December Daily 2017

[mollymoo951]

Is anyone planning to complete a December / holiday album in "December Daily" style? Looking for some "December Daily" buddies to keep me motivated and inspired!

[mollymoo951]

I've participated in this project for several years and am all over the board in terms of completeness.

Several almost done. One with just foundation pages. :shock: . One totally done - that's 2013!


I have a couple days to complete in having 2016 done.


Currently working on finishing up 2016 and building foundation pages for 2017.

[FayeMakesCards]

I'll read if that motivates you!

Followed your signature line to get here.


Have no idea what a December/holiday album is but I'll see what you post now! :p


I want to make a something of Baby Grand's first year...no clue how to do it, I can't even figure out how to order pictures off my phone. (I did try but I have too smart of a phone for their equipment...my cables didn't work!)


Will have to spend $$ to get something printed...Don has a 40% off coupon at Shutterfly, he has no idea how he got on their list, nor do I...but there is always Coborn's too...

[mollymoo951]

Have you considered a small photo printer to wirelessly print photos from your phone? I find that so much easier than ordering prints from my phone.

I'm so thrilled to learn you want to print photos and make "a something". :mrgreen: What kind of "something" are you considering? A 4 x 6 album to slip in photos and maybe journal / stamp / caption on the opposite page? You could use your stash and cut CS 4 x 6, stamp, use embellishments, write something down and slip it in the opposite pocket.


Or you could go with a larger canvas. But for your first foray into this, something simple, easy and less overwhelming and that will use the cardmaking supplies you already have - the 4 x 6 album is a great place to start. It's also very portable - you could tuck in your purse and whip out to show everyone Baby Grand! :mrgreen:

[FayeMakesCards]

I find the problem in my head is that the "picture of the month" photo taken by Ko she now does in a square photo when printed with the number month on it.

I don't want "something" to be in my purse but I might like "something" to be on the piano to take the space of Ko's harp CDs and the picture of Ko and a harpistwannabe that sets there!


Don would have to be the one to discuss printers...I will ask him if he has ever heard of one.

[mollymoo951]

Want to try December Daily, but unsure how to start? Some questions have been asked and I am going to share these questions, along with what I hope are helpful answers.


What is December Daily? Telling one story a day in December or highlighting one holiday activity per day. It can be one photo of the day or multiple photos.


What kind and size album? Any kind of album. Handmade or store bought. I use a 6 x 8 album from Ali Edwards December Daily release. However, you can use ANY album. I find the 6 x 8 size is just enough to document one story or the holiday events of one day without being overwheliming. However, you can choose any size you wish. Some folks create handmade albums; some folks use 4 x 6 albums; some folks do 12 x 12.


What are foundation pages? These are "make ahead pages", where we add photos and journaling in December. This is where we look at our supplies and think about the stories we want to tell and the photos we want to take. Put the page protectors in your album, mix them up. Then insert the cards, papers & embellishments you want to use to tell your stories. It serves as a framework - so when it gets busy in December - all you need to do is print your photo and write your journaling. These foundation pages are not carved in stone - you can move stuff around if you decide something doesn't work for the actual story or page of the day.

[mollymoo951]

Please let me know if you have anymore questions!

[mollymoo951]

This is a really good blog post from the creator of December Daily, Ali Edwards.


https://aliedwards.com/2016/12/decem...16-let-s-begin


She explains what it is; how to approach it; and some links to her foundation pages and other helpful information.

[mollymoo951]

Ali tells 25 stories.

By comparison, I tell 31 stories / 31 days. I start on Black Friday, the day we get out the Christmas decorations and put up the tree. I number my spreads 1 - 31 and I used to be worried about a particular story being on that particular number (date), but honestly, a few years later, it won't matter if it IS the story for that date - what matters is the story is there.

[AnniePanda]

This has been enlightening. Now to decide on the format I'll use. Great help, you are!

[FayeMakesCards]

This sounds like a fun project if I was a photo person, I'm not but I am going to do "something" in regards to Baby Grand's 12-months of life...though she is currently only 11 months old, the 27th is coming...

[mollymoo951]

For those that desire a bit more information - this is a link to EVERY December Daily post on AE's blog. :mrgreen: It is quite a bit to absorb at once. There's some product information mixed into that "December Daily" tag as well as foundation pages, completed pages and completed album walk-thru.

https://aliedwards.com/blog?tag=December+Daily%C2%AE

[Lmn]

Wow Melissa, this is great info! I'm going to make some "foundation" pages but probably not 31 as my kids are grown ... I do however like the idea

Thanks for sharing

[Ozpom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mollymoo951

This is a really good blog post from the creator of December Daily, Ali Edwards.


https://aliedwards.com/2016/12/decem...16-let-s-begin


She explains what it is; how to approach it; and some links to her foundation pages and other helpful information.

Hi Melissa, I've never heard of these before although I've done A year in review albums before. This link is awesome and although I won't be here to scrapbook in December, I can see a use for this style already. I've been procrastinating about what to do with my travel albums and this style would be perfect. TFS. Happy scrapping.

[mollymoo951]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozpom

Hi Melissa, I've never heard of these before although I've done A year in review albums before. This link is awesome and although I won't be here to scrapbook in December, I can see a use for this style already. I've been procrastinating about what to do with my travel albums and this style would be perfect. TFS. Happy scrapping.

I agree! It would be perfect for a travel album.

[mollymoo951]

A comment from a December Daily storyteller: "They are fun to do, but sometimes I have struggled with figuring out what to scrap about on the slow days. And then there are times that I think the whole month must be jam-packed with fun so I can have something to put on the pages. Haha."




Melissa here:
The struggle is real.


It doesn't have to be a scrap the activity on the day it happened. Because some days we just don't do any "holiday" related stuff. What to do?


- Use something from a day that was jam packed - maybe a little part that day wasn't the main focus of that particular day. And trust me on this one - in a few years - it will not matter that, for example, something that actually happened on December 11, is documented on the page with the 13.
- Tell a short story a holiday memory. Use an old picture or use memorabilia or find something on the internet to help tell your story.
- Tell a story about a decoration / ornament. Just take a photo of the ornament in the box or on the tree.
- Tell a daily story, just to show, I know the month doesn't have to be jam packed. There's nothing wrong with documenting a break taken in a busy month. It's part of the story.


The most important part is the story has been documented.

[mollymoo951]

How do you tell a story from one day on a page with a different "date"?



If you number your pages 1 - 25 or 1 - 31, this struggle is real. How do you tell a story from December 11 on December 13?


Journaling & titling would be a good friend here.
- Stamp the date somewhere.
- Lead off with a "this happened (insert the date)".
- Put some words around your number.
- "Taking a break"
- "Reflections from our big day"




What else can you think of? How do you or would you approach telling a story on "day 13", that actually happened on December 11?


Remember, there are no rules here - there are no December Daily police. :mrgreen: It's all about making this work for your life and getting those stories told.

[AnniePanda]

Hum, something Jayne said about a travel album resonated with me. I may do one for the two weeks I am visiting my loved ones in Arizona. A day to day would be wonderful. I could make it more of a journal, too. I know I'll take at least one photo each day, so that isn't a problem. It isn't December, but all of the ideas you all have shared would work anyway.

[mollymoo951]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnniePanda

Hum, something Jayne said about a travel album resonated with me. I may do one for the two weeks I am visiting my loved ones in Arizona. A day to day would be wonderful. I could make it more of a journal, too. I know I'll take at least one photo each day, so that isn't a problem. It isn't December, but all of the ideas you all have shared would work anyway.

Absolutely.


Just change "December" to "trip" and you'll be good to go.


And you know - album is up to you. You may already have something in your stash - I've seen journals and composition books used as well. Journal in a spot each day, leave a spot for the photo and all you'd have to do when you get home is print photos, add to the pages and embellish. Take a pad of post it notes with you and at the end of each day, as you journal, consider your photo and how you might want to use it on the page - write that on a sticky note. I do this with my daily journaling, so I remember what I had envisioned at the time. The vision might change, but it might not.


Can't wait to see what you create!

[chercher]

Ok, I�ll bite. This sounds like something that could bring some joy into a month that will be hard this year. My dsis, heide passed away dec 10 last year. My dad was very sick and spent most of the month in the hospital. My side of the family decided not to celebrate Christmas. It was sad and hard.

So Joy, I will try and photo journal joy this month.

[sewflake]

Ok, I can do this!! I am working on a grateful album this month for use on Thanksgiving, that would be as close as I can get with the "daily thing" each daily challenge can be a page in the book with extra pages for the actual day!! The object is to have other family members fill in the "story" of that day from their perspective... the backdrop of the page will be what is listed for the daily challenge.

[Ozpom]

Melissa, you have been an inspiration with this. When I first read the VSBN, I thought it had to be to do with Xmas, but can now see how I can use it. I will be travelling for 20 days of December and can use the trip (like Joyce Ann is going to do) as a way of documenting something that happens each day. I will also include from end November and when we leave.

Like Joyce Ann, I will be taking lots of photos even if this trip isn't going to be the usual full on sightseeing holiday, we will be doing lots of activities starting in London, then Derybshire. We have also booked ourselves on a 7 day cruise around the Canary Islands which my sister and her hubby and friends are on. My sister has no idea we have done this and just a photo of her face when we get there will be priceless.


Thank you so much for all the tips. Now I get it, I'm loving it and I can also do it. Happy weekend jx

[mollymoo951]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozpom

Melissa, you have been an inspiration with this. When I first read the VSBN, I thought it had to be to do with Xmas, but can now see how I can use it. I will be travelling for 20 days of December and can use the trip (like Joyce Ann is going to do) as a way of documenting something that happens each day. I will also include from end November and when we leave.

Like Joyce Ann, I will be taking lots of photos even if this trip isn't going to be the usual full on sightseeing holiday, we will be doing lots of activities starting in London, then Derybshire. We have also booked ourselves on a 7 day cruise around the Canary Islands which my sister and her hubby and friends are on. My sister has no idea we have done this and just a photo of her face when we get there will be priceless.


Thank you so much for all the tips. Now I get it, I'm loving it and I can also do it. Happy weekend jx

And your trip sounds WONDERFUL!

[mollymoo951]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewflake

Ok, I can do this!! I am working on a grateful album this month for use on Thanksgiving, that would be as close as I can get with the "daily thing" each daily challenge can be a page in the book with extra pages for the actual day!! The object is to have other family members fill in the "story" of that day from their perspective... the backdrop of the page will be what is listed for the daily challenge.

Absolutely!


Sounds like a wonderful project!


It's always great to have others' voices and stories in our books. I haven't gotten as far as having others tell the story (they journal it out), but I do tell their story in their voice (such as maybe documenting a series of text messages or a comment made) and I definitely use the memorabilia and the photos they send me! I've even included lists and notes they have written, just to include their handwriting.


Something to consider when asking others to fill in the story of the day - if you will be asking them to **gasp** (this is their gasp ) write on your scrapbook page (which is the object of the project!), to make it less intimidating for them - maybe provide a stack of journaling blocks or journaling cards to write on and that can later be adhered to the page, once the individual has "perfectly" written out their story.


Your idea has inspired me. I may just borrow this for this year's December Daily and Christmas Day, we all write "something". :lol: Gotta figure out the rest of this. Thank you for the inspiration and for reminding me of other ways to include other voices in my book.

[mollymoo951]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chercher

Ok, I�ll bite. This sounds like something that could bring some joy into a month that will be hard this year. My dsis, heide passed away dec 10 last year. My dad was very sick and spent most of the month in the hospital. My side of the family decided not to celebrate Christmas. It was sad and hard.

So Joy, I will try and photo journal joy this month.

That sounds like a wonderful plan Cher!

[sewflake]

Wonderful idea Melissa with the journaling cards. I will have those ready to be slipped into little pockets the pages.
Which thread do we post/link our VSBN challenge pages? I will of course link to the yearly goal thread.

[mollymoo951]

Sharon - Link up your VSBN challenge inspired creations to the weekly VSBN challenge thread.

Here is the thread for Week 1 <--click.

[Ozpom]

Hi Melissa, I've been re-reading all of your notes and looking at Ali Edwards' site again. This somehow reminds me of my travel journals I take with me and where I get family to write something in my journal each day (or when we remember...LOL).

I also started an art journal a couple of months ago and intended to create something small each day but that fell by the wayside as I was on a mission to scrapbook and then life and trips took over, but again I think I could resurrect that too.

After re-reading your posts again, it has inspired me to also start a journal from 1st November to end December. I just wish that I had taken a photo of my craft group today but I could take a photo of some of the cards I made and use that....mmm...food for thought.


I think I'm getting a little lost with this idea and then the daily theme but I think I've finally got it. Am I correct in that we don't have to use the daily theme if it doesn't fit with our story? For example, as I'm about to start my sister's mini album, trees and decorations may not be in the photos I'm using but I will have another look at that.


Also, could we use photos of trees and decorations from previous years to tell this year's story? This may seem strange but I don't think our tree and decorations will be going up this year as we will be away.


Sorry for all the questions. I think I may be overthinking it and wondering if I'm missing something in one of the 3 links for these challenges.


Thanks for your help.

[mollymoo951]

Jayne - just a quick note.

We can definitely overthink this - and it's not just you. It can be overwhelming to the point of paralysis. I totally understand.


The thing to remember about the "daily challenges" is that it is a daily POSTING of topics. So, if the weather challenge posted on Day 2 doesn't work for YOUR Day 2 - for whatever project you are using - add "weather" to your list or not.


Your list - put a sticky note behind the cover or in your planner or tacked onto your work area or in Excel or Word - and keep a list of those topics (weather, tree, etc) that you have not yet used. Then if and when that topic becomes relevant to YOUR days, add it in.


We have to be somewhat flexible with the daily topics and realize that it's is a daily POSTING of topics and ideas to use, not necessarily a list of how our days / books are to evolve. Also, put the weather wherever it fits into YOUR book or not. If you want weather to be your Day 2, go for it. If you don't, it doesn't have to be; put it where it flows. Weather challenge posted on Day 2 - it doesn't have to be on Day 2.


Hope this helps.
The challenges are designed to spark ideas and encourage you to create whatever mini album or page that suits your life.

[mollymoo951]

I, too, have lamented the lost photo op. I prefer to think that I chose to live in the moment and soak in the memories, rather than worry about taking a photo. I touched on this in September VSBN when I shared the photos / page of the Great American Eclipse. I intentionally chose not to photograph the eclipse, but rather enjoy the activities surrounding the event. There are some great eclipse photos - especially time lapse ones - out there. Of course, when I continue with those eclipse pages, I will give credit where due for the photo and then tell the story of why. And likely, it will be a very quick reference to the time lapse photo just to document the larger history surrounding the event.

So, lack of photos - this is the time to tell the story in a way to spark the memory. And yes, take a photo of your cards & tell the story. I've used a postcard or memorabilia, but it's still MY story, just accompanied by the postcard or memorabilia. It doesn't lessen the impact of my story.


If you want to use photos from last year to tell this year's story, you can. However, I encourage you to tell this year's story with this year's photos. Every year is a different story - doesn't make either story right or wrong. As you say, decorations will likely not go up. Why? That's part of your story.


If you want to scrap last year's photos, go for it! Again, I would encourage you to make last year's photos, last year's story.


If you want to do a retrospective to show how / why this year is different, you can do that, too.


And back to the trees - it doesn't have to be a Christmas tree or even yours. See a beautiful tree - take a picture - how / why did it catch your eye? Or share the photo just because it was a beautiful tree and it caught your eye.


It's hard to not get hung up with the lack of photos; it's a learning process for me, too.


Story - can be your journaling or your title - just a few words or a lot of words - whatever works for you.


Hope this helps!

[Ozpom]

Hi Melissa, you have been such a help with these challenges. Thank you heaps.

I now understand that it doesn't have to be about the photos and to focus more on the story. Also, I agree with your comment that last year's photos are last year's story but like the idea of perhaps incorporating a photo of our tree last year and saying why it won't go up this year. I'm also sure I will find lots of trees to photograph when on my trip in the UK.


My problem is that I have tunnel vision and need to look outside the box. You have given me lots of food for thought.


I was also thinking that I needed to scrap weather on day 2 and like the idea of incorporating it on another day. I have started my list. Thank you again and these sorts of threads help a lot.

Happy day jx

[Brenda71]

I started a December album, not daily but just as I had pix to go in. So my pages aren't numbered for each day. My first one was for 2015, it wasn't started or done until 2016 (first half of the year, I think). I kind of over complicated that one, just deciding what to do and how to decorate it, etc. I also did one for 2016, I think I was done with it the first part of February 2017. I kept this one simpler than the 2015 one, so it went faster.

I'm now doing Project Life (monthly) trying to get caught up on several years. I sort of want to relocate the pages from the 2 December albums into the respective annual albums, but I haven't decided for sure yet.

[suej1063]

Melissa, Maybe instead of looking at it as 1-25 or 1-31 days of December and recording something about each day, use the numbers to document 25 or 31 things you did during December. This way you are focused more on the event/activities than on the actual day of the month.

[mollymoo951]

Some people do put their "December Daily" pages in their Project Life album.


I do not, though. Because I like having a separate December album - I don't have to drag out the big 12 x 12 to share December pages. I can tell the story more in depth with a separate album.


But, I also do a weekly PL spread. That's quite different from a monthly PL. So, yeah.


I do use some of the same photos in DD and PL and some of the same stories, shorter condensed version - in my PL album. At some point, these two - PL albums and DD albums - are going to get separated. My son may want the DD albums, but not the PL.


What I include in PL for December depends on if the "number", per the DD album, is the actual activity of the day or if the "number" represents a story. While I number my pages in December Daily, it's NOT what happens on that day, unless it happens on that day. I put my tree up on Black Friday - and that's my first story - unless something Christmas related actually happens on Day 1. Then, I'll work in the tree on a "slow day".


My December Daily is a compilation of 31 numbered stories. Not daily activities of 31 days - that's for PL.


Back to putting up the tree - it will be on Black Friday in PL (because we don't do the Black Friday shopping thing), but it will be either #1 or some other # in DD.


There is lots of discussion that abounds on including DD in PL or doing separate albums. It's all about figuring out what works for you. I do both - and I don't mind scrapping a good photo more than once - a good photo is good for more than one story - whether it's a long story or a short story or a totally different story.

[Brenda71]

Oh, and I call mine Christmas albums. Because I also put our tree up on Black Friday, and we usually have a family Christmas on New Years weekend (the weekend after Christmas which is sometimes the next year. So, I felt I couldn't do just a December album as I would miss a lot of pix that pertain to our Christmas.

[sewflake]

I am so excited about working on this (Blessing Book) project!! It is coming together nicely...
The whole book story and pictures is going to actually be taking place on one day! But the theme of each page is so far following the challenge.
My book is only 5.5x9 which is way too small to have 29-31 pages!!

I hope to start making one each year, maybe for Thanksgiving or Christmas... and will give us a look at who was there, what we did, what changes in family came about from year to year....

I have more pages done and need to get them posted. Funny thing, I am spending as much time on these smaller pages as I do on 12x12!!! Hard fitting all the embellishments in I want and still have room for photos and journaling!!! I do not want to overwhelm my family by the size of a 12x12 book when it comes time for THEM to write the story come Thanksgiving!!

Time to get creative!

[AnniePanda]

Nice to read about the wonderful memories you all are making! I'm going with an album that covers my 2 weeks in Arizona. I plan to cover each day - or that is my goal. My size is 8.5 x 11 - lots of room for photos and journaling.

[sewflake]

More pages that are going in the book.
I probably should have waiting till after Thanksgiving when all the photos and journaling is in there but I just couldn't!!! :rolleyes:

Gratitude
Trees
Decorating
Bells & Bows

[mollymoo951]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewflake

More pages that are going in the book.
I probably should have waiting till after Thanksgiving when all the photos and journaling is in there but I just couldn't!!! :rolleyes:

Gratitude
Trees
Decorating
Bells & Bows

These are lovely foundation pages!

[ScrappinCEO]

subbing for motivation when I set out to finish my album I gathered last year and this year. Photos are all dated. Just need to make creative time to finish them. ;-)