December Daily

Now that I am done with one year of December Daily and have just started this year's album, it's time to summarize a few of the things that worked or didn't work for me. Last year, my December Daily project was very ambitious. I decided I would only use Christmas kits; I bought a 6"x6" D-ring album and decided to make a 2-page spread for each day, plus an insert with the date. So my album ended up being pretty thick. I decided I liked the look of pages with different shapes, and I used my Silhouette a lot to cut borders on pages and to cut out elements and alphas. I did not have any color scheme, and I wanted to use a different alpha for each date. A part from the first couple days of December, all the other pages were done ahead of time, but since I was traveling I couldn't keep up with printing photos. I was hoping to get at least the journaling in, but that doesn't work for me because I need to do the photo editing first to know how much space I will need to leave on the page. After adding a few pages and photos in January up to Day 13 or so, my album sat unfinished until this month, when I powered through, edited all the photos, printed them out and journaled. I am very happy with how my album turned out, but I put a lot of hours in it.

This year, I am way more unorganized. Last year I started working on my album in October. This year, I haven't even decided several major things yet:

• Binding: I don't know whether I will go with a D-ring album again, use binding rings, or maybe try to use wire binding with my new Cinch (it all depends on how thick my album turns out...).
• Size: I am not set on the size of the pages yet, but I have started making a few of them - all 6"x5" for now. So I will have to decide whether I want to have all pages of the same size or not.

But I am going with the flow. Here are the things I have settled on:

• Color scheme: unlike last year, I have a color theme for this year's album. I will use traditional Christmas colors (red and green galore, but mainly red) with pops of aqua blue. I think this will give my album a really cool look.
• Inserts: I won't have separate date inserts this year. Too much work to come up with a unique one for each day, plus they make the album thicker. I will have a different alpha date on each page and that's that.
• Workflow: I will probably not have my album all done ahead of time - this way I can work based on the photos I have. I'd like to incorporate some full page photo too.

And now, it's time to finally share pictures of my 2010 December Daily album. Be ready for a picture overload. :)

I covered the album with metalized tape. :) Hard to photograph, but it looks so pretty!

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6 - this is one of my favorite pages. :)

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10 - I love this page too. Too bad you can't see the stickles on the owl and snowman ball.

Day 11

Day 12 - this is one of my favorites too! :)

Day 13 - I know, I am missing the number 13 on this page... :)

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17 - love this one too!

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Day 25

Day 26 - no number here, but I wanted to include the last couple days of our trip. :)

Day 27 - and you can also see a couple of bits and pieces I had printed out but ended up not using. :)

Forgive the blurriness of a few photos. I didn't have the energy to re-shoot them. :) Here is an almost complete list of credits (I'm sure I am missing a couple things here and there, but nothing major).
Day 1+2
Bundle Up by Kate Hadfield and SMJ Designs
Bingo number by Maya Road
Day 3+4
Crate Paper (Snow Day Collection)
Day 4
Snow Much Fun by Mari Koegelenberg
Line It Up: Templates v. 1 by Krisi's Kreations
Day 5
Christmas Cheer by Jenn Barrette
Line It Up: Templates v. 1 by Krisi's Kreations
Thickers foil sticker by American Crafts; tinsel; InkEssentials white gel pen by Ranger; baker's twine by Martha Stewart
Day 6
A Retro Christmas freebie by Michelle Coleman
Day 7
A Chance of Flurries by Jenn Barrette and Mandabean
Line It Up: Templates v. 1 by Krisi's Kreations
Day 8
A Chance of Flurries by Jenn Barrette and Mandabean
Line It Up: Templates v. 1 by Krisi's Kreations
Day 9
Snow Much Fun by Mari Koegelenberg
Line It Up: Templates v. 1 by Krisi's Kreations
Day 10
Happiest Season of All by Britt-ish Designs
Line It Up: Templates v. 1 by Krisi's Kreations
Thickers foil sticker by American Crafts; baker's twine by Martha Stewart; Stickles by Ranger; red gel pen by Reminisce
Day 11
Very Merry by DeCrow Designs and Britt-ish Designs
Foundations - Round by DeCrow Designs (retired)
Day 12
Hustle and Bustle by Britt-ish Designs
Day 13
Season of Giving by Sahlin Studio and Sugarplum Paperie
Day 14
Foundations - Square by DeCrow Designs (retired)
Holly and Ivy by DeCrow Designs and Studio Rebecca
Day 15
Counting Down to Christmas by Jenn Barrette
Day 16
Christmas Wonder by Kaye Winiecki and Cori Gammon
Bingo card from Vintage Charm by Jenn Barrette (retired)
Day 17
Christmas Wonder by Kaye Winiecki and Cori Gammon
Crate Paper (Snow Day Collection) - right Day
Gift from Counting Down to Christmas by Jenn Barrette
JOY word strip from Snipettes: Season of Giving by Sahlin Studio
Day 18
Christmas Wonder by Kaye Winiecki and Cori Gammon
Crate Paper (Snow Day Collection) - left Day
Word strips from Counting Down to Christmas by Jenn Barrette
Day 19
Noel - A Vintage Christmas kit by Mari Koegelenberg
Day 20
Cozy Christmas by Leora Sanford (retired)
Tree from Holly and Ivy by DeCrow Designs and Studio Rebecca
Gift from Counting Down to Christmas by Jenn Barrette
Crate Paper (Snow Day Collection) - right Day
Day 21
Crate Paper (Snow Day Collection) - left Day
Gift and "wrapping gift" word strip from Counting Down to Christmas by Jenn Barrette
Holiday Mixed Media by Sahlin Studio
Season of Giving by Sahlin Studio and Sugarplum Paperie
Day 22
Element on left Day from Holiday Cheer by WMsquared Designs
Christmas Doodles 2 by Leora Sanford (retired)
Cozy Christmas by Leora Sanford (retired)
Flip Flops alpha stamps by CD Muckosky
Day 23 and 24
12 Days the kit by Mari Koegelenberg
Day 25
12 Days the kit by Mari Koegelenberg
Santa and alpha from Very Merry by DeCrow Designs and Britt-ish Designs
Photo inserts: Falala papers by Rachel Young Designs
Day 26
A Touch of Winter by Erica Zane - left Day
Holly and Ivy by DeCrow Designs and Studio Rebecca - right Day

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas(!)

We got snow last night, really late this year. :) Between that and all my crafty projects, I am all ready for the Christmas season to start. :) In fact, I put on some Christmas music last night. ;)
All the gorgeous new Christmas releases at The Lilypad are making me want to scrap last year's Christmas pictures, even though they are already in my December Daily album. I used these fantastic products:

Credits:

Christmas Is Here by Kitty Designs

Punched Alpha by Sabrina Dupre Designs

Sugar Shock font bundle by Lauren Reid and Darcy Baldwin

Make sure to stop by tomorrow, because I have started my December Daily album and I have something inspiring to share. :)

Get Your Christmas Craft On!

I haven't scrapped any pictures from Christmas last year, since they are all in my December Daily album, but I wanted to make some digi pages too with my favorite pictures. And this week's 50% off specials at The Lilypad were just perfect to scrap these photos!

These papers are to die for!! Seriously gorgeous!

And here's my page:

Credits:

Falala papers and Falala elements by Rachel Young Designs

It Is Paint v2 by Amy Martin

Be Merry alpha by Designs by Lili

Gimme Space font by Lauren Reid and Darcy Baldwin

I went to the mall to have breakfast with DH yesterday morning, and Christmas was definitely in the air! Christmas music was playing, and there were lots of reindeer and Christmas trees and Christmas lights everywhere. I joked that I should head over to the mall when I'm working on my December Daily album, to get in the Christmas mood! :-)

Low on Cards!

I haven't made cards in a few weeks, so on Sunday I had to make a new one to give to DH for my P52 Cards. :)

You can see the Week 46 card here.

And now I'd better get working on a card for this week! But it's tough because I seem to be doing mostly Christmas stuff lately so I need to switch gears. :)

It's DONE!

My 2010 December Daily album is finally done!! I only went up to day 27, instead of doing the full month as I'd originally intended, but that's OK because it's when our trip back home ended so it made sense to the album there. I am so happy to be done with it, and it looks so pretty! Unfortunately sharing pictures of my December Daily is a daunting task (I have to take at least 60 pictures, edit them, and try to round up the credits - I kept track of the things I used but I ended up mixing and matching some of the elements on different pages...) so I'm not quite sure when I'll tackle that. Perhaps next weekend if I get some decent natural light. Now I can seriously think about what to do for this year. I'd love to do an album again, but one that requires less work. In the meantime, I have a card to share; I finally had time to play with the gorgeous collection that Krista of Sahlin Studio released for DSD weekend. I printed it out yesterday along with the last bits I needed for the December Daily album. :)

Credits:

Autumn Afternoon papers and Autumn Afternoon Paper Flowers by Sahlin Studio

Deck of Cards alpha by Valorie Wibbens
Heart from Paintstroke Chatter elements by CD Muckosky

The patterns of these papers are absolutely gorgeous, and I am so in love with that card alpha! ;)


8 days to my mom's visit, and I have about 15 pages to scrap for the album of her last visit... I'll do the best I can! :)

11-11-11

Today is 11-11-11, what a fun date!! I wish I could say I am doing something memorable today, but no, I'm working as usual. But there is a fun 11-11-11 challenge going on at The Lilypad to make this day special. Come play along! You have the chance to win an $11 gift card!

I brought my point&shoot camera at work and will try to take a snapshop at 11:11 AM. If that doesn't turn out well, I will stay awake late tonight and take a shot at 11:11 PM. :)

ETA: Here's the page I made for the challenge! :)

Credits:

Grow With Love: Letters Edition {November} by Sara Gleason and Crystal Livesay

Things That Matter Most collab by The Lilypad Designers

Autumn Afternoon papers and Autumn Afternoon Paper Flowers by Sahlin Studio

Stripey Line alpha by Kaye Winiecki

Deck of Cards alpha by Valorie Wibbens

Sunshine Days alpha by Designs by Lili

Markerific alpha and Paintstroke Chatter elements by CD Muckosky

Finishing Touches 2 by Karah Fredricks

Needed More Stitching Bundle by Amy Martin

The Typewriter font by Heather Hess

Paper Trees

It's time for me to share a Christmas project I did a while back. I know it's still a bit early to think of Christmas, but I like to plan ahead, especially when crafting. I love to create hybrid home decor accents and I love Christmas, so I had lots of fun putting this project together.

Credits:
Once Upon a Shabby Christmas by Haynay Designs

These Christmas paper trees are so simple to make and look so pretty! I am eager to decorate the house for Christmas now! :)