Sit back, pour a cup of your favorite beverage, and peruse December with me.
I decided to give a new size of album a try: 3 x 8. It was a fun challenge. I also purchased some of Ali's digital goodies, but ended up mostly using hard copies of materials.
On the flipside is my intention page, which Ali stresses as important with each project--the why behind what we are doing. I also used one of her
gold foiled tags and
chipboard stickers. It made for an easy, nice-looking entry to the album.
On the flipside, I used another of Ali's oval chipboard stickers, and I added paper from
Brandi Kincaid's "Made Merry" designs for Feed Your Craft. Day 1 is about a little music box tree that I have had for ages. The gold-foiled numbers came from one of Ali's DD kits a few years back. The tab was one of her chipboard stickers from this year.
I decided to show one of my favorite things: peeking in my window and seeing the tree through the wreath. Yep, I looked creepy taking the photo, but I had to try to get the shot, which at night is no easy task. Stickers are from Ali's collection this year.
I also subscribe to Ali's Stories By The Month, so the "December stories" card came in handy from that month's kit. The sticker on the tab is from Brandi Kincaid. Day 3 shows some fluctuations in our temperature this season.
I had to highlight my Yorkie puppy on Day 4. This December was so fun with her. She is the sweetest. Day 5 was simply my son's Christmas list in a page protector. Simple is good.
On the flipside of the list, I used some pattern paper from a previous DD kit. I alternated my ink depending on the shade of the stripe I was writing on. Day 6 starts with a program from a ladies' evening at our church.
The photo shows our table decorations, created by one of the ladies at our table.
Day 7 discusses the insanity of taking doctoral level classes, especially at the holidays.
On Day 8, my friend, Kim, and I, went to local scrapbook store for a class with Gina K. Good times!
Gina demonstrated her foiling products, so, of course, I added some foiling with my journaling.
Day 9 uses a card from a previous Story Kit (I think it was the "me" kit). I thought some stats abut me right now would be cool. It does not show up well, but the card underneath the 9 is letterpressed from this year's
Jasmine Jones DD kit. (I loved this kit, by the way)
The hexagon layered card came as part of the
"Joy" Story Kit...perfect timing! I added some stars to give it some sparkle. For Day 10, I wrote a little journaling about the struggle of one of my buddies. I also had to show off the stamped gold-foiling I did for her son's Christmas gift. The journaling is under the flap. The sentiment card (another Ali creation from my stash) is pretty perfect for the situation.
For Day 11, I cut and painted a chipboard divider. I discuss the process of "tree foofing."
For Day 12, I used a digital element:
a tag. On the back, I added a photo of our team's award-winning costuming. Day 13 is another snuggly shot of my puppy. The "Stay Cozy." card was from the
December Stories By the Month.
Day 14 uses scraps of wrapping paper. I was excited to find this paper in the Target Dollar Spot. It was cute, and came with baker's twine and a tag that matched. I ended up picking up several varieties. I used a few of Brandi Kincaid's elements to tie it all together.
I highlighted brunch time I shared with some of my ladies on the 15th. It was my first time to a local restaurant and it was delicious. For Day 16, I focused on the finding of my Nikon D60. Three years...I had given up hope. I made a tab out of one of Ali's 3 x 4 cards.
Day 17 focuses on the humor of the season. I cut up some cards from the Jasmine Jones kit that worked, and then printed the comic on the lower right.
On Day 18, a friend texted me a "Mission Impossible" from school. I met her. We Facetimed a buddy. We fixed the problem. This photo remains our only evidence that the incident occurred (which is why I am keeping it covered). It still makes me laugh. Let's just say there are some things in schools that you want to try to fix yourself before asking for help. I love the Brandi Kincaid card I used for the flap. The tab is a chipboard sticker of Ali's.
There's that "Joy" Story Kit, coming in again! I really love it.
On the back of the card, I used Ali's "Counting Joys" card to list some things that make me happy. On Day 20, I used one of the transparencies from the DD kit as I discussed Max's ornament.
For the past two years, Max has forgotten to wear red or green the day before break. It was VERY important to him that he remember this year. He wrote himself a note and everything! On Day 22, I decided to take some time to discuss why I did not do Christmas cards this year. I cut a 6 x 8 sheet of Brandi Kincaid's set and use the other half for the back.
I had to document the full moon. It was gorgeous, and particularly delightful because I was not teaching. Kids on full moon days are wacky! I really like how the gold-foiled number looks on top of the gold-foiled tag. The tag and chipboard stickers are from Ali. On Day 24, I captured Max's letter to Santa as well as a picture of church. I used an element from the "Joy" Story Kit, yet again, for the journaling.
On Christmas, my husband took a ton of photos. I limited myself to 12, mainly because my album was jam-packed by that point. I started with the transparency that I foiled. Then, I followed Ali's idea from Project Play 2 to create a tree shape.
I added the sparkly circles to mimic the idea of decorations and bring a bit of unity to the tree. I also used small sparkly stickers to emanate from the star.
On the back of the strips for the tree, I created a legend for the pictures that followed. They were folded and I used a stamped tab (from Ali's stamps) as a way to open them.
I ended this year's book with this tag of Ali's I added the Stampin' Up! ribbon with a small staple.
On the flipside, I used this paper from Brandi Kincaid, then I printed scripture on vellum and attached it with washi. This scripture is read on Christmas day at dawn, and I thought it was the perfect way to focus all of this crazy season. If Mary were human now, I am pretty sure she would be a scrapbooker. Just sayin'.
On the back cover, I used these large puffy stickers of Ali's to add a year to the creation.
The album was definitely full.
I borrowed this idea from a fellow DD-er in the Facebook group. I put the stickers on a piece of transparency. I ended up using a tiny strip of red line tape to keep it in place.
I have absolutely NO reason to buy more stuff for next year's book. I have much left over that I should be able to use just fine. We shall see if I stick to that.
