I have actually been doing really well with my Holiday Daily album. Not with the posting about it, but the actual doing of it. It was something I was worried about and actually nearly gave up on before I even hit December (life is just a little crazier than usual), but I am glad I am sticking with it and am finding a routine and attitude that keeps me going.
I also think that the consistent page size is helping. It's easy to work with. Past years, I have been mixing it up. I am really liking the simplicity that one page size with a 2 page spread per day (although I can add a little if needed, I am okay with that) adds to the process.
November 28
This day was one of my "fillers." I have a few planned for days where I don't have time for a photo, or don't have a particular story I want to tell. I had taken the photo on the 25th and completed the page on the 28th - inspired on the envelope by one I had seen in the group on flicker (can't recall which one now, but I might go back and find it).
In the little envelope is a card where we will write the books we are loving this year. We have a slew of Christmas books (we continue to collect more and more each year), but some are favorites different years. This year, three favorites are Who's Coming to Our House, Holly Claus and a Backyardigans book.
Most everything is from my stash, so I am not sure what some of it is. Pocket is KI Memories. Twine is from the Twinery (love their sampler pack), canvas star is Canvas Corp, the little kraft star on the books tag is Studio Calico, and the note paper is October Afternoon as are the little word stickers (I think the chipboard sticker is Basic Grey).
November 29
When reading Ali Edwards blog, she noted that one of the things she likes about her December Daily is that it gives her the opportunity to try new things. I have been embracing this notion and taking advantage of the small size. I have so many layouts and ideas starred in my blog, it is fun to put some of them into action.
November 29, I used a sketch that October Afternoon has recently posted. The day is about our ordinary day. It was an excuse to take photos of the kids playing in the living room in front of the tree. Love the bokeh!
Journaling is typed on my SUPER old typewriter. Paper is all October Afternoon as are the stickers. I used Washi tape on the bottom of both (don't recall who made that one). The star is Jillibean Soup (bought a bunch of those last year since I loved them so much) and I inked some white vinyl stickers for the number).
November 30
Madtown was honored as one of the Citizen's of the Month at her school, so I knew early on that this would be the highlight of November 30 as that is when the ceremony at school was. I didn't get a good photo inside, so I took one during her extra recess. I like a lot of red in my Holiday book, but decided to embrace her coat and striped tights and went pink and blue, even adding Ali Edwards word art in the color of her tights.
Tried out another October Afternoon sketch too, and LOVE the results.
All the pattern paper and the rub ons are October Afternoon (I recently was at their warehouse sale and picked up extra winter/holiday supplies with this album in mind). Numbers are old chipboard ones (I have a bunch of these I stocked up on a few years ago) sprayed with blue Glimmer Mist. Trusty typewriter was used again (I recently moved it from the living room to my scrap area so that I would use it more, and I use it all the time now).
December 1
This day, of course, had to be about the advent calendar. I took a cue from Martha Stewart and filled bags and then hung them from bakers twine in the kitchen windows with numbers. For the layout, I wanted to try a spread with words - inspired by a page in the Inspire Co. catalog. The number is a freebie included with an order from Ormolu this summer.
Not my favorite page so far, but it works.
December 2
When I took this photo in the morning as Little Man ate breakfast, I knew I needed to use it. I had seen a page on Laura Kurtz's blog that I loved and it inspired me to create the twine circle. My fingers were caked with glue when I was done with it, but I love how it turned out.
The 2 is Sassafrass Lass. I sewed the edges (finally fixed the issue that kept breaking my thread). On the photo, I added a stamped image (Ali Edwards) and punched it out. I added a 2nd circle (Jillibean Soup) and stamped another heart (from an old Love, Elsie package). I have a love/hate relationship with stamping. In the end, LOVE this day.
December 3
This was another no-brainer day as my mom, grandmother, sister in law, niece, Madtown and I all went to see the nutcracker ballet. It had been a long standing tradition for my mom and I for many years that has recently (last year) been revived now that Madtown is old enough to enjoy it.
I managed to get one good photo of Madtown and love that, although she is out of focus because my aperture was set so large, my niece is in the background. On the right it, I have a flock dot transperancy (can't recall who makes this), a chipboard frame from my stash painted red with glitter and a Tim Holtz 3.
Flip the page and you have a portion of the program cover paired with the tickets. I sewed the program to the page and added some more to create a place for th journaling. Actually hand wrote this time.
And, that brings us through yesterday. I haven't decided what I am doing for today. I have a few choices, including the snow that finally graced us yesterday. And, as I watch this fall together, I remember why I put this together each year and happy to keep it up.
