So this...(+ more info)
totally should have gone into my Christmas Art Journal. But I got excited, started punching Christmas cards and adhering and all of a sudden I was done. And it makes me happy, regardless of size or album location. Simple and easy, kind of like last year, but still its own creation.
Once again, my square punch has worked it's magic.
Edited: Ok friends, let's see if I can address some of your comments and questions on this one.
The punch I used for this layout is from Marvy Uchida. It is either this one or this one. The body of the punch is red and the width of the square on the punch is just a bit larger than 1.5 inches. Too bad they don't put the product number right on the punch.
Since I am all about simplifying I came to the conclusion that I do not need to keep all the Christmas cards I received this year. I loved getting them. I celebrated each one that came through the mailbox. And now that Christmas is over I would still like to have a bit of a record of the cards from this Christmas, but I certainly don't need to hang on to them all.
IT IS OK.
How do I decide which part of the card to punch? I think what I have always loved about punching is that I am taking a bit of something and bringing it together with other somethings to create an entirely new something. When I was punching I tried not to think too hard. I laid my punch with the metal side up, slid the card in, and moved the card around using the window as a guide. When I saw something that looked just fine and I punched. Some of the photos were too large to get everyone in the square and that was totally OK. My vision was to bring together a bunch of bits of this year's cards - not preserve each one in its orginal state.
How did I keep it all straight? I actually debated a bit about not lining it all up this time. But in the end, the lines won out. I think the secret to keeping it straight is by starting with one of the top or bottom corner squares. If you want you could even measure to make sure the distances are the same from the edge of the square to the top edge and the side edge. I have gotten so I can eyeball it pretty good. I also laid all the squares out before I started adhering to get a general idea where the "big" square would be placed on the 12x12 cardstock.
Did I scan and reduce the cards? Nope, just punched them as is - big or small I found something to punch and then moved on to the next one.
Hope that helps a bit!
OMG I love it. I am sorry, but I think I am totally stealing this idea. It's the solution to that pile of cards overflowing on my desk!
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This looks terrific. What a fantastic idea. This is one I can do!
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So, was just cleaning up the christmas stuff and taking my cards down and feeling sad to throw them away and the photo ones are starting to pile up--what a great idea! I'm sure there will be lots of "lifting" of this idea happening!
My question, did you scan and reduce the cards to get them small enough to punch? That's always my problem with that ole square punch--my pics are always too big!
Have enjoyed your christmas journal! You are always the first blog I hit everyday! Thanks for all the inspiration you have shared this year!
Heather
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Thanks for sharing! Great idea! Have a great day!
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stupid question but how do you keep everything straight?? I could square punch my little heart out and have everything glued down and it would still be slanty or crooked. I love stright lines but can't seem to manage them!
Love this page!!
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So what SIZE is that square punch?!?!?
Simply darling!
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LOVE it Ali :)
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Fantastic! Absolutely love this!
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I just hate throwing out Christmas cards! Actually, I just took everthing down and sat down with my stack of cards and was checking your blog to see if I could get some inspiration on what to do with them. It's like your were reading my mind today. Thanks for sharing!
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Um, yeah, this LO is rockin my world....what a great way to save bits and pieces of the fab holiday cards
and just looking at it makes me smile! You are an unending fount of inspiration, dear girl!
lisa
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ok- you just convinced me to buy a sqaure punch lol!!! this is so awesome, so Ali!
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Neat, neat, neat!!!
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this is SO CUTE!!!!! I love this idea!
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Ali,
I love this idea! I adhered the Christmas card that I made into my journal the other night and then I looked up at the wall at all of the cards that I had received. I have been trying to think of a way to preserve them in some fashion, but I hate to put them in a box where I know that they will never be looked at again. This is a great way to preserve them and the sentiments that they generate. If I create a page of them and put it in the family scrapbook, then we can enjoy them year round!
Thanks for the idea!
Marcy
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Man, this is AWESOME. I'm in love with it. :)
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Wow, thanks for the great idea! It turned out sooo pretty with all those Christmas card photos! I may have to do this with some of my other saved cards, too. :-)
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I so much love this idea! We have a sort of recycling program for ours as well...we use a square punch and make tags for use on next years gifts. Saves some of those trees :)
--marlene
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You are so neat! Bless your heart. :)
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love, love, LOVE this! :)
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Can't wait to make my own. You rock Ali!
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what a great layout, i love it! the punches work just super!
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What a wonderful idea. Thank you so much for sharing. I have cards from the past and I always wanted to remember and this is perfect! :o)
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that is a great way to keep your cards without the bulk.
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This is what I LOVE about your blog. Saw your page this morning and had come back to look more closely in order to scraplift---and you've added all this information! Very cool!
Here's a general question: you've mentioned printing out your blog on different posts. Is this in case Typepad suddenly goes kaput, or just to have a tangible document of it all? Have you found an easy way to print it (do you print posts only or photos too? Copy and paste to Word?). Is there any way to save the web pages to a CD?
Thanks!
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A most excellent idea...my 2 in square punch has been gathering dust...
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