Countdown to Christmas...

We're back with another Papertrey Ink countdown post featuring the new stamp sets called Countdown to Christmas and Countdown Details! I've always wanted to create a December Daily mini album to record all of the fun happenings leading up to December, and I've finally tackled one (well, I have a good start on it)! These two new stamp sets have numbers and some cute little sayings that you'll see in my book...

It's another post with LOTS of pictures, so grab your coffee!

I looked around in my scrapbook room and first gathered all kinds of my favorite Christmas items... papers, brads, tags, etc., then began working on the cover. I wanted to use Soft Stone cardstock with white snowflakes. I decided to add a few of the Doily Details dies also - they kind of look like snowflakes too! Then added Soft Stone and Sweet Blush details, like the stamped polka dots and words on the snowflakes. I also added a bit of felt and buttons for texture, and a title with the Upper Script Alpha dies.

You'll notice that my pages are not all the same size. To me, I think that adds character and an unexpected touch! Just go to town and create. Don't feel like you have to make your book like someone else's! I spread them out a bit here, so you can see the fun patterns.

Page one is just the back of the cover with a tag. I trimmed the pink and red stamped tags in half and pieced them back together. I used the Countdown to Christmas numbers for each day! This is the page for Day 1.

On page two, I used a scrap of paper that I had stamped on with Background Basics: Super Stripes! The bottom is a Pure Poppy Patterned Paper, and the tag/snowflakes are from the City Sidewalks line by Pink Paislee. I stamped the #two on the tag.

On page three, I used a piece of Soft Stone cardstock stamped with the Snowflake Flurries with Soft Stone ink, a Super Star felt border and the Countdown to Christmas circle and number. Stripe paper is City Sidewalks by Pink Paislee. Chipboard is Season's Greetings by Echo Park.

On page four, I added a little glassine envelope in between the pages. It's decorated with a piece of washi tape, a die cut snowflake with Aqua Mist cardstock and an Echo Park brad. I intended this page spread to be used for photos on the left and a "making a list" page for my girls to write what they want for Christmas on the right. The stamped lines you see on the Soft Stone cardstock are made with the Desktop File: Inspiration stamp set! Great for making your own notebook paper, but you can use regular notebook paper if  you don't have this set.

(Close up of the stamping)


You can tuck whatever you'd like in the little bags and pockets of the book. Maybe the actual letters they write to Santa? The little "making a list" banner was stamped with Countdown Details.

On the back of page four, I stamped another page of list paper (so one of my daughters could write her list on the front and the other daughter could write her list on the back). I used the Mistletoe & Holly dies with the big red button to dress up that side of the page. On the other side, I stitched a piece of crepe paper (from the party store) and added some Echo Park chipboard. The polkadot paper reminded me of the berries from the holly.

On page the page five spread, I wanted to create an interactive page where we can write down our favorites of the season: favorite decorations, ornaments, music....etc. I stamped the Snowflake Flurries onto Soft Stone cardstock and then ran it through my printer to add the words. I added a piece of Pink Paislee's City Sidewalks to the top and stamped "my favorite" with Countdown Details.

The other side of the page...

Page six is all about holiday baking. I used the older Candy Cane Christmas stamps! The little number is stamped onto crepe paper and stapled onto the page with baker's twine.

Inside this page spread, you could insert your favorite holiday recipes on recipe cards! My girls and I love to bake different kinds of cookies for the holidays, and wouldn't it be fun to add photos of them with the recipes they used.

I have one more page to show you. I have 7 page spreads done so far, but of course I would like to do one for each day of December and continue on with the book! Here I used a Papertrey Ink envelope and filled it with Pink Paislee's City Sidewalks tags. I stamped the banners and December saying onto the envelope. I thought we could each write our favorite traditions on the tags.

What I like about having the book on a ring is that you can move pages and things around if you need to when you start adding photos. You can also add photos right to the rings in between the pages if you have a ton of photos to insert!

Joy December Daily Mini Album
STAMPS: Countdown to Christmas, Background Basics: Super Stripes, Snowflake Flurries, Candy Cane Christmas
INK: Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush, True Black, Soft Stone
PAPER: Soft Stone, Aqua Mist and white cardstock, Smokey Shadow Pattern Pack, Pure Poppy Pattern Pack, City Sidewalks paper and tags by Pink Paislee, Portfolio by Pink Paislee
DIES: Mistletoe and Holly dies, Peace Be Still dies, Doily Details dies, Snowflake Medley dies, Script Alpha dies, Super Stars Border die collection,
OTHER: Papertrey Ink felt, twine, envelope and glassine bag, seam binding, baker's twine, Smash tape,   Echo Park brads and chipboard, crepe paper, recipe card, pinking shears, American Crafts chipboard alphbet - Elf.
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So, what do you think? Ready to tackle your own December Daily? Visit the Papertrey Ink team to see the different ways they've counted down to Christmas!

Ashley Cannon Newell 

Betsy Veldman
Cristina Kowalczyk

Dawn McVey

Erin Lincoln

Jessica Witty  

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips

Nichole Heady