December Daily® 2023 | Paper Play with Pam

Hello, hello friends! I am thrilled to be spending some time with you this month, playing with the December Daily 2023 collection and getting my hands dirty. (My hands are literally dirty this week, because we’re playing with stamps, lol!) 

First, very important information; Saturday, September 10th is the last day to guarantee availability of the stamps in this years December Daily Collection. If you have not yet added them to your box (and checked out), please do so ASAP. AFTER September 10th, the availability of stamps cannot be guaranteed. 

I consider myself to be a stamping novice; I am not a person who does a lot of stamping in my projects. I like dimension, layers and texture. Those things seemed beyond my stamping skill level, but I made a short list of things I wanted to try. My list included: 

1. make a mini book(s) with a stamped foundation
2. stamp custom journaling/filler cards 
3. stamp a background 
4. create dimensional embellishments 
5. create some interactive elements (nothing crazy! Just a little bit of hands on to engage.) 
6. stamp a title
7. make custom pockets. 

I believe I hit all the points on my list at least once (with varying degrees of success) and I’m excited to share what I came up with! (Even as I sit here writing this, my brain is swirling with more things I’d like to try.) In this post, you’ll find process videos for 7 different projects. You’ll also find several “Bob Ross, happy little accident” moments, but I do hope this sparks a sense of playfulness and creativity for you! Rest assured, there will be more stamping content from amazing contributors and community members in the coming weeks. Thanks again for being here!

Project 1: Wreath 6x8 Stamp Set, A Very Merry 4x6 Stamp Set by Paislee Press

• The wreath stamp is AWESOME, and very large. App 5.25 inches in diameter. Definitely recommend a stamping platform to get the most out of this stamp. 
• Use two or more ink colors in multiple layers to create visual depth and fullness. Start with lighter colours and layer dark colors on top. Rotate the stamp with each impression to vary the location of the stamped branches. 
• Consider using alternative holiday colours (pinks and blues and yellows) for a non-traditional twist. 
• In this video, I’m demonstrating 4 different ways to use the wreath stamp. (There are many more!). 1) mini-book / interactive cover, 2) home for photos and hidden journaling, 3) home for a stamped and stitched title, 3) ideas to turn the wreath into a pocket.

Project 2: Trees 6x8 Stamp Set, Ali’s Christmas Phrases 4x6 Stamp Set,  A Very Merry 4x6 Stamp Set by Paislee Press

• The number of potential stamping combinations with this one stamp set is exponential. I chose to stamp and fussy cut / die cut multiple colorful combinations. If you intend to make an entire rainbow worth of Christmas trees, I highly recommend you pick up the digital version of this stamp to use with an electronic die cutting machine. Stamping technique on already cut shapes is demonstrated in this video.

• This project features a large pocket, dimensional die cuts, a stamped canvas tag, and a very cute tree + tag turned pocket that didn’t make the cut for this spread, but will definitely get used.

Project 3: Ali’s Christmas Phrases 4x6 stamp Set, Trees 6x8 Stamp Set, Tags 6x8 Stamp Set

• Heat embossing is a really fun tool to give your stamping more “oomph”. I used embossing powder to help make this title stand out from the background. It’s also used on the trees that form a dimensional rosette to make it shine. I am really loving the gold and white embossing powders with this release (I already added a second container to my cart. It works really well!) 
• One of the challenges I’d love for you to consider is to think of other ways a shape can be interpreted. For example, the Christmas trees in the tree stamp set could be turned into banners/flags, alphabet letters, cartoon people, etc. This is a really fun creative exercise. 
• Sometimes things just don’t go the way you planned, and sometimes that makes them even better. “Pivot” as needed.

Project 4: Tabs 4x6 Stamp Set, Trees 6x8 Stamp Set

• Creating custom pockets is a really fun way to add extra storage space in your projects. It may also mean more room to include additional pics and longer stories. Here are a few more custom pockets that came together while working on these projects. They can be added directly on top of full page photos, outside page protectors, or as embellishments that serve a secondary function. (Sorry, no process video for these guys, but I think they’re pretty self explanatory).

• The 3x8 journaling card and transparency set is one of the supplies I make sure to pick up every year! Great value, lots of possibilities, definitely recommend.

Project 5: Merry & Bright 4x6 Stamp Set, A Very Merry Christmas by Paislee Press 4x6, Trees 6x8 Stamp Set

• This quick little project brought me SO. MUCH. JOY! I’ve already put a few of them to work, and I’m excited to sprinkle them throughout other upcoming projects. 

Project 6: Trees 4x6 Stamp Set, A Very Merry Christmas by Paislee Press 4x6

• This is another example of non-traditional colors in a December / holiday story. I let the photo guide my choices of pink, purple and blue. I thin it looks kind of magical! In retrospect, I wish I had turned the pocket on the back of the transparency into a flip open / flip out element instead.

Project 7: Number 6x8 Stamp Set, Trees 6x8 Stamp Set,  A Very Merry Christmas by Paislee Press 4x6

• Lots of love for this custom little notebook! It’s sized at 3x4 and should fit into a pocket when it’s time to put it away. I truly believe that the key to being “successful” with this project is to jot down something every day.

That’s a wrap for our first Paper Play Friday! I hope you’ve found some inspiration here today. I’ll be back next week with a plan to continue working on my (many) projects with a focus on the 2023 Main Kit. Please don’t hesitate to leave questions or comments below!