A Holiday Blog Hop (Giveaway Closed)


Jingle bells...jingle bells...it's offically December and what better time for a holiday blog hop! The Pretty Little Studio team has been busy creating some beautiful projects to ring in the season, and I'm excited to share in the fun!


So onto my project...a December (gulp!) Daily.

I said I would never do it. You see, I'm a realist. I know myself. A few years ago, there is not even a tiny smidge of a chance that I'd take at least one photo a day in December. But things happen.

Like the invention of the iPhone, which means I have a camera with me at all times. And then there are apps like Instagram, which makes my photos a nice square size and adds all kinds of cool actions right on my phone, and PostalPix, which delivers reasonably-priced 4x4 prints from my phone straight to my mailbox.

But the thing that really convinced me? These awesome pre-made December Daily journaling cards from Pretty Little Studio.

This year, a December Daily seemed -- dare I say it? Do-able.

I spent most of my free time over Thanksgiving putting together the pages, and I learned two things:
(1) It's hard to scrap without photos. (Ok, I already knew that one.)
and
(2) When you're doing 25 pages, you really need to KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Unfortunately, I didn't learn #2 until somewhere around page 10.

But I still finished it!


I'm not going to bore you with every page, but I'll share a few of my favorites...


All the papers, tags, flashcards, journaling spots, garland flags, etc. are from Pretty Little Studio -- mostly from the Jingle Bells collection.


I adhered pattern papers back to back and mixed them with Kraft and red cardstock pages. Because there are so many pages, I didn't want to add thickness with chipboard.


Here's where I figured out the "keep it simple" mindset...


Oh yes, it's going much faster now...


I adhered the December Daily journaling pages back to back and bound them into the book with my Bind-It-All. You could also use binder rings if you don't have a binding machine.



I tried to lay out each page to accommodate a 4x4 photo, so (hopefully!) I can just paste in the prints from PostalPix when they arrive.


To mix it up a little, I threw in some half-pages and a transparency page. I'm kind of loving the trend of different-sized pages lately.



Here's where I decided to get a little tricky. I knew there would be a lot happening on Dec. 24 -- like baking cookies for Santa, wearing Christmas jammies, etc. So I gave myself a little extra room on this day by adding an envelope.


I figure I can tuck a photo or some extra journaling inside.


And that's it. My very first December Daily. Now I have to remember to take the photos!


Ready for some more Christmas inspiration from the Pretty Little Studio girls?

Visit each of these blogs for additional holiday projects, and be sure to leave a comment at each stop. Each of us will be giving away a $10 gift certificate to the PLS store, and there will be a grand prize $25 gift certificate awarded to one lucky person who comments on the PLS blog!



Happy hopping, and happy holidays!


30 comments:

Cyndi S said...

Love it. Looks like it was a lot of work.
cstephenson at q dot com

Heather said...

oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE your DD. I have been doing Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas since 2007...and have yet to actually complete a journal! LOL! But I still start with a renewed passion every year and I do enjoy looking back on the pages I did manage to complete from past years ;)

Glynis said...

What a cute little DD. Ive yet to try one, but this little gem has inspired me to make just a little one like this.

Maria said...

Beautiful work
marial302003@yahoo.com

Стокли said...

I love it! If I ever try to make one, I would probably make smth similar. It's bright and simple and beautiful.

Cynthia said...

LOVE love LOVE your Dec Daily!! I made one this past year and learned LOTS about what works for me and what doesn't. YOU look like you skipped right to the What Works! ;-) Really well done!!

Rene Foust said...

I really like it!

Margie said...

LOVE your December Daily! Pinning!

Bonita Rose said...

your album is truly amazing.. I love every element!

Sephora said...

I just love the jingle bell collection, reminds be of Christmas as a child. Thanks for sharing :)

curlyqmosaics said...

Absolutely gorgeous December Daily! The black doily on the front pops beautifully against the green/white houndstooth. Love it!

agravette said...

love this amazing book! thanks for the idea!

Dianne said...

How cute!! TFS - Maybe I can give that a try next December!!!!


Dianne

Gretchen said...

Well, I'm super impressed! :) It really is fantastic! Great idea about adding an envelope. :)

Anonymous said...

Love your projects! barbjolly@sbcglobal.net

Kathleen said...

I can't wait to see your book in January!

Unknown said...

This is so pretty and the best part simple and colorful! I don't journal, I trying to learn how.....I know quite a few women weho do though and this would be a GREAT Christmas gift! Thank you! Especially for making it feel I could do it!

Angela said...

Great DD. I love your pages!

Heather said...

Wow I love your DD. I just love love the paper.

scrappin2babygirls said...

this is AWESOME!! wish i was talented enough to make something this cool thanks for sharing.
-jamie
babyblueangel_30@yahoo.com

Sherri said...

cute mini album Robin!

blsd2scrp said...

this is so awesome! I just decided last night to do a December Daily!!! how cool is that?! Yours is so awesome! thanks for sharing and the hop!

Lisa's Creative Niche said...

Wow, beautiful work! So many pages, I love them! Thank you so much!
Lisa
lisascreativeniche at gmail.com

Chantal Vandenberg said...

This is so gorgeous! It has a real "reach out and look at me factor!". Love the colours and the design of everything! :D

kern said...

WOW! What an awesome book!! I'm gaga over retro and vintage and I sure admire how you put everything together. It makes me tired just looking at all your beautiful work :o) Maybe one day, I'll be able to do something similar. Your book really rocks--k

Hester said...

Taking the pictures is the hardest part for me as well, love how your book came together!

Kristin - The Fifth Sparrow No More said...

Love your daily - glad that is doable cor you!

Michelle Logan said...

Awesome DD inspiration! Doing my first one this year too wonder how long the enthusiasm will last!

April said...

This is wonderful!
- April W

Cheri said...

I love the traditional color scheme of your book, with the twist of blue. The blue really adds energy to the pages.

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