A Jolly Christmas Mini

Hello!

Hoping this finds you all well, and much better prepared for Christmas than me!  Before I get completely caught up in the family and festivities, I thought I would share one more project with you for your Christmas photos this year.  It is a mini album, featuring product from both Close to My Heart and The Twinery.

Front of Mini

The basis of this mini is CTMH's My Creations Board Book -- a 6x6 white chipboard album.  I used the adorable "Believe" paper packet to cover my pages.  See that little stripe of red paper on the right?  This is an awesome new feature of our paper packs!  Instead of the CTMH logo being printed right on the paper, they now have a 1/2" "zipstrip" at the top of each sheet -- remember, all our paper is double sided -- so the logo is on one side, and an adorable border is on the other!  Each pack has three different zipstrips.  

My title is created with CTMH's Color Ready Oxford Alphabet and Dimensional Elements Classic Alphabet (retired).  Ink colors are Holiday Red, Sky and Sweet Leaf. I added a little sparkle with my Prisma glitter!

I was also able to thread three colors of twine through the binding of the board book, and tie them in a knot, to create a cute accent.  The colors I used in this project are from The Twinery's "Merry and Bright" sampler trio -- Caribbean, Peapod, and Pink Sorbet.   I knotted the twine in two additional places, as well, with little scrap pieces.

Pages 1 & 2

Additional products used on these pages are the Dimensional Elements Ornaments and Red Sparkles.  And of course, the adorable Pink Sorbet Twine from the Twinery!  Doesn't it make a cute border?

Pages 3 & 4

Another adorable zip strip, this time at the top of the pocket, and I used Caribbean Twine for a border.  The tags were leftovers I had from a swap many moons ago, and I simply backed them with our colored cardstock, punched a hole, and strung them with more twine.  Easy peasy journaling!

Pages 5 & 6

 Same as pages three and four, and this features the third zipstrip print!

Pages 7 & 8

Pink Sorbet twine for the border, and the "HO" is created using the Dimensional Elements Classic Alphabet and Dimensional Elements Ornaments.  The ornament is hung with Peapod twine, and that cute santa in the middle of the ornament was punched from the paper with CTMH's 1 1/4" Circle Punch.

Pages 9 & 10

Bordered with Peapod twine -- and you can just see, if you look on the right hand side, how I used the twine to close my book:  i simply doubled the twine, punched a hold in the chipboard using my Crop-o-dile, and looped the twine through.  I did this on both the first and last pages, so I can tie the book together, as it's a little bulky.  See the cover photo again for more detail on that.  

Well, there you have it!  I'm off to run a few last minute errands and mail my Christmas cards.  As we get caught up in the busyness of this holiday season, don't forget to take a quiet moment and remember Who it is we celebrate -- that adorable babe, wrapped in swaddling cloths, destined to become the Savior of the world.  Come, Lord Jesus!!  Until next time,

Our Handsome Godson

Ok!  So, these aren't Christmas related, and I didn't take the pictures this time . . . my uber-talented friend, Lori, did!!  But I wanted to share, both her beautiful pictures and the scrapbook pages I made with them.  

Pictured are her children, Bailee and Cole, and her nephew, Nick (the dark-haired one).  Cole is our godson, and we couldn't be prouder of the young man he's becoming!  Bailee has other godparents, but we have loved her like one of our own since she was 18 months old.  We are so blessed to know this family . . . Rich and Lori were my saving grace when we moved to Salt Lake City, and we are so grateful to call them dear friends still, almost 17 years later. 

 

This is the two page layout I created with Lori's photos.  Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise indicated) are from the Dreamin' collection (Level 2 paper packet and Stickease); Harvest Charms; and Antiqued Copper Designer Brads.  The twine is from the Twinery -- Lemondrop.

As they live far away now, we don't get to see them often, so it's always fun when Lori does a photoshoot and we get to see our kiddos!!  Thanks, Lori!  And thanks to each of you, for stopping by!  Until next time,

Easy Holiday Frame

Hello!

I'm hoping you are all wonderful on this bright, beautiful Saturday in December!  Of course, I can't really see the beautiful blue sky here in the valley because of the inversion, but hopefully Santa is planning some snow in the next week or so to wash all the crud out of the air!  :)

As promised, I'm back with a super easy idea for a frame I came up with, to showcase one of my favorite pictures of my furbaby, Sydnie.  It was her first Christmas with us, and I wanted her to look special!  ;)  (Needless to say, the hubbs hasn't let me dress her up since, and I have to admit, she did look rather bored.  LOL!)  This frame is REALLY easy.  It'll take you less than an hour, in most cases, and you'll have a keepsake you can pack away with your Christmas treasures and put out to enjoy for years to come.  

Here's what I used:

1.  A $1 unfinished frame from Michaels
2. Modge Podge
3. A foam brush
4. Scraps of Christmas fabric
5. Bakers twine from The Twinery
6. Christmas Ribbon

And this is what I came up with:

Simply follow these steps:

1. Cut your Christmas fabric scraps into pieces of random size and shape.
2. Starting in one corner, begin coating the unfinished frame with modge podge using the foam brush, and lay your pieces of fabric on the modge podge, making sure to overlap pieces and cover all the wood.  Keep doing this in small sections (so the modge podge doesn't dry out), until you have your entire frame covered.  Don't worry about the fabric overlapping the edges of the frame.  
3. Starting in the same corner, go back over your frame, checking for loose edges of fabric -- if you find any (generally where the fabrics are overlapping), dab a little modge podge under the loose piece and stick it down, making sure to smooth out any air bubbles as you go.  
4. Let your frame dry for about 10 minutes, or until tacky.  Go back over entire frame one more time with modge podge (over all fabric pieces), to seal the frame.  Let dry until no longer tacky (will depend on your climate how long that takes.)
5. Once your frame is dry, turn it over, and using scissors or a rotary cutter, gently cut off any fabric overlapping the edges.  
6. Turn your frame back over and, using modge podge, start in one corner of the inside opening of the frame and line with The Twinery's Peapod bakers twine, modge podging as you go.  I went around three times, then modge podged over the top of the twine to be sure it was held down.  (In my opinion, you can never have too much modge podge!)  This also covers up any rough edges you may have from trimming the overlapping fabric.  The Twinery's bakers twine is AMAZING stuff, and comes in a variety of colors!!  I'm thinking of using it on my Christmas cards and gifts this year.  Click on the link above to order their Christmas sampler, or on the button in my sidebar to check out their blog.  You will NOT be disappointed in their product or their amazing ideas!  :)
7. To finish off your frame, cut a long piece of holiday ribbon, leaving enough to tie a large bow at the top of the frame.  (I wanted mine to look like a Christmas package.)  Again, with the modge podge, start with the bottom of the frame and the middle of your ribbon, go slowly around, modge podging ribbon to the edge as you go.  Leave an open area at the top in the center of the frame, about two inches, where you will tie your bow once the modge podge is dry
8. Tie your bow (I did a double bow), and viola!  You have a Christmas keepsake!  Cut your photo down to fit the frame, insert, and display for all to see!

I would love to see your finished products, so leave me a comment and a link below if you decide to make one!  Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time,