Christmas Scrapbook in a DAY!

Last Saturday, I got to do one of my most favoritest things - I got to scrapbook!
Yes, believe it or not, I started off this paper crafting adventure wanting to scrapbook - cardmaking had never entered my mind.
But as you all may know, once you start making cards, it's kind of addicting. Not to mention the joy it brings to someone when they receive a card you've made! There's something special about getting a hug with a fold in the middle.

However, I still love to create pages and albums to hold my photos and memories - it makes me so happy, and sometimes wistful, when I go through my photos and recall the events of the day or the season. I love looking at the faces of my loved ones at different times in their lives and think about how their life was then, wonder about what was on their minds or in their hearts then. Mostly it just makes me smile and experience all over again the warm fuzzies of having them in my life. Our relationships are the most important thing in this life - it's the people we love and care for and the people we impact and who impact us that help us to leave a legacy of love.

So, last Saturday, I held my first scrapbooking class in a very long time - and I can tell you, it WILL be a more frequent occurence here in the studio! First of all, the ladies who took the class LOVED it and two of them were first time scrapbookers! Secondly, it filled a need for me in creating the sample book and I'm not walking away from that so quickly again.

Today, I'm showing you the outside of the book we made along with the first 5 pages - sans photos - if you like what you see, I've been asked to add one more of this class to my calendar this season. It will be on Monday, December 19th from 10 am - 3 pm; details are on my Events page on my Stampin' Up! website.

Here's the album cover. I used the Cherry Trim 6" x 6" Designer Album from the Holiday Mini. It has 20 pages inside and includes the page protectors!

The cover has a big bow of Old Olive Striped Ribbon tied around it (retired ribbon, but it was perfect!), and I used one of the sticky die cuts from the Simply Scrappin' Kit that the album is designed around for a fun tag. Some Basic Rhinestones and a Trinket Key (Santa's Key) tied with some Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine finish off the cover embellishment.
Are you wondering how I got the sticky die cut to not be sticky? Well, here's a little secret for you - baby powder! Yep, I put a little baby powder in an empty embellishment container and use a paint brush to brush it on the back of the die cut. It neutralizes the adhesive and allows me to use the die cuts any way I'd like! Yes, folks, that tip alone is worth the price of admission right there! Ha!

Here's page one:
All my pages were designed using one-half of the Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit that's in the Holiday Mini Catalog. The best part was that I had enough supplies left over to make four Christmas Cards too!

Here's page two:
I added many other embellishments along the way - Dazzling Diamonds glitter, ribbon, buttons, etc.

Here's page three:
I designed the album using several different stamp sets - Winter Post (which today is the LAST day to get it at 1/2 price - just $13.47!), Season of Joy and Perfect Punches.

Here's page four:
Lots of punches and ribbon and Baker's Twine through the album - see the glitter on the stamped and punched ornament? Really, just little touches like that can elevate a page. I like my scrapbooks to let the photos tell the story, so I try to keep my embellishments subtle or minimal.

Here's page five:

The color combination of this Simply Scrappin' Kit is gorgeous! Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Soft Suede - so yummy!

So, want to come take the class now?!! I hope so, I love having a studio full of stampers and scrappers! But, if you can't come or want to do it yourself, here's the info on the main products I used to create this album. You can shop in my Online Stampin' Store anytime 24/7 and have it delivered right to your door!

#124008 - Cherry Trim Designer 6" x 6" Album w/ 10 page protectors $10.95

#111780 - Winter Post Stamp Set (wood mount) SALE $13.47 TODAY ONLY!!

#124007 - Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit $21.95

Be sure to order the stamp set TODAY before the 50% off sale closes! It's part of the Online Extravaganza SALE that Stampin' Up! has been offering since the 21st! You can place your order from my website up until Midnight Mountain Time.

Have a great day folks - thanks for coming to visit!
I'll have the info available for you on my NEW Robin's Rewards Program posted this evening, so be sure to check back!
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

Place your order at this link here for all your Stampin' Up! needs: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!