Progress on my December Project aka December Daily style project using CTMH My Crush Holiday Happenings and Yuletide Carol

I was so excited to do my first December Project (like December Daily but a version that suited me).  I did some preparation making a waterfall, 2 pockets and 3 flips and then when it came time to complete my project life got hectic.
So I am really excited to share my almost completed project.  I need to get 2 photos reprinted, my titles cut and just a little bit of embellishment to go.  So I am calling this 90% done.
I have been computerless but my son still needed me to sit with him and supervise him during school hours while he got his work done (he has been off due to injuries/complications from his Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome so has had work to do at home and we created a at home school schedule similar to what his schedule is at school to keep him stimulated and in the flow) so I set myself up with my supplies for my December Project next to him at the dining table and got to work.
It didn't take long to complete what I have and I am incredibly excited as since this is a small project  once those last bits are done it will be my first completed album.
Sorry this will be a pic heavy post as I want to share it all with you. 
A list of items used with links is at the bottom of the post.

Cover still needs it's 2014 die cut and a little more embellishment.
I cut some red shimmer trim into thirds width ways with my 12 inch trimmer and put it around my tree.
The ribbon was wrapped around a book of Christmas stories the Elf brought the boys.  It is used on the cover and is tied in a bow on the rings at the page where the Elf photos and memorabilia are.  Note it is not CTMH but needed to be included.

I made a pocket for the cards we received, inspired by Pamela Korte her video also inspired my pocket flip cards and then I saw Ella Conner's take on this and added Itty Bitty Sparkles to the nailheads and on the page to the right.
The thin shimmer trim on my cover is also inspired by Ella's video.

 St Nicholas page still needs it's die cut title.  I have journalled in gold pen what St Nick brought the boys, they loved having St Nick come for the first time.

The page on the left is reserved for a collage photo of my 17yr daughters big clip as we affectionately refer to her donation of her hair for a wig for a Cancer patient.
The page on the right has a fold out for our tree decorating.

 The fold out.

I loved the quotes on 2 of the cards in the Holiday Happenings assortment and felt the belonged with Santa so I stuck them together and created a flip.
A little bit of red shimmer trim was left over from doing the cover so I added it to the HO HO HO.

My first attempt at a Waterfall was used for Christmas Eve memories.
I still need to do the journalling.

I utilised this pocket to keep all the little cards and notes that Alfie our Christmas Elf left.
The 12 pocket page is not finished, I have just put the photos in order, a few days I missed taking photos.  I still need to corner round the photos and 2 need flips as there are extra photos for those days, some other I will do flips so I can journal.

I added a red glitter gem to the North Pole.

The page on the right is Christmas Morning and I used 3 flip cards here.
The Dear Santa letter I am still deciding whether I will add one of the boys letters to this and the other letter to a page further on or whether I should write my Dear Santa letter here as a memento for the kids to see what Mum was wishing for.

The back of the 4 pocket page.
I loved these Christmas letter stickers from the Yuletide Carol Compliments and they really suited this photo of a large portion of the family and friends I was hosting in 2014.



 

The page on the left is where the kids Santa photo will go, the new photographer took the photo as landscape and it won't fit the page so I need to get it scanned so I can crop it.

I made a second waterfall using Colonial White Cardstock as my base for Christmas Day Lunch.
2 sections still need some embellishment and I need to complete journalling.

Note the blue washi is not CTMH but it went perfectly with my daughter's dress so I needed to use it, the silver went perfectly with my other daughter's dress and is CTMH.

The page on the left is the other page I am thinking of putting one of the boys letters to Santa.
The page on the Right is Boxing Day, it has 1 flip card and still needs it's journalling and titles done.




Items Used (excluding the ribbon from the elf and the little bit of blue washi.)
My Crush Holiday Happenings Book RRP $24
My Crush Holiday Happenings Assortment RRP $8
My Crush Holiday Happenings Badge Buttons RRP $8
Yuletide Carol Paper Pack RRP $15
Yuletide Carol Compliments RRP $6.50
Yuletide Carol Assortment RRP $9.50 note I was able to get a Double Page spread out of these supplies and I still have enough left for 2 more layouts.
Sparkles Clear Flourishes Small RRP $6.50
Silver Geometric Washi Tape RRP $6.50
Red Shimmer Trim RRP $6.50
Pink Glitter Gems RRP $5.50
Bitty Sparkles RRP $4
Topiary Striped Washi Tape RRP $6.50
Ruby Chevron Washi Tape RRP $6.50
There is a fantastic special on in June with the My Crush range.  Buy the book and the assortment pack and get the coordinating stamp free.  I just came across a video I did when I received my Holiday Happenings supplies and in it I mention I wish I had 2 more so the boys could do their own projects over the December/January Holidays so I think I may take advantage of June Special.

Getting Started on my December Project aka December Daily style album - Preparation

When doing my progress blog post I realised I hadn't done my post on my preparation though I had the photos, so I thought I should share my preparations with you, I would not stick things down next time except for the pocket in the front as I may want to change things, I did change what pockets I used my pocket flip cards in when I sat down and started putting photos in, embellishing, etc.

 When I received my Holiday Happenings supplies there were very few videos or blogs up utilising them so I drew inspiration from Pamela Korte and Melissa Laverty's videos for my preparations.
This was going to be my first ever December Daily style project, so I was excited.
I chose not to pre-decorate most items as I intended to create 3 double page layouts from the Yuletide Carol range and then use the left overs for this project, that of course change when I sat down this week and worked on this fun project.
I decided to use the pocket I created on the cover to house my Holiday Happenings Assortment and Badge Buttons but next time I will leave a bigger edge to fold under and glue as these were too heavy for what I put in there.

These pockets are 3x4 inches, to get the flip cards to fit I cut the width 1/16th of a inch under 3 inches.  I had limited Ruby cardstock so I just made my waterfall and 4 3x4 flips in preparation from the Ruby.

Pamela kindly gave me the measurements she used for her Waterfall, when I had photos printed working out what ones to use in this premade  waterfall I realised in future I would not premake them.
To make the waterfall work out how many flaps you need and the size needed for your photos, add 1/2 inch to the height needed of each flap to fold down to adhere

This fold out inspired by Melissa was so simple to create, I chose this page to adhere it to as the paper of this page I knew was unlikely to suit my December, in the future I won't adhere it until I have my December photos though.





I decided the 12 pocket page on the right would be perfect for my Elf photos so I created a pocket on the left to keep any notes/cards he left.

This was the only part I pre-decorated apart from added a Red Glitter Gem to the North Pole on the page under the 12 pocket page as I wasn't sure what photos I would have to work with.
I loved this bird from Yuletide Carol, it was calling for a Sparkle Flourish and Red Shimmer Trim.



This was so much fun, and doing the preparation gave me some much needed crafting time.
June 2015 My Crush Books in the Annual Catalogue will be on special - Buy the book and assortment pack and get the matching stamp free - so it is a great time to get supplies to do a fund project.