Welcome to….Project Mouse!
I am so excited to share this with you today…seriously, I can barely breathe I’m so excited!
First of all, “We’re Going to Disneyland”! After 3 years since our last Disney trip, we decided it was time to go see Mickey again. This time we are taking our first trip to Disneyland. For all of you Disneyland veterans, I welcome ANY tips you have for a Disneyland newbie!!
Documenting Disney
As I was planning my trip, I started thinking about how to document this trip. I begin by looking at my last trip’s documentation… (an autograph book, 2 kids journal books, our main printed book, and a planning binder filled with planning sheets, schedules, notes, and other Disney paraphernalia). Whew! I love each of these, BUT there are a couple of problems. Problem #1) By the time I documented all of the Disney pages (some years later), I had forgotten a lot of the smaller memories. Problem #2) TOO many separate items!! So, I wondered how do I tackle this challenge this time around? I wanted ONE book, but also a way to document all of the details of the trip so I wouldn’t forget them. Problem #3) I need it to be quick and easy. It usually takes me years (yes, I say years) to finish an entire Disney book. I wanted something that would be easy and fast. How do I do this? How do I document the trip to cover everything from the planning stages, to an autograph book, to the details of each day on our trip…and keep it simple all at the same time?
Well, you may have heard about a little something called, Project Life. It was developed by Becky Higgins and it is a “pocket styled book” form of memory keeping. Basically you start with pocket pages in which you can insert different cards, journal cards, memorabilia, and photos in and those make up your layout. I thought this “Pocket Style” of memory keeping would be a PERFECT way to document our trip…
Introducing . . . Project Mouse.
Britt & I really want to get across that Project Mouse is MORE than just another digi-kit. It’s a system, a solution, an important tool in your memory keeping. We even wrote up a Mission Statement.
Project Mouse: Bundle No. 1 – Basics
It comes bundled together for discounted price, but each individual pack is in the store as well.
Project Mouse: Basic Cards
Project Mouse: Quote Cards
BONUS: FREE Corner Rounding Action
And for those interested in using Project Mouse as printables, you’ll be happy to know all the card packs come with easy pre-made printable sheets!
Project Mouse: Elements
Showing Off Our Project Mouse – The Basics (EXAMPLES)
KRISTA >> My plan is to scrap my trip ENTIRE upcoming trip Disney trip and make it into a real life “paper” Project Life version of Project Mouse. My plan is to print and bring specific cards (coming soon) on our trip, so that at the end of the day I can hand my kids a card and ask them to write down their favorite thing of the day OR use the cards in the parks to collect autographs (then all that’s left to do is just slide them into my Project Life binder when I get home).
Here is my first printed Project Mouse layout for this trip:
BRITT >> Britt will be doing everything DIGITALLY and she is conducting a little experiment. She will be trying to scrap her ENTIRE September 2012 Disneyland trip Pocket Style and will use Project Mouse to get things started!! Her goals are to see: 1) if she likes Pocket Style enough for an entire album 2) how much she misses creating traditional pages 3) how long it takes and 4) if Pocket Style is really as quick and efficient as she thinks it is.
Here is her digital page:
So we have both sides of the spectrum of how to use Project Mouse covered. Fun, yes?
WANT TO SEE MORE EXAMPLES USING PROJECT MOUSE: BASICS?
Want to see more creative inspiration using Project Mouse: Bundle No. 1 – Basics?
Click here to see examples from our creative team.
PProject Mouse: Bundle No. 2 – “Leading Up to the Magic”
THIS collection…it’s ALL about what happens “Leading Up to the Magic”! I believe that your vacation begins even before you get to that magical destination. Think of the memories created just anticipating your trip. From the moment your special destination is first revealed, to the booking of your trip, from creating countdowns to ticking off the days until you leave on your trip, to your flight and arriving at your destination…
We go through –> Countdown, Planning, Travel, and Arrival
1) “Project Mouse: Reveal/Countdown”
2) “Project Mouse: Planning”
3) “Project Mouse: On our Way”
4) “Project Mouse: We’re Here”
You can SAVE $$ buy purchasing the Project Mouse: Bundle No. 2 – “Leading Up to the Magic”
How are these Different? Memory Prompts
These packs are a little different from the last couple…How?? Well, we didn’t want to create something just to help scrapbook your trip…but something MORE that would actually help capture the DETAILS of your trip. Those little details and the small moments that have been easily forgotten or that you don’t always get photographs of. Included in each of these packs you will find numerous story prompts, blank forms, journalers, phrases, and memory joggers to help trigger and capture those small moments of your trip.
Project Mouse: Planning
Project Mouse: On Our Way
Project Mouse: We’re Here!
Showing Off Project Mouse – Leading Up to the Magic (EXAMPLES)
KRISTA >>>>> I can not tell you how much fun doing the project is…we haven’t even left for our latest trip yet, but I’m capturing all these fun memories that we’ve made before the actual trip has even begun. I truly am enjoying myself with this hybrid pocket style album. It’s been fun to put in bits of notes the kids have written and drawings that my son drew of Donald Duck. I will be posting about this soon on my blog!!
BRITT >>>>> She is just as excited to use these card packs as I am!! She is continuing to conduct her little “experiment” by trying to scrap her entire Sept 2012 Disneyland trip Pocket Style – and Project Mouse is DEFINITELY getting her there. Check out her page!
WANT TO SEE EXAMPLES USING PROJECT MOUSE: LEADING UP TO THE MAGIC?
Want to see creative inspiration using Project Mouse: Bundle No. 2?
Click here to see examples from our creative team.
Project Mouse: Bundle No. 3 – “Character Moments”
This bundle we are focusing on all those magical character moments!! Let’s face it – giving that adorable mouse a hug and getting our photo taken with him is like THE HIGHLIGHT of our Disney trips. Am I right?? Add Project Mouse: Bundle No. 3 to your stash and you’ll be pocket scrapping all your character meet & greets in a flash!
Project Mouse: Character Moments
We go through –> Autgraphs and Character Meetings
1) “Project Mouse: Autograph Cards”
2) “Project Mouse: Characters”
3) “Project Mouse: Character Word Bits”
You can purchase all the new products at a 30% savings if you purchase Bundle No. 3.
Printing Them Off to Take Along
I am SO excited to show you what I did before my trip. I printed the autograph cards before I left, cut them, and placed them into a pouch ready to take with us on our trip. (For those of you wanting printing advice, I will be doing a post about that on the blog this week as well…so stay tuned.) I was pretty excited about this idea, because I knew how easy it would be once I came back home to just slip them right into my Project Life / Project Mouse binder when I arrived back. Here are a few pictures of the cute autograph cards printed out and ready to take with me! Is this not the best thing ever?!
One of Britt’s CT members, Justine, ALSO printed the autograph cards to take along on her trip.
bellbird
Another of Britt’s CT members, Melinda, ALSO went to Disneyland and took the autograph cards with her. She sent us some super cute photos of Minnie signing her card. How fun is this?? I love the idea of taking ACTUAL Project Mouse products with you to the park!
Documenting Once You’re Back Home
Krista >>> Since I’m back from our first Disneyland trip, I am ready to start creating pages! Because I printed the autograph cards beforehand to take with me and had the characters sign directly on them, it was super easy to just slip them into my Project Life page protectors. Check them out:
kristasahlinBritt>>> I love Britt’s page and how she described her process of using the digital pocket-styled scrappbooking for this “magical” moment – “This was one of my most favorite memories from this past trip, which normally I shy away from scrapping because it scares me! I don’t know why, it just does. I powered through with my pocket style “experiment” and I have to admit I love the results. It’s photo-centric – the photos tell the story. But there’s heartfelt journaling as well. Yay. Mission accomplished.”
brittWANT TO SEE EXAMPLES USING PROJECT MOUSE: Character Moments?
Want to see creative inspiration using Project Mouse: Bundle No. 3?
Click here to see examples from our creative team.
PProject Mouse: Bundle No. 4 – “A Day at the Park”
THIS collection…it’s ALL about what happens on “A Day at the Park”! We created an entire pack dedicated to journaling and recording your day-to-day memories on a Disney vacation. There are packs to focus on the rides & attractions, food, daily documenting and a HUGE pack of Day In the Park Word Bits… So from the time you wake up, to your meals, rides, magical memories, snacks, treats, more rides, more fun and back to the hotel, we’ve got it covered!!!
We go through –> your day of capturing Daily Moments, Rides, Attractions, Food
1) “Project Mouse: Daily Documenting”
2) “Project Mouse: Rides & Attractions”
3) “Project Mouse: Food”
4) “Project Mouse: A Day in the Park”
You can purchase all the new products at a 30% savings if you purchase Bundle No. 4.
kristasahlin
britt
WANT TO SEE EXAMPLES USING PROJECT MOUSE: A Day at the Park?
Want to see creative inspiration using Project Mouse: Bundle No. 4?
Click here to see examples from our creative team.
Project Mouse Flikr group
We are also excited to announce our NEW Flikr group for “Project Mouse”. We wanted to create a community where we could share our “Project Mouse” pages with others that are also documenting their magical memories. It will be a wonderful place to share with others on their Project Mouse journey. We hope you’ll come join the group and post your Project Mouse LOs there too! Pretty soon it’ll be a group FULL of amazing layouts to inspire and delight each other.
You can find us here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/projectmouse/
More Project Mouse to Come
Be sure to check back regularly on our blogs!! We each will be blogging about the whole project from each perspective, PLUS sharing any tips, tricks, /or tutorials about things we learn on the way. Another way to stay in touch would be to sign up for my weekly newsletter. You can sign up here. (pssst…. you get a free kit just for signing up)
32 Comments
NEW | Project Mouse: Basics + FREEBIE | Sahlin Studio | Digital Scrapbooking Designs
February 15, 2013[...] mission, backstory, and lots of details can be found in a very special post on my blog today, Welcome to Project Mouse! I highly encourage you to click over and read [...]
ss-blogteam
February 15, 2013What an amazing collection! This is going to be a must have for all mousers! Luv it!
Jennifer Butler
February 15, 2013Does the corner action work with photoshop elements 11?
Donna
February 15, 2013Wonderful idea. Beautiful kit. Will you have a Pinterest board just for the Project Mouse ideas?
Keren
February 15, 2013Get a wheel chair! It will always get you first in line! HA!
jen s
February 15, 2013This is just fabulous!! We are total Disney nuts – my husband & I met there, I worked for the Mouse for over 11 years and he just celebrated his 15th anniversary. We go there quite often and I’ve used PL for the last year – so totally love that you’ve created this!! I always think I’m going to create these things on my own, but then I never do… This is awesome – I can’t wait to purchase & use on our pics from last night! I would encourage you to add a Princess line too as that’s a huge part of any Disney vacation for families with daughters. Great job – super pumped!!
AmyHip
February 15, 2013love. love. LOVE! We are hardcore mousers and go to Disney World just about every year. I have two trips that I have yet to document, and a trip to Disneyland this coming May. I’m buying the bundle right now!!
Lucy
February 15, 2013Love this, perfect timing. We are going to Disneyland for the 1st time in March. So excited! So happy I get another chance to try the project life thing. Wasn’t ready in January but I think our Disney trip will best be documented the Project Mouse way! Thanks so much!
Shannon
February 15, 2013What a fantastic idea Krista! The core kit looks spectacular
For Disneyland tips, I’m full of them (been WAY too many times to count). #1 Advice: Go early, take an afternoon break when it gets crowded and come back early evening.
Also, how busy it is has a lot to do with the time of year you’re going. There’s a great service by touringplans.com that tracks the historical data for every day of the year: http://touringplans.com/disneyland-resort/crowd-calendar
If you need more tips or want recommendations on where to eat, etc. feel free to email me
Jlynn Wilkinson
February 16, 2013I have TONS of these pages sitting in my spare bedroom upstairs and never really knew what to do with them (from when I switched from post bound to three ring) and now I am digital only.
Not sure if this is the right forum to ask the question – but how do I print the cards for Krista’s idea? I love that idea. BUT then if I want my kids own handwriting on the cards but want to make ONLY digital like Britt, how do I get that handwriting into my digital page? scan? and how do I make it look like a traditional page – just lining up the cards?
oh my, it’s so confusion, but I love the idea of being able to quickly put together our summer trip to Disneyland. I’m STILL trying to finish 3 trips to Disneyworld from the past 5 years. sigh
Krista
February 16, 2013Good for you to look at getting these pages finished. No time like the present!!
Printing the cards out (on paper)… SUPER easy!! I start a 8 1/2×11 document in Photoshop, slide the cards I want onto there, then hit print. I found using a matte photo paper works the best. Cut out and done. If you want to remain digital AND having your kids handwriting the card it is a little trickier, but doable!! You have a couple option: you can either 1) TYPE (what they wrote) onto the digital card, or maybe get their handwriting into a font OR 2) the easiest may just be scan it, and then slide the scan onto your digital page. It depends how important having their handwriting is to your project. As to how to scrap them on your digital page…. it is TOTALLY personal preference. An easy way it to line it up in a Project Life style format… so people LOVE this for the simplicity, some people find it challenge from regular digi-scrapping. It’s all in what you like. Hope this info helps!! Good luck!
Jlynn wilkinson
February 16, 2013Awesome thank you. I love the idea of making autograph pages too!
Jlynn Wilkinson
February 16, 2013and thank you for the freebies to start! they’re AWESOME
valeria
February 16, 2013OMG! i love mickey but i don’t have money and im from another country:/ i hope some day i can buy it its so gorgeous!
Digismacker
February 20, 2013Why yes, yes they are.
Project Mouse: "Leading Up to the Magic" + FREEBIE | Sahlin Studio | Digital Scrapbooking Designs
February 22, 2013[...] Project Mouse is about… our mission, backstory, and details can be found in this post here, Welcome to Project Mouse! I highly encourage you to click over and read [...]
Project Mouse: Our “Honeymoon” and Ryan’s First Trip | finn & roo
February 22, 2013[...] hope that, if you’re a Disney fan, you check out Project Mouse! While it’s clearly well suited for documenting your trip, as you can see, it’d be [...]
Jenny B.
February 23, 2013I am so excited about Project Mouse! I just bought both of the first two bundles, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect as we are just starting to plan our trip! I never would have thought to record details about all the planning I’m doing, but now I will! Thanks so much for all the work you and Brittney put into these kits. They are AMAZING!
Brandy Layton
February 23, 2013We just booked our 6 day 5 night trip to Disney World Last week..I new I was going to use this format as I do PL. This could not have come at a more amazing time! Just bought both and thank you for making it easier for me
off to prep and memory keep. xoxo
Krista
February 25, 2013Eek!! So happy for you. I’m glad that we could be with you on your DW and memory keeping journey.
Liz
February 25, 2013LOVE this!! Any plans on making these things in “paper” format, for those of us that don’t do digital (and don’t have Photoshop) =) I know I need to get on the bandwagon!! LOL
Krista
February 25, 2013Hi-ya Liz!! I’m going paper with this project so it IS do-able. The files DO include printable jpegs that you can print on your home printer. OR, I will be doing a tutorial on printing these from a home computer, I will try to focus on another program that is not Photoshop. ALSO… I’ve been doing ALL my printing of the cards at Staples. You can take the files there and they can set it up for you. It has been a really inexpensive option. I got most of the cards printed for about $12. Stay tuned to the blog in the upcoming weeks for more info and tutorials.
Emily Adams
February 25, 2013Wow – I am in love! And I’m thinking about all the Disney pictures and “stuff” I have sitting in my scrapbook room closet. I signed up for the newsletter. I can’t wait to see more!!
Becki Clark
February 26, 2013OMG!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! I am assuming there is no way to get this in paper form? I don’t have Photoshop and no clue how to do digital. I would LOVE to pay someone to print all this for me. Seriously. Please help. We are going to Disney World May 2014
Vikki
February 27, 2013Hi, I’m from Australia and do not use digital, however I would still be willing to buy the bundles in the hope I could get someone here to print the cards for a fee. Could I do that?
Also will this incorporate Disneyworld as well cause we’re bigger fans of Florida than La and hence more photos from our 4 trips.
Thanks
Vikki
Krista
February 27, 2013Absolutely!! Print them off to use. That is how I am using it for my most recent trip too!
Rebecca
February 28, 2013OMG – amazing! Love, love, love these products. I have two trips to document and now I am beyond excited. Thank you so much for putting this all together!
Leslee
March 25, 2013I managed to stumble across your site today. And I am so thankful I did. Your product has entered my life at the perfect time as we are starting to plan our trip to Disneyland in the fall with my daughters, son-in-law and 3 amazing grandchildren.
I am interested in being able to print these from home as I am not a digital scrapper, but want to do it Project life style.
Thanks for creating such an awesome pRoduct. And I so look forward to recording our trip!
Leslee
Jodie
April 6, 2013I am using Project Life to scrapbook a trip my family took to Disneyland and Los Angeles 20 years ago when I was a child!!! These products are fantastic and I can’t wait to use them in my album. I love that many of them are open ended so I will be able to use them throughout my travel album, not just for the days when we were at Disneyland. Thank you so much for these products!!!
Heather
April 10, 2013OMG!! We are going to Disneyland in November for my son’s 10th birthday (and my 36th) and I am looking at doing a homemade smash book like what you have posted and I am so going to be buying these bundles! Thanks for the freebies!! I have already signed up for your newsletter! I am so excited
http://theprosperityproject.blogspot.co.uk
April 16, 2013of course like your web-site however you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your
posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the
truth on the other hand I’ll certainly come back again.
Krista
April 16, 2013HAHA!! I never call myself a good writer…. I like to think it’s just part of my charm. Don’t hold it against me. I think I try to do so many posts, tutorials, products and freebies that I get stretched a little thin. Please don’t let it bother you too much.
Thanks for stopping by.