Did I just type "Christmas?" I did, I know, right? It's not even Halloween but the store shelves are lined with Christmas goods and have been for weeks. And the Christmas scrapbook collections are also hitting the shelves and providing inspiration for fun holiday projects. I've got a few handmade gifts I want to create for this year and I know how time flies so I am starting early. When I saw the new Heidi Swapp Believe collection I knew I wanted to use it. Since I'm always giving away my handmade albums I figured it would be a great time to make one for my family to keep. I saw the memory file kit for the Believe collection and snagged it up so I could get my Christmas craft on.
The kit comes with two large memory file folders and two small in different front/back designs. Also included are rub-on embellishments file tab stickers and one foto stack. I also purchased the coordinating sticker pack, 6x6 inch pad and the ephemera pack. I highly recommend the ephemera pack as it is filled with an additional 94 pieces of goodness that will get your creativity flowing. Before I move on I have to admit, I actually purchased three of the memory file kits so I could make two more to give away. I know, it's a problem I have but I love a good handmade present!
I've tried doing December Daily in the past and made it pretty far but I know I won't be able to keep up this year with my two littles on the move so I set out to create the foundation of an album that would help me document the fun our family has in preparation for Christmas Day. Our kids are little so we are still forming traditions but I knew there would be certain things we would do such as decorate, celebrate St. Nick's, and a visit to Santa. The rest of the album I left pretty general and will continue to fill up and embellish but it's a great step forward to have the foundation completed - or I may never get it done!
I decided to cut apart the two large memory files and one of the small ones to make my album pages. I used my cinch and .75" white wire binding to put it all together. Here is a look at how it came together. Sorry the pictures are not so great, it was a rush to get them!
I kept the cover fairly simple with a cluster of fun embellishments and noted the year in the bottom right. The paper stack has one design that is a bunch of journal cards, at the 6x6 size they are mini journal cards and worked perfectly as embellishment throughout the book. For the first inside pages, I trimmed the top of a paper and glued down the bottom and both sides to make a pocket. A few more trimmed pattern papers with a tab punch out on each tucked neatly behind providing additional space for photos or journaling.
Watching how the kids react to Santa year after year is pretty fun so I made sure to leave plenty of space in this mini file to document the visit! Yeah those are my post its telling me what I have in mind to put there. It is only October so I just might forget before I complete the album!
Here is the foto stack that comes with it. I decided to leave it together and just added a few embellishments. You could rip it apart to use as little pockets or as photo mats throughout your album.
On the last page I had fun decorating the second mini file with the countdown stars from the ephemera pack. I know I won't keep up with pictures each day but I thought it would be fun to have a little journal to jot down some of the things we do.
And there it is, ready for our holiday fun! I'm looking forward to completing this album and having it to look back on.
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