december memories: 2015

Back in October, I made plans with my friend Kristi and Liz to get together after Christmas and spend a day putting together our December Daily’s. Knowing I was going to spend 1 FULL day putting together an album, I threw all the rules out the window. Don’t stress myself out with “attempting” a December Daily. Just enjoy December and print photos at the end. And that is exactly what I did.

Instead of getting all caught up on “what kit I should get” I simply bought some Christmas product from different Companies, with no intention on using any of it! I just bought product that spoke to me.

So December 29^th was the day the girls were coming over. With absolutely NO PREP, I woke up Wednesday morning and while I waited for the girls to arrive, I printed some 5x7 photos {mostly ones that I had instagramed}. While the photos were printing I cut some chipboard pieces to roughly 6x8 {I ended trimming it down a bit} to fit my 5x7 photos. I used a 12x12 piece of buffalo plaid from a Heidi Swapp paper pack I picked up at JoAnn’s for 60% off to cover the chipboard pieces.

After my photos were printed I backed them all with cardstock to make the photos sturdy, as there were to be the foundation of each page. I used a Heidi Swapp hole punch to punch all of my photos and album cover {I actually had to use my power punch for the chipboard}. I actually intended to use my cinch to bind the book together but it didn’t work out as planned {the holes from the punch didn’t line up with the cinch binding, I was just wanted 2 holes on top and 2 holes on the bottom of the cover bound with metal binding}

By this time, the girls still had not shown up so I fussed with the cover a tiny bit. I was looking through some acrylic pieces I have from Colorcast Designs, and settled on the December Memories in white {later I came across the December 2015 in red and wished I had used that on the cover, OH WELL}

The girls finally arrived and we went to lunch. At lunch we debated if we were even gonna work on our books. Liz said she wanted to so we went back to my place and settled in. We finally sat down, and Kristi was all “I wanna take a nap” that meant she wanted to lie on the couch and instagram. I on the other hand needed a nap but pushed through. I was determined to put this book together.

I had set out a bunch of Christmas supplies for the girls to use. But I hoarded a few of my new pieces for my book. I ended up just using product from Colorcast Designs; Pinkfresh Studio Elle’s Studio and some Heidi Swapp die cuts, and don't forget my trusty mini stapler!

My book came together pretty fast. I kept it really simple! I think that’s the key, to not over think it. I finished in a couple of hours and then fussed with the binding a bit. After I decided I would just use the rings to bind the book, I decided I wanted to date the photos. I pulled a stamp set, but it just was working for me. I then found some Elle’s Studio alpha’s and used them to number the pages {and thank goodness Kristi had some, cause I needed all the 1’s & 2’s! Thanks Kristi!}. I didn’t number ever page, just the ones that a number complemented the page. I had written out the order of the photos, and added the number of the day the photo was taken. Everyday from December doesn’t have a photo and some days have multiple photos. That’s just how I roll! I love how I captured MY DECEMBER! A December where I laid in bed, a December where I enjoyed the sunset, a December where we did things that had nothing to do with Christmas.

I may add to the book, I may not. The great thing about leaving the back of each photo blank is I can go back and journal if I want, I may add the verbiage I used on instagram, I may actually journal what happened or my feelings {probably not on that last one}

Anyways my book is done, even if I decide to add to it!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed this post, it’s not very often I actually write here.