FOUND: 2009 Christmas Card Layout!

After my last post, I was perplexed as to the whereabouts of my 2009 Christmas card scrapbook layout, so I went looking through the scrapbook today and lo & behold, it was there! Wonder why I forgot to take pics & post it? Anyway, Here it is. Bothers me that it is a little off-center on the paper, but you probably didn't notice until I pointed it out, right? :)



Has anyone else punched out their cards? What do you do with your Christmas cards after Christmas? Idea: Maybe I should start doing something like this with my birthday cards, too!

Christmas Card 2010 Layout

Every year after Christmas is over, I take the Christmas cards that family & friends have sent us and instead of trashing them (or saving the whole card), I simply punch out an image (or 2) from each card & make a scrapbook layout out of them. It's a great way to recycle the cards and also commemorate that year's cards.

This year I used a large scalloped circle punch and hand cut the "2010" out of portions of 2 different cards. Then I used the old-school Dymo labeler to finish the title.


You could write beside each punch out who it's from, although I don't. I go for quick & simple when it comes to these layouts. No fancy embellies or even paper-I keep the focus on the cards. I actually have fun selecting an image to punch out of the card and getting a layout completed so quickly. Then I throw the remains into the recycle bin~and it's done! Instant gratification!



Want to see the layouts from years 2005 through 2008? Go HERE. (Looks like 2009 is MIA! Where is it? Hmmm...)

P.S. I personally do not punch photo cards (I keep them with my other photos) but you could make a really cute layout with everyone's little faces punched out...

Christmas Card Ideas with Shutterfly

Since we've had a child (and now have 2) I have tried to mail out a photo card for Christmas to update family near and far on their growth. It's the only time of the year I correspond with my extended family that live all over the US, so it's important to me to have a nice, high quality card to share. Last year I used a local printer and was disappointed with the grainy, blurry photo and the lack of quality.
That's why this year I plan to use Shutterfly for my holiday cards.





They are also offering a wonderful deal for all you fellow bloggers out there...contribute a blog write up and receive 50 free holiday cards!!! (Now you're on to me, right?)




Shutterfly offers up some great gift ideas as well. You can create your own calendars or gifts or even make your own holiday invitations or announcements.
Now go get your 50 FREE Christmas cards from Shutterfly.com!

New Digital Scrapbook Layouts

Ok, so the subject matter isn't new~ all from this last Christmas, but I just made these today!

What to do with all those Christmas cards...

This is the fourth year that I've made a scrapbook page out of the Christmas cards family and friends have sent us. I cringe at trashing them and always try to recycle them when I can. This is a super fast & easy way to do that. I use a big punch (I just have a circle & a square in the huge size) and punch out a pretty part of the card. Sometimes I punch more than once out of the same card. This year we didn't get that many cards, so I did that this year. Then I arrange them in some sort of pattern and viola! You could even write beside the punch or somewhere else on the layout who gave you each card, if you wanted to. I personally don't include photo cards, but you could if you so desired. (as always, click the pic the view larger)
There's another way to recycle cards here.

2008~I cut a bow out of felt to turn the punches into a "present"


2007~I made a banner-type flag (notice the Nativity is in the center & turned slightly so it would stand out)


2006~I went circular


2005~simple & clean (I like how the title is the only circle)

December Daily Album (Pages 1-17)

As promised, I am finally getting around to posting my December Daily album. What is it? you ask. Well, it's basically a mini scrapbook album put together AHEAD of time (in November) so that it's ready to be filled with photos, goodies, & journaling from each day in December. It could be done any month or for any occasion, but since December seems to fly by in the blink of an eye, it is a great month to document. None of this is my idea, but the artfully contagious brainchild of one of my favorite scrappers, Ali Edwards. (yeah, I mention her a lot. Have you checked out her blog yet?) Here is Ali's December Daily Album from this year.

The thing I am most proud of is that I DID NOT BUY ONE SINGLE ITEM TO MAKE THIS ENTIRE ALBUM! I raided my stash & came up with more than enough stuff to use.
I can add or take away as I see fit once I have my photos ready to put in. It's meant to be filled each day, so that at the end of the month you have a completed album. However, I don't have a good enough photo printer at home, so I simply wrote down on a piece of paper what happened on each day. I will have my photos printed and when I get them back, I'll slip them into the album & know exactly what to write about for that particular day. Does that make sense to anyone else but me?

Here's the cover & days 1 through 17 (to be completed when I get my photos)

What Christmas Tree are You?

I promise I'll post about Thanksgiving stuff but I had to do this quick little quiz from Sherri's blog.

You Are a Bright Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays are all about fun and seasonal favorites. You are into all things Christmas, even if they're a little tacky.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

"Tacky?" No, I'm gonna go with "gaudy!" (gotta have my glitter!)

Recycled Holiday Cards

I'm not one to skip over one holiday to jump to the next~I love Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to it. However, I've gotten started on a few Christmas holiday projects/decorations to try to stay ahead of the game this year. (ya right) I wanted to share these with you~they are Christmas cards we received last year that I saved. They were just too cute to throw out! Just like the Halloween framed jack-o-lantern, I used 2 frames that were put away in a cabinet that I haven't used in a while. Their 5x5 size complimented these 2 cards nicely. I cut them down a little & popped them in the frames. Since they have 3D elements, I put the glass behind them to keep it with the frame & provide stability. I just love them & know they will look good sitting on a little table somewhere for the holidays. I know our friend's the Tyndalls sent us the wreath card~so thanks for sending such a cute card for me to recycle!






Added bonus: thought I'd include these 2 scrapbook pages I made a while back. Not the best picture quality.

Wayne & Mason (May 2007, 9 1/2 months)

Wayne & Mason (April 2007, 9 months)