Hi all! It's Jill here, wishing you a Happy New Year!
The first week of January is already spoken for, I understand -- it's recovery time, time to take down the tree, to put away the holiday decorations, to atone for the extra helpings of cheesecake by dusting the cobwebs off the exercise bike. However, all of that can wait for a few more days, surely, so that you, like me, can finish your holiday album! Let's hang on to the holidays for a little longer -- in our scrapping, at least. Technically, the twelve days of Christmas didn't get started until the 25th, so you've got until January 6 before hitting that twelfth day, anyway!
A few weeks ago, I shared pages from Week 1 and Week 2 of the holiday album I created using the Very Merry December 2012 Mini-Book kit. I just finished the last of the pages, and wanted to share a few more with you:
I will confess that as much as I love this entire kit, from the get-go, I have been looking forward to creating my December 12 page, just so that I could use the "12 12 2012" tin pin. I have been crushing big time on that little metal circle. I also worked in a strip of the B-side balance sheet from the Make It Merry "Make a Bow" patterned paper, to represent the "investment" I make each morning in the form of my favorite coffee. I should own stock in the company, I swear.
Most of the page layouts in my album are one-pagers, but I added a two-page spread to document what is probably the most important aspect of the season -- acts of charity, giving of our time, our resources, and our selves. Both pages are built upon a washi tape background. I added strip after strip vertically, trimming the excess with scissors. On the first page, I worked in a photograph of some of the gifts we gave to families in need this year, placing it atop one of the journaling cards from the kit. The fact that "recipient" and "sender" were left blank on the card actually sparked the idea to create a page about the importance of giving. On the second page, the journaling focuses on the different ways that our family tries to reach out at this time of year. It also makes mention of my favorite holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, and how its message has inspired me.
As mentioned in previous posts, my album isn't really a daily album. Not every day is accounted for here, nor does it need to be. I divided the album into four sections, based on weeks. Each section contains the highlights from those weeks.
This page documents how we were late getting our tree this year. When we found one, it only cost $20. What a steal, right? Not quite. Even the lightest touch would send torrents of needles to the ground. The whole story is recorded on a journaling card placed behind the photo. I sewed the photo on three sides, leaving one side open to create a pocket for the journaling.
Included in the kit are two rows of stars, which, when punched out, can be used as a mask. I placed the star "mask" over a misted page, and smoothed some glitter glue within the negative space. I added a light layer of glitter, and used my finger to press down and brush the glitter across each star. When I lifted the mask, I found these shiny gold stars smiling back up at me. To create the loosely stitched title, I slowly ran the title letters one by one through my sewing machine, and then placed the resulting title at the base of the photo block.
The album also includes a full-page shot of some Christmas lights bokeh, an effect that I love.
The bokeh page is across from my Christmas Eve page. I used the entire sheet of snowflake rub-ons from the kit here, trimming the edges with a scissors. The chipboard letters are leftover from the cover of the album. I added some paint and mist to them and adhered them over the photo.
A page about holiday baking is a must! I punched circles and created a garland from one of the Miscellany cards in the kit, which includes a recipe for cookies.
This album deserved to go out with a bang. My New Year's Eve page is built upon a misted and stamped foundation, to which I added the glittered stars mask that I used earlier in the album. Waste not, want not, am I right? I love how it looks here!
The album concludes with a merry and bright patterned page and the painted back cover.
Whew! I've had such a blast working on this album all month. Is it crazy that I'm already looking forward to next year's kit?
It's not too late to share what you've been up to with the Very Merry December Mini-Book Kit! Email photos of your pages (along with your name and the state in which you reside) to jon.f@octoberafternoon.com, and we will add them to a Very Merry December Mini-Book Kit photo album on the October Afternoon Facebook page.
I fully agree about keeping the Christmas sport in your heart after the holidays! Beautiful mini!
Posted by: Kim | January 05, 2013 at 12:24 PM
The pin is an exclusive from the Very Merry Mini-Album kit.
Posted by: Jill | January 03, 2013 at 11:37 PM
I don't see that 12.12.12 pin - is it from an OA collection? Thank you in advance :)
Posted by: Renee VanEpps | January 03, 2013 at 07:27 PM
This is such a beautiful album, it's exactly what I would love to put together and keep as a family heirloom. Thanks for naming that photo effect, I've been wondering! And that tin pin is going to be a must have for me - it's my hubby's birthday :)
Posted by: Renee VanEpps | January 03, 2013 at 07:24 PM
What a great book. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Jenny Kozar | January 03, 2013 at 03:26 PM
Awesome! And I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one working on their christmas mini in January! :)
Posted by: susan stringfellow | January 03, 2013 at 02:55 PM
Jill I totally agree - Let's keep celebrating. Love your album! The kit is nice too...maybe I'll consider it for next year.
Posted by: Tammie | January 03, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Love this December Daily! I passed on getting the kit this year, what with shortage of funds due to shopping and also time, but seeing how great these look, I think I will make plans to get one next year!
Posted by: Caryn S. (Scrapnsing) | January 03, 2013 at 07:28 AM