December Daily Preparations

I might be a wee bit excited to actually be doing a December Daily album this year. I even have looked up several of our city's holiday events to mark them on the calendar. We already did one holiday tradition last weekend (making pierogi with the Polish side for Christmas Eve) and this Saturday, we plan on attending the Light Festival Parade downtown, where they ceremoniously light all the trees lining Michigan Avenue. 

 

I'm going to show you what I have already set up to make this album go smoothly and get done! I knew I was going to be using the Take 10 DD sets and I wanted to do a 6x8 size album. I picked the Sn@p Simple Stories Teal album. As you can see, I haven't figured out the cover yet, so stay tuned! 

I am mainly using the kits but am supplementing with a few more items I purchased and some stuff from my stash. I ordered the Heidi Swapp Holiday Marquee papers that match her "Oh What Fun" collection, which is part of the Take 10 DD sets! I wanted these because they are larger than 6x8 and go great with the kit! Note, they are thinner single-sided papers. I'll show you what I did about that in a bit.

First, I started loosely laying out a 2-page spread per day or memory, with lots of blank space for photos. I have a mix of Simple Stories and Becky Higgins, LLC 6x8 page protectors. They are the very close to the same size, but you need to punch new holes in the BH pages. 

  

Then, I started mixing and matching numbers 1-25. Fun! I wanted a eclectic feel, still sticking with the same color palette. I pulled out my Sticker stash in coordinating colors, and used the Take 10 Days of December Numbers Stamps, get them here.

  

I put that lovely 6x8 calendar page right up front. It will probably not be done until the end, after I know what we did when! Below are a few more peeks at the foundation pages. 

  

 

   

 

And that last photo shows what I did with those single-sided papers. I cut two to the full size of the page protectors, glued them together and then ran them through my laminator. I also cut them down to glue to the chipboard tabbed dividers that came with the Sn@p album.

  

Next up, I got to work with the Days of December stamp set (here), making little embellishments to add later. Yes, I did a bunch of fussy cutting!

 

When I got to that "Believe" stamp, I really wanted it to be gold. I figured out how to get that with what I had on hand. Yellow mustard ink and Sticklers in "Crystal"  worked quite well.

 

 

 

 I played around with the snowflake stamp and Liquid Pearls to make a custom card. 

 

 And now, I have a bin full of coordinated items ready to pretty up my DD album, as I go. Are you doing anything to prep for a DD album? Let me know your tips!!

Here is a list of most of what I am using. Some of these links are affiliate links. (Thanks for your support!) I only link items I use and love! (click directly on image)

This is the Snap 6x8 album in teal that I am using.

If you didn't get the Take 10 Days of December Add on, the following items were from that:
     Heidi Swapp Oh What Fun Glitter Tags (18 pcs)

  HS Oh What Fun Clear Stickers (69 pcs)

HS Oh What Fun Alpha Glitter Stickers (includes Gold, Green and Red 192 pcs)

  Shimelle Tinsel Bows (8 pcs) 

   Pink Paislee Yuletide Gold Foil Words 
Pink Paislee Yuletide enamel shapes, Glitter Gold (17 pcs) 
  Pink Paislee Tree Clips, Gold (6 pcs)
Simple Stories Claus & Co Enamel Dots (60 pcs)
And here are more items I used:
Pink Paislee Merry & Bright Tags (note: the white is not as "bright" as pictured)
  Pop Dots
Xryon Sticker-Maker, Laminator, Magnet (many great uses)
Ranger Liquid Pearls, White Opal  Ranger Stickles, Crystal
I also pulled some cards from various Me & My Big Ideas Pocket Page Card Sets that I have. Here are some of the sets that I pulled from:
        MAMBI Months of the Year  Follow Your Heart
MAMBI Today                 This is My Life

Heidi Swapp Christmas Patterned Paper is back in stock. yay. love this paper. It's 8.5x8.5, so it's great for divider pages or full 6x8 pages. And, it goes perfectly with Take 10 Kit's Days of December kits.  

And here are all the TAKE 10 KIT links in one place that I reference in this post:
Days of December Numbers Stamps
Days of December Numbers Stamps
Days of December Kit

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Thanks!

Holly Genc 
www.paintedladiesjournal.com

Kit Coordination Perfection

Lincoln Park Zoo is so beautiful in the fall. We have a membership and go there a lot! And, as a result I have a lot of zoo pocket pages. Lol. 

 

I just want to take a minute to point out how well these Take 10 Kits are put together. They do such a wonderful job coordinating the cards and exclusive items with the retail collections they select. 

I mean, look at the how well the green "blessed" tab from Pink Paislee matches the "Hello November" card!! Professionals.  

Again! Perfection in the embellishments going with the card! It really makes a pocket page layout come together quickly.  

This is my favorite spot for group shots! On the bridge with the city skyline in the background.

   

 

  

  

Thanks for visiting!

Holly Genc

Prepping a Midori for Traveling

Update: I added a supply list to the end of this post for anyone interested in what products I like to use. Please note, the Amazon links ARE affiliate links and if you chose to shop with me, I send you a big hug and thank you for supporting this blog. I linked a few non-affiliate links, also to finish up with list.




When we went to Oregon at the end of August, I brought along my first Midori Traveler's Notebook. I'm going to share what I packed and what I learned. For starters, it totally depends on the type of vacation you are going on. We typically take our three kids (currently 6, 4 and 2), so we are always moving and pretty active. That means, I keep it pretty simple. My goal is to WRITE IT DOWN! All the cute stories, things we did, funny things said go in my notebook. My second BIGGER PICTURE GOAL is to have something when I get back home to build on. It will become my mini-album of our vacation and I don't have to rewrite the journaling.

I ordered a standard Midori insert with blank pages. I downloaded the August Daisydori printable that Cocoa Daisy offers. Currently, I believe they only offer a high quality printed version in the standard size. (This might be the way to go, if you can get it in time for your trip!) See it here at the Cocoa Daisy website. Otherwise dip into your paper stash, cut some down to size and use that! I also brought along my favorite pen (currently a black Signo). Now, I also packed my August Take 10 Kit, stamps, ink, adhesive, scissors; aaaaand I used none of that. If you know you will have lots of downtime, go for it.

I printed the Daisydori and pasted pages right into my notebook, purposely leaving blank pages here and there for more photos. 

I had these Mambi Sticks that were perfect! I packed those and did use them as as journaled, to mark what day it was.

I pre-stamped the second page to set up a quick summary page to help myself keep the days straight. This was a life saver.

We swam every afternoon, if I wasn't in the pool, I was sitting on the side writing.

If not then, I tried to catch-up in the evening. I always packed it, in case I had some time to write. 

I had fun with doodling and different handwriting, to let something stand out. For instance, a great kid quote or the name of a place we visited.

I hope this helps and inspires you to pack a Traveler's notebook on your next trip! I love the size. It's perfect to on-the-go!

I'm still filling in the photos and when I'm done, I will share the final product. See these two posts for more process: 

Midori 1

Midori 2

Supply List (Please note: These are affiliate links. Thanks for supporting this blog.)
Click on Image below to order.

Midori Traveller's Notebook - Standard Size (My Favorite Size)



I just ordered this one to add to my collection I am starting.  I'll come back later with a review after I get it. It comes with lots of extras that I also wanted.


Midori Standard Insert - These are blank on the inside like mine.


Midori Standard Insert - with grid. I also love these.


Black Signo Pen - my favorite journaling pen.


Iris Case for holding your supplies while traveling. I like to buy a set of them for keeping different kits together.




and of coarse your favorite scrapbook kit from Take 10 Kits. Use this Code for 10% off: Take10

www.thestudio29designs.com

Cocoa Daisy Printed Midori Insert


-Holly

Morning Outing

I am using the Woodland Take 10 Kit (October - the pocket kit is still available) to create this fun layout about a morning spent with my dear friend and co-blogger!   

I tend to use a lot more 3x4 cards in my layouts than 4x6. To stretch my kits, I will sometimes cut down a 4x6 to make two cards.

 
  
I think that light blue may be my favorite color right now. Especially in pocket pages.  The Pink Paislee Cedar Lane collection made its way into the glam bag. It all goes so well together and really feels like fall. 

A Harvest of Memories was such a great fit for this page. I've known Luly for a long time now. She has always been my mentor in the architecture realm and we quickly discovered we had another common love - Scrapbooking! We started www.paintedladiesjournal.com in February, as a place to share and inspire our crafty sides. 

 
I had been "saving" this smile embellishment for the perfect layout. Finally, used it!  Do you NOT use favorite items, for fear that later you'll wish you still had it for something else? I'm trying to get out of that mentality.

  
 
   
 
Those little acorn stamps are my fave. I pulled out my marker set and had some fun coloring.

Thanks for visiting!

Holly