December Daily 2012

Hello! December is going to be here in two days and I just now finished the base of my December Daily album. Again, looking back, realizing what has worked and what hasn't I decided to simplify the process even more. My goal is to have it simple, but done, not fancy and still have it laying around not finished way passed February...

Let's start with the cover. I usually make a few, pick one and give the others away, but I didn't have time to make more then one this year. White... yes, I'm dreaming of a White Christmas, so I made my cover in white. (I would probably have to take it off for the month when I'll be working with it to keep it clean)

For the main part, I'm giving it a try this year and making pages out of envelopes. I wanted to go with plain white envelopes that come in the box with Christmas Cards, but then decided to cut them out myself for more stable pages. I downloaded a shape from the Silhouette store and resized the envelope to fit on 12x12 cardstock. For some of them I added a decorative element like this adorable Christmas Tree:

Folded envelope came out to be 8x5. It's just a tiny bit smaller then my previous DD albums, which were (8.5x5.5) I folded envelopes and punched holes in them. Now, one side of it will be used as a regular page in the album where the other one will hold journaling. THAT's where the main difference is this year. I want to include journaling from everyone, not just myself and I want to write it down whenever the thought comes, not when I have to make a page for that day. I have BIG HOPES that this way I will be able to stay on track and have it finished by the end of the month!

 

Here are a few more samples of what I have inside:

 I used my Silhouette to cut that page out. There was a similar one online for downloading, but it was square, so I arranged it to fit the size of my album.

Red envelope cut from red paper - this one was a little thinner which is nice because I have a feeling my DD is going to be pretty fat this year. I did include just a few plain pages - non envelopes, that's what the other pretty paper is. Which is by Teresa Collins by the way.

By the way, Silhouette users there's a great sale at the Silhouette store this week! All shapes are HALF the price! You can tell, I was shopping. But I also made a few tags and other things myself.

Folded green envelope, transparency, white envelope...

 I also cut a few smaller envelopes for the pages that is not an envelope. Again, nothing glued. Plain and simple. I might add a few more things along the way, but wanted to have a pretty light base for the album, because that's what works for me.

 It is my fourth year participating in December Daily challenge. It was nice to see all of them together. I plan leaving them out for the month...

 

There was one more December Daily album that I did, but it was sent to my mother-in-law, so it's not in the picture. 

I debated a lot between styles this year, but decided to stay with the tradition of three ring handmade book. This leather mini album was one of the options, but again, I was afraid, it may get into the pile of "I'll-finish-it-later" projects.

One last thing I did is emptied my DD plastic box and refilled it with the new stuff. That's another idea that works for me. I have to have everything together, or I might spend too much time getting everything out and putting it back.

Hope your DD is waiting to be filled with pictures and stories too! NOW I'm excited for December to come. Speaking of December, I really hope it brings some snow. The more the merrier!

Thanks for stopping by and have the nicest day ever!