doodlebug design : christmas photos

One of my very favoritest parts of Christmas are the photos --- namely our family photo that makes its debut on the cards we send to family and friends.   I put them all together in this cute little mini album, using a mix of board bases from doodlebug design. 

I used a camera doodad to focus on the photo portion of this mini album.  Then, I used the home for the holidays collection on each page.  I love the patterns of this collection, along with the mix of grey with red and green.   LOVE.

I also layered two board bases together, using foam adhesive tape to separate the layers.  I piled in white sequins behind a plastic sheet.  I just like how it reminded me of a camera and the tone-on-tone textures is awesome.

The opening page is this cute snowman, welcoming you to our book of memories.  I covered a shaped board page with patterned paper, then added stickers, brads and sprinkles. 

One holiday tradition that will never grow old is sending Christmas cards to family and friends.  A few years back, we decided that photo cards were the best suited for us and we've enjoyed them each year --- sending and receiving.   

 This is by far my favorite photo and page --- both came together very easily.  The K-girl was trying to kiss her resistant brother and it looks like she is strangling him.  Not funny, but it captured their personalities so well.   

Velvet letters and banner alphabets are perfect addition to this page.   The present brad was from several years back, but works so well with the touch of pink in the patterned paper. 

The almost-center page is a smaller page  and features two 4x6 photos from a photobooth session with our Cub Scout den.  I cut my hand in the photo to "hold" a pixie and added a pennant.

Our cards are printed 4x6 and are just perfect in this mini album.  I stitched a fancy frill sticker between the patterned paper and the photo.

Up to this point, our photos have already been taken.  This is a blank page for this year's photo.  Sure, I'm not sure what it will look like since we've not taken it yet, but it will work perfectly, I just know.  I cut the top of the tag off to make it a banner.

Super simple page for 2014 --- photo on left with doodletwine and the right page has a circular Santa sticker.   The smaller page in between these two was created by using pattern paper as the background, then layering it with washi tape of snowflakes and Christmas text.   I stitched a square over the tape and added the camera, to once again depict the phototaking of this album. 

I love that the book is already ready created and all I have to do is add this year's photo [and a photo from 2014, 2015 and 2016]. 

Have you created any Christmas albums this year?    I'd love to see them.  

Christmas morning is only two weeks away and I still have not designed [nor the tasks that follow printing the actual cards] our cards.   Last year they came together fairly quickly with the photo taken by an awesome now-retired photographer friend.  

But, this year.  

I am stumped.   In the photos where the K-boy has a geniuine smile, the K-girl is bitter or clutching her jaw.  Some photos are cute, but one or the other moved and is blurred a bit.   Photography skills aside, it is just difficult to narrow down the photo / photos as they are all some sort of memory in my heart.  I want to include them all.  

Alas, I shall pick one today and either order them online or print them locally.   Must.  

Please tell me I am not the only one behind in the Christmas card department.

I love receiving holiday cards from family and friends, and love even more to send along some holiday cheer.  

In October, I made a Halloween shadowbox and it sparked an idea ---- a shadowbox for each holiday.  I can see this working out beautifully because using Doodlebug Design themed collections simplifies any project.

This little shadowbox, as with any other project, will add just a bit of excitement and creativity to your holiday decor.

Tips for making your shadowbox:

• Creativity and patience.   It takes some creative movement of the parts and pieces to make this shadowbox more dimensional.   Simply adhere things further away first and build your scene in layers.   Patience is needed to see each space come to life as you create.
• Use a mix of papers, die cuts and stickers.  
• Embellish with pearls and jewels to add more dimension.
• Add some sugar coating [glitter] to make your project sparkle and shine.

Here, I used the north pole collection, with the addition of the santa sticker from santa's workshop, mini pearls, jewels, snowflake mini doodle-pops, doodle twine, fancy frills stickers and sugar coating.

The start of this little shadowbox:

The top has been my favorite part to create with these little shadowbox creations.  This part creates the mood for the entire box -- it's an open canvas.   I made a winter scene using stickers.  I simply bend the bottom of the stickers under about 1/8" and adhere to box.  I added some glittery snow.  



This little red bird is just the sweetest thing!

I enjoy thinking off the page and bringing my craft supplies to life in home decor.  I think the kiddos love it, too.  

I hope to make plenty more crafts this holiday season. 

Gosh, can you believe tomorrow is December 1st? Already.

I know journaling and posts have been sporatic, almost non-existent lately, but I really do plan to make this space more homey, more comfy and just more me. I need to write for me, for my family and for the sake of memorykeeping. I must start now.

The calendar for December is filling up quickly. We have plenty of activities planned -- some on paper and some only in my mind.

I want to capture our holiday, everyday moments and those special magical moments that happen only this time of year. I want them to remember -- in photo, on pretty papers and in my heart.

How are you going to capture your December?

I love, love, love handmade Christmas presents and ornaments and cards and gifts and ... love the heart, soul and love that go into each handcrafted item.

Do your kiddos make ornaments?   We spent several years making an ornament-a-day from December 1 to 24.  It was quite a chores some days, but so very delightful in the end.  These two ornaments are simple enough that maybe your child could make one and you could start a new tradition.

DEC 25 } I used the green frame from the cardstock sticker sheet.  I then cut hills of snow using the christmas cheer cardstock -- love those little grey snow flurries!  I used foam dots in between each layer to give it some dimension.  I sprinkled on some white glitter and then added adhesive jewels. 

SANTA } Use a mini card as the base, folded edge on the bottom.  Fold down or cut top about half inch.  Add small strip of christmas cheer cardstock to the inside back of card base, then use strong adhesive on either side to create pocket.  Cut half inch strip of black velvet paper and tear small piece of white.  Adhere to top of folded/cut front piece.  Cut small square using craft knife, add glue and sprinkle with metallic silver glitter.  Cut SANTA from paper and attach.

SUPPLIES } north pole collection: christmas cheer cardstock, cardstock stickers and frames stickers; mini card, flocked/velvet cardstock, doodle twine, adhesive jewels and metallic glitter
 

I love sending and receiving something fun in the mail.  Bills or advertisements just don't cut it.  So, this year, I started sending some happy mail [a la Stacy Julian, Big Picture Classes and Doodlebug Design].   I used the Happy Mail challenge 4 -- tie it up with twine! as a starting point for this card.  I used white doodle twine and tied it in a simple bow.  Nothing fancy, but still delightful.

Go take the challenge and send some happy mail!

SUPPLIES }  north pole collection: playful pines, holiday lane and holly-days cardstock, ticket cute cuts; white doodle twine, snowflake cardstock sticker, adhesive pearl and flocked brad

merry

Wishing you and your family a holiday filled with lots of love, laughter and joy.  

sending some Christmas cheer

I can't believe the months is half over and I'm still contemplating the photo to use for our family Christmas card.  Sigh.   

This layout, using Karen Foster Design products featured at last year's tradeshow, showcases our photo card from 2009.  The kids were just being silly when I snapped this shot and it turned out so much better than the "stand still and smile" posed photos.   

Do you send Christmas cards or a newsletter or a combo of both?  Do you handwrite all of your cards?   Do you make your holiday cards?  

Time to work on those photos so I can get them in the mail sometime this week or early next.  Falalalala.

handmade holidays : december 1

I sigh with each passing month, wondering where the time has gone.


I know the daily ins and outs of our day keep us pretty busy in itself, but then toss in weekend activities, a holiday, scouts, the stomach bug and a few shopping trips and there it goes. Gone!

I had hoped to be further along with handmade holiday goodies, but my creativity has been stumped by my original intent.

My wishlist of crafty projects this month include:

• December journal [inspired by Ali Edwards' December Daily album throughout the holidays past]
• elf on the shelf for the kiddos [only handmade goodness of this one will be messes that the elf will make while the kiddos are snug in their beds]
• sewing this pillow mat for the kids
• making hot cocoa kits and peppermint marshmallows to top it off
• making it snow, at least at our house
• cut some paper snowflakes with the kiddos
• tie off a fleece blanket for our family gift exchange
• print and frame "artwork" made for same gift exchange
• carve a chevron stamp to use in journal and tags
• make a little something for the hubs
• scrapbooking assignments for Doodlebug and KFD
• finish making our home merry & bright for the holidays

It will be alot to tackle, but it is doable.  I think.  I hope.  

What crafty projects are you working on for the holidays and for gift giving this season?   

coming soon.

This year, as in many years past, I plan to make the majority of our Christmas gifts and plan to have holiday crafts for the kiddos.   Once up on a time, we used to make an ornament a day, but it was getting to be overwhelming when both kiddos were in school and the homework pile grew.   

So, this year, we'll be doing a mixture of handmade gifts, treats, cards and crafts.  I will be sharing them here --- mostly for my own recordkeeping and self-motivation.   

Tis the season.