December Daily™ 2011 | The Album Cover

IMG_7549

And here we go again!

I'm excited to be getting my December Daily™ album underway for 2011. It's been fun getting messy and playing with my holiday supplies as I begin the process of putting my cover and foundation pages together. As many of you know, what I try to do each year is get the basics of my album all put together before December so that I minimize the amount of time I'm actually working on it during that busy time of year. To read a ton more about this project and see past examples check out my December Daily™ compilation page.

IMG_7563

Today I'm going to just share the exterior and interior of the album itself. The actual daily interior pages will be coming most likely on Monday as I'm waiting for a couple more supplies to come in the mail (you can see how it's currently progressing in the image above - it's already pretty thick).

For my cover this year I decided to go with white/cream (love the softness of it) and two really enlarged numbers. Last year I also ended up with white. What can I say, I like it. Because it's basically white on white it's a bit of a challenge to photograph, but you'll get the idea. The chipboard album I'm using is available as part of a December Daily™ kit through Studio Calico. Kits go on sale October 27th/28th.

In addition to the white/cream I also wanted to add some sparkle/gloss and one of my favorite ways to do that is to use UTEE. My full process is listed below.

HOW TO


IMG_7524

1. Print and cut out a "2" and the "5" to make your own stencils (you can do this in any program like Word or Photoshop). I printed these numbers on cardstock so that they would be sturdy enough to use as a stencil. I used a craft knife to cut out the numbers from cardstock. Depending on the size of your album you'll want to adjust the size of the numbers accordingly. I made my #2 larger than my album so it would go off the top and the bottom edge. My #5 is not as tall as the album but it's nice and wide. I used the font Numbers Depot for my #5 and Rosewood for the #2.

IMG_7522

2. Paint two base coats with gesso (essentially white paint) inside and out. After the gesso dried I did two coats of the cream paint from Martha Stewart.

IMG_7534

3. Lay the #2 stencil down on the cover. Open your album flat so you can have the #2 wrap around the spine. Using the stencil, paint the #2 with gesso. I did this as a base under my embossing. You could just emboss right onto the painted cover as well. Let Dry.

4. Follow the same steps for the #5. I chose to position the #5 to the top right of the album. Let dry.

IMG_7525

5. Using the stencils and a pencil, create a line drawing of the number 25 on the back cover and on the inside front cover. I chose to use a pencil because i wanted a fairly faint line drawing. You could use a colored pen, pencil, etc or paint inside the stencils rather than tracing. Lots of options.

IMG_7539

IMG_7540

6. Using the #2 stencil (lay it right on top of the painted #2), turn your embossing inkpad (I use Versamark) upside down and stamp (using the whole pad) all over the stencil. Lift up the stencil and pour UTEE over top. Use a heat gun to set the embossing ink. The above image is what it looks like before melting the UTEE with the heat gun.

IMG_7538

NOTE: I tried something a little different with the UTEE for the #2 - I poured some glitter into my powder before putting it on top of the embossing ink (the glitter was in a little bag - I think it came from a past Jenni Bowlin kit). The end result was to make the #2 have a different texture than the #5 (which was just UTEE). It's rougher and not as smooth. This whole idea came about when I noticed that my UTEE had pretty much already been contaminated with some glitter somewhere along the line. Anything I emboss with that bottle of UTEE ends up with some bits of sparkle.

IMG_7542

7. Repeat the same process for embossing the #5.

IMG_7567

8. Choose a couple of holiday sentiment stamps for the front and inside cover. I used two stamps from my November 2011 Studio AE set (will be available for purchase on November 1). Stamp using Staz On ink (Cherry) to avoid smudging.

IMG_7562

9. After stamping the sentiments I covered/sealed the entire album with Mod Podge. I left the embossed part alone and just painted the Mod Podge around it.

IMG_7565

10. For the spine I used the Santa from this Echo Park chipboard package (included in the Studio Calico kit). I covered the Santa with Glossy Accents to give it a nice finish on top of the chipboard and to keep the small typed piece (December 2011) in place.

OUT-TAKES | WHAT I TRIED FIRST


My first attempt at getting the numbers on my album involved silver spray paint.

IMG_7528

I took the album (painted with the gesso + cream paint) outside and laid down some newspaper.

IMG_7529

Laid the stencil on top.

IMG_7530

With silver metallic spray paint I used the stencils to spray on the #2 and #5.

IMG_7533

I think I need to practice a bit more with the spray paint. I ended up painting over the top of the silver spray paint as it wasn't really the overall look I wanted. It's a nice reminder that you can always paint over the top (just wait until it dries completely).

I'm so excited to see all the different covers and album interiors that I'm sure will be popping up over the next few weeks! It's always so cool to see the results. I've created a Flickr group for anyone interested in sharing their album along the way: December Daily™ 2011 Flickr Group.

SUPPLIES


PAINT | Martha Stewart Craft Paint Satin - Summer Linen, Gesso
ALBUM | Studio Calico December Daily™ Kit
EMBOSSING POWDER | UTEE
INK | StazOn Cherry, Versamark (for embossing)
SEALER/ADHESIVE | Mod Podge, Glossy Accents
STAMP | Studio AE November 2011 (will be available on November 1) - you don't have to be a member to purchase
HEAT GUN | Ranger
SANTA | Echo Park Chipboard






TODAY'S POST SPONSORED BY | Chic Tags
Chic Tags
, formerly known as Shabby Chic Crafts, has delightful vintage inspired paper tags to fit all your crafting needs!  If you plan on working on a December daily Album too, you don’t want to miss out on their NEW December Daily Album Kit III. Please don’t forget to check out the CT blog for tips and ideas!

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

147 thoughts

  1. Jen says…
    10/26/2011

    THANK YOU for posting! Can't wait to see the whole foundation. Always an inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Erin B says…
    10/26/2011

    Wanted to be the first to say 'yay'! I have been waiting for this, and was so excited to see it when I logged-on this morning! So excited for DD this year!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Liz says…
    10/26/2011

    wow does that look great!!! can't wait to try!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Nicole says…
    10/26/2011

    This is such a beautiful album cover Ali! I did a white album cover last year too and loved it. The fonts are a great match with the date numbers on your Designer Digitals template. So awesome. My brain is racing with ideas now...

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Ellie A. says…
    10/26/2011

    OH I AM JUMPING UP & DOWN!! YAY YAY!! This is a "anniversary" time for me as this is when I returned to scrapbooking again because of you & last yrs. Dec. Daily. So a BIG thank you for sharing such a wonderful & Beautiful project! I wouldn't be able to get the SC kit as much as I would have LOVED to as its a bit out of my budget but I am picking up pieces here & there so I can be ready when we do start!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. amy says…
    10/26/2011

    yay! looks nice ali, i especially like the little santa on the spine. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Karen Kellenberger says…
    10/26/2011

    That is a beautiful cover! I love the idea of white on white. I need to step out of my box and try something like this! Thank you for sharing all of the steps.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Lisa W. says…
    10/26/2011

    Very beautiful...would love to try some of those techniques:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Michelle L says…
    10/26/2011

    I'm so excited! I have to say I was a little scared of the chipboard album. I was scared of ruining it! I'm glad you showed a failed attempt and how easy it was to recover!
    I love the idea of the 25 on the cover!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Susan Anderson says…
    10/26/2011

    I've been "pinning" a bunch of white on white canvases thinking I would use that idea for this project. Love the way you approached it and the results. Can't wait to get started.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Brooke M says…
    10/26/2011

    I love the idea of a large 25 on the front cover. I definitely want to play around with that idea. can't wait to see the inside pages!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Lisa says…
    10/26/2011

    Oh this is so good I'm starting to break out in a sweat!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Lida says…
    10/26/2011

    Oh,yea! Here we go! Though I started one last year and never finished it, I hope I can finish one this year. I have been waiting to start! Do you think I should start another album or combine last year's with this year's? Thanks for your inspiration. Beautiful cover.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. dawn says…
    10/26/2011

    I have been WAITING PATIENTLY for this post Ali, soooo happy to see it today. How pretty the white on white looks, great job on the cover. Thank you thank you for sharing with us your first attempt and how it's OK to do it again if needed. I can't wait to start playing with a cover for mine. Thanks so much for sharing this with us and I love reading all the exciting comments from everyone.

    p.s. if any readers are doing a artsy album, not just the cover but the whole album please let me know so I can get some ideas. This might be the way I make my album this year but would love some feedback first. Thanks so much!! Just leave a comment here and I will see it, thanks again!!

    HAPPY DECEMBER DAILY EVERYONE!!!

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. dawn says…
      10/27/2011

      Brooke,

      Thanks so much for your sweet words. This is the first place I visit every morning and few times during the day in case theirs another new post. I am a huge fan of her words, her love for life, her gorgeous photos, her stories and ideas, she loves numbers too, what's not to love!! If you ever not see my comments here it's because my computer isn't working or I'm on a very rare vacation.

      So by no means a weird stalker just someone who admires her and the way she tells her stories and teaches me to be a better mom and memory keeper. Did I mention how adorable her kids are !!!

    2. Brooke says…
      10/27/2011

      Happy December Daily to you too Dawn. Just thought I would let you know that I always look for your comments when I visit Ali's blog. I'm thinking you might be her number 1 fan! There was a little while there where you didn't comment so often and I was a little worried!

  15. Teena says…
    10/26/2011

    What a wonderful idea!! Love it! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Lee Currie says…
    10/26/2011

    I made my first DD last year and LOVED the project. So much has changed in this past 12 months, it's a "must do" project for this December. Thanks for the inspiration Ali, as always!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Karen Imes says…
    10/26/2011

    Ali, I love how adventerous you are....I usually see something in my mind but am terrified of messing it up! I would LOVE to try this with a red 2 and a green 5....that would be super cute! Thanks for sharing your creativitiy-as always!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Claire says…
    10/26/2011

    I love seeing your process, especially how you tried the spray paint and then painted over it. I'm still struggling with my fear of not making a mistake or doing something I don't like. I feel inspired to experiment. Thank you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. scrappysue says…
    10/26/2011

    Ali, your cover is gorgeous; can't wait to see the inside pages!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Terri Porter says…
    10/26/2011

    Ali, I'm so excited to get started on my fourth DD album! It's definitely a highlight of the year. I tried looking up the two fonts you mentioned, Rosewood and Numbers Depot and I can't find either one of them. Any suggestions on where to look? I Googled them but the fonts that came up are nothing like the ones you used. Thanks.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      10/26/2011
  21. Jen Demmon says…
    10/26/2011

    Ali - I love, love, love how the cover turned out! It was really nice to see the idea that didn't work; makes me feel better about the disasters that happen along the way. My husband can't understand why I am already getting excited about Christmas before Halloween. Its the all the December Daily delicousness. thanks for sharing the process; I learn a lot!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. dawn says…
    10/26/2011

    I just had to come back and peek again at the cover, it soooo pretty!! Can't believe it's that time of year again, doing a HAPPY DANCE over here. Hope to see the inside pages SOON!! Thanks Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Tracy Jackson says…
    10/26/2011

    Hey Ali,
    Love the look so far! About what size is your album?

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Lora says…
    10/26/2011

    That is awesome and such an inspiration! I have started mine, but then got sidetracked with other things. This makes me want to get back and get my base ready for December. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. marianne says…
    10/26/2011

    I was hoping you could show us a little of the inside. I was looking to see if the Kit that is going on sale this week is worth the cost ( and worth staying up till midnight because you know they will sell out!)

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Kelly G says…
      10/27/2011

      Studio Calico have a photo of the kit contents on their facebook page. Its under email:webview
      https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Studio-Calico/165146353359
      or a direct link (if it works!)
      https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:22930.10845696772/rid:12aeace68ea36a93e5d7331247c3618a

    2. Ali says…
      10/26/2011

      Hi Marianne - I'm waiting on a couple more kit items to add to my foundation pages before I share the inside. I'm pretty sure that there will be enough kits.

Sign in or sign up to comment.