Chapter Three in our 2022 Family Yearbook is complete and I couldn't be happier! When I created the March Edition of my Chapters Collection, I had no idea the colors and textures would work so well with the photos I would be taking this month! I'm just thrilled with these pages!

March is covered in 7 spreads, with a title page and an end page for my "film adaptation" video QR code. 

Pages we’re created using the following products/apps:

• The Project Life App
• Affinity Photo for iPad
• Adobe Express (formerly called Adobe Spark Post)
• My Chapters March Kit
• 4x6 Pocket Frames No. 1
• 4x6 Pocket Frames No. 2
• 3x4 Pocket Frames No. 1
• Fonts: The Brande & Lotaline, Barlow Condensed, Youth Line, +  Archer Pro (journaling)

Let's see how Chapter Three of 2022 came together!

Title page was created by using the Design W template in the Project Life app. One of the title cards from the Chapters of March kit was placed in the center placeholder. Other placeholders were filled with the white card found in the Neutral Kit in the app. Shadows were turned off on this page.

Spread One

In the spread above you can see the 6x12 Calendar Card from the March Edition of the Chapters Collection. This is placed in the Big Shot A Template from the Project Life app and I will ALWAYS use this template on the left hand side of the first spread for each month. The two journal cards with the rust texture and yellow line were created in the Small Prints section of the Project Life App. A few months back, I did create a video of how you can create your own journal cards in the app. I will share that video at the end of this blog post. The "Advance to Venmo" card was created in the Creative Cloud Express App (formerly known as Adobe Spark Post).

Spread Two

I am loving that rust texture from this month's edition of Chapters! I made the two journal cards you see on this spread in the Project Life App. The filler card with the quote from Anthony Bourdain was created in the Affinity Photo for iPad App, using the colored texture digital paper from this month's kit. The fonts are those I am using throughout the Chapters collection. I have them loaded into Affinity Photo and the Project Life App so I can use them in whatever app I am in. I also created color swatches from the March kit using the RGB color codes from the Chapter Summary PDF that is included in each monthly Chapters Collection! Everything is matchy-matchy!

Spread Three

I got a lot of journaling going on throughout these pages! Notice how I carried journaling from one 4x6 card to the other on the left hand page. That top card is one included in the March Chapters kit. The journal card below that is one I created in the app using the yellow texture from this month's kit. Read the story. It's worth it.

The page on the right. This one got me excited! Why? Well first, I don't think I've ever used Big Shot 10 in my albums before. If I have it was a very long time ago. And second, this template gave me the chance to experiment with a new Pocket Frame size that will be released in my shop soon–6x12 Pocket Frames!!! This one hold 3 photos. What do you think? I LOVE IT!!! I do use a template from the 3x4 Pocket Frame No.1 Kit on this page. I will also share another link to a tutorial on how to use the Pocket Frames in the Affinity Photo App at the end of this blog post. It demos the 4x6 Pocket Frames, but you'd use the 3x4 in the same manner! The journal card you see on this page is one I created in the Project Life App.

Spread Four

Ok before you read any further, I gotta put a little disclaimer on some of the photos in this spread, as some readers may be offended by them. They are not gory or anything like that. They are photos of signs and some may take offense to the subject matter. I'm not apologizing for them at all. It's my album, I'll include what I want! ;). You've been warned.

Cafe du Monde. Just so yummy. I still can't decide if I liked the beignets better at Cafe du Monde or those from Cafe Beignet. Any readers out there who have been to NOLA have a preference?  I made the "Beignet there, done that" filler card in Affinity Photo and the journal card on the left was done in the Project Life App. 

So the page on the right makes really good use of the 3x4 Pocket Frame No. 1 Kit and the 4x6 Pocket Frame No. 2 Kit. I am really addicted to using these things! I love that I am able to have a photo on the card with enough white space to add text. The NOLA filler card is one I created right there in the layout using the green texture "paper" from the March Chapters Kit and the Free Form Text option in the Project Life App. I really like the way that looks!

Spread 5

I think one of my favorite moments on this trip was stumbling upon Fritzel's European Jazz Pub and listening to Richard "Piano" Scott play. This guy was AMAZING!!! He sounded just like Louie Armstrong!!! Truly talented! The journal cards were created in the Project Life App, but check out what I did with one of the 4x4 QR code cards that are included in the March Chapters Kit:

I recorded bits and pieces of several songs Richard Scott played and combined them into about a 4-minute long video using iMovie on my iPad. I then uploaded it to Vimeo and used the link to create a QR Code. Once I dropped the QR Code into the "watch this" card, I placed that card in one of the 3x4 Pocket Frame files! How fun is that? I'm loving that I am including video in our Family Yearbook this year!

Spread 6

Last spread for our NOLA trip. Check it out! Do you see what I see? Could those be 6x8 Pocket Frames? I thought the Big Shot 23 template in the Project Life app would be a good one to test out a 6x8 Pocket Frame. It passed my test, so you will soon be seeing those in the shop as well! I also used a 4x6 Pocket Frame template and a 4x6 Pocket Frame Border on this page, both are from the 4x6 Pocket Frame No. Kit.

To close out our trip I used an editorial template on the right!

Spread 7

I think the colors from the March Chapters Kit compliment the photos perfectly! All three journal cards were created in the Project Life App using the textured "paper" from the March Chapters Kit. 

Any paddle boarders out there? I am looking sooooo forward to a paddling this year! I'm sure I'll be taking lots of photos of our paddling adventures!

And finally my final page for Chapter Three:

Feel free to scan the QR Code. It's just a 45-second clip of daily video I took using the 1 Second Everyday App. I actually missed two days this month, but still having so much fun with it!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post! Feel free to leave any comments or questions you may have below! The April Edition of Chapters will be released around April 15th!

Okay for those of you who like tutorials. Grab your favorite beverage and watch these if you haven't done so already!

Yesterday I posted an Instagram and Facebook Story explaining what exactly "Pocket Frames" are. Apparently you guys really enjoyed and it prompted many followers to DM me and ask if the overlays would work in apps other than those mentioned in the Story. So I thought to myself: “Why not offer a ‘Try Before You Buy?’” Brilliant, right? So if you are on the fence about using the Pocket Frames in your favorite app, here is a little Freebie for you and give them a try!!! Just click the link below to download!

This Pocket Frame Freebie has a 6x4 and 3x4 Circle Pocket Frame, both with PSD and PNG files. Just like the full Pocket Frame Kits do. Give them a whirl! And even if you have already purchased them, you are more than welcome to download! These Pocket Frames have a circle for placeholders rather than squares, so you won’t find these in the kits already released! 

If you missed my IG story about them, no worries! I saved the Story into a highlight called "Pocket Frames." Check it out!

Have fun with them!

Download the Pocket Frames Freebie

Today the March Edition of the Collection is now available in the Pixels to Pages Shop!!! I am so excited you guys are loving this collection! I'm having a blast creating a new edition each month! Back in February I released a brand new line of products: Pocket Frames. They were a HUGE hit and today I'm happy to add a few more kits to that collection! We’ll look at all of them, beginning with the March Edition of Chapters:

The Chapters March Edition features a bold color palette of shades of green, orange, and yellow . The pattern of the month is rust and you’ll find a plaster texture on the colored digital papers!

Several of the filler cards represent a variety of National Days in March. These cards don’t say “National such-and-such Day,” they imply it. For example, the “I'm so over this” journal card represents National Get Over It Day (March 9). Got something you need to vent about? That card is perfect to journal your thoughts!!!

Here is a sample of what the first spread in my March Chapter may look like. The month is only half way over–I'm sure this spread will change. We took a trip to New Orleans this month and you know I will have a lot of photos to document!

And here is what the last page of my February Chapter may look like next to my March title page:

The March Edition of the Chapters Collection is now available in the shop. 

For an overall explanation of the Chapters Collection in general, please check out this blog post. 

Let’s move on the the other new products!

I released three 4x6 Pocket Frame Kits last month. Today three 3x4 Pocket Frame kits are available in the Pixels to Pages Shop! Each Pocket Frame Kit can hold 1, 2, or 3 photos.

Each kit contains:

10–3x4 layered PSD files 
6–3x4 layered PSD files with borders in various thickness (no text boxes)
10–3x4 overlays, matching the PSD files (no text boxes on overlays)
6–3x4 overlays with borders in various thickness (no text boxes)

The templates in these collections are designed with easy-to-use clipping masks and text boxes to tell your story. Use your favorite mobile app or desktop program that can support layers and clipping masks to use the PSD files in this kit! (i.e.: Affinity Photo for iPad, Photoshop, Photoshop Elements) Don't have access to apps/software that supports clipping masks? No problem! Use the Overlays in this kit with apps such as GoDaddy Studio, Create Cloud Express, or Canva!

3x4 Pocket Frames No. 1

I've been using these Pocket Frames in with my Project Life layouts for years. Below is an example of a single-photo Pocket Frame from my 2020 Family Yearbook:

That photo that looks like it has a Polaroid frame around it is in this kit! The white frames you see around the other photos on this page are from the 3x4 Pocket Frame No. 1 Kit and the 4x6 Pocket Frame No. 1 Kit! Other digital elements are from Ali Edwards.

Other Pocket Frames released today include:

3x4 Pocket Frames No. 2

and

3x4 Pocket Frames No. 3

You may have noticed on the kit previews I included a QR code. This code is a link to a video tutorial on how to use the PSD files and Overlays from the kits in Affinity Photo for iPad! Use the camera on your phone to scan the code to watch the video while you are following along with Affinity Photo on your iPad! The video is also embedded below! The video demos the 4x6 Pocket Frame Kits, but you will use 3x4 in the same manner!

I really hope you enjoy working with these Pocket Frames! This collection will continue to grow over the following months with Pocket Frames that will fit 6x6, 6x8, and 6x12 placeholders in your pocket page layouts! 

Today I am excited to share the February pages from my 2022 family yearbook. Chapter 2 consists of a title page, five double-page spreads, and an end page with a QR code for the January video I created in the One Second Everyday App. You can click on each double-page spread for a larger view.

Pages we’re created using the following products/apps:

• The Project Life App
• Affinity Photo for iPad
• The Creative Cloud Express App (formerly called Adobe Spark Post)
• My Chapters February Kit
• 2022 Monthly Calendar Journal Blocks + Cards Kit
• 4x6 Pocket Frames No. 1
• Fonts: The Brande & Lotaline, Barlow Condensed, Youth Line, +  Archer Pro (journaling)

Title page was created by using the Design W template in the Project Life app. One of the title cards from the Chapters of February kit was placed in the center placeholder. Other placeholders were filled with the white card found in the Neutral Kit in the app. Shadows were turned off on this page.

In the spread below you can see the 6x12 Calendar Card from the February Edition of the Chapters Collection. This is place in the Big Shot A Template from the app and I will ALWAYS use this template on the left hand side of the first spread for each month. Using the Affinity Photo App, I place a single photo in the 4x6 Pocket Frames No1 (A + B files) for a few of the photos on each side of the spread. I exported the photo to my camera roll then place those pictures in the 4x6 place holders. I chose not to add the text in Affinity Photo, but instead add text using Free Form Text in the PL App.

You can watch a video tutorial of how to use the Pocket Frames in Affinity Photo for iPad here.

In the second spread below, I used a journal card from the 2022 Monthly Calendar Journal Blocks and Cards Kit. The title on the large 6x8 photo and the 4x6 picture of the muffins was added using FFT. And how about my photo shoot with the strawberries! Anyone addicted to Replica Surfaces??? I have quite the collection of these things. I'm totally addicted to them. Not sure what they are? Check them out here. 

The journal card you see on the left in the spread below is one I created in the Project Life App. If you are interested in seeing how you can create your own journal cards in the Project Life App using a Chapters Kit, check out this video tutorial.

The journal cards used in the 3x4 placeholders below are actually 4x6 in size! I made the "just run" filler card directly in the layout by placing one of the colored papers from the Chapters: February Kit in the 3x5 pocket and used Free Form Text to add the word art. Easy-peasy!

The events unraveling in Ukraine right now are hitting close to home. Our family live in the city center of Kyiv 20 years ago while my husband was the Marine Attache at the U.S. Embassy. Our hearts are breaking right now. 

I used an Editorial Template in the app for the page on the left. On the right hand side, I used the Design P Template. The map you see is actually a screenshot from Google Maps I took of Kyiv and used Affinity Photo to callout some landmarks. We didn't have digital cameras back then, so the two photos you see of me and my boys were ones I scanned in. The "watch this" 4x4 card is from the Chapters February Kit. When we lived overseas 20 years ago, I was scrapbooking with physical products, using Creative Memories albums. While flipping through one of the albums I made in Ukraine, I came across a spread documenting their Independence Day Parade, celebrating their 10 years of independence of the Soviet Union. I'm still wrapping my head around that Putin was at this parade. You will see a photo of that SOB in the video. 

The final page for February is another QR code, leading you to my One Second Everyday video for February. I am having so much fun with video this year!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read! The March Edition of Chapters will be available sometime during the week of March 14!

Just wanted to share a little freebie with everyone! Use these fun cards to celebrate TWOS-day!!!! Thank you so much for being part of this creative space! I appreciate everyone's support! Click the link below to download! (these cards coordinate with the February Chapters kit)

22222 Freebie

The release of Chapters: A Month-by-Month Storytelling Collection has been a huge hit in the Pixels to Pages shop. Today the February Edition of the Collection is now available! In addition, I have three brand new kits for you to check out! We’ll look at all of them, beginning with The February Edition of Chapters:

The Chapters February Edition features a sweet color palette of reds, pinks, and greens. The pattern of the month is weathered wood and you’ll find a paper fiber texture on the colored digital papers.

Several of the filler cards represent a variety of National Days in February. These cards don’t say “National such-and-such Day,” they imply it. For example, the “you are berry sweet” filler card represents National Strawberry Day (February 27). But you can use the card with a cute photo of your children, best friend, and yes, even a photo of a big, juicy strawberry right before you ate it! Make sense?

Here is a sample of what the first spread in my February Chapter may look like (the month is only half way over–I'm sure this spread will change!):

And here is what the last page of my February Chapter may look like next to my March title page:

The February Edition of the Chapters Collection is now available in the shop. 

For an overall explanation of the Chapters Collection in general, please check out this blog post. 

Let’s move on the the other new products!

Templates are something I’ve never offered in the Pixels to Pages Shop before. I think it’s because I create all of my pages in the Project Life App, so there is really no need for me to make my own. BUT throughout the years that I’ve documenting my photos and stories in the app, I realized there are a few “mini templates” I’ve created that I use over and over again within the placeholders of the Project Life App. I’m calling them Pocket Frames.

The first three Pocket Frame Kits I am releasing are 4x6 in size and can hold 1, 2, or 3 photos.

Each kit contains:

10–4x6 layered PSD files for single photos with text boxes
6–4x6 layered PSD files with borders in various thickness (no text boxes)
10–4x6 overlays for single photos, matching the PSD files (no text boxes on overlays)
6–4x6 overlays with borders in various thickness (no text boxes)

The templates in these collections are designed with easy-to-use clipping masks and text boxes to tell your story. Use your favorite mobile app or desktop program that can support layers and clipping masks to use the PSD files in this kit! (i.e.: Affinity Photo for iPad, Photoshop, Photoshop Elements) Don't have access to apps/software that supports clipping masks? No problem! Use the Overlays in this kit with apps such as GoDaddy Studio, Create Cloud Express, or Canva!

4x6 Pocket Frames No. 1

As I mentioned earlier, I've been using these Pocket Frames in with my Project Life layouts for years. Below is an example of a single-photo Pocket Frame from my 2018 Family Yearbook:

4x6 Pocket Frames No. 2

Below is an example of a Pocket Frame with two photos from my 2020 Family Yearbook:

4x6 Pocket Frames No. 3

And here is a Pocket Frame with three photos, again, from my 2020 Family Yearbook:

You may have noticed on the kit previews I included a QR code. This code is a link to a video tutorial on how to use the PSD files and Overlays from the kits in Affinity Photo for iPad! Use the camera on your phone to scan the code to watch the video while you are following along with Affinity Photo on your iPad! The video is also embedded below!

I really hope you enjoy working with these Pocket Frames! This collection will continue to grow over the following months with Pocket Frames that will fit 3x4, 6x8, and 6x12 placeholders in your pocket page layouts!

Today I am excited to share the January pages from my 2022 family yearbook. Chapter 1 consists of a title page, three double-page spreads, and an end page with a QR code for the January video I created in the One Second Everyday App

Pages we’re created using the following products/apps:

• The Project Life App
• Affinity Photo for iPad
• The Creative Cloud Express App (formerly called Adobe Spark Post)
• My Chapters January Kit
• 2022 Monthly Calendar Journal Blocks + Cards Kit
• Fonts: The Brande & Lotaline, Barlow Condensed, Pirates, Archer Pro (journaling)

Title page was Created by using the Design W template in the Project Life app. One of the title cards from the Chapters of January kit was placed in the center placeholder. Other placeholders were filled with the white card found in the Neutral Kit in the app. Shadows were turned off on this page.

The first spread of each chapter will always have the Calendar card from the January Chapters Kit on the left-hand side just as you see in this photo. I listed a few of the chapter highlights in the journal space below the calendar. The 3x4 filler card on the left-hand side is actually 4x6 in size but it fit very nicely in this place holder. On the right-hand side of the spread the 3 x 4 journal card you see with the January title is from my 2022 Monthly Calendar Journal Blocks and Cards Kit. 

The second double-page spread uses the 4x3 journal card from the Chapters January Kit. I placed it in 3x4 placeholders, then using the photo editing tool, I rotated it to a vertical orientation. The two journal cards you see with the purple border are ones I created directly in the Project Life app! At the end of this post you’ll find a link to a 20-minute video tutorial demonstrating how you can set up your own journal card templates in the app using digital papers you have purchased from outside sources! The 4x6 photo with the two dogs was created in Creative Cloud Express (formerly Adobe Spark Post). It’s a template I created in the app a long time ago. I use it over and over again and just switch out the photos. Once it was exported, I dropped it into the 4x6 placeholder on my PL template, then I used several text boxes to add the journaling and the word art title on the photo!

I couldn’t be happier with the way the third spread turned out. On the left I used Editorial Template Set 1A No. 1. On the left I used the Big Shot 20 template. I’m not one to use a lot of purple in my albums, but man! I seemed to have been drawn to that color from the kit this month!  All of the filler cards were created directly within the placeholders on the page using several text boxes. I just love this spread!

And finally the last page simply has the 4x4 card meant for a QR Code. Scan the code with the phone on your mobile device and you can view the short movie created with the One Second Everyday App! I used the Affinity Photo app to place the QR Code on the card, exported it to my camera roll, then added the card to the center placeholder in the Design Q template, with the shadows turned off. I originally had thought I was going use the bokeh pattern paper in the placeholders on either side of the card, but I changed my mind. I love all the white space. In my album, this will be placed opposite of my February Title page.

January is done! Looking forward to February keep these dates in mind when taking pictures throughout the month. The graphic below shows the National Days that will be represented in the Chapters February kit! You can expect that kit to be released sometime during the week of February 14.

Below is the video tutorial I mentioned earlier in the post. If you are wanting to learn even more advanced techniques when using the Project Life App, the Memories Matter classes can help! Click the links below for more information!

Memories Matter

Memories Matter Project Life Design Series

I know, I know! It's the end of January and I'm just getting around to welcoming you into 2022! Actually, it's been quite some time since I wrote a blog post. 2021 was extremely busy here at Pixels to Pages with a new classroom and the Project 12/52 Collection kits Meagan Johnson (The Practical Scrapper) and I released throughout the year. Posting on the blog fell under the radar. I was posting more on my Facebook and Instagram platforms. I've had many followers asking if I was going to start blogging again. So you know how it goes, new year, new goals!

My documenting plans for 2022:

Even though my 2021 family yearbook has yet to be completed, I already know I will be documenting 2022 in a monthly format. I seemed to go back and forth every year. 2021 was weekly, 2022 is monthly. And to help me get those photos + stories documented, I have several new kits in the Pixels to Pages shop that I will be using this year! Let's take an in-depth look at them!

Chapters: A Month-by-Month Storytelling Card Collection:

A lot of thought has gone into this kit and each part of it deserves some explaining. So here goes:

Each month will feature a new color palette, texture, and realistic pattern!

I know how many of you mobile memory keepers and digital scrappers love to coordinate fonts to kits you purchase online, so here are the fonts I am using in the Chapters Collection. These fonts will remain the same each month for consistency!

Each month will include 6x12 and 3x4 Calendar Cards with both Sunday and Monday start dates. The design of the cards each month will remain the same, but the colors will change according the monthly color palette. Note that the journaling section on the 6x12 cards is titled "Chapter Highlights." You'll read why I am pointing this out further down the post!

Kits will include two 4x6 Chapter Title Card options. I couldn't decide which design I liked best, so I am including both. You'll see how I am using this card to divide my album up into sections later in the post! The design will remain the same each month, but the color will change.

If you have been following me for a while or purchased kits in my shop in the past, you may recall I had a collection of Journal Block kits. They were very popular (though no longer available) and I really wanted to include a few in the Chapters Collection. Each month there will be a 6x8 and 8x6 Journal Block card. The design and colors will change according to the color palette.

Back in December I was a guest on the Simple Scrapper (Jennifer Wilson) Podcast "Scrapbook Your Way." If you caught that episode, you may recall that one of my goals this year is to play around with video more and incorporate it into my albums. You can listen to that podcast here: https://www.simplescrapper.com/syw148 Throughout December I was using the One Second Everyday app and I absolutely loved it. I exported my little video to Vimeo, created a QR Code and dropped that into the last page of my December Daily Album. I am planning on doing the same every month in 2022. I created two 4x4 cards in this kit for you to do the same if you'd like.

When a book is turned into a film, it is called a "film adaptation." I thought it would be really fun to incorporate that term into the main card. "Episode One" represents January, the first chapter of my book. Cute, right? The other card is a little more generic. So if you have a video of a vacation, birthday parties, etc. You can use the "watch this" card and add a title to that rectangle at the top! By the way, you will need to use an app like Affinity Photo to add text and your QR Code to these cards. 

I wanted to include a more sophisticated birthday card in this collection. Each kit will feature a 3x4 zodiac card. This color and design will remain the same throughout the monthly kits. Only the symbol/name will change. I did this for two reasons. 1) I know zodiac signs overlap each month. So for instance, if you have family members whose birthdays fall toward the second half of December and the first half of January, you can use this card in both months without having to worry if it will clash with that month's color palette. 2) This card will coordinate with the 3 other kits that were released in the shop this month (you'll see those further down the post).

Each monthly there will be cards in the kit that represent various National Days, but not necessarily say "National Day." For instance, January 6 was "National Cuddle Up Day," and January 31 is "National Hot Chocolate Day." You can think of these more as photo prompts! I know I am a little late to the game in January, but beginning with February, I will be posting on my Facebook page and Instagram accounts as to which national days will be represented so you can plan a few photos! As far as a photo for National Cuddle Up Day which as already passed, take a photo anyways! No one is going to know that you took it at the end of the month!!!

The monthly kit will also contain a few other coordinating 3x4 and 4x6 filler and journal cards. Be watching the blog next week where I will be posting a video on how you can create more journal coordinating cards using this kit in the Project Life App!

And finally, each kit will come with a 5-page PDF explaining the various cards in the the collection, a list of the National Days, etc. I know it is important for many mobile memory keepers and digital scrappers to match the colors of the kits when working in apps/software like Affinity Photo or Photoshop, so I am including the color codes for each monthly color palette, too! I hope you find this helpful!

2022 Monthly Calendar Journal Blocks and Cards:

Also released in the shop are the 2022 Monthly Calendar Journal Blocks + Cards. These are available in either a Monday or Sunday start date, so be sure your are purchasing the correct one! These cards do coordinate with the Chapters Collection! The one thing that is different is the title for the journaling section on the 6x12 Calendar Cards is "Month in Review" instead of  "Chapter Highlights."

2022 Weekly Cards:

The cards in this kit also coordinate with the Chapters and the 2022 Monthly Calendar Journal Blocks + Cards kits. 3x4 + 4x6 cards in vertical and horizontal orientation and their overlays are included. Just so you know weekly dates are NOT on the cards. I know, I know. Many would love to have these dates on the cards. But there are way too many variables to consider when adding them: should the week start on a monday or a sunday? And looking at a December calendar, where does one end their week 52/53 and begin their week 1? There is too much to think about, so I just leave them off. This also gives you the freedom to use the cards in different years, not just in 2022. If you are going to add the dates and want to be all matchy-matchy, I would suggest the font Barlow Condensed if you have access to it!

Some page samples:

This is my title page for January. I used Design W in the Project Life App. I placed the January card in the center 6x4 pocket and filled the remaining pockets with the white card from the Neutral Card Kit in the app. Drop shadows are turned off.

Here is my first spread in January (other spreads are still in progress. I used cards from the January Chapters Kit and the 2022 Month Calendar Journal Block kits. Drop shadows are turned back on

This is what the last page of January and the first page of February will look like. They will appear side-by-side in my album like this. I still will play around with the left side a bit. Especially if I add more video. The QR Code there is my movie from December. It is there just for sample purposes and will be changed out when January is done! Right now I have the drop shadows turned off. Not sure if I will keep them that way on this page. 

So that is it! What do you think? If you are ready to document your January photos + stories, and looking to purchase any of the above kits, click this link or the shop link above in the menu!

Hey friends! The Pixels to Pages Journal Block Winter Collection is now live in the shop!!! Memory keepers are LOVING these kits because they offer extra-large, decorative journal cards, giving documenters a little more space to tell their stories than the standard 4x6 or 3x4 journal card allows. To celebrate I am offering a "Buy 3 Get 1 Free" Promo this weekend! Beginning today, November 20th, 2020, when you purchase ANY 3 Journal Block Kits, the 4th one will be free! Place 4 kits in your cart, use promo code WINTER2020 at checkout, and a $5.99 discount will be applied to your order! This offer will end at 11:59pm EST on Sunday, November 22!

Keep reading to view each kit and see what some Santa's Elves created with them! Be sure to read all the way through as there is a freebie at the end of the post!!! For more inso, hop over to my Instagram feed where there are a few more layouts in the "Journal Block" Story Highlights!

Farmhouse Christmas

I did something a little different with the 4x12 Vertical Journal Card with this release. Instead of it being a “journal card” is now a patterned “filler card.” You will have to rotate it in its placeholder when dropping it into a horizontal pocket so the pattern doesn’t look extra-large. I think you will enjoy having a pattern to accent your pages with!

The Farmhouse Christmas kit follow the same aesthetic as my Christmas Planner! You may be able to use some of the 3x4 and 4x6 cards from either kit on both your scrapbook pages or in the planner!

Spread above by Megan Bennett. You can follow her on Instagram: @mbennett13

Carla Jennings created the 6x8 spread by using the 6x8 Vertical Journal Card from the kit as a full page! Great idea! 

You can follow Carla on Instagram: @tybromom

Teresa Carlucci shares her festive spread, too!

You can follow Teresa on Instagram: @totallycre8tive

Happy New Year

Let's celebrate the new year with a little sparkle! There is a little digital glitter in this kit. It's the perfect way to add some bling to your pages without the messy clean up of the real stuff!

Here is a spread Ingrid did using the Happy New Year Kit. She used over half of the cards in the kit in this spread!

You can follow Ingrid on Instagram: @ingrid_u_lim

I love how Heather used the 4x12 Celebrate Journal Card for a Disney Page!

You can follow Heather on Instagram: @moonpiegirl

Frosty Fun

It is still hot here in Florida and the photos these scrappers used in their layouts helped to keep me cool! Check them out:

Sean Eyring, aka "Project Life App Dude," and his family look like they have a blast when it comes to hanging out in the snow! And he's right, that snow beard and eyebrows are EPIC!

You can follow Sean on Instagram: @projectlifeappdude

Check out these layouts from Dawn Bowra:

She did the above layout in the Project Life App. Can you figure out how? She used some fun techniques here!!! And I love how she placed the photo(s) in the layout below:

You can follow Dawn on Instagram: @proudtobemrsb

The photo Stephanie used in this layout is stunning! Don't you think? Although Stephanie created this layout in Photoshop, it can easily done in the Project Life App using the  The Big Shot 4 Template!

You can follow Stephanie on Instagram: @stephhokenson

Christmas in the Sand–U.S. Version

Not all of us celebrate Christmas in the snow, including yours truly!!! It's about time there was a kit for those who prefer to make a sandman instead of a snowman! Check out the quick spread I did using photos from 2018:

I also experimented with placing a filler card in an Editorial Template and super happy with the result!!!

And finally...

Christmas in the Sand–Australian Version

I've never seen a Christmas kit geared towards an Australian Christmas. A little while ago I asked my followers from Australia about how they celebrate the Christmas season being in a warm weather climate. I have a lot of followers and students from this beautiful country and I wanted to create a little something for my them. The response to my question was overwhelming! Based on their answers, this is what I came up with! 

Susan Bunning has a TON of photos to share in her spread! Read her journaling about these photos! This is exactly why I wanted to create kits for a warm-weather Christmas! Susan placed the 6x12  Christmas In The Sand Vertical Journal Card, into a 4x6 placeholder and arranged it so the top portion of the card is showing. This is a good example of how to experiment with the cards by placing them in a different placeholder that it is intended for! She did the same with the Christmas BBQ filler card-that is actually a 3x4 horizontal filler card–and she used the Free Form Text feature in the PL App to add more text to the card!

You can follow Susan on Instagram: @brisbaneangel

Now Elmi doesn’t live in Australia, but in South Africa! Turns out they celebrate in much of the same way Australia does! Elmi got really creative and not only used the Project Life App to make her pages on her Android device, but she used the Over App as well. In addition, Elmi used Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer on her Mac, to accommodate her style of Project Life! While she doesn’t share her pages on social media, she does have a blog you can visit: creativedepths.wordpress.com.

It turns out that Elmi is a graphic designer. While she was making her pages, she also created a few extra cards to coordinate with the kit and wanted to share them. Click on the image below and you can download these cute cards for free! THANK YOU ELMI for sharing your talents!!!

To all of those who provided page samples for the launch of these kits, THANK YOU!!! I appreciate each and every one of you!!!

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave them below!

It’s the middle of September. Kind of hard to believe there are less than 100 days until Christmas! Yes, you read that right! Less than 100 days until Christmas. When it comes to the holidays, are you a planner or more of a last minute kind of elf? Personally, I consider myself to be more on the organized side of the Christmas chaos. Sure there will always be last minute things to take care of or the unexpected house guest, but for the most part I try and get a grasp on the reigns of the Christmas sleigh a few months before the madness begins.

Back in July I created a printable Christmas Planner and made it available for purchase in my shop. I’ve made a few of these over the years, and I think this is my favorite. Although this is still a work in progress, I’ve got enough done and wanted to share with you what I’ve completed so far! 

Let’s take a look at each section:

The first section is my calendar. The printable planner comes with 3 month-at-a-glance and week-at-a-glance calendars (November-January). It’s up to you if you want to use one or all of the months. I use the month-at-a-glance calendars for November, December, and January. 

Even though the calendars looks a little sparse, more events will be added to them as time goes on. There are several things we do during the season that have become a tradition, such as going to the Holiday Pops concert by the Florida Symphony Orchestra and various Holiday Boat Parades. But due to Covid, venues and organizer still trying to figure all these things out. We also may be throwing in a getaway in November, so as soon as these plans are finalized, I will add them to the calendars. And guys, I know there are a lot of planner addicts out there and would be prettying up their calendars. But not this girl. I really don't have time to do that. I just want a space to write in and leave it at that.

The next section in my planner is the address section. As I was looking at the address from my old Christmas Planner, I realized many friends, and some family members had moved over the past year. So I wrote several messages through Facebook and some text messages asking for their new addresses. I was so happy to here back from almost everyone! I’m still waiting on about 3 or 4, but they will be easy to add in. I’m so glad these addresses are all updated now and I won’t be scrambling to find them when it comes time to send out Christmas cards! (addresses have been blocked for privacy)

There are other 3x4 cards and overlays in the kit for Christmas stamps and photos that are not pictured here. They will be added to this section when the time comes!

The Gift Section of the planner is going to be so helpful! My “Master Gift List” page will be filled in as we get closer to the holidays, but these “Santa Reports” are being filled in now! There are two different sized “Santa Reports” in the kit, a 4x6 and a 6x8. The 6x8 size I am using for our immediate family: Chris, our two sons, our daughter-in-law, and I filled one out for myself as well (sometimes the Sill men can use a little help when it comes to gift-giving 🙄). To make these reports resemble something like a “case file” I cropped photos of everyone into 1.75” squares, put them in a 4x6 document in Photoshop and printed it out. Then I just trimmed each photo from that 4x6 printout and attached them to the “Santa Report.” Super fun!

The "Santa Reports" for Chris and Ryley will be filled in one night over dinner. The ones for Dustin & Becca just came in last night. I texted each of them and asked them for the information I needed. They wrote it out on a sheet of paper for me and took a photo of that paper. So all I have to do is copy what they had written onto their individual reports!

I am using the 4x6 “Santa Reports” for extended family members. Shortly after I first released the kit in my shop, I visited my niece and her family (they live about 45 minutes away). I brought two of the 4x6 Reports with me and had Jessica fill them out for her girls (my great-nieces, Elsie & Penny). I used a 6x8 page protector with two 4x6 pockets and placed the completed card in the bottom pocket and a photo of each girl in the top. When my sister was visiting, I printed out a card for each of her kids and had them fill out a card. I ran out of those two-pocket page protectors to place them in. I ordered a few packs from Ali Edwards and they should be here in the next few days!

The Decorations Section is partially done.

I have my inventory sheet filled out and I’m looking forward to replacing or purchasing those items needed. I will be going down the Pinterest rabbit hole over the next few weeks for decorating and craft ideas. Last year instead of going shopping on Black Friday, I had my bestie Jill, come over for Bloody Marys and Christmas crafting. I want to find a few ideas of what craft to do this year, print them out and place them on the various cards 6x8 and 3x4 cards that are also included in this section (not shown). And even though we may not do every project I find, these are ideas are fun to refer to and see what is trending from year to year.

And finally we have the Recipe Section.

One of my main goals with this planner was to consolidate all of the recipes I make throughout the holiday season into one place. Whether they were recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Morning Breakfast, or Christmas Cookies, I wanted all of these recipes in one binder instead of having to pull out various cookbooks old magazines or search the web for these recipes I use year after year. Because there were so many recipes, I ended up using InDesign on my iMac to create these cards. I know, I know, I’m a mobile memory keeper! But there are some projects where the hybrid scrapper in me comes out! As a graphic designer InDesign is a program I use for page layout. It was easy for me to set up pages and drop the JPG of the 4x6 or 6x8 Recipe Cards into my document. I then I took the time and gathered all of those recipes together and started to type everything out! I then exported my documents as PDFs, printed it out, and then trimmed to place them in the page protectors. 

Some of the recipes have photos and some do not. That will definitely change once these dishes are made. I will make note of which recipes I want to photograph and will be prepared to do so when the time comes. Some recipes I may prepare between now and the holidays just to get the shot prior to the busy day they will be prepared on. (Hmm...I may need to select a few days to do this and add them to my calendars!) So although this section is very recipe card heavy, this will definitely change once the photos are taken. I know these recipes will not stay in the order they are in now. Using this binder for my planner will make it easy to move things around when the time comes!

Some of the recipes are crazy long. So long that the instructions needed to be carried over to a second card. I turned these recipe cards into flip pages to accommodate a photo. So far I have two of these pages. One for the Christmas Tree Puff Pastry and the other for the Beef Wellington. I think I’ll have two more (cookies) once I get the photos taken. I will do another post with a tutorial on how I did this in the upcoming weeks.

I can’t even begin to tell you how good it feels to have all of these recipes in one place! Goal achieved!

The printable Christmas Planner is available in my shop. The pictures above do not show all that comes in the kit! To get a better idea of what is include, click the link to the shop in the navigation bar above There is a link to the shop in in navigation bar at the top of the page or go directly to the product listing by clicking the image below:

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!