Finishing up December Daily

Day 22 (a little card inside the envelope talks about the tulips):

Day 23:

Day 24 (includes my blog post from the 27th that talks about everything that happened over the last few days leading up to Christmas):

And Day 25:

And the back, which features this cool idea from Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas :

So, wow. I did it.

I will definitely be going this route again next year: setting up an album before December to record daily things + photographs over the course of the month leading up to Christmas day. I love that I now have something I can hold in my hands that shows the progression, that documents the moments (mainly in photos), that has a beginning and an end. My structural format may be different next year (part of the fun of coming up with a foundation), but the overall daily process will be the same.

Thanks for cheering me on along the way.

Making the Squares
A couple questions in the comments yesterday regarding the collage (or mosaic) of inspiring photos. If you use Flickr you can easily create these mosaics using Big Huge Labs Mosaic Maker. You specify the number of photos across and down and where they come from (mine usually come from my favorites).

I also often make photo gatherings in Photoshop to use in my projects. Or sometimes I just use a square punch. You can read how I go about creating these groupings in Photoshop in a past issue of my newsletter here (scroll down to "Creating Photo Gatherings in Photoshop").

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67 thoughts

  1. Jenny says…
    12/31/2007

    Do you have a 2008 Life Artist Calendar?
    I just finished your book, Life Artist, pretty sure I will be reading it over and over. Loved it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. sue says…
    12/31/2007

    Thanks for sharing your 25 days of Christmas journal/album with us. It's a great idea for any occasion. Happy New Year.
    Sue

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Taylor says…
    12/31/2007

    Ali, this album is so creative! Thank you for all of the wonderful inspiration. I just finished my december album and I love it.
    Happy New Year!
    Taylor

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Cheri says…
    12/31/2007

    Ali, some time back you posted a picture and link for a long table basket where you stored your mini books. I can't seem to find it in the archives. Can you possibly point me in the right direction? Thanks so much and have a healthy, happy, blessed 2008.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Sandi says…
    12/31/2007

    Love it so much. Congratulations!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. ANA says…
    12/31/2007

    A little cuckoo betting!
    Just to tell you that I love your work;
    I wish you the best for 2008
    Amicalements
    Ana
    Google translation

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Molly says…
    12/31/2007

    Ali: Happy new Year! This daily project has been inspiring on so many levels and it's been a pleasure to see it progress. It simply eminates happiness! Thank you for sharing of yourself thoughout the year, through your books, your articles, your blog, your projects, your photography and your heart. You're an amazing person, doing things that lift people ... regularly. Know this ... you make an impact. God bless you and your clan. - Molly

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Angie says…
    12/31/2007

    Thank you for sharing your progress on your album- such an inspiration. Wishing you a wonderful 2008!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Amanda Mankin says…
    12/31/2007

    Great Job!! It's wonderful. Congratulations on completing it and having inspired so many while doing it! I am looking forward next years...Thank you again.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Angelique says…
    12/31/2007

    I really love this book! I made a similar book this year but it is not a daily journal. Just a journal capturing each and every tradition and there are a lot of them. I used a lot of similar products as you did but mine was a lot smaller. My pages were 6x6.
    I just love you mind and love watching what you create! I will have to keep this project in mind for next December.
    I hope you had a Most Merry Christmas and I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Tracy Anderson says…
    01/01/2008

    Ali, I think I am going to try this idea and do a "14 Days of Love" album from Feb 1st to the 14th... I'll do like you did and include a photo or info about each day and something I love each day. I think I want to try the clear album format, too. It will be a stretch for me, since I've never worked in a clear album before... but, I think you've inspired me to try it. So, thanks!! :) Happy New Year - Tracy

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Beni says…
    01/01/2008

    Fabulous post..look Soooo beautiful generally i like to shop gift items for my loved ones from Jackson&Perkins store through couponalbum.com..

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. laura says…
    01/02/2008

    LOVE the entire album, Ali! Definitely going to do one of my own next Christmas! =)
    Happy New Year to you and your family!!!
    laura

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Kristi says…
    01/02/2008

    What an amazing book and memory for your family! Love love it! I definitely want to do this next year :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Cris says…
    01/03/2008

    Wow!!
    You really did it!!!
    I'm just astonished with all the beauty things i saw here... Jeeeeeeesus!!!!!!!
    The most beautiful los ever!!!!!!
    Wonderful pictures, wonderful albuns, wonderful everything!!!!!!!! Wow... I'm really shocked!!! loooooooved :)
    you'll be my inspiration!!!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. LobotoME says…
    01/04/2008

    just discovered your website and I'm in luv! Love your binder idea & advent ideas...and thanks for the reminder about getting our skin checked...I just made my bi-annual appt. with my skin doc...to see if I need anymore taken off.
    Thanks for sharing & for the inspiration!
    J :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jen says…
    01/10/2008

    Ali, that is such a gorgeous album! I have tried to do a daily book in December for 3 years running, and I'm still only up to Day 5 LOL. Just wanted to post, because you mention one of my all-time fave books, the Tolkien one, that I got from my grandmother one Christmas when I was old enough to appreciate it. It has her handwriting on the inside first page, and it is truly somethign to treasure, 30 years after she passed away.

    Reply 0 Replies

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