Last year I asked the family to participate in an 11 on 11 of '11 project with me. Each month on the eleventh we took a picture to document our day and then I posted them on the blog. It was fun each month to anticipate where or what we'd see each family doing. I especially enjoyed reading the captions.
I compiled the photos and captions into an album for each family. I chose 8 1/2 x 11 inch layouts so they would be easy to add to each month, and scrapbooked them very simply with just a few embellishments.
While I enjoyed the blog project each month very much, I had doubts about the albums as I compiled them. As I worked on them I wasn't sure they were worth the time, effort, or money -- that is until they were finished and I gave them to each family at Christmas time. They enjoyed seeing the year in review and I was glad I'd done them. It really is as I'm always telling Ande, "Don't judge a project until you've finished it. It almost always has an ugly phase where you want to chuck it. Finish it before you throw it away."
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| I downloaded "I Love Us" from eighteen25.com for the cover. Click here for your free copy. |
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| The opening page was an overview of the year. |
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| This is an example of a monthly layout. Simple. |
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| In September/October, I asked the men in the family to take a picture of themselves going to General Priesthood meeting and the women to take a picture of themselves going to the General Relief Society meeting. They also sent their notes as to what they had appreciated in the meetings. The pictures and notes were included in the book as well as the family appreciations everyone wrote at Christmas. |
I'm not positive how many years we'll continue this project, but I do know that everyone voted to do it again this year. Twelve on Twelve of Twelve. I'm excited to see what rolls in tomorrow.
6 comments:
What a fantastic idea to compile your posts into a book for everyone! I think it's brilliant that you have your family participate. I always enjoy seeing their contributions and I don't even know them! I think it's a great tradition and such a cool way to remember the year.
I love it! I will have to put that idea away for the years my kids are grown. Super cute :)
I love 12 of 12 and how well capturing one day adds up to having a whole year captured, especially since I'm not usually a big photo-taker. I'm looking forward to seeing your post tomorrow!
I was impressed that they all participated last year and I'm doubly impressed that they all wanted to continue the project! Yay!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who often wants to throw away my projects before they are finished! (and sometimes afterward as well)
That is FANTASTIC!! I love the clean lines of your layouts. What a great way to document the year. Thanks for sharing with all of us in the blog world :)
P.S. thank you for the reminder that every project goes through an ugly phase...does that apply to parenting as well? I certainly feel like I'm going through one with one of the kids lately!
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