december daily 2012

So it's that time of year again...
So very hard to believe Christmas is simply around the corner...yet again...
This brings me to the part where I start to prepare our family's DecemberDaily journal.
As I went to gather albums from past year's I realized that this will be my sixth year to create this mini.
I was astounded by that fact.
Six years!
And then...I started to look at them, from the first to the last...
and the first one simply had me in tears.
I was so pleased that I had captured and wrote what I did in that very simple first book.
Capturing the nuances of our everyday...
plus the traditions that follow us year after year that make us a family.
I was beyond thrilled once again that this is a project I commit to year after year.
It's not an easy project to stay on top of...
but nothing worth while is easy...

Today I wanted to kick off the series with the cover of this years' book. 
This album sticks to a 6x8 format. Even though my books are different from year to year, I like keeping with the same size in general.
The foundation of design for our 2012 book begins with the MyMindsEye Lost&Found3Ruby. The grey really pulled me in, as well as the traditional red.
Here is how it went::
1. covered 6x8 chipboard with grey and cream polka dot. The left edge is lined with a contrasting striped design, then the red striped was cut in an opposing direction for an added pop on top. I was going to make this an interactive piece, but since this album is handled so much, I thought it better to keep the cover a bit of a minimum...as much as I am able, that is.

 Lots of my current stash is working it's way into this book. After deciding on the initial colors and patterns, I went and 'shopped' my own stash to finish the cover. The rest of what you see here is from product already in my supplies::
2. Washi tape from MyMindsEye All Is Bright was added to the ruby stripe. A frame cut from FollowYourHeart was popped up with a grey pattern from StudioCalico underneath. The frame was wrapped with baker's twine. I added a DiscoStar from HeidiSwapp to the frame as well as a '25' that is from the PinkPaislee PortfolioAlphabetStickers. The 'december' is a Cameo cut from HeidiSwapp's Digital Words: Months.

I love the contrast of patterns, the pop up of texture, as well as the color that is festive yet soothing.

I will be back next week to share some inside pages.
Hoping you too find the experience of a DecemberDaily a true treasure to your Christmas. These are books that tell simple, everyday stories. And I know, as I look back through them over the years, I will be ever so grateful to have taken this time to record, document, and photograph that which makes our everyday life a gift.

Now go...find a way that fits you to document your Christmas celebration.