Today is another busy day at the blog! It is the 5th of February which means it is time for our monthly FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop.
Do you take enough pictures of you with your whole family? Neither did I until I started the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop! We support each other in taking at least one photo of our whole families during each month. We then post them on our blog and visit each other to offer support and encouragement. Does this sound like something you would like to do too? If so, email me (link in sidebar) and I will email you the details.
(If you had emailed me in the last month and I didn't get back to you, please email me again as I had some problems this month and couldn't locate all of my emails. Thanks.)
Here we are enjoying our very favorite winter activity in Beijing, ice chairs. Our local park (only two large city blocks away) offers these to rent only a two or three short months out of the year. The little lake freezes over and out come the wooden ice chairs and the big dangerous looking stakes you use to stab the ice and propel yourself across. The boys had SO MUCH FUN! We hope to do it again once more before the ice begins to melt. We wanted to go today but it was too warm. Maybe next weekend if it isn't too busy.
To see everything FAMILY x 12 on my blog, click here.
Monica is next on the hop. She always has some cute photos to share of her lovely family.
Margie http;//xnomads.typepad.com/blog
Monica http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
PROJECT LIFE
And now it is time for the Project Life part of the blog hop.
This is my latest spread. I am posting my current photos every Monday and then the following week I plan to post my completed layout on Tuesdays. I did not do that last week, so I am now a week behind. But I will catch up.
I do not print my photos at home. I do not like the quality compared to using an outside lab and it takes up so much ink. Living in China, printer ink is outrageously expensive and high quality photo paper is non-existant, actually photo paper is non-existant, so if I run out, I'm out of luck.
Luckily, Snapfish is here in China and delivers high quality, matte finished (my fav) photos free to your door. That is the service I use but it does take a few days for them to get here. THerefore, I typically can't finish my layout until my photos arrive. That was until I came up with an interim solution!
This week I started printing out photos in low quality black and white on regular printer paper to use as place holders - hurray! Pressure off ordering the photos and I can still do most of the work.
Here is the other side of the spread. The label on the bottom right photo I placed on top of the page protector. The other labels/cards I plan to add directly to the photos, I will do that when my photos arrive (obviously). I usually staple them on or use adhesive depending upon my mood or what is available.
The Kavli crispy thin is a new cracker my oldest son has recently discovered that he loves and is actually fairly healthy (he typically only likes things that are really bad for you!), so it warranted being included! I do want to add journaling about that, but I have to figure out where - perhaps right on the back fo the packaging but it won't be visible. Or I may just leave it as is.
The number journaling card is a free download from Becky Higgins from three or four years ago. It is the original Project 365 KOTM design. AFter it was sold out, she was able to give some of the journal cards and other date cards away as free downloads. You'll see more showing up in my PL album in weeks to come.
I was hoping to share screen shots of my work flow for PL - mostly my photo work flow from camera, to blog & album, but I ran out of time. I think I will plan that for next month and start getting my screen shots now! So watch for that next time!
Thanks for stopping by! How are you doing with your Project Life album? Are you doing a 366 project or a weekly overview or an altogether different approach? Are you finding it easy to stay "caught up"? What is your best tip to stay current with your album?
Thanks Jill for hosting. I can't wait to see all the other Project Life eye candy on the hop today!
To see everything Project Life on my blog, click here.
A complete list of participants is below in case you should get lost along the way.
Margie http://xnomads.typepad.comBrooke http://everysnapshot.com/
Did you see that the instructors for True Scrap 3 have been announced? It's going to be another awesome event! Go check it out!
Hi Margie, Thanks for hosting this blog hop again this year. I love your family picture. I've never heard of ice boxes before but it looks like a lot of fun.
You did a great job on project life. I love looking at everyone's project but having taken that leap yet...maybe next year.
Posted by: MonicaB | February 05, 2012 at 04:34
Looks like my comment did not post so I'll try again to leave a comment. Things are not going smoothly here in cyberspace this morning. I really like how you use the black & white copies to hold your photos places. I like the black & white images though too - I forget how appealing they can be! Great contrast between the photos and the colorful empherea - makes them both really stand out!
Posted by: Lynn Wigren | February 05, 2012 at 05:59
Margie!! Hey :) Love your solution for working on your PL while your images are still on their way! I can't believe ink and photo paper are non-existent over there. That is such a bummer IF you had wanted to use your own printer. Thanks for mentioning Becky's free downloads. I don't remember coming across those in my searches but I'll head back and grab them now!
Posted by: April P. | February 05, 2012 at 06:17
Hi. Could you please add me to the Family blog hop - I didn't get an email from you this month but would love to play along.
Posted by: jo burton | February 05, 2012 at 06:34
Hi April, thanks for stopping by! I dont know if she still has those downloads available. I should mention that. I havent noticed them lately. They are ones that have stayed on my computer for several years and I happened upon them the other day. They are awfully cute, though, arent they?! :)
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | February 05, 2012 at 06:36
Lovely family photo the chairs look like great fun.
Posted by: jo burton | February 05, 2012 at 06:48
Hi Margie! I came for the PL blog hop, but I love the Family x 12 idea!!! The only family pics we have are when we have a professional session, which is (at MOST) once per year.
Posted by: Katie | February 05, 2012 at 07:30
Glad you stopped by! Email me if you ever want to join us.
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | February 05, 2012 at 07:31
Thanks! They are fun and unique to Beijing (or China?) I think.
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | February 05, 2012 at 08:08
Hi Jo, so sorry! I had so many problems with email this month. I will double check that you were on the list because I am pretty sure that you were. Can you check your spam folder and make sure I am on your safe email list? Thanks. I missed you this month!
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | February 05, 2012 at 08:09
Thanks, Lynn. Maybe one of these days Ill use a few BW images. I used to love taking photos in BW but I hardly do it any more now that everything is digital.
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | February 05, 2012 at 08:15
Thanks. Yes, a project like that does seem like a big leap. But you can start any time or figure out a strategy that you are comfortable with so it doesnt seem overwhelming.
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | February 05, 2012 at 08:18
thanks for hosting the family photo blog hop again Margie... loving your picture and wanting to try ice chairs now!!
Posted by: furrypig | February 05, 2012 at 08:24
Margie, that is a fabulous family photo - I think it is one of my favorites of your family. It looks like everyone is ready for a great time!
Great idea to print the b&w photos as place holders.
I realized today I didn't get a photo of me and Robbie together in January . . . the blog hop last year really helped keep me accountable!
Posted by: Melissa | February 05, 2012 at 09:24
What an interesting activity to do with the family! Capturing your entire family once a month sounds like a wonderful idea, I think I will try that too!
P.S Where you typed "Next on the blog hop is Donna B" , when you click on the word "Donna B"the link to Donna's blog is not working. I thought I'd like you know :)
Posted by: Noelia | February 05, 2012 at 11:01
Great post Margie, really like the 'Family Photo' project you are doing too - I am already trying to include more of myself in the PL album.
The B&W page holders is a good idea - I actually like the look of a few B&W photos - I might do a whole week like that.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: sharon71 | February 05, 2012 at 15:09
Love the family photo! Great smiles :)
Your PL is fabulous just as I expected it would be. Thanks for joining the hop this month!
Posted by: Jill Fickling-Conyers | February 06, 2012 at 04:28
I love the black and white look. I never thought of that. Beautiful pages!
Posted by: Brooklyn | February 06, 2012 at 19:16
What GREAT idea! Thats one thing that makes me a little sad that no-one else in my family ever seems to take the pictures and I miss not having any with me and my kids. Gonna email you now as I would LOVE to join in the next blog hop x
Posted by: Claire | February 12, 2012 at 02:02