Christmas Memories Album

I was reading a copy of Scrapbooks Etc. a while ago, and loved  the A Month of Memories article that Ali Edwards wrote about creating an album to document all of the magical moments that December brings.  It definitely needed to be added to my (ever growing!) "To Do" list.

For our family, the official "Christmas Season" begins on December 1st and is filled with decorating, parties,  visits with Santa, and a variety of family traditions.  A December daily album is a place to capture all of these moments.  I plan on adding some pictures but my main focus will be on the journalling.  Sometimes it is the simple stories that really make the holidays special but often these are the ones that we forget to document.  Like reading the Polar Express together with some hot chocolate...Or sitting around the tree listening to Christmas music after we decorate it...watching the Grinch That Stole Christmas on T.V,...bringing out those favorite Christmas ornaments.

As I was out looking for things to create my album, I came across a kit from Treasury of Memories that had everything I needed!  Treasury of Memories was my absolute favorite scrapbooking store until they shut down about a year ago.  A few times per year though, they will open up their warehouse and I always try to be there! 

So here is my partially put together album. 

Soooo cute, eh?  The inside is filled with a variety of chipboard or paper pages, various envelopes (you can put a picture on the outside and then slip the journalling in the envelope), some little brown paper bags, and tags. 

I have deliberately not put any numbers on the pages as I am sure I will change them around depending on what I am jornalling on for that particular day.  I have some vinyl numbers or some paper numbers cut from Teresa Collins paper to add for the dates.  Here's the last page where I did add the date (since I won't be changing that page!)

My hope (and I am sometimes overly optimistic!!) is that I will be able to complete a page per day so that it is completed by Christmas.  Really, all I will need to add is the journalling, some pictures, and a few more embellishments to make it mine!

I can't wait to get started on it! I will post the finish project once everything is completed after Christmas.

If you are wanting to start your own album, I would definitely recommend using these metal notebook rings (or whatever they are called) to bind your album.  I have created books like this before and they get rather thick quite quickly once you start adding all the embellishments!  

I am just finishing up another Christmas mini-book that I have been working on (and a really cute display holder to go with it!)  I will have more detailed instructions on how to make a mini-album so check back in a day or two!