Bella Blvd Studio Blog: December Daily Album: Wendy Morris

The month of November is when we start to hear a lot of talk about "December Daily" albums. December Daily albums are a very popular way to document your Christmas holiday, and the month surrounding it. The idea is to record and document something on each day of the month, leading up to Christmas day. We all know how crazy busy December gets to be, with everything going on. So preparing the base of your December Daily album, and getting a large chunk of it all set up and ready to go, is extremely helpful in making this a realistic album to keep up with. We asked a few of our designers to take on a December Daily album, to give us some ideas that maybe we would like to incorporate into an album of our own. First up, is our Mini Album Designer, Wendy Morris!

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Hello all! Wendy Morris here, to share the "behind-the-scenes" look into the making of my December Daily Album. Now, I'm looking forward to December 1st to start capturing & documenting the memories of the month. So, let's get started.

First of all, I gathered lots of bits & pieces, full sheets, scraps, embellishments, various sizes of page protectors (i.e. 8 1/2"x11", 8"x8", baseball card size, etc), those wonderful Ciao Chip Bella Blvd numbers. On a side note, the Ciao Chip numbers are PERFECT for a monthly/weekly in the life type of album because you get LOTS of numbers and not just one or two of each number. Also, of course, I pulled out my stash of stamps too!

Next, I cut apart all those wonderful Bella Blvd journal cards and mini ATC size (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") cutouts that are just the right size (with a bit of trimming) to fit into the baseball size page protectors that you will see later in this post. Pre-cut all these items ahead of time and you will be ready to "rock & roll" with your monthly album come December 1st. I followed this same process in selecting the various papers used in the album as well. I really wanted my album colorful, fun, and lively so I love this about the Bella Blvd papers and all of them chosen were the right fit.

I just adore the days of the week/monthly/holiday strips from Bella Blvd as well as the colorful calendar & daily circles. So, I grabbed up my scissors & favorite circle punches to cut & punch out to use randomly throughout my album.

I really LOVEEEE these cutouts, because they are a different size. More of a 2"x6", and I decided to use these in a unique way for my album as you will see later in this post. On a side note, I didn't just choose the Christmas theme type papers in the Bella Blvd collections, but other papers as well because I wanted randomness of different collections that would flow throughout my album (you can tell this in my supply list).

For the album, I went with an 8 1/2" x 11" black leather D-ring album. On the spine of my December Daily album, I went with a monthly card from the Bella Blvd cutouts mounted on colorful Bella Blvd paper, stamped December, and used my vintage typewriter for the "daily".

Remember those cutouts shown earlier above? Well, here is how I used one of them. Actually, the page protector used here as my "lead in" page to the album was the size of 8"x8" (just some random page refills in my stash) but I cut it to fit the album for the placement of holes. Then, I used my sewing machine & red thread to straight stitch a "pocket holder" just the right size for the insert "25" strip.

I like to think "out-of-the-box" to twist up my pages differently. On the side of the banner strip, a 6"x6" picture can fit inside. I love the varied sizes of pics in an album - 6"x6", 8"x8", 8 1/2" x 11" and/or smaller - which adds interest and uniqueness to an album of this type. Another technique tidbit - I like to sometimes mount my dimensional letters and such on the outside of the page protector just for a neat effect.

And here is the reverse side of the page protector. Again, another cutout to size and straight stitched on the sewing machine.

Throughout the framework of my album, I went with the process of baseball card holder page, full 8 1/2" x 11" page, and alternating throughout until Day 25. All those neat paper cutouts noted above and daily/holiday word strips I put in the pockets just to hold a spot because as I go through each day of the month, I will determine where I want to place the strips. So, you will see this throughout my album but they are not permanent until I officially start.

Also, I love the versatility of the style of the album flow to move pics around as I print them on my mini photo printer, etc. Since I'm laying out the framework to this album ahead of time, I'm not really sure how many pics I will have each day in December but I put 2-3 days per baseball card holder and can adjust this as I start my month.

So, now I will flow you through my December Daily album for each day and stop along the way to highlight certain techniques. The full reveal of my completed pages throughout the month of December, I will share up on my blog.

Here you will see the first page of 8 1/2" x 11" and I believe I should treat myself to a frappe sometime Dec 1-3. Don't you just love that "Starbucks" style coffee cup? SO FUN!!

On this Bella Blvd cutout, I added some "pop" with embossing by stamping, Versamark ink, embossing powder, and heat tool along with the stamped sentiment and snowflake buttons.

How cute are those trees on the Bella Blvd paper? Well, I had the perfect stamp to match it up along with the Bella Blvd sticker "merry" or you can just a black fine tip journaling tip for fun doodling.

Felt adds such a nice "pop" of texture and warmth. Here I used a piece of red felt with the Ciao Chip numbers layered on the outside of the page protector.

I left lots of spaces for quick journaling or a quick type up on my typewriter. Also, these would be fun little spots for mini photos and fun journaling underneath too.

On this page, I straight stitched with red thread a grid because I have an idea in mind for a series of mini square photos (maybe mounted on pop dots) to add here. So, even pre-planning your stitching is nice to do ahead of time too.

On the "25th" day, I added some white mist, a Bella Blvd calendar cutout, and then I layered Ciao Chip numbers on the outside of my page protector.

Fun "free motion" machine stitching used here on my sewing machine along with some random placement of fun buttons, brads, and Bella Blvd cutouts and sticker strips.

So, now I can't wait for December to get here to start filling up this fun December Daily album!!! Hope you enjoyed the "behind-the-scenes" take on the making of mine!

Supplies:
Winter Wonder: Cute Cuts, Ski Slopes, Blizzard; Toasty; Sophisticates: Tall Tags, Short Stories, Petite Pieces, Sprinkles & Lace, McIntosh, Calendars; Socialite: Countdown; Hello Beautiful: Borders N' Blocks; Sweet Celebration: Stardust; Christmas Wishes: Christmas Love, North Pole, Borders; Tail Waggers & Cat Naps: Puppy Park; Man of the House: Distinguished; Finally Fall: At the Patch, Apple Holler, Cute Cuts; Simply Simona Chipboard Alpha: Ciao Chip; Simply Simona Chipboard Numbers: McIntosh, White

Comments

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Love this Wendy! The Christmas wreath is an inspiration. Please share the specifics about the album. That seems to be everyone's dilemma.

Posted by: Karen S. | November 12, 2011 at 06:51 AM

Wendy, this turned out fantastic!

Posted by: Becky Williams | November 12, 2011 at 07:28 AM

Fab December Daily Wendy, love it!

Posted by: Danielle | November 12, 2011 at 07:47 AM

LOVE this!! it looks fab.
xo

Posted by: C. Rayevich | November 12, 2011 at 08:57 AM

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! This is AMAZING! I loveeeeeeeeeee how you put this together!!! I loveeeeeeee the stitching! :):):):):):):):):):):)

Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | November 12, 2011 at 09:57 AM

Wendy ~ This is AWESOME!!! I try to do a December Daily every year. I love your techniques! Where do you find the baseball card holder protectors? Great job! Can't wait to see the final project!

Posted by: morgan | November 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM

Wow! This is truly spectacular! Love it! :)

Posted by: Kathy Martin | November 12, 2011 at 12:23 PM

This is an amazing album! I can't wait to see you fill it up!

Posted by: Diane Payne | November 12, 2011 at 02:05 PM

Thanks so much EVERYONEEEEE! love ya'll! :)

@Morgan - you can find baseball card holder protectors at your local craft store (i.e. Hobby Lobby) on the aisle for postage stamp collectors & baseball cards or online. Hope this helps! :)

Posted by: Wendy Morris | November 12, 2011 at 05:04 PM