Design Editor

PROJECT LIFE | Week Sixteen + Free Download with Video

I'm starting this week's post off with a memory keeping public service message: Dive in!

For those of you who are intrigued by this project but think it seems too daunting, I promise it isn't once you get rolling. It can be really pared down and simple. No embellishments or even rounding corners of images necessary. Like for me this week, it's mainly just photos and minimal fuss. 

About the minimal fuss. I'm a sucker for silhouettes. I snagged the designs I used here from the cover of the most recent Paper Source catalog. As soon as it came in the mail I thought, "3x4 pockets!" Project Life brain.

Cute story with the screen capture. I went to use my iPad and realized that one of the girls managed to bring up Wikipedia and type in the search field. QWERTYUIOP. Right across the top of the keyboard. 

I get excited about things like new cushions for our screened-in porch. Thank you Marshalls and IKEA!

I made this simple grid of Instagram photos in Photoshop. I added subtle drop shadows to let the images with white borders stand out.

This is the employee entrance at my job. I've worked at this newspaper for almost thirteen years, minus the time I left to work at the L.A. Times. Luckily the stars aligned when we moved back East for me to pick up where I left off here. Truly a second home!

FREE DOWNLOAD | Like the transparent circle tags I used on photos this week? Great! I'm including them as a free download. The file is a layered PSD template, sized for a 6x4 image with the tag. Think of this as a shortcut. All you have to do is drag your photo on and edit the text.  

To get started, download the template here:

Download DE_CircleTagTemplate

The font I used is Rockwell, you'll need to download it for free here. You can change the text to one of your own fonts if you prefer.

Here's my video tutorial on how to use the template:

You can also view this video on Vimeo.

P.S. I'm sharing this post on Project Life link ups at The Mom Creative and One Happy Mama.

Project Life is a simplified scrapbooking system created by Becky Higgins to help document your memories. Check out the previous posts about my album, technical tips and free downloads here.

FREE DOWNLOAD | iPhone Case Designs

As soon as my new iPhone arrived last week, I knew what I wanted to do asap—customize it!

I was inspired to create my own case insert by this post from Craft and Creativity. All you need is a clear case or a rubber case with a clear back and you can pop in your own designs or photos.

Join in on the fun! I've included a PDF of four black and white designs you can print out and use in your own cases. You'll have to trim down the sides a tad based on your individual case. Be sure to trace the opening for the camera lens and cut it out as well.

Download for free here: Download DE_iPhoneDesigns

I left an area on the black chevron design if you'd like to personalize yours with an initial like mine. Enjoy!

FREE DOWNLOAD | Dinosaur Book

My girls are obsessed with dinosaurs. Something I didn't see coming, but it's fun. They love the show Dino Dan on Nick Jr. and are now quick to point out a T-Rex or Triceratops. After I bought them a bag of plastic dinosaurs at the grocery store, they kept asking the names of the other dinos nonstop. We really had no clue. At Jim's suggestion, I took some photos and made a flip book identifying their new friends.

It turned out pretty darn cute so, why let the files gather dust on my hard drive when I can offer them all to enjoy? The download is a zipped file of five PDF's. Each PDF includes two 4x6 pages of the book.

Get it for free here:  Download DE_DinoBookPages

BOOK ASSEMBLY | Here's how to put together a simple flip book.  I can also see these in little frames!

• Cut along trim lines. (I rounded the outside corners.)
• Laminate. (I used self laminating paper trimmed to fit.)
• Make a hole with a punch and hold together with a binder ring. (Found at office supply and craft stores.) 

DISCLAIMER | We are not paleontologists, so no guarantee the names are spot on. If you find an error, blame Google images. Enjoy!