Happy Monday everyone! Suz here with you today to check in on how you are coming along with your December Story pages. Making progress? Yes? No?
If the answer is no, I may have a few ideas for you to help you get those pages completed.
If the answer is yes, way to go!! Please share your pages in the OA Flickr gallery, on Instagram, or on our Facebook wall! We would love to see what you have created with the December Story Kits and albums. Tag @octoberafternoon and @suzmannecke on Instagram and use the hashtag #oadecemberstory so we can see your designs!
First off, as you may recall, I decided for many reasons (time constraints -I knew my time to document in December was minimal, this is my 7th or 8th year of documenting December) to cut down the number of days that I documented in December to a simple dozen. By doing so, I could shave off some creative time that I simply didn't have and it also allowed me to focus a bit more on stories.
Secondly, a tried and true idea: the whole "KISS" mentality - Keep it Simple Silly!
Grab a photo, an embellishment or two, a piece of memorabilia, a journal card. Journal one memory that photo evokes from the day it was taken (or just an emotion or memory it evokes) and slip it as well as the OA pretties into the page protector and call it done! Don't worry about it being perfect. Let go of that if at all possible! Making progress is sure to inspire you and to move you forward in a positive direction. I can almost guarantee it!
Here are a few pages I created recently that came together in short order because I kept it simple:
On the left is a piece of the sheet music patterned paper and doily included in the kit, I simply tucked in the adorable gift card memorabilia and then set to creating the right side of my layout. I added the Chipboard numbers to the outside of my pocket protector and dropped in some of the fun sequins (and snowflake) also included in the kit. Then I sewed up the top. I took like five seconds to do that since my machine was right behind me, threaded and ready to go. Next up was my journaling card. Using my vintage typewriter, it was completed in a flash! I simply added the "Special Delivery" Cut Ups and the adorable Santa sticker to my photo and my design was complete.
I this design, I broke out the kit stamps and used them on the top left journaling card as well as the sentiment card at top right (snowflakes). A couple of stickers from the kit were added and some sequins, a touch of patterned paper and that sweet holly Pillow Puff. A bit of stitching and done!
This close up of another page I completed shows how I documented the day we opened our gifts. Lots of journaling about the gifts received and in the gold polka dotted envelope I placed my oldest son's wish list. It was on a bright neon yellow Post-It Note, so I liked having the ability of knowing it is there tucked inside and not a glaring distraction on the page. On the bottom left I used my Big Bite to punch an extra hold in the manufacturer's product card of my son's gift. Just a few ideas of how you can incorporate what was given without using a handful of photos of each gift received. And if you are like me, gift opening is often a big blur, with everyone caught up in the moment and not taking time out to have photos taken anyways!
So, there you have it! A few ideas of how you can keep your Dec Story kit simple and yet something you enjoy looking back on in the years to come! Your challenge is to get two days done today? I think that is totally doable. Set a timer if it helps. Turn on your favorite soundtrack and simply get started. :)
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!!
Suz