Part1: December 2010 in Review Album

It's the first week of January and yay me, my December memories are already scrapped! I am always playing catch up with my photos so it's so nice to have done something with them already. While I didn't do one of the popular Daily December Albums, it still highlights all the seasonal events my family enjoyed. The pages are either handmade envelopes with tags or fold out pages so it's fun and interactive.

Another big accomplishment for me, with this project is that I used my Zutter Bind It All for the first time! So that this post won't go on and on and be photo overload, I've split the book into two posts, the second half will be shared tomorrow. I used some truly gorgeous papers and embellishments from Anna Griffin's Calisto Christmas line that I scored for 40-50 percent off when Micheal's clearanced their holiday scrapbook supplies before the holidays. The splurge for the specialty paper pack that included several flocked designs was totally worth it. I love using them for projects like this because since the pages aren't inside page protectors you can really enjoy the textures.

I supplemented with extra embellishments from Anna Griffin's Holiday Traditions Line and two K & Co lines. Yuletide's Adhesive Chipboard with Glitter Accents made beautiful and quick titles. The 3 Dimensional Stickers with Glitter Accents - Snow Globe are also fabulous. When I saw them and how the glitter really moves about in the snow globes I just had to have them. The last really cool set is from the Glad Tiding Collection and are also dimensional snow globes.

In addition to those supplies I added bits and pieces from my Christmas stash with rub-ons and holly brads from Making Memories, cookie stickers from Mrs. Grossman, and other odds and ends. Pages 1 & 2
On the back of the cover, I am going to do some extended journaling that summarizes the month. Page 2 starts out with our unofficial kick off to the season, the holiday baking session with my mom and Aunt Barb. The red letters seen here, on the cover, and later on are a Sizzlit Alphabet Set no longer available. It's an envelope page and inside I've stashed copies of the recipes we used for the cookies.
Pages 3 & 4
The set of coordinating tags was very useful to creating this album. While too large to use as is most of the time, I cut them up to fit the spaces I had and got a lot of usage out of them. Plus it sped up the production time, no need measure, to computer generate text, cut, etc.
Page 4 Fold Out
I decided to incorporate fold out pages so that all the pretty double sided papers could be enjoyed.
Pages 6 & 7
If you noticed there was a jump in pages, 5 and the other side of 6 are not finished. They're of trimming the tree and our family Christmas card photo. I just haven't printed those out yet. This double page spread is of our breakfast with Santa. The red paper has flocked trees, meaning that they are fuzzy to the touch.
Pages 7 & 8
ER's big moment with Santa opens to reveal more family photos and page 8 shows ER making the painted wrapping paper. More of the steps are shown in the tag that is slid inside of page 8's pocket along with a photo of her using it to wrap the calendars we made.
Page 7 Fold Out
Pages 9 & 10
These two pages are both pockets and each double sided tags inside. I'll show you the reverse of the tag on the right in the next photo.
Pages 11 & 12
The snow themed tag shows you how big the tags are in their original state. Far too large for most of the pages of my 5.5"X6" book.
Pages 13 & 14
Thanks for looking at the first half of my mini-album. I hope you enjoyed it. I took me two afternoons to assemble and it's so different from most of my work because it's decidedly more elegant and sophisticated in style than the bright, cutesy style of products I normally lean toward. It's nice to break out of the comfort zone once in a while! Please come back for Part 2 tomorrow!



Shared At: Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog, Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie, Letting the Creative Juices Flow at These Creative Juices, Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee, Handmade Tuesday at Ladybug Blessings, Tuesday Tell All at My Craftie Life, I Made This Tuesday at This and That, and Too Cute Tuesday at the Funky Polkadot Giraffe.