I hate throwing out Christmas cards. I love opening up the mailbox and seeing a handwritten envelope, then to open it up to a beautiful Christmas card with family/friends pictures, notes, etc. I have an attachment to them, I have never been able to discard them. Last year I discovered a brilliant idea from
Michelle of Me and My Scraps. She created a handmade book which contained all her Christmas cards through the years. To check out her post, click on the link above. This year I stumbled upon a similar idea from the brilliant girls over at
Eighteen25 and they included two beautiful free printable covers to print out to make your own Christmas books. With free covers, I knew this would be an easy task that I could get accomplished quite quickly instead of creating my own and procrastinating. I love their free printables! Click on the link above the check out their post and to download your free covers. My mom loved the book so much that she gave me her cards so that I could make hers into a booklet too. The pictures below are from the book I created for my mom:
I personalized the cover myself by adding A Jillian Vance Design stamps - Swirly Monograms Stamp Set - I used the numbers and embossed the year onto the cover using Martha Stewart Embossing Powder.
(Instructions and Supply List):
1) Took Tim Holtz Grungeboard Book Covers for the front and back of the book;
2) Used Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint in Firebrick and painted the front cover;
3) Added Maya Road Red Satin pleated ribbon;
4) Used Glossy Accents to adhere everything;
5) Added Ranger Stickles in Xmas Red;
6) Inserted Satin Teal Ribbon in between the grungeboard and the page cover so that I can tie the book shut;
7) Inked up the page cover with chalk ink, to give the page a more defined look.
8) Took pattern paper from DCVW Tis' The Season Stack and traced around the covers. Did this 3 times for the inside of the front cover and for both sides of the back cover. I inked them up with chalk ink as well.
9) Added Satin Teal Ribbon in between the grungeboard and the back page cover so that the book can be tied shut by a bow.
10) Personalized front cover by embossing the year using
A Jillian Vance Design Stamps and Martha Stewart Embossing Powder.
11) Added Diamond Wrap from one of my favourite craft supply stores!