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Post by christinebk on Oct 2, 2017 22:13:18 GMT
This will be my 8th DD album and still my favorite project of the year. I posted a photo of my albums on my IG and it makes me so happy. I started out doing 8.5x11 albums and then went down to 6x8 when those came out. It helps that I do PL so I normally think of my photos as 3x4 or 4x6, with the occasional 6x8. Sometimes I'll feel spunky and do the 2x2s. I'm a creature of habit though and it I have to really think about it and plan for those though. We'll see if having my girls do 4x4 albums will help my mindset or not... I prefer to keep up with my DD on a weekly basis, although daily would be preferable, I just hate printing at home. My PL takes a hit during December, but I don't mind. Thanks for posting this mom . DD is my definitely my favorite project of the year too. Have you ever had trouble completing it?
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Post by anniefb on Oct 2, 2017 22:13:28 GMT
Yay, just finished printing out my remaining photos from last year. Just a couple of finishing touches and then I'm done with that album!
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 7,845
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Oct 2, 2017 22:21:48 GMT
This will be my 8th DD album and still my favorite project of the year. I posted a photo of my albums on my IG and it makes me so happy. I started out doing 8.5x11 albums and then went down to 6x8 when those came out. It helps that I do PL so I normally think of my photos as 3x4 or 4x6, with the occasional 6x8. Sometimes I'll feel spunky and do the 2x2s. I'm a creature of habit though and it I have to really think about it and plan for those though. We'll see if having my girls do 4x4 albums will help my mindset or not... I prefer to keep up with my DD on a weekly basis, although daily would be preferable, I just hate printing at home. My PL takes a hit during December, but I don't mind. Thanks for posting this mom . DD is my definitely my favorite project of the year too. Have you ever had trouble completing it? I find it can be a struggle, especially at the end, when I just want to be done with it. Once or twice that month I have a "date" with my bff and that helps too. We text + send photos back and forth but having somebody else to "be there" for even a day or two is super helpful and fun. It's also nice as my daughters get older and do it along with me to have them do their thing along side me.
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Post by lasteve1 on Oct 3, 2017 15:21:19 GMT
2017 will be my 4th year doing December Daily--I did 2012, 2015 & 2016 (I took a break in there when I was in law school/traveling for the entire month of December). In 2012 I did 7x9 with covered cardboard covers & binder rings with different sized pages and 2015-2016 I did a 6x8 album with a combination of page protectors/pages outside of the protector & Ali Edwards' kits. This year I'm going to follow a similar format with a 6x8 album and most of my supplies from Ali Edwards. I do prep pages before the month & it really works for me. It's not something I do for any other project so it makes this project a different process which is interesting for me (I ALWAYS do PL in the same format--1. print/edit photos, 2. choose cards to fill in extra pockets, 3. add journaling, 4. add embellishments). I like the page prepping for December Daily because it gives me a new formula to play with. Then while creating the album I look at each day like a challenge... and try to fit my story into the format I have already set up. Sometimes it doesn't work and I move things around, but I love it as a challenge and it helps break the mold of what I typically would do... In my usual format you can see that embellishments are last, meaning I use them only after the photo and stories are in place as almost an afterthought. But with December Daily, I make techniques and products sometimes the focus and build my story around them. I hope this explanation helps! Here is how I prep my pages: 1. Choose my supplies for the year--or at least the new ones I'm purchasing. This gives me an idea of what I want the final product to look like. For example, this year I'm going a little more "adult" with lots of black & white, wood grain, and metallics. 2. Set up a list with a line for each day of the month to fill in daily stories. These will mostly be filled out as I go. 3. Look at my calendar for December and figure out if any activities are set on particular days. For example, I know I'll be in NYC on December 1st for work (oddly last year I was also traveling for work on December 1st) so my story will be about that. I will add these into my list for stories to tell on specific days. 4. Make a list of techniques I want to use in the month. For example, this year I want to print a photo on vellum as an overlay to text. 5. Make a list of story ideas. This is similar year to year because a lot of stories I want to tell every year (such as decorating the Christmas tree). 6. Choose numbers. I mix & match my numbers throughout the month so it takes awhile to get a good ordering of numbers. 7. Start setting up my album. I use my supplies and the list of techniques as a base and then keep in mind the specific stories I have on specific days. I try to set each day up in a way where it could be done by just adding photos/journaling. That way if I'm getting behind or feeling uninspired I can do just that, but I could also add more embellishments/techniques if I feel inspired/have the time. This is a big key to finishing the project every year. And here is how, during the month of December, I document & let the prepped pages work for me: 1. The day BEFORE I look at my album and remember what my set up is. So on November 30th I will look at the December 1st set up, etc. I will remember the "formula" for the day (and could write this in my phone if needed). For example, if the day has a 6x8 page protector with 4 3x4 pockets and I've previously filled them with: 1 filled with a number & 1 filled with a filler card and 2 empty. I will take note of this. I will also look at my story list/technique list to see if anything seems like a good fit for what I think the day will be about... I do this more as the month goes on so I don't skip techniques/stories I really want to include. 2. During the day I keep my eyes open for a story keeping my formula in mind. For example, based on the example above I would be on the lookout for two vertically oriented photo ops. 3. At the end of the day I will plan out my page and, time permitting, put it together. I know the formula seems restricting but it's not, it just helps me break out of my usual box. For example, with the formula above I have A LOT of options: (a) Add two 3x4 photos and a little bit of journaling on one of the photos or on the filler card. (b) Add one 3x4 photo and a journaling card. (c) Print photos as 2.5 inch squares or 3 inch wide horizontal photos and add them to additional cards with journaling or embellishments in the two empty pockets. (d) If I had no good photos, add two 3x4 journaling cards. (e) If I had too many photos/too long of a story, create a flip up pocket in one of the 3x4 pockets. (f) Or, any of the above options AND add something out of the pockets such as additional journaling, or a enlarged photo. 4. Check items off my story list & technique list that I used. 5. Complete step 1 again for the next day As you can see, the options are really endless even within the restrictions of preformulated pages. It just gives me a little of a different process for scrapbooking than the usual, which makes it a fun challenge! Of course, if the colors or something really isn't working, I can switch things up but try to keep as close to my formula as possible. If I don't have time to create on the specific day, I will add sticky notes into pockets to remember what my plan was or make note of it on my planning pages in my bullet journal (where all these lists I'm keeping are!) and then I might create a few days at a time. Sorry this was long, but hopefully this helped someone see how prepped pages can work for someone who really isn't used to creating pages in that way!
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Post by sleepingbooty on Oct 3, 2017 17:15:11 GMT
All these detailed plans are making my head spin. Great job, ladies! But no wonder my brain backs away from DD albums. "Data overload. Warning! Danger!" My steps are: 1. get supplies 2. check they're cohesive 3. put aside the stuff I'm saving for the important days/celebrations 4. wait for december 5. hope for the best and may the force be with me I guess I'm a procrastinator? Someone who likes to work under the influence of adrenaline?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 25, 2024 23:21:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 17:39:02 GMT
Like Sleepingbooty, I am in awe with all the prepping done. Congratulations to all the ladies who manage their albums in a timely manner.
Here are my usual steps when it comes to my DD albums:
1. Get supplies. 2. Check they're cohesive and buy more supplies. 3. Decide that I have enough supplies. 4. Agonize over wether or not I need the new DD or Christmas collection that has come out of nowhere. 5. Buy more supplies. 6. Make "grand plans" for my DD. 7. Wait for December. 8. Get overwhelmed by supplies and perfection paralysis. 9. Take pictures and type journaling on my computer each day in December. 10. Start my DD album in January/ February of the following year. 11. Be overwhelmed by supplies, perfection paralysis, guilt and deadlines. 12. Decide to simplify. 13. Decide not to simplify. 14. Finish my DD in June. 15. "Where do all these Christmas supplies come from?"
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,080
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Oct 3, 2017 21:28:28 GMT
So, since is my first year doing December daily I'm going to ask a stupid question. Is there a sort of standard recommendation on what size of album to use as far as spine width? I know that Ali's are 2.5". I also know that there are a million different variations of album/book/mini's you can make on your own but I guess I'm just trying to get a general idea.
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 7,845
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Oct 3, 2017 23:24:13 GMT
So, since is my first year doing December daily I'm going to ask a stupid question. Is there a sort of standard recommendation on what size of album to use as far as spine width? I know that Ali's are 2.5". I also know that there are a million different variations of album/book/mini's you can make on your own but I guess I'm just trying to get a general idea. I document from Thanksgiving until Christmas day so the thicker the better for me, always and forever. And there are no "stupid questions" for DD.
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Post by mom on Oct 4, 2017 0:28:02 GMT
So, since is my first year doing December daily I'm going to ask a stupid question. Is there a sort of standard recommendation on what size of album to use as far as spine width? I know that Ali's are 2.5". I also know that there are a million different variations of album/book/mini's you can make on your own but I guess I'm just trying to get a general idea. I think Ali's book widths are a good width, which is why I always go to her for my albums. Not too thick, not to thin. My album last year was decently thick and fit in Ali's album perfectly. SaveSave
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Post by anniefb on Oct 4, 2017 1:58:01 GMT
I also like a reasonably sized spine so I can add dimensional embellishments. I'm using my last old style SC 6x8 Handbook which has a 2.5 inch spine.
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Post by anniefb on Oct 4, 2017 1:59:27 GMT
I've been designing my cover today. As I'm going with a retro/vintage vibe for this year's album, I've used a vintage image and created something in PSE which I can print. Have a folder of supplies from my stash at the ready and want to get my foundation pages set up in the next month or so.
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Oct 4, 2017 12:07:56 GMT
So, since is my first year doing December daily I'm going to ask a stupid question. Is there a sort of standard recommendation on what size of album to use as far as spine width? I know that Ali's are 2.5". I also know that there are a million different variations of album/book/mini's you can make on your own but I guess I'm just trying to get a general idea. Depends on how much you scrap! Some people have a lot of photos because of family or kids, so they are often busting at the seams. I have 1-2 photos per day and many of my page protectors might have a different day on front/back. I do include some extra stuff like Christmas cards, but I don’t even fill the whole 2.5” album.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Oct 4, 2017 12:40:11 GMT
So, since is my first year doing December daily I'm going to ask a stupid question. Is there a sort of standard recommendation on what size of album to use as far as spine width? I know that Ali's are 2.5". I also know that there are a million different variations of album/book/mini's you can make on your own but I guess I'm just trying to get a general idea. What dawnnikol said: no stupid questions when it comes to DD/JYC. It's a crazy project that one takes on during a crazy month! What's wrong with us? I swear, scrapbookers are a special kind of masochists... I'd suggest you watch a few DD videos using 6x8 albums to get an idea of how thick these can get. Some people use two thick spine albums for just the one year! If you're going to grab thick embellishments on an almost-daily basis (think traditional wood veneer, acrylic mirror embellishments, flairs, etc.), no existing album on the market will suffice. If you're going to use thicker embellishments only here and there, you should definitely manage to fit a whole month in an AE DD album or the special Christmas album Simple Stories sells each year (this year's holiday binder is called Very Merry). I would sit down with a pen and a piece of paper (and perhaps albums of the past few years containing your December and Christmas documenting) and try to get realistic about your DD expectations: 1. How many photos do you take during a normal non-DD December? 2. How much do you want to to document? Look at the special events and celebrations you've got planned, start counting photos + space for storytelling. 3. How much time do you have to invest in this project during December? Sometimes our ambition exceeds our available time and energy. If you're going to do pocket pages, you can always upgrade to a thicker spine album later on. Don't overbuy would be my personal advice. We've all been there.
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Post by Linda on Oct 4, 2017 18:16:14 GMT
December 2007 is NOW complete...it needed one, just ONE, layout...which is now done And I got to take a little memory trip back almost a decade - photos from our Christmas card pictures...my kids were much younger then - 1, 7, and 16
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,080
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Oct 4, 2017 20:23:57 GMT
I'm so happy after digging in my stash because. I found a KP DD album with the 31 page protectors that I can use this year for my first DD! I had forgotten about it. I don't know if I'll use the album because it's not necessarily what I had in mind but I will definitely use the page protectors. I also found a stash of PP and insert pages that I may mix in also. It's the little things, peas...
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Post by mom on Oct 4, 2017 20:24:55 GMT
I'm so happy after digging in my stash because. I found a KP DD album with the 31 page protectors that I can use this year for my first DD! I had forgotten about it. I don't know if I'll use the album because it's not necessarily what I had in mind but I will definitely use the page protectors. I also found a stash of PP and insert pages that I may mix in also. It's the little things, peas... Its a sign! The universe wants you to complete DD! SaveSave
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Oct 4, 2017 20:31:25 GMT
nicolepTotally a sign!! My 2015 DD is currently hanging out, unfinished, in that very album...
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Post by ihaveonly1l on Oct 4, 2017 23:48:18 GMT
Since I am a DD dropout, I'm working on a slightly different project and all I can say is photography has come a long way since 1999!
I can see a turning point around 2006 and it gives me a new perspective to think that the year old phone camera needs an upgrade considering how bad the first digital cameras of the 2000s were!!!
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Post by anniefb on Oct 4, 2017 23:53:10 GMT
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 25, 2024 23:21:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2017 5:56:30 GMT
My 2015 DD album is about 75% complete, my 2016 album is about 50% complete. My aim is to finish those two off in the first couple of weeks of November. Although my 2 year old daughter is pretty demanding of my time at the moment so I'm not sure how well that plan is going to go. I'm looking forward to a time where we can sit and work on our own crafts together. This year I am going to try to work on some kind of foundation pages, I don't really know how well that's going to work for me. I'll be finishing work at the end of November and due to have a baby on the 27th of December (though hoping he'll come at least a week early!) so getting a head start will probably be a big help this year.
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Post by caspad on Oct 5, 2017 15:01:02 GMT
So, since is my first year doing December daily I'm going to ask a stupid question. Is there a sort of standard recommendation on what size of album to use as far as spine width? I know that Ali's are 2.5". I also know that there are a million different variations of album/book/mini's you can make on your own but I guess I'm just trying to get a general idea. I'd recommend getting a roomy album if you can. This will be my 4th year using a 6x8 album. I don't have kids but apparently I still document a lot of things in December! For 2012, I used a Simple Stories binder (the regular one size) and my album was full! 35 page protectors + inserts. For 2015, I used the gold AE One Little Word album with the 1 1/2" spine. It just barely closes. For 2016, I'm using the AE Merry album and I think it's going to be plenty roomy enough. I'm just starting it now. LOL. For 2017, I'm using the Simple Stories Merry album that sleepingbooty recommended.
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,080
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Oct 5, 2017 15:04:52 GMT
So, since is my first year doing December daily I'm going to ask a stupid question. Is there a sort of standard recommendation on what size of album to use as far as spine width? I know that Ali's are 2.5". I also know that there are a million different variations of album/book/mini's you can make on your own but I guess I'm just trying to get a general idea. I'd recommend getting a roomy album if you can. This will be my 4th year using a 6x8 album. I don't have kids but apparently I still document a lot of things in December! For 2012, I used a Simple Stories binder (the regular one size) and my album was full! 35 page protectors + inserts. For 2015, I used the gold AE One Little Word album with the 1 1/2" spine. It just barely closes. For 2016, I'm using the AE Merry album and I think it's going to be plenty roomy enough. I'm just starting it now. LOL. For 2017, I'm using the Simple Stories Merry album that sleepingbooty recommended. Thank you so much! I am still trying to figure out what I'm going to use.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 25, 2024 23:21:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2017 19:45:42 GMT
Do you know what the best paint for cork is, please? I'd like to paint my cork numbers with gold and/or white diagonal stripes. I'm usually not much into mixed media but this year might be the year. I think Dina Wakley (heavy body) paint is what worked for Nancy Damiano a few months ago. I'd like a versatile paint so I have only a few for many surfaces (wood veneer, cork, plastic, etc) if possible. ETA: I think this is the right thread, but please tell me if I should move my post.
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Post by caspad on Oct 6, 2017 14:22:23 GMT
@millefeuilles If you have gesso, a thin coat first would probably make any acrylic paint you have on hand work.
I've found that the Martha Stewart acrylic craft paint is pretty versatile on many surfaces. You may need to do a few coats because cork could be absorbent without gesso first.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 25, 2024 23:21:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2017 18:35:19 GMT
Thank you for your help caspad. Off to buy some Gesso and MS acrylic paints.
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,080
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Oct 7, 2017 20:23:16 GMT
Anyone care to share their DD Pinterest board if you have one?
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Post by kellyv on Oct 7, 2017 22:09:58 GMT
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Post by ecvnj58 on Oct 7, 2017 22:13:45 GMT
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Post by mom on Oct 7, 2017 22:16:21 GMT
I just followed! SaveSave
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Post by mom on Oct 7, 2017 22:16:45 GMT
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