Friday 25 May 2012

Finished at Last - Christmas Album

Hello Peeps

I know today is one of the hottest days we have had in the UK this year so far, but guess what?  I have finally finished my Christmas Album.  Yeah!  Only a few months late, but never mind!  Very appropriate on the Eve of Rudolph Day!  Hee Hee!  This is a very photo heavy posting so feel free to go and get yourself a Baileys so you can view at your leisure!

I have based the book on a video I saw of Laura Denison of Following the Paper Trail but with my own ingredients popped into the pot.  Love that Lady and Thank you Laura for the inspiration!

For a start I made a gatefold type of cover which is held together with TH hitches and a leather thong which I bought in Prague recently and corners from TH, and Martha Stewart
The leaves and flowers on the front cover were made using TH pinecones and tattered flower dies, Silhouette cutter and Stampin' Up punch, and all of which were edged using Ranger acrylic paint dabber to give a snowy effect.  The large maple type leaves were cut with the Silhouette with cream card, inked, scrumpled, reinked and then adhered.  
The calender is a Jenny Bowlin card, again the flowers are made the same way as the ones on the left hand side. Oh yes, as throughout the book I have added buttons/brads to the centre of the flowers. You can also see the TH doiley.  The glitter papers are K&Co.  
Loving these flowers!

A close up of the danglies on the ring.  These are TH and Avon!  The left hand side has a penguin hanging on there (Primark) the photo was not brilliant.
Here is what you see when you open the covers.  Using Martha Stewart punches, TH dies and XCut punches.  
The numbers were cut from a sheet of numbers on Pink Paisley card called Daily Junque - quite appropriate really as it is a Daily Journal! The numbers were cut out, distressed and inked then adhered to an assortment of tags which were made by die cutting or Silhouette machine.  Lots of stamping too.  

In Laura's album she had individual pages, but when I tried to do this it was far too fat so I opted for two pages to an envelope.  So here I decorated the back of the envelope which helped balance out the thickness of the overall book.
Not all pages have quite so much journalling as the photographs tell the tale.
I even include a piece of the wallpaper which Hubby was using in our Dining Room!
As well as including "events" which took place over December!
Even applying for my passport with a copy of the photo! Not my best shot.  I had to tell Hubby to go away as he kept making me laugh which is not allowed on your passport photo!  

Christmas Day had two pages all to itself!

Challenges were included!

My Christmas Cake was a proud project and I can see a layout coming when I get some larger photos of it!  These photos are printed out using a Poloroid Pogo which prints at 2"x3"!  Great for making journals whilst on holiday.  (Prague album to follow soon!)

Well, that is the end of my photos of this album and I hope you have gathered some ideas for future projects.  There are a plethora of papers used in this including an awful lot of Snippets, K&Co, Pink Paisley, Basic Grey, Bazzill, Bo Bunny, MME Christmas 6"x6", Laura Ashley wallpaper! Distress Inks used throughout in Walnut Stain, Crushed Olive, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Forest Moss, Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge. Tim Holtz dies, Stampin Up, Martha Stewart and X Cut punches. Brads, buttons, ribbons, distresser.

Thanks for reading this if you are still with me.  Off to bed now!

TTFN.

Hettie.

9 comments:

Helen said...

Stunning work, no wonder it took you so long!!

Di said...

OMG Sam - this is totally amaaaazing! So much work and such a fabulous keepsake too. I think it's got to be the snippets playground star of the week - just watch no-one dribbles their ice cream onto it or leaves grubby paw prints :)

Di xx

Sarn said...

BEAUTIFUL Sam . . . loads of work, but it is SOOOO pretty. A real keepsake. xxx

Kate Yetter said...

Fabulous, Sam! I love how each page is a envelope. Very cool. I have been inspired. And your decorating is lovely with all those flowers. I think I will have to take a look at that video.
Kate

Sarah said...

Totally gorgeous and a really bright and funky take on a festive look - the flowers are wonderful... and indeed Chrimble stuff on such a scorcher of a day! But so good you got it all done and can cherish it. Thanks so much for calling by and always being so cheery and complimentary!!! MERCI - enjoy the weekend! Sarah.

Jo said...

Oh my gosh, this is so FAB! Stunning project and fantastic keepsake....so inspiring!I love it!
Hugs Jo x

Mrs A. said...

Such a lot of work has go. Into this journal . Loving every page of it. especially like your flowers and the pine cone on the front. Have bought this die but have yet to use it. Hugs mrs a.

Lynn said...

Such stunning work and fab designs of the pages. Loving all the flowers. Gold stars for this one. Have a good week. Lynn x

karen said...

Wow! When will I learn never to let more than a day or two go by without visiting your blog! Look at all the fabulous stuff I miss! This album is absolutely amazing! It is a real work of art my friend!
xoxo Karen