Back in October, I was asked by the adorable Jamie Sorenson, community + education director at TwoPeas if I wanted to take part in their upcoming 20 Days of Holiday Sharing. As always, I jumped at the chance to do something with one of my favorite websites, especially when it is combined with something else I love - Christmas! After a lot of thought (a. lot.) I decided create a layout - my favorite crafting thing to do even though I usually cringe at scrapping holiday photos. Here are few images of the results and my corresponding guest blog post.
Source List: BasicGrey patterned paper, die-cuts, clips, rub-ons, alpha stickers, element stickers, glazed brads, Woolies, magnets; Uni-ball pen (white); Zig pen (brown); Sizzix die-cuts (inspired by BasicGrey); Fiskars scallop border punch.
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I have a confession: I used to hate to scrapbook double-page layouts.
Yep, it's true.
I couldn't ever seem to figure out how to fill up two whole pages. Paper that size totally overwhelmed me. Then I figured out that two-page spreads were a fantastic way to document a huge event or large period of time. It was like an epiphany for me! (Can you hear the angels singing?!) I began to love the space a 24"x12" canvas gave me for all the pictures I wanted to show off but couldn't fit into a smaller frame.
One of my favorite layouts I did with this idea in mind was a blocked page that resembled a calendar and marked off in increments exactly what happened and when on a wonderful African vacation I got to take. I adored that I could fit all the wonderful memories I had of that time in one layout. I loved that page. So this got me thinking...about another thing I usually don't like to do - scrapbooking the holidays.
Let me just say in my defense that the holiday photos scare me! There's so many different picture-taking opportunities with usually such horrible lighting conditions and such bad images that I never really wanted to document them. I know. I'm bad. But then the idea struck of putting them all into one, all-encompassing layout and I was sold. I could DO that! Even more, I loved the idea of making a type of Advent Calendar all right on my layout so I set to work.
First I pulled out all my favorite photos from the month of December. I organized them by the date or event. I built a grid based on a 2 1/2" square and started laying out my pictures. The ones that didn't easily fit into a square format, I scored at the 2 1/2" mark and then hid them under their corresponding date like a special present to be opened.
I utilized small hidden magnets to keep some of my windows closed and then I kept some days completely visible and easily opened.
It was so much fun playing around with this and it has been by far the favorite layout for my boys that I've ever created. They love seeing the month in review, what they were doing and opening up all the little compartments and I love that I got the holidays scrapped in one fun layout!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
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For those of you that are dedicated enough to read through all of this ;) I have a little *extra* sharing I want to do with you! Just leave a comment here by WEDNESDAY, December 1st at11:59 PM Eastern about your favorite part of the holidays, a special tradition, etc. that you have with your family, or anything else you like and you can be entered to win a BasicGrey JOVIAL prize pack of your very own! AND there might even be a little something extra in there, too - it is the holidays, after all!
Thanks for reading and I hope you'll keep checking back at TwoPeas daily for more holiday inspiration!
Happy Tuesday and Happy 40th Birthday to my sweet husband!
xoxo,
k.
