Going back to the basics

I went out on a limb this month with my Project Life spread over at Studio Calico and decided to give the 12x12 size a go again!  I was surprised at how easily the spread came together and really do love this size (I just wish the darn albums weren't so large and bulky).

I found myself following my normal "process" which consisted of printing out all of my photos first, adding in a few filler cards in the extra spaces and then including my journaling.  So fast and so easy!

I think one of the things I always struggled with with this size was having the two pages have a good flow and coordinate well with one another.  Using a kit, like the Wink Wink Project Life kit from Studio Calico this month, really helps make that process easier!

The cards and accents were designed to compliment each other, so it's easy to pull in elements and have a good flow/feel on the page. 

I used my typewriter to add most of journaling onto either my photos or journaling cards.  Typing on photos still is my absolute favorite! I love leaving a little bit of "negative space" when printing out my photos so I can add in my thoughts!

For this photo of my two kids, I was worried the sun and trees in the background would make my typing difficult to see, so I typed onto a piece of white printer paper and then stitched the strips into place!  I love how the words pop from the photo!

The 12x12 size really is such a fun size to work with!  And pairing the design A page protectors with a coordinated kit makes the process even easier!  That's a win-win in my book!