2023 megaaa DECEMBER DAILY thread (ALL December projects)

Anyone else feeling this year’s prep day is just kinda lackluster?

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not getting hyped.

I’m through the mixed media hour. 3, I think? Meh.

I'm enjoying prep day! Getting some pages done and I'm so happy there's a digital package so we can easily recreate some of the ideas.

I’m enjoying it so far. I like both of Ali’s projects. The mixed media one wasn’t for me.

I only caught a little bit of Ali's letter when it was live and all I heard was "take this time to write..." and tuned out (I rarely do a reason why page). But I did go back and when I saw its letters to people, I changed my mind and think I might try something like that. I've never tried having my two boys fill out things like she's done in the past because I knew they never would, but this is different (maybe because they are both getting older with one of them away at college...).

I remembered that you can change the playback speed on the videos so most of the ones I've watched I've done at 1.25 or 1.5 speed...much better! I liked the second mixed media one for its ease. I always want to try some of the messy things like the first one appears to be, but it is toooo messy for me to be interested in watching right now.

I'm really enjoying prep day.

I am not into writing my feelings but I loved the idea of putting the word vellum on the back of a pocket so I made that. And took a page out of Ali's book and stitched a little tag on the front before I put the whole thing together to use for a number later.

I was not into the mixed media style but definitely learned some things watching the video. I want to try the water soluble pencils. Will look into those. I spent most of the next hour trying to paint a damn oval and that was an absolute freaking disaster.

I won't do the december colors page but already cut out my arches for the snow globe with trees.

And I will probably do a version of Nolana's page because I thought it was such a great idea.

I can't believe it's almost 4.

My fingers hurt from stitching. I'll post a pic of this insanity later but that Paige Evans inspired me and I did not think it through at all before starting. I've been doing that during the little intros and when I don't have other stuff to do.

I actually completed the Hour Two project but made it super simple. I used the vellum from the lesson and attached the striped red paper from the paper pack using my sewing machine. It was good for me to dust off my sewing machine and make sure the tension was right for the two layers. I didn't sew on an embellishment--I just glued a couple of the die cuts, punched a half circle at the top and called it done! I have no idea what will end up in that pocket, but it's in my album now.

I've only been able to watch the first two videos so far. I got some good ideas from Ali's hour 2 project.

While on vacation in July, we visited The Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska. We got to spend some time with Santa, as there were no other people waiting. Their Santa was awesome!! After we took still photos with him, he asked if we had grandchildren. We said yes, and he asked what they call us. Then he asked for my phone, put the camera on video mode, and took a selfie with us next to him speaking directly to our grandkids, and telling them he had talked to Nana and Papa and we had told him what great children they were. It was so sweet!!

They also had forms to sign up the kids to get a personalized letter from Santa in November. We purchased that for our two youngest. Their moms have been asked to take a photo of the kids holding their letter.

I'm going to do a two-pager with the "Dear Santa Care of the North Pole" 4x6 card as a pocket with the Christmas trees on the left page and either put their wish lists or photos of their letters from Santa. On the right, I'll put the photo of us with Santa, as well as our grandkids Santa photos. Also, I'll add a QR code that points to the video.

I'm really excited to get started on these pages!!

Wow, margie what a great story!

This made me laugh out loud.

Last year's was great for stamping, if you're into that.

I've really enjoyed them all. Some hours I watch and get very inspired by, others I skip. I wonder if the older ones in the shop are 50% off...

I did 2021 but I don't remember it.

I just skipped to the last video of the day, and Ali used the foil quill with her Silhouette. It came out really nice. She said she used a metal mat on top of the Silhouette mat. I've never heard of a metal mat before. Can someone explain? What is it usually used for? Do you have a link to a store? TIA

So I am slowly watching the prep day content and an at the mixed media hour.

I just bought the DD paint set in Novembers Addon (arriving tomorrow in Germany yay) ( not that i don’t have plenty of paints lol) - and glad that Felicitas showed how to mix those paints, it gave me a lot of inspiration for my advent mixed media calendar project and although her color palette is very muted, i can translate her ideas into my more bright color palette. Loved her video. Now next Jills video. 😀

Prep Day Review and Thoughts....

I figured out the Cameo software update for November was the culprit for my issues, so uninstalled and it cut perfectly for me! I did December Colors in GOLD and plan to include photos from 6 December things. I don't normally like these kinds of prompts, but I loved the gold and the gold vellum grid and then started to think there are some classic items we always have in December that represent colors so its doable. Below is my prep page. I backed my earlier Chipboard Product Play inspired tag page with complementary colors. Lighting is bad because it was evening.

I also started the Starbuck bag/I see you product. I really like that one, just need to sew and add photos later.

I like Linda's book project, but will ned to think about what I want to use it for before I create it. This is something I have wanted to learn how to do anyway.

Nolana's album is creative, just need to think about how best to repurpose her ideas for my own album. I do love her enthusiasm and creativity!

On the mixed media, I signed up for the year long Fodder Class a while ago and found myself totally overwhelmed with what I thought would be a good oppty to try something new. The amount of product is overwhelming. So, I did not do the hour on this topic, but I do really like Felicitas and Jill, so I will watch this at some point. It kind of stresses me out to think about.

I will use Jennie's ornament cut file in some way - I don't have a foil quill, yet , but Watching Ali work through using it and then seeing her final result makes it tempting. Seems like a very time consuming process.

I adore Pam - not sure how I will use her idea bc I don't have alcohol inks, but I will go back and watch her videos and I will definitely use one or more of her cut files.

I love the snow globe idea and want to do that one for my daughter's annual gingerbread party and put a photo of the girls as the background. I will likely get the pieces done this week as a prep for December. Related, I love the little shaker trees and definitely want to reuse that idea for another layout.


I have done prep day since 2019. I looked back at all of them and 2019 and this year are by far the ones I have taken the most ideas from. That said, for $5, you really can't beat the price point given the number of reusable digital files you are getting.

Lastly, on the foil quilling, I did watch an Amy Gretchen video on it, but I would love to know from folks in this group what system you recommend and products. I want to know what I am getting into before I take the plunge. I have had a Minc for a while, so I get the basics of foiling and have a stash of foil. I just want to know more about the learning curve + essential products to get a good result. I have a Cameo 3 that I would be using.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Czzg1rnu5LR

I know we are supposed to be “translators of ideas” and all, but I was disappointed so many prep day projects used digital aspects and silhouette type machines - I don’t have things like and don’t do digital so Jennie’s stuff was out for me as well as Ali’s big December colors file (obviously I could do this idea if I wanted but her big title was cool and a big part of that project). There were files to use for the snow globe and the traditions book and something else, too, that I won’t be able to use.

I liked Ali’s first idea with the pocket and tags - when I took a break to grab lunch and some groceries, my grocery store Starbucks gave me one of those bags. I liked Jill’s idea and did a foundation page with stencils for title and some paint. The other mixed media was fine- I might take a few ideas from it if I feel like digging out paints and being messy. I liked the snow globe stuff but I’ll have to freehand something since I don’t have machines. That traditions book wasn’t anything I want to do- I just want my DD stuff in my dd - was that supposed to fit in your dd or be a stand alone project? Plus it had the files I wouldn’t be able to use. Sparkle and shine- like I said, Jennie’s stuff I can’t do, Laura’s was fine but not really very different unless I buy that product she was using but I’ve already bought so much… maybe another time I will revisit that. Ordinary moments was a great idea but it’s not something I struggle with- I have more ideas than I can use for DD each year (topics of stories). Play time with packaging was a fun concept and I love Linda’s videos in general and she did a good job here but I have no desire to make my own journal. And while I usually think Pam’s stuff is gold, these projects weren’t working for me. They looked messy. And I don’t want to invest in inks and also the staining seems problematic and not worth the result (to me). But it was genius to come up with something for all those plastic bags everything is wrapped in!!!! I will just continue to revisit Pam’s free content from last month which was so excellent. She had a great packaging idea in that content. Still, I enjoyed the day and for the $4.00 (used coupon) I paid I definitely got my money’s worth.