Welcome to December Daily™ 2011 | Day Eleven.
We are in full Christmas swing around here with many of our favorite traditions (and a few new ones) seeming to happen all at once – seeing Santa, getting the tree, decorating the tree, writing letters. It’s such good stuff.
For me it usually means lots of photos. And lots of full-page photos in the context of this album.
Right now, that’s what I want most.
Along the bottom of my first page photo I added word art from my Messy Little Christmas set (that’s another one that would likely work great with the Silhouette).
Simple journaling up along the top.
I definitely had more photos I wanted to include today so I ended up printing out two that were 4 inches x 8.5 inches, adhering them back to back, and then stitching them to the transparent overlay I’d already put together for Day 11.
Here’s a look at the two photos:
And then stitching them to the transparent insert:
I stapled the photo to the ribbon/transparency at the top and the bottom before running it through the sewing machine (trying to keep it in place).
At the top of each of the photos I added an embellishment from the My Minds Eye Lost And Found Christmas chipboard set (cut off the circle part of the “E”).
Here’s the other side in the album and a close up on the chipboard embellishment:
The second page of the spread is a collage of photos from tree-decorating.
I love the mix of close-up and entire-room shots.
Just a few small embellishments added here – word stickers and kraft stars.
SUPPLIES | DAY ELEVEN
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TODAY’S POST SPONSORED BY | Studio Calico
Studio Calico offers monthly scrapbooking kits delivered right to your doorstep. Enjoy the latest and greatest products from a mix of manufacturers including exclusives from Studio Calico each month. Visit our website to join the club AND to receive daily inspiration! SPECIAL OFFER | Enter promo code ALI20 to save 20% off your purchase (valid through 12/25/11).
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love this, so much fun to get your own tree. your tree is pretty, tell Simon he did a great job picking it out. love the collage of photos.
What a great series of photos. Simon smiling at his sister, both surrounded by the beauty of the trees, is just heartwarming. These are good memories to keep.
You create such wonderful family memories, and document them perfectly. I know you will treasure this book
Loving the 4 x 8.5 insert — so cool. Again, just another great layout. I’ve been using your “Messy Little Christmas” set and I love seeing how you use it. I really like the way it looks when it bleeds off the page. I need to remember that.
It’s my first year participating. So far, so good. Been keeping up with my printing and journaling but I’m going to add all my goodies later when I feel I have some time to breath (after the holiday push). I’m just thrilled that I am doing this and I have YOU to thank for that!! Thank you Ali!!
Those are great christmas tree ornament keepers (in your photos). Do you remember where you picked them up? I’m looking and can’t seem to find what I want. Happy Holidays!
They are from a company called Sterling Pear – I bought them a few years ago (on Amazon I think). I don’t see the same ones listed there anymore. http://www.sterlingpear.com/ref=sample_one
great pages!
I love to sew but I don’t think of this technique often enough when I scrap… must make this a New Year’s resolution!! thanks for the reminder… Beautiful pages as always!
Having my machine out and easily accessible has made a big difference for me
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so cute and festive. i’m going out today to get one.
Love the photo of the three of you.
I love all your decorations. Your house looks so lovely and warm!
I love the full page photos too. I’ve tried it a lot this year and it is definitely my fave technique.
I love that you showed “the mess that is decorating the tree”. It never occurred to me to photograph that. Now I am really sad that all my Christmas stuff is in storage and there will be no tree this year. That’s okay … next year I will remember to take that photo!
I like that her Christmas boxes are so nice — at least the mess is color-coordinated.
I want some of those boxes!
HA – yes, a color-coordinated mess
. I’m good with that. The boxes are from a company called Sterling Pear – I bought them a few years ago (on Amazon I think). I don’t see the same ones listed there anymore. http://www.sterlingpear.com/ref=sample_one
Love your pages Ali! It definitely makes me reminisce about our son when he was younger; our Christmas schedule is so much more casual and very different from when he was little. It is such a great time! I have a question – where did you get those awesome ornament boxes?? Love them!
They are from a company called Sterling Pear – I bought them a few years ago (on Amazon I think). I don’t see the same ones listed there anymore. http://www.sterlingpear.com/ref=sample_one
I love this page, Ali! The photo of your tree is fabulous. I love your mix of photos of decorating as well. I want to do this for my album now.
Thank you so much for your inspiration!!
i love this day of yours! what fun to cut your own tree…i haven’t done it in a long time (since i was one of the children) but hope to with our children soon.
This is a BEAUTIFUL layout. That tree is perfect, Simon did awesome!
jennifer olson
when are you going your project life and are you going to get the new core kits i’m going to get the new core kits too
i really enjoy your pages & love your creativity! just curious as to why you don’t use much of the studio calico december daily kit?
Hi Michelle – thanks for asking. I’m using it here and there throughout the album (pattern paper strips, accents added to photos) and used it a bunch for creating my foundation pages. I’ll keep adding pieces from the kit throughout the month. The photos, and often the words, are the biggest focus for me.
With Ciara away at college I am finding things to document about, I do have a few pages with no pictures but I found that to be okay. Loving your album this year, thanks Ali for sharing abit of your life with us!
Somehow I misunderstood and halfway through the month I’m finally starting to understand what December Daily means. Yes, I read the instructions but… That’s ok. Figuring out the process has still helped center me during a really trying time. Glad I caught up with your blog through Becky Higgins’s blog. Thanks.
Hi Cori – it can really mean whatever you want it to me for you and your family. Hope you are finding something that works for you – peace to you during this time.
This looks like the best christmas ever, it looks like home! What a beautiful picture of your family. All of these pictures remind me of my traditions as well, Merry Christmas to the Edwards family!
Hi Ali!
I love that you go to the tree farm for your tree. Hadn’t noticed it in other photos, but Simon is getting so TALL!
What a great day you guys had yesterday
Love how you stitched photos to the transparencies – Genius!
He’s huge!
I was just looking to see if anyone had commented on that- both of them look really tall
THe the photo collage page. How do you do that in elements?
Hi Robin – you can either use a template (like the ones in this set: http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking/supplies/product_info.php/products_id/12924) or you can make your own. To make your own I would start with a new canvas (let’s say 5.5 x 6.75 – the size I used here) and then drag and drop your photos onto the new canvas changing up the sizes as you go based on the number of photos you want to add. Here’s a video tutorial that might help: http://aliedwards.com/2011/05/creating-a-photo-canvas-in-photoshop-elements.html
I’ve also got a Getting Started with Digital that has other tutorials you might find helpful: http://aliedwards.com/2010/01/getting-started-digital-scrapbooking.html
Parents are the best, I’m glad you have yours close. You are blessed, and loved by many…thanks for inspiring me every day.
I’m really very thankful for them!
Thanks so much for sharing this! Beautiful – love the full page photos. I am a cardmaker, just getting started with scrapbooking. And am dying to find a permanent place for my sewing machine in our new home so I can use it for my projects. Love your work!
Here we are at day 11 and still the main part of my kit still has not here I am still missing the cover,25 page protectors, and all the overlays… kind of hard to follow when I can’t put anything together yet I don’t want to cut anything not knowing what the size of the pockets are and not having the overlays makes it hard to put any foundation pages together. I am starting to wonder if I should just get a refund … not sure what to do…
Hi Dawn – are you in contact with Studio Calico? I’m so sorry you’ve had this experience with the supplies.
The only contact I have with them is sometimes they reply to my emails. The response is always i’m sorry and we will ship them out to you. I live in Lynden Washington and can ship to Florida faster I don’t see what or why this is taking so long…
Dawn
I sent you a personal email.
Hi Dawn & Ali,
Sadly, I am in the same boat….but….my album came today…OMGosh, COMPLETELY DESTROYED!!!! I can’t salvage it at all. I was so bummed! I, like you Dawn, have not even started with my foundation pages (last year I was all set and ready to go!). I was so torn on whether to order the kit considering the cost, and ended up ordering it right before they sold out. Now I am wondering if I should just send it back too – but I SOOOO want to do a DD!!!!. =( Please let me know if you get anywhere with SC. I emailed Lorie there, and she seems pretty quick to get back. Good luck!!!
Hi Dawn,
. Hopefully yours came today or maybe it will get to you tomorrow. Its my understanding that the albums went from China to KY and then out again.
I feel your pain. I live very close to you in Washington and my album and protecters arrived today
I remember when you bought those organizers for your ornaments, looks like they are still really sturdy and handy… love all the photos and how easily it seems to come together to make a more cohesive look. Love your tree and that you are having fun as a family
Simon is so tall! What a great experience & so wonderful that your dad was there to help…..slightly jealous!
Ali,
First let me say – I’m loving your DD! It’s looking truly amazing. I’m coming along with mine, a bit slow, however, I’m determined to complete it!
I’m in the process of “cleaning/organizing” my scrap space, I’ve been looking for a new “blotter” work area to put down on my desk. I’ve always admired yours, it appears to have a grid pattern on it. I can’t seem to find anything clear like it, any idea or resource where I might find it? Thanks!
Hi Audra – I’m pretty sure I ordered it from here: http://www.cutting-mats.net/. They are able to do custom sized ones to fit your table.
Love today’s layouts – very Christmassy. Also like what you did with the transparency.
Hi Ali – am loving your DD! Thanks for sharing your December with us – it’s very inspiring.
I downloaded the Messy Little Christmas set but am having trouble changing the colour of the font in PSE. I would like to change bring on the twinkle from black to white. Would you please explain (again!) how to do that?
Thanks!
Hi Laura – I’ve got a tutorial on that here: http://aliedwards.com/2010/01/scrapbooking-with-your-computer-opening-recoloring-adding-to-a-photo-loading-brushes.html
Love that photo collage, that is a great idea for including lots of details. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been enjoying this year’s DD. It looks like you are having such a great time with Simon, Anna and your parents. I can’t believe how big Simon has gotten. My DD is 9 and in 4th grade and she seems so, so small compared to him. I was curious if Simon still believed in Santa or if he believes for Anna’s sake.
Take care!
Love your layout today. I especially like how you added more pictures to the transparency. My sister had a cookie party yesterday for the cousins and I think I took just short of a million pictures. I will be utilizing your creative idea using lots of pictures for my day 11.
BTW your parents rock.
Such beautiful pages, Ali. Is Chris in session because I have missed him in your family photos.
you are AH*mazing ali!
everything in your december daily is beautiful and has a touch of christmas magic on each page…LOVE IT!
xoxo…
~p