Hi all! I’m Catherine Saunders, guest artist here this month. I’m so happy to be able to share my project life process with you.

We’re at the start of a new adventure in our home which includes a new project life album. Yes, it’s September. Let me explain. The January to December model works for a lot of people, but if it makes more sense to organize your memory-keeping around seasons of your life, then by all means, do it! So, why September? Because I want to document the time our family spends preparing for baby #2, due to arrive at the end of March (yay!). 

My memory-keeping style is pretty minimalist, but it’s often hard to pick and choose what to include when there’s so much beautiful “stuff” available. To complicate things, I don’t generally use just one kit in a layout. My approach is more curated. I like to use a little of this and a little of that to create something really personal. However, that’s all tempered with lots of white space and minimal embellishment so the photos can breathe. These days, I’m inspired by a more organic feel than my previous project life albums. I want to include some handwriting (a stretch for me!), neutral colors, as well as texture and pattern. Here’s a look at my week “twelve.”

For me, part of the minimalist style includes making choices that carry throughout a layout, or even an entire album. I started by choosing a couple of fonts I’ll use over and over. My current favorites are Oswald and Aleo.

I also like to pick a couple of elements that will appear in each layout. This saves time (fewer choices down the road!) and gives the album a cohesive look. Each week, I use the week in review cards in two different ways. First, as a wrap-up to the week:

And second, as the number for the week of my pregnancy:

In a minimalist layout, lots of white space is great, but what do you do with lots of photos? I had a bunch of pictures I wanted to use from our weekend in Lake Tahoe, so I put them in a 12 x 12 collage using pressplate no. 37. So easy. I added a few elements which helped tell the story and link the right side with the left.

To balance all of that color, I used a very simple insert that would face the collage. I love all the white space and the starkness of the photo, but it needed a little something. Enter some polka-dot washi tape.

In this album, I’m attempting to journal in a bit more detail, which isn’t always easy when you’re trying to keep it simple. That’s where design comes into the picture. I had to give a nod this week to our son walking down the stairs alone. Big deal, so it warranted an 8 x 10 insert with lots of white space, a little text and a touch of pattern. I used a template from hello there and patterned papers from quintessentials no. 1 and from where I stand.

Minimalist style certainly doesn’t mean you can’t use lots of photos or tell lots of stories. For me it just means that design choices are really important, which makes the creative process so much fun. I edit a lot, meaning I choose my photos and embellishments and then I get rid of some of them. Don’t be afraid to let the most important photos and stories shine. Sometimes, less really can be more.

Additional products used: woodgrain journaling cards, pictures + words no. 6 and no. 7, “moments” text from ten things. 12 x 12 collage printed on lustre paper at Costco.

You can check out more of my life and design projects on my blog, instagram and twitter or see what inspires me on pinterest. Thanks so much for letting me share! xo, C

Catherine Saunders

I am a designer, novice photo editor, Navy wife, mom, triathlete + lover of mango sorbet.

Design motto: Let the photos breathe, play with type, mix and match + don’t be afraid to edit.

Coffee or tea? Coffee, for sure! These days I’ll take a decaf pumpkin spice latte, thanks.