December Daily 2012

Well it's that time of year again! Can't believe it's come around again so quickly. It almost caught me off guard this year but I managed to put my book together over a couple of evenings.
I started off putting a kit of goodies together. I've been reading the Homemaker magazine last week and it had a book of vintage pattern fabric papers in along with Christmas make ideas and it gave me the idea to mix up everyday patterned papers with Christmas themed ones so I mixed up some Crate Paper Sleigh Ride, Paper Party and On Trend papers that all had a vintage look to them. I also added some papers I had in my stash from Quirky Kits, mostly from the 'Tell me more' kit. The numbers I used are from that kit, the sheet of My Minds Eye paper.

 

I think it's the easiest way to make a quick album, to start with a kit first and then work with it till there's not much left over. The bits I have got left I'm putting to one side for extra decorating once I've added the photos. The hardest bit was getting started and deciding on a size to go with. I did the 6x4 size last year so wanted to change it up this year. I ended up with 8x6" as the size for the basic book, it'll be a nice size to add Christmas cards in the back that I want to keep.

 

I started with the front and back covers which is just a two layers of paper stitched together with the sewing machine. I used a mask with mist on the back and lots of layers of papers and embellishments on the front. I'll add a piece of thick acetate over the cover to protect it once it's finished.

The pages I made up with layers of cardstock, along with some mixed up pages like an envelope, canvas, paper bag and tags stitched together.

Everything I'm just fixing together with bookrings so I can add lots to it. This is the finished book before I decorated the foundation pages.

Then these are the foundation pages done:

 

 

Lots of the embellished bits on the pages I stitched in place with my sewing machine so the edges can be lifted up and photos tucked behind them. There are pages with pockets or open parts too so I can add in bits and pieces I want to keep.

At the back I've got some journalling cards I made.

 I've added a few in the book and I've got some for spares to add after as it's filled or if I need them.

Book finished:

 

 

Looking forward to another fun December filling it up! :)

 

x Leo

Happy Birthday to Daring Cardmakers!

Big happy birthday to the Daring Cardmakers this week it's been 7 whole years since it started, can you believe that? My card for this weeks dare is above. This week it's a colour challenge set by Zuz pop on over to check out the details, http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/colour-challenge-november.html
Seven years is a whole lot of cards and a lot of fun cardmaking :)
Since I've been uploading cards to the blog for the design team I've ended up with a nice jam packed folder on my PC with all my cards I've made for Daring Cardmakers and I've just been browsing though them and remembering past dares through the cards. It's amazing how much the dares/challenges can make you think up ideas you totally wouldn't have on your own. They help to stretch boundaries of the content of your cards and the materials you're using, well for me they do anyway ;-)
I've picked out my favourite cards from my Daring Cardmakers folder and as I'm currently trying to put together some Christmas holiday cards I'm going to use them as inspiration for the cards I'm currently making. How about you, do you have a favourite set or 'top ten' fave cards you've made for the Daring Cardmakers?
x Leo

In no particular order, (well alphabetical since they're in the PC folder that way) Top 10 Favourite Daring Cardmakers Cards, (well from the last couple of years anyway).

10

Dare to make a 'rocking' card.

9

Dare was to make a card that wasn't Christmas themed but used Christmas stash

8

Dare to make a card featuring another language.

 

7

Dare to make a card inspired by an image on Pinterest

6

Dare to make a card featuring something to do with camping, (I think).

 

5

Dare to make a card featuring goodies from Tea House Bridge.

4

Dare to make a card inspired by Marie Antoinette

 

3

Dare to make a card inspired by Damien Hirst

 

2

Dare was to make a card with at least three natural materials, (feather, wool felt and wood).

 

1

Dare was to use washi tape on a card.