering and I enjoy them, so that’s all that matters.
Do you keep a weekly project yourself? Send me a link and I’ll check it out, or let me know what you’ve found helpful for keeping you on track. I always love to see what other people are doing. It’s a great way to get new ideas for next year’s project!
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