25 December Days

Hello and welcome to our 25 December Days mini album tutorial!

I've been keen to try a method of documenting December for a while now, but fail every year (mostly because I complain that my holiday snaps are too terrible - particularly those early morning, Christmas day ones!!) This year I am making an effort to capture my favourite time of the year  - barbeques, swimming, sundowners, picnics, carols, beach days, snoozing in the hammock.... 
I can't wait!

This post contains full instructions, so you can zoom ahead if you wish! 
I will be focusing on specific sections and re-posting them weekly on the blog, 
as well as daily updates on the Sassy Facebook page.

Okay, so let's start with our COVER

Our Basic Grey 25th and Pine journal comes with lots of little elements inside to make our daily recording easier, but we are going to add some bits and pieces to pretty it up even more!

Start by taking the sheet of 'Yuletide Blvd' and trim a section that is 110 mm (w) x 80mm (h). Attach this to your cover, near the top as shown


Then, trim a section of the same paper, (using the scroll pattern facing up) to size 55mm (w) x 140mm (h) over the top (1 in the pic below)

2. Adhere the transparent christmas tree in the pack of 25th & Pine die cuts

3. Using foam tape, adhere the speech bubble over the tree

4. Trim a piece of the Maggie Holmes paper to 184mm (w) x 25mm (h). We are going to create a banner, by folding this strip at intervals 35mm; 52mm; 132mm and 149mm. Fold the last two on the outside edges, inside towards the centre to make the banner shape and trim a 'v' shape at the ends.



5. Add the die cut title supplied in your kit. It's quite a fine cut, so please be careful when working with it. It comes in two pieces (as the typeface had a break in the script) Just attach the 'er' separately but close to, the 'decemb'

6. Using the glitter Thickers supplied, create the word 'days'

7. I have added a few sequins to the front as a final embellishment

You will also notice, there is a charm attached with a book ring, to the cover

To create this:

1. Take the 'Be Merry' tag from the 25th & Pine die cuts pack 
as well as the large transparent yellow star. 

2. Add the year 2013 (or a word of your choice) using Thickers, to the tag.

3. Punch a small hole in one of the points of the yellow star.

4. Thread the tag and the star onto the book ring.

5. Tie some seam binding onto the book ring

INSIDE COVER


For the inside cover, start by trimming some of the vellum supplied to 95mm (w) x 155mm (h)

Using a hole punch, punch a row of holes close to the bottom edge. You are now going to snip a gap between the bottom bit of the punched hole and the bottom of the paper (as shown by the arrows below). Do this along the whole row. This will give the illusion of ripped notepaper. If you have a notebook punch, then by all means, use that. This is a cheat's way that I use often.


Next, take the calendar transparency from the 25Th & Pine die cuts pack and adhere it over the top of the vellum. I have placed a star sequin under the number 25 using a glue dot and a tweezer.


Finish it off with the 'deck the halls' and a 'holly' transparency, some sequins, a 'tis the season Elle's Studio snippet and the yellow epoxy button

DAY 1

I've just popped a number '1' from the 25th & Pine number die cuts 
and wrapped a bit of the gold twine around it

DAY 2

Again, just attached the number '2'.
* I've given the darker green areas of all of the green numbers, a coat of glossy accents 
for a bit of shine. This is optional. 

DAY 3

Let's open door number 3 with this advent calendar type door!


To create this advent door:

Start by cutting a shape on the circular page. This can be any shape really, as long as it's inside the white area. I've chosen a semi circle shape with an extended area that I am going to use as my 'door'. 
I just cut this with a craft knife.



Next, turn the flap over, and using some vellum or tracing paper, trace the shape of the white area.


Cut this piece of vellum out and place over a piece of the Maggie Holmes paper. 
I have chosen this bright yellow to inject a bit of that Aussie summer Christmas feeling into this kit!


Next, take that yellow shape you have traced and cut out, and adhere it inside the pink area. The navy side will then be visible when you open the door.


Going back to our cut door. Adhere the bells from the 25th & Pine die cut shapes with some foam tape. (Make sure you don't put tape on the right edge as we don't want to stick the door shut)

Now adhere the little candy transparency over the edge of the door. Only place adhesive on the right side, as this will form a little latch to keep our door shut.


Inside, I have placed a large '3' from the 25th & Pine numbers onto some foam tape. 
(I have popped some glitter over the darker areas - this is optional.)


You could also put some glitter over the berries on the bells as well.

DAY 4

Simply embellished with the navy tree epoxy sticker, a snowflake transparency and the number '4'


DAY 5

This page has a fun pocket and I have created a removable tag to go inside.


To make the tag, cut a section of the 'Sleigh Bell Trail' to 82mm (w) x 159mm (h).
Trim the top corners and if you like, round the bottom edges.

Cut out the tree tag from the sheet of 'Santa Highway'. Punch holes in both tags and thread with some of the pink twine.

You will notice I have cut a circular peekaboo in the pocket. This is optional.

Lastly, embellish with the 'Home for the Holidays' 25th & Pine cutout. (I have snipped off the house)


DAY 6

On this page, we are going to create a fun star shaker pocket!

Your kit comes with a pre-cut vellum shape. 
If you have a sewing machine, sew the edges together, leaving a space open at the top. 
Insert a mix of your favourite sequins and sew shut.

If you don't have a sewing machine, follow the same procedure, using double sided tape instead.


Add the 'Merry Christmas' Elle's Studio snippet as a final flourish.

next page is as such: Using the 'Santa's Workshop' 25th & Pine die cut from the pack.

* On all of the blank journalling pages, I have added some of the little icicles 
which are attached with a staple.

DAY 7

Let's bling up day 7 and add some trinkets to our album.

Simply add some wet adhesive to the darker red areas of a large number '7' 
and fill the area with red sequins.

I have given the three dots a spot of glitter too.


To make the charms

I've popped a small hole in the navy 25th & Pine die cut ornament and threaded some of the cotton through. The same thread was used on the wooden heart. I have coloured it with a gold marker (optional) and added a tiny star sequin.

Tie these on to the rings of the binding.

Finish your page with some assorted sequins and an Elle's Studio snippet. 
I've dipped the end in glitter (again, optional.)



DAY 8

Day 8, simple embellishment with number '8'

DAY 9

We are going to add a page divider on page 9, using a similar technique we used 
on the inside cover with the faux notepad punch.



To make the page divider:

Trim a section of 'Yuletide Blvd' to size 35mm (w) x 145mm (h)

Hold it near the edges of the binding comb and make a small dot a little way away from the edge. These are marking where your punched holes will be


Next, punch holes on your marked dots


Now, using your scissors, snip a line from the centre of the punched hole 
down towards the edge of the paper


Now you have a slightly different version of the notebook paper, 
that you can slide over the binding comb and won't fall out (Unless you're rough with it, hehe)


I've finished this page off with a green number 9 (this photo shows a large one, but I changed 
my mind a bit later on) There is also the Webster's Pages arrow paperclip, a striped border transparency and the 'yes please' 25th & Pine die cut

over the page... 'happy holidays' trimmed out of the navy background from the 'Santa Highway' paper

DAY 10

Day 10 incorporates an opening tag that you could use to reveal extra photos or journalling.



To make the tag

Start by placing a piece of 'Chestnut Street' paper (red side up) underneath 
the pre-cut shape of the page

Trace around the shape of the tag.


repeat the shape again, so you have an opening card as shown below.


Trim and place adhesive as shown above, and adhere as described.


* Punch a hole at the top of this red flap to correspond with the hole 
already punched on the book page

Next, create another banner with a piece of the Maggie Holmes paper. 
(I've left the blue bit on the edge for contrast)
Size 138mm (w) x 35mm (h). We are going to fold it in half 
and adhere it over the flap, as shown above.


if we close the flap, this is what you should see. Arrange your numbers at the top, leaving the hole of the '0' over the punched holes, so we can thread our navy ribbon though.


Embellish with a red cycle transparency and some circles or sequins. 

This is a pic of the reverse of our opening tag. I've adhered the christmas tree die cut shape from 
the 25th & Pine pack with some foam tape.

DAY 11

On this page we are going to create a envelope to hold your wish list for Santa
 using 'Yuletide Blvd' paper.


* Keep the envelope closed using the two small yellow brads and some cotton in your kit

Embellish with some numbers and a 'want it' die cut from the 25th & Pine pack. 
I've also tucked the 'counting down to christmas' card from the pack behind the envelope. 
I've trimmed it slightly and rounded the corners.

DAY 12

Simple embellishments using 'season's greetings' which has been cut out of the 'Santa Highway' paper and on the opposite page, an Elle's Studio snippet and a transparent holly die cut.


DAY 13

This page has another pre-made pocket. 
I've created a fold up/fold down banner to go over the top.

To make the banner

Trim a piece of the Maggie Holmes to 65mm (w) x 235mm (h)

Fold into thirds (roughly every 80mm) to create a Z shape.


I have cut circles at the top and the bottom 
for a peekaboo effect, but this is optional.


Fold one third over the pocket page and staple near the top to attach. 
This will be our 'flap up' piece. We can pop photos or whatever we want underneath.


Turn the page over and place the 'season's greetings' cut from the Santa Highway cutouts on the top third. If you are going to cut the circles, the wording should peek through the circle cut.



Keep the flaps closed with the yellow mini peg supplied in the kit. Embellish with vellum cut snowflake and a sequin if you wish.

DAY 14

Simple embellishment with some sparkly numbers and a geotag

DAY 15

Green numbers and a 25th & Pine die cut stocking, raised with foam tape.

DAY 16

Simple embellishment - big numbers with a geotag and an icicle


DAY 17

Create a double tag that you can lift to reveal more photos or journalling

Join the 'Happy holidays' tag from the 25th & Pine die cuts pack with the pre cut page in the book by threading some red and white striped ribbon through both.

Embellish the top tag with some green numbers and sequins. 
(You can adhere some shapes to the bottom of this tag for interest too if you like.)

On the larger tag-shaped page underneath, I've popped a 'be jolly' transparency, some sequins and the snowflake epoxy button.

If you turn this page over... I've attached the 'merry and bright' 25th & Pine die cut, a holly transparency, a vellum icicle and the santa face punched out of the 'Santa highway' paper 

next... DAY 18

Again, simply green numbers with Elle's Studio snippet and 'naughty/nice' 25th & Pine die cut shape

DAY 19

On the next (reverse) journalling page, I've made a little snowman. This may be corny to some, lol. Feel free to adapt (or scrap the idea!)


opposite page:

Green numbers and some gold ribbon to mimic the gold printed ribbon on the page.

Thread your ribbon through the pre-cut holes in the page


DAY 20

The 'Merry & Bright' page will follow, overleaf. I've popped a candy transparency 
and a small punched circle on one side...

 ... and opposite (for page 20, I realise I haven't placed numbers to mark the day, lol) I've used some leftovers from the vellum envelope cuts (you could use
some of the cut vellum snowflakes supplied with your kit), a transparency banner and made a little tag with the 'ho ho ho' die cut and some gold ribbon.

DAY 21

This page has another pocket page. I've cut the 'deck the halls' from the 'Santa Highway' paper and adhered it to the paper, just slightly below where the pocket starts, to give it the illusion it is coming out of the pocket.

To make the little wreath embellishment

Cut a circle (any size you like... this one happens to be about 40mm across.)

Now cut out a smaller circle inside it. Thread some of the gold twine around the bottom section and tie off so that the knot is hidden once adhered to the page.

Add a little transparent holly shape.


DAY 22

Using the frame transparency, Day 22 uses some more gorgeous tiny stars


Cut a piece of the Maggie Holmes to size 75mm (w) x 145mm (h) Adhere this to the page. 

Take some tiny stars and arrange them in a little bunch in the middle.

Next, take the frame transparency and apply adhesive all around the edges under the green area. Make sure you cover this area completely with adhesive so that none of the stars escape!!

Pop the frame over the stars and finish off with two large '2' shapes.

opposite page...

DAY 23

We can almost hear Santa's sleigh bells by now! 
Let's create some hidden journalling in the shape of a bauble.


To create the bauble

The bauble is made up of two circular shapes. One is cut from plain white paper/cardstock and the other is the same size, but from the 'Sleigh Bell Trail' paper.


Place the two green semi circles over the top, and secure with a green mini brad on each side.


The halves open to reveal your journalling!

Finish off with a bow tied from the red and white striped ribbon,
 an epoxy button and another small bauble created with a candy shaped transparency 
that has been punched and threaded with cotton.

opposite page...

Websters Pages heart paperclip and another heart wood veneer

DAY 24

He is on his way! Merry Christmas to all and to all, a good night...

opposite page:

We are going to be adding in one more banner, using the punch and cut method described earlier.


This little fellow is 125mm (w) x 43mm (h) cut from 'Chestnut Street' paper. 
Punch three holes to correspond to the binding comb and snip as described before.


Pop the banner in, over the binding comb and attach to the 
pre-cut banner page, using foam tape/dots.

Do the same on the little navy 'merry christmas to all' banner from the 25th & Pine pack...
Pop in and adhere with foam tape/dots.

If we turn overleaf...

a 'Merry Christmas' gift shape cut from 'Santa Highway' paper.

And there you have it!

Hope you have enjoyed putting your album together as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
We would love to see how yours turns out!

** Stay tuned for updates through out the month **

Wishing you a very merry Festive Season!

Chantalle

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