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!
gotta love it, a.
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totally awesome... you are so inspiring! Is it ok if I scraplift this digitally for my new years LO!?
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i'm sooooo scraplifting! thanks for the inspiration....other than cutting the fronts off to adorn packages for the next year (which never happens, mind you), i can never figure out what to do with all the cards...such a shame to throw them away, but you'd need a storage unit just to house all the kept cards! lol
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Ali - you are SO inspiring! I just finished a lift of your card LO. . .it's on my blog!
I have truly enjoyed your posts - thank you for sharing so much of your life and your self.
Happy New Year!
Hillary
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How inspiring....like many of the other posters, I just finished a lift of your layout. I have always struggled with how to preserve the memories of our cards and this was the perfect idea...I may even have to start doing this was fun mail I receive throughout the year since it is few and far between with the invention of e-mail. Hope you have a wonderful New Year....thanks for all your inspiration.
Kristy
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Yeah...this totally rocks...totally....rocks!
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OMG!!! What a WAY clever idea Ali!! I am so thrilled to have something to do with all the cards that make me so happy as they grace my mailbox and I always feel so guilty tossing! I was just taking them off my walls this morning mumbling to my husband that I hate throwing them away but what to do with them! You are a GENIUS!! And I think I MUST so this today! Thanks so much for this wonderful idea!
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ali, here's my version of your fabulous idea:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?gallery=1&cmd=display&layout_id=731273
i can't tell you how *happy* it makes me just to look at it. thanks for yet another idea i have scraplifted from you this season.
marci
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that is soooo awesome!
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Well, it is really beautiful and artistic! And it just boils down to the fact that you are an artist and have an eye for creative design. You are SO sweet to share it with all of us! Thank you!
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Hi Ali,
Another one of your huge list of fans! Just wanted to let know I loved this and did a scraplift. I scanned it and made it into a digital LO here at 2Peas:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=730702
Thanks for being an inspiration to all us scrappers!
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k, so i have to let you know that i put the layout scraplift on my scrappin' blog.... http://scrapsofsteph.blogspot.com dunno if you answer fan mail. ROFL
thanks again for the wonderful idea. i have a ton of cards from my twins' birth and stay in the NICU that i wanted to incorporate into their albums somehow. you've provided me with an answer, and i'm grateful!
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I send my extra cards to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, PO Box 985, Boulder City NV 89005. They recycle the card fronts & re-sell them.
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Ali, thank you for this. I had my stack of cards on the counter. Went right down and made my own. I could find something important to say about everything I punched. I was able to communicate a few things I never thought about scrapping before. It was so refershing to create without "designing" thanks again. Kari
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http://www.digitaldomainonline.com/
Digitaldomainsonline.com offers Domain Name Registration, Domain Transfer, Domain name renewal, Domain Appraisal, Domain Back
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ali, thanks *again* for this inspiration. I've used this idea each year since you posted it.
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Love this! I kept my Christmas cards, but didn't know what to do with them. Now I have a way to "save" them.
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