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Christmas Layouts

Hey everyone, Amy here to share some Christmas layouts with you today. I have to admit, in the past I haven't loved scrapbooking Christmas layouts, I am much more of a moment scrapper than an event scrapper. This year I tried to do something different, and capture some of my favorite Christmas moments and create pages about them instead of just the basic Christmas events.

I am still scrapbooking my Christmas pictures from last year, but I had to immediate scrapbook this photo. It's a moment I never want to forget.

 

This is my youngest visiting Santa this year. Yeah, didn't go so well, but I adore the picture I got.

 

For this next layout, I wanted to record how much fun we have every Christmas day when we go to my inlaws. I added several small photos from the day.

 

Finally this layout is also from this year when I took Davis to send Santa, I was so surprised to see that my daughter and her best friend jumped at the chance to sit in Santa's lap too. They totally told him they wanted One Direction stuff. Oye.

I used the December Days kit from Paper Camellia to document these Christmas memories.  It's such an amazing kit, which made it super easy to create these pages.

 

Thanks for stopping by the WCS blog!

Write.

I loved flipping through this month’s gallery and seeing how different each of our holiday traditions are—and how similar! From the nearly-universal to the wildly unique, holiday traditions shape our experiences in ways that influence our very perception of the events.

Which mean they are definitely worth documenting!

The go-to way for writing about traditions is the simple description: every Christmas Eve, we have the tradition of opening new pajamas. But there are so many other journaling possibilities! Here are 10 different ways to write about your holiday traditions beyond simply describing them.

1. Write about the origins of the tradition. When did it first start? Whose idea was it? How did family members initially respond to the idea?

2. Write about the small parts that make up the whole of the tradition. What things about the tradition do you hope are never forgotten? What qualities are unique to your family's interpretation of the tradition? 

In this layout, I could've just written "we always open stockings first" and left it at that, but I also included some smaller details: where the stockings came from, what is usually in them, and where we put them. This creates a fuller picture of the stocking tradition:

3. Write about the foodie details. Food traditions are especially appealing because everyone loves eating! Where did the recipe come from? How have you altered it? What special ingredients do you buy?

4. Write about your behind-the-scenes efforts in carrying out the tradition. What methods do you use? How has it almost gone wrong? What people are involved in making it happen? For example, Santa traditionally leaves a new book under the tree for everyone. Picking these out takes much cross-referencing, Amazon surfing, and talking to other moms about books their kids like.

5. Write about how the tradition has changed over time. Take those Christmas-eve pajamas: for about five years, I always sewed them myself, but somehow I feel too busy lately! Even time-honored traditions change subtly over the years.

In her gallery layout, Aliza wrote about how her son's wish lists have evolved over the years:

6. Write about how people respond differently to the tradition. Another Christmas-Eve necessity in our house is reading aloud the nativity story from the Bible. One of my kids rolls his eyes when we do this, another (the one who is always moving) sits perfectly still, enraptured.

7. Write about occasional traditions. Some things are traditions, but only sometimes. Maybe your family grows out of them, or the tradition gets too small, or it only works some years. For example, some years at my house Santa writes a letter or two and leaves it in a stocking. Some years he’s just too darn tired!

8. Write about your childhood traditions. It’s easy to focus on your life right now, but part of what makes the holidays special is how they remind us of the past. What traditions were your favorite as a child? Have you implemented any of them in your grown-up life? Even if you don’t have a photograph from that time—write about them anyway!

Diane did just that in her gallery layout:

9. Write about your holiday music traditions. When do you start listening to holiday music? What are your favorites? How do you implement music traditions? How do they influence your holiday emotions?

10. Write about how you feel about the tradition. Do you ever begrudge doing it or wish you could stop? Does it connect you to a certain time or person from your past in ways no one might guess? Does the tradition make you feel a certain type of happiness?

I hope your December is filled with all the little joys the holidays bring!

Documenting Christmas Past

During this busy time of year, documenting your holidays likely centers around what is happening right at this very moment. After all, you want to record those memories while they are fresh in your mind! While most of my Christmas scrapping follows that pattern, every year I create at least one page about Christmas past. I love the nostalgia of remembering Christmases gone by. Here’s some prompts to get you started recording your own Christmas memories.

 

Prompt #1: Select Christmas photos from your childhood that spark forgotten memories

My bright red coat with a (fake) leopard collar was the very height of fashion when I was a little girl. I don’t remember the coat, but I clearly recall that puppet on my hand. I loved watching Beany and Cecil and I still love puppets!

 

Prompt #2: Journal childhood Christmas traditions

These aren’t the greatest photos, but they are all I have from my husband’s childhood Christmases. I combined them on this page and asked my husband about his family Christmas traditions. The journaling helps tell a more complete story and goes beyond what is seen in the pictures.

 

Prompt #3: Use memorabilia to tell your childhood Christmas story

While sorting through my great-grandmother’s old photos, I was fortunate enough to come across this Christmas card my parents sent out back in 1966. Mom had written a little note on the back, so I photocopied it to include on the layout. I treasure this page.

 

That concludes our first week of December Dailies! Please come back, we’ll be doing this all month. The fun has just begun!

DIY Shaped Bokeh

Hi Everyone!  Christine here to show you some DIY fun with holiday bokeh photos!

The holidays are here! What a perfect time of the year to do some fun photography with tree lights! Today I’m going to show you a quick and easy way to make some DIY templates to take some fun shaped bokeh photos!  

 

I followed this tutorial at kevinandamanda.com. Why re-invent the wheel, right? Amanda gives step by step instructions on how to construct the paper hood that goes over your lens. All you need are: black cardstock or construction paper, scissors, tape, repositional or temporary adhesive, and some small shaped paper punches.

 

 

I made this paper hood that goes over my 50mm F/1.8 lens. Yes, the tape is ugly but it works just fine! Then I cut out pieces of cardstock that are bigger than the “window” on the hood. I punched shapes in the middle of the cardstock pieces.

 

The hood fits right over my lens like this.

 

Then I applied temporary/repositional adhesive to one side of the punched paper pieces so I can adhere each piece onto my paper lens hood and use them. 

 

Put the manual focus on something very close to the camera, as close as you can get without the object being blurry. The background will blur. The bokeh here is round. This is what it looks like without the paper hood on the lens.

 

I used the star punchout on the paper hood.

Camera settings:
50mm F1.8 lens on manual focus and manual mode
f/1.8
1/15 sec shutter speed
ISO 1600

 

Heart punchout on the paper hood.  I held two candy canes in front of the tree, and focused the camera on them.

50mm F1.8 lens on manual focus and manual mode F/1.8
1/15th sec
ISO 800

 

Swirl punchout on the paper hood.

50mm F1.8 lens on manual focus and manual mode
F/1.8
1/15 sec
ISO 1600

 

And Christmas tree punchout on the paper hood.

50mm F1.8 lens on manual focus and manual mode
F/1.8
1/15 sec
ISO 1600

 

Isn't that cool? Of course it would look super-awesome with some different colored lights on the tree too. And if you have willing subjects such as children or pets, you can put the focus on them and have the bokeh in the background. I made the paper lens hood and punched pieces in about 10 minutes, so it’s super-easy to do! These photos will make fun pages in your December album, Project Life, or any scrapbook page about the holidays!  :)

Give it a try!

Gift Decorations

First, I want to say how happy I am to see these daily posts again! It is so much fun to see what everyone share each day!

I am going to share an easy gift decoration diy. I don't have a template for you, but I used one that I found through a Pinterest search. 

 For this you will need:

• patterned paper
• scissors
• kraft knife
• embellsishments like buttons or brads
• glue
• template with 2 sizes of flowers

 

First, I traced the flowers on the patterned paper. When I had cut them out I used my kraft knife to rough the edges. 

 

Then I glued the two flowers together and hand stitched the button to the center. Before I was done I folded the petals a bit to give the flower a bit of dimension. 

 

 

If you don't end up using these as gift decorations you could use them for a table you are setting for the holidays!

Thanks for popping in and be sure to be back tomorrow!

Lisa O

Make a Decorative Advent Calendar or December Daily With Photos

Hi everyone! Francine here to kick off our daily blogging for December. It's usually around this time of year (i.e. late) that I panic and try to come up with Advent Calendar and December Daily ideas. Last year while I was working on our Advent Calendar and thinking about December Daily,I suddenly had a fabulous idea! I can use last year's photos to do a quick decorative Advent Calendar! And so I did.

 

 

It came together really quickly, so if you're looking for a last minute idea, you could totally pull this off today.You can use this as an Advent Calendar, or as a way to display your December Daily. I used my daily photos from December of the previous year, and hung it all up at once. You can hang each day separately if you like.

Here's how I did it.

I used the Windows Photo Printing Wizard to print my photos off in the 3 x 5 size (9x13 cm if you're in Europe like me). That gets you four photos to an A4 or letter page.

 

I cut 24 pieces of kraft cardstock measuring 4 x 5.5 inches - I used four sheets of 12x12 paper.

 

Once the photos were stuck to the cardstock, I added some washi tape at the top.

Then I punched out 24 circles from white cardstock and added the numbers 1-24 using stickers.

I then hung the cards from Baker's twine using mini clothespins.

 

Squuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaal! I just loved it!

We were able to relive our Christmas Past. Kieran really enjoyed looking at the photos everyday (they were right outside his bedroom), and telling me about Christmas "when I was a baby."

 

Here are some ways you can use this idea:

1. You can hang the cards daily to use as a countdown and talk with your family about what happened one year ago.

2. You can write an activity on the back to do each day.

3. You can do this with the photos you take this year! A hanging December Daily!

 

Have I mentioned that this makes me so happy?

Once Christmas was over I bound the cards together in a book. All my journaling is in my online album, so I printed it out, stuck it on the back of each card and added covers.

Are you doing an Advent Calendar and/or December Daily this year?

Welcome, December!

Hello! it is (nearly) December and the holidays are just around the corner. This time of year we look forward to time spent together, reliving old memories and making new ones. For our gallery, we each put together a page to help celebrate and document our holiday traditions. We hope you will find inspiration and put together your own page of Holiday Traditions.

 

Happy Mail | Celeste Smith

12 x 12 | materials kit (One Little Bird: Happy Mail) + kit (Valorie Wibbens Sprinkles v10) + stitching (Sahlin Studio Stitches v1)+ font (Underwood Champion)

A Note from Celeste
This layout documents the annual Christmas card stuff and mail. Sam always helps with the stamps, return address and labels. We turn it into quite the production line. I always get by cards out the day after Thanksgiving and usually I'm the first card of the season for most people!

December Fun Fact
Looking forward to having the week off between Christmas and New Year's. Think I'll try and reread the Harry Potter series over the break!

 

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Christmas Cards 2012 | Sue Althouse

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned paper (Echo Park) + thickers (American Crafts) + square punch (Creative Memories)

A Note from Sue
This is a layout I create every year using a square punch and the Christmas cards we've received. The idea is not original with me. I think I saw it on Ali Edward's blog years ago. It has become a holiday scrapping tradition!

December Fun Fact
My husband helps me every year with our special cookies dipped in chocolate. Everyone in the family expects us to bring them for Christmas!

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New Traditions | Lisa Ottosson

8.5 x 11 | materials journaling cards (Crate Paper, Becky Higgins) + rub-ons (Creative Imaginations) + labels (Crate Paper) + doily (Michael`s) + pen (Sharpie)

A Note from Lisa
I made this layout about my expectations of the new traditions a new relationship brings. I wanted to use a non-specific photo so I used one from last year where I played with the bokeh effect. I love using products made for pocket scrapbooking on my regular layouts as well.

December Fun Fact
I love Christmas! But I also love the whole project of December where we prepare for the actual day.

 

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Made with Love | Stephanie Bryan

12 x 12 | materials | cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned paper (Carta Bella, Chic Tags) + stickers (Glitz Design) + rub ons (Chic Tags) + tags (Chic Tags)

A Note from Stephanie
One of our favorite holiday traditions is making Christmas gifts for our friends. Last year, we made I Spy ornaments and the kids loved making them!

 

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Advent Legos | Jennifer Larson

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned paper (Fancy Pants) + buttons (Fancy Pants) + stickers (Fancy Pants) + ink (Stampin’ Up!) + gems (Mark Richards, Stampin’ Up!) + die cuts (Fancy Pants) + die cutting system (Silhouette Cameo) + fonts (Lobster)

A Note from Jennifer Larson
Every year we do this Advent calendar where I leave clues in the boxes and the boys follow them to find Legos. We have done this for years, so I decided to finally record it. I’ve resisted scrapping this because the photos I take are always so bad (darn you, Minnesota winter!), but I want the boys to remember the fun they had with the clues. (Let me tell you, though, more than one morning I’ve woken up at 5 and dashed around to write the clue and hide the Legos, having forgotten the night before.) For families interested, this is the Karen Foster Advent calendar, and I tend to buy Lego sets that have around 200 pieces in them to stretch it out reasonably over 24 days (12 for each boy). I get one set for each boy.

December Fun Fact
Christmas Eve my family usually goes to every church service since we all sing in the church choirs, and they perform at every service.

 

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Evolution of His Chanukah Lists | Aliza Deutsch

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts, Bazzill Basics Paper) + patterned paper (BasicGrey, Jillibean Soup, Cocoa Daisy) + brads (My Mind’s Eye) + thickers (Pebbles inc) + mist (Tattered Angels) + stickers (My Mind’s Eye, BasicGrey) + tape (My Mind’s Eye) + wood veneer(Cocoa Daisy) + embellishments (BasicGrey)

A Note from Aliza
This layout has been in my mind since 2011 (when the picture was taken). I wasn't sure if there was enough of a story there to make this page. But a co-worker talked lovingly about how she still gets Chanukah lists from her teenage sons, and then I felt certain this was a story worth telling.

December Fun Fact
It’s my birthday, my birthday, my birthday this month!

 

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Elf Tradition | Cristina C. Scrap

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (BasicGrey) + alphas (BasicGrey, American Crafts) + stickers (BasicGrey) + wood veneer, sequins (Studio Calico) + pen (American Crafts) + washi tape (Cavallini & Co.) + adhesives (Martha Stewart glue pen, Zig 2way glue, foam dots) + stamps (Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz, Kelly Purkey) + ink (Versafine Tsukineko, Ranger Archival ink) + embossing powder (American Crafts) + heat gun

A Note from Cristina
I love Christmas, and it was fun to make this page about one of our favorite traditions. I chose a picture of one of the best tricks from our elf - he wrapped our Christmas tree with toilet paper! :) I recently bought some Christmas stamps and wanted to use them right away, so I did a lot of stamping on this page. I love how it turned out, especially the Santa stamp paired with red glitter Zing embossing powder! These stamps will definitely show up again in my December Daily album and on my Christmas cards!

 

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Enjoy the Show | Amy Kingsford

8.5 x 11 | materials patterned paper (Chris Collection by Karla Dudley) + flair (Chris Collection by Karla Dudley) + veneer (Wood arrows by Robyn Meierotto) + alpha (Shadow by creashens) + stickers (Chris Collection by Karla Dudley) + masks (brushies no. 1 by creashens, watercolor splatters by Celeste Knight) + template (Quick Scraps No. 2 by Anita Designs) + fonts (Orator, Great Vibes)

A Note from Amy
This layout...captures a tradition that our family has had for the last few years to visit the outdoor shopping complex in Downtown Salt Lake City and watch the fountain show. This photo was an instagram photo that I captured with my phone, but I loved the look of the lights in it. I used a color scheme that I pulled from my photo to help it pop a bit more on the page and enjoyed sprinkling the gold foil elements throughout to echo the light and warm glow that's present in the photo.

December Fun Fact
Even though this is something we've done for the past 4 years this will be the first time my youngest joins us...I can't wait to see the look of wonder on his face!

 

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Since 2009 | Monika Głód

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned paper (Studio Calico) + transparent overlay (Studio Calico) + alphabet (American Crafts)

A Note from Monika
My younger son loves to explore the Christmas tree, year after year. He always founds some sweets, and is curious of every Christmas ball. And this happen since 2009, when he was 13 months old. Journaling on the layout tells the story.

December Fun Fact
December is my favorite time of the year. I’m doing my December Daily album, preparing Christmas decorations, baking gingerbread cookies. I just literally love December and Christmas.

 

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Graham Cracker Houses | Kate Christensen

12 x 12 | materials digital kits cardstock (Cardstock Essentials No.3 by Karla Dudley) + patterned paper (Here Comes Santa Claus Collaboration by Gennifer Bursett, Mye De Leon, Robyn Meierotto, and Shannon McNab) + template (My Treats by Amy Martin, modified) + buttons, flowers (Here Comes Santa Claus Collaboration by Gennifer Bursett, Mye De Leon, Robyn Meierotto, and Shannon McNab) + tag (Tag You're It by Robyn Meierotto) + arrows (Wood Veneer: Arrows by Sahlin Studio) + doily (This is Why Collaboration by Mye De Leon and Gennifer Bursestt) + alpha (Here Comes Santa Claus Collaboration by Gennifer Bursett, Mye De Leon, Robyn Meierotto, and Shannon McNab) + mist (Toolbox Mists V.7 by Gennifer Bursett; mists by Adrienne Looman) + action (Digital Glitters by Sahlin Studio) + fonts (Traveling Typewriter, Violation)

A Note from Kate
I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't scrap a lot of Christmas memories. In fact, this is only the fourth layout I've ever done. This year, I'm taking more pictures of our traditions so I can document them for our family scrapbooks.

December Fun Fact
After 6 long years of no Christmas lights on our home, we're finally living in a place where we can put them up. Our family is so excited!

 

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Joy & Wish| WaiSam Ho

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Elle's Studio, American Crafts) + wood veneers (Studio Calico, Freckled Fawn) + stickers (American Crafts) + alphabets (American Crafts) + flowers (Prima Marketing, Inc.) + stickers (American Crafts) + stamps (American Crafts) + ink (Prima Marketing Inc) + dies (My Favourite Things) + stickles + adhesives (Elmer's Tacky Glue) + sewing machine (Brother)

A Note from Sam
Inspired by Janna Werner's video on TwoPeasInABucket to create a double page layout - one page featured all the bright colours while the other page create a monochromatic layout. I also challenge myself to scrap a Christmas layout with ZERO Christmas papers & embellishment from my stash. I am also obsessed with typing journaling with my cute pink typewriter.

December Fun Fact
I don't celebrate Christmas in particular but December is always my favourite month of the year! I used to travel overseas every December for a mini getaway. This serves as a quick recharge for me to start next year fresh & energetic. I also enjoy strolling around the malls and taking pictures of beautiful Christmas deco. And the best part is, shop till I drop when there is Christmas sales!

 

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First Photo with Santa | Valerie O'Neall

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned paper (My Mind's Eye) + printed chipboard (My Mind's Eye) + thickers (American Crafts) + phrase sticker (My Mind's Eye) + number stickers (Dear Lizzy/American Crafts) + mist (Studio Calico) + pen (Copic) + punch (EK Success)

A Note from Valerie
I used the new Mistletoe Magic line from My Mind's Eye for this layout. Scrapping from a collection made this layout quick and easy to complete.

December Fun Fact
One year, I'd like to make every single gift I give. It might actually be doable once the kids are older...I hope.

 

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Fave December Moments | Diane Payne

8.5 x 11 | materials cardstock (Studio Calico) + patterned paper (Glitz) + buttons (A Flair for Buttons, Glitz, Prima) + labels (Glitz) + mist (Heidi Swapp) + stickers (Glitz)

A Note from Diane
I have so many fond Christmas memories from my childhood. Reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" before bedtime is just one of many.

December Fun Fact 
For the first time in over 10 years I did not make my Christmas cards or take a photo specifically for the card. I decided to simplify a bit and order a photo card featuring a fun summer vacation photo instead!

 

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My first DD | Jina Jean

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Fancy Pants, Allison Kreft Designs, Chic Tags) + brad (Crate Paper) + ephemera (Pink Paislee)+ sticker (Pink Paislee) + tag (Chic Tags) + mini bag (Allison Kreft Designs) + clips (Allison Kreft Designs)

A Note from Jina
For December gallery I used small pics from my first December Daily on my page. To fill the pockets with precious moments and little things is very exciting. I'm certain that it would be my favorite project every year. And this page is a commemorative layout for my first December album. Absolutely!

December Fun Fact
It's time to make Christmas decorations for my home. Yes! You know, it's very exciting plan. But to decorate the whole house with beautiful ornaments is a lot of work to lazy Jina. ;) 

 

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Starting Traditions | Francine Clouden

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill Basics Paper) + spray ink (Kesi’Art) + pearls (KaiserScrapbook) + rhinestones (Making Memories) + patterned paper (Studio Calico) + journal card (Jenni Bowlin) + letter stickers (Sassafras Lass) + chipboard stars (Heidi Swapp) + sticker phrases (Cosmo Cricket) + sequins + acrylic star pin + printable tags

A Note from Francine
None of the supplies I used on this page were Christmas or Holiday based. I just adapted what I had on hand!

December Fun Fact
All signs point to a White Christmas for us this year!

 

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Gingerbread House| Amy Coose

 

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned paper (Chic Tags) + letter stickers (Chic Tags) + labels/tags (Chic Tags) + mist(Studio Calico) + stickers (Company Name) + rubons (Chic Tags) + pen (American Crafts) 

A Note from Amy
Every year we make a gingerbread house. 

December Fun Fact
Christmas is such a magical time for me, I really love everything about it. Now that we have a younger child again, it makes it that much more special.

 

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Tradition | Lisa Ottosson

 

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Holiday Card Trouble | Marnie Flores

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Glitz) + fonts (Ostrich Sans, Bebas, Letter Gothic)

A Note from Marnie
Hopefully this is the year that I break the cycle!!

December Fun Fact
My puppy LOVES the snow! I am so glad as I think we are in for a snowy winter!

 

Thank you for stopping by! Be sure to stop by the gallery album for larger versions and to read the accompanying journaling. We appreciate you and wish you a magical month of December.

Documenting your December | My Approach

Hi there and happy Friday! Doesn't the time seem to go by much faster this time of year?! It feels like we just wrapped up summer!

Either way, I am one of those people that loves the holiday season! I begin to plan the decorations and crafts I am making way ahead and I can't wait until December 1st (Advent 1st) to put all the decorations up!

Meanwhile, I made the decision to make a new album this year. Past years I have made a December album in different shapes. 

 

I have made my minibooks myself mostly. One out of an old children´s board book, loose pages with book rings and bound books like Amy Tan makes hers. My focus in these books have been different also. In 2007, I made a book that had favorites from the Holidays, like opening gifts, my favorite decoration etc. In 2009, I only made entries of what we did on each of the Advent Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve. 2010 was the first time I did a little bigger project. I didn't make a daily entry, but rather collected stories from throughout the month that were meaningful for me. 

 

Enter 2011. This is the year I made 2 (!) minibooks over the month of December. Yes, 2! Why you ask? Well, these two hadn't the same approach. One was much like the year before, with random stories from the holidays.

 

 

I made my book by just adding papers to a bunch and then folding everything in half, then sewed the spine together. 

 

In these books I like to play a bit more than I do in my other projects. You can see that I used one page per story.

 

I like to use up what materials I have on hand for the Holiday minis. Perhaps I buy a printable embellishment set or something to have little bits to add.

 

The other mini was built around the eBook from Ella called List it! Christmas edition. I loved this project! I picked 24 lists that spoke to me and filled one out for each day. You can see my whole finished book on my blog here.

 

Enter 2013, and I am going to start a whole new album. As I met my new love this year I am looking forward to start creating new traditions as well as introducing him to ours. So, I decided to make an annual December mini. I am going to add little bits and stories from throughout the month and keep it all in one album. I am using a Sn@p album from Simple Stories and their pocket pages. I haven't done a whole lot of preparing in the album, but rather gathered my supplies. I am using things that I already have and both the digital Christmas Project Life kit and the Holiday kit from Cocoa Daisy.  

I am looking forward to see how my album will turn out! I also hope that you have gotten a lot if inspiration from this week to document your December!

Lisa O

Documenting Your December - Photos To Capture

Hi and welcome back to "Documenting Your December" at write. click. scrapbook!  Monday was all about organizing your Christmas stash and yesterday was all about planning ahead. Today I am going to talk a little bit about photographing your December. A December Daily is a wonderful treasure to create, but the glue that holds the whole album together is the photos you capture throughout the month! 

Taking a photo a day for a month is relatively easy, but to get a nice complete album that encompasses the entire holiday it is good idea to set some time aside to plan a few activities/photo ideas before December rolls around.  You definitely don't need to plan each and every day of the month but it is nice to have a game plan in place to get you motivated to see the project through til the end!

 

Here are a few of my personal favorite moments to document throughout the month.

 

Document the traditions you share with your family. Be it a silly little elf that visits, cookies you make together, or games that you play. Take the time to document those traditions that make this the most wonderful time of the year.  

 

Something as simple as documenting the weather, adds to the overall feel of your album. We always dream of a white Christmas here, and when it happens it is something that gets photographed and goes in the album!

 

Christmas morning is the most wonderful time to take photos! The joy and excitement is easy to capture and makes for a fun photo collage for an album.

 

Of course, a December Daily is never complete without the yearly photo(s) with Santa. 

 

 

A Holiday Photo Checklist is a great tool to use to help keep you on track for the enitre month. Rebecca Cooper has a great holiday photo checklist here that I have used for my December Daily albums in the past! Better Homes & Gardens Scrapbooks etc. also has a great checklist available for use! Download and print these checklists out to keep as a constant reminder to capture those memories! 

There are so many magical moments we hope to capture when undertaking a project of this magnitude. My number 1 tip is to start off with a game plan, and always keep your camera nearby & on hand at all times. Capture what is happening and get it documented, the time you take to do that will make the album so much easier to put together :)

Christmas in July

Carey Bridges here, and today I'm bringing you a little Christmas in July! Yes, you read that right...Christmas. Being in the heat of the summer in the middle U.S. makes me think of the cooler days ahead and how quickly the Holiday Season will be upon us. Plus, all of the sneaks peeks from the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) Summer Conference and Trade Show have been tempting me with the gorgeous winter and holiday releases.

 

Since 2007, I have set out to capture my Christmas Season through daily documentation, whether you call it a Christmas journal, December Daily or Project Life. I've gotten anywhere from a completed journal (all the way through January 6th, the Twelfth Day of Christmas), to just notes on my phone and photos awaiting time to scrapbook them, to fizzling out after a week. 

 

As I look back over my various attempts and look forward to planning for Christmas 2013, I realize I’ve been successful at completing albums when I adhere to the following tips.

1. Keep it simple. I love decorating my pages, but when I give myself permission to keep it simple and just move on, the project is much more manageable.
2. Limit the choices. Generally by staying with one line and a few coordinating embellishments to repeat throughout the album, I spend less time looking for or picking out products and more time scrapbooking. Using one line also gives the album a more cohesive feel.
3. Prepare in advance. This is probably the most important key to success. I’m an “in the moment” kind of scrapper, and I love to play with my newest acquisitions. But for a big project like this, I prepare page bases beforehand that can be reordered in the album to fit the daily topic. I leave the embellishments and finishing touches for during the season. This keeps me from feeling too restrained and gives me the ability to change it up when I’m adding the photos and stories.
4. Don’t stress about falling behind. The Holidays are busy, and I do fall behind in documenting and creating. I set myself up for success by having page bases ready, by making sure I at least jot down a few notes each day, and also by telling myself it’s OK if I’m not caught up. I know my notes and photos are there for when I do get time to scrapbook them.

When I look through what I’ve captured from past Christmas seasons, through the various stages from notes all the way to completed albums, I am so happy to have those fleeting memories recorded!

How do you plan to capture your Christmas 2013?