Heidi Swapp Insta LOve December Memories album

I love December ! I love the magic of the season and all that it brings to my family and I. For the last few years I have documented our stories during the month of December and this year is no exception.  This year I have chosen to record our memories in the new Tall Black and White Insta Love stripe album available now at Michaels. What is so great about this album is that it comes with both  paper and vellum pages which allows for pretty layering of photos and embellishments.

Today I want to share with your my whole month of pages that are ready to add my photos and journaling. I am so pleased that  I am ready to go. It is actually a freeing feeling. Working full time as  a teacher and a busy mum my memory keeping time is precious but now I have made my December memory keeping just that little bit more easier with my pages ready to go.



I adorned the front cover of my album with this darling wood veneer stag head that I found at a local craft store here in Brisbane.



Let's see how I started. I gathered some supplies- my album, Instax printer, Rose Instalove filler cards, DecoArt teal Metallic paint, wood veneer and ribbon.



I painted my deer head with the Metallic paint and once dry adhered it to the front cover and added one of my fabric bows from my stash.



To add the ribbon to my album so I can tie it up,  I taped down the end of the ribbon to the inside front and back covers. I then trimmed some black Bazzill cardstock to size and adhered it over the ribbon. Now the ribbon is secured and you would never know it wasn't there in the first place.



The first page opens to that vellum  page with the gold foiled words.



I added my 2016 title page with a fun photo shoot and my Lightbox. I used some of the new Christmas icons and slides to create my Lightbox title then laid it down on a long piece of white paper. I took some photos and edited them in my software. I printed out the photo on to full size photo paper then trimmed the photo the same size as the pages in the album. Finally I marked holes to match the holes on the pages, I  used my small hole punch to punch the holes,  then I cut slits into the holes then pushed the photo onto the spiral binding to create a new page in the album.



I added my reason why on the next page.



I used my We R Memory Keepers Typeface typewriter to add my journalling onto some white cardstock then trimmed  and added it onto my page and added some washi to embellish.



For day 1 I used one of the Instax filler cards for my journaling spot ( It is not adhered down atm so I can run it through my Typewriter once day 1 is done)! I layered over a wood veneer word from my stash over one of the  Water Color Numbers found in the Gallery Wall collection also  available at Michaels.



More Filler cards in a grid design waiting for my Instax photos  for Day 2. I then did some stamping on the vellum page using my vintage Heidi stamps and Staz on Ink!



Day 3 consists of layered washi  from the grey Washi pack and stamping as well as another water color number and a die cut word from my stash.



For day 4 I cut that cute deer head using a We R Memory Keepers die then layered it over another Instax  filler card which I clipped to the top of my page. I added one of the sheer stickers that also comes in the Filler cards pack.



More stamping and washi over a filler card and that silver number form my stash. I clipped the card to the side of my page.



For day 6 I used some of the water color letters to create the word then layered over another die cut word from my stash.



I adhered only the bottom of the frame so I will still be able to slip my photo under the frame.



For day 8 I added a baggie from my stash directly to the page and layered some die cut  words with glitter paper. I then added more stamping to the vellum page.



Another die cut deer for day 9 using some glitter paper and I clipped that Instax filler card to the side ready to add my journaling.



I created my own paper pieced Christmas tree for day 10 then added another of the filler cards utilizing the clip from the previous page.



I used some of the gold Art Screen ink and map Art screen on day 11 and then typed out the words "Joy To The World" on my typewriter and layered it over my Silver numbers from my stash.



Another frame from the Filler kit for day 12.



I got this cutie patootie  wood veneer elf from a local craft store here in Brisbane and I adhered him to my page. I added some coordinating thread to make him "hanging there" and added another of the sheer stickers from the Filler pack to coordinate.



Simple layered filler card, washi and die cut number for day 14.



I trimmed a die cut I cut with my Silhouette cameo to fit the width of my page and layered some washi and numbers to complete my day 15.



Another filler card with layers combined with punched stars and numbers. I love the dream big washi I stretched across the bottom the page for another pop of gold. Then more stamping on the vellum page.



Day 17, simplicity with die cut words and numbers.



For day 18 I adhered one of the filler cards with washi at the top of the card to allow it to flip up.



I asked my eldest who is quite the artist to draw me a picture to add into my album.



I trimmed his page to size then added the page into my album using the same technique as described earlier.



More washi and glitter shapes for day 20.



Here I clipped another of the filler cards to the top of the next page and stapled a clear die cut from my stash.



For day 22 I dug into my vintage stash and used one of those frame water color shapes to house that glitter die cut word.



I trimmed a We R Memory Keeper postcard  for my page and added it with washi to my page to allow it to lift up so I can extra photos and or journaling to day 23.



My last page I decided to create a double page spread because Christmas Eve is usually a big one in our house. On the left I used another of the Instax filler cards clipped on with a decorative paper clip. On the right I added more stamping with vintage stamps and a flair from my stash.

I cannot wait for the first of December! Our Elf on the shelf will arrive, we will decorate the tree and we will spend all month as a family creating Christmas memories! Lucky for me  I can capture all these memories in my album. Bring it on!

Supplies: InstaLove Tall album stripe  and InstaLove Filler cards Rose



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Light Up Christmas with new 4 inch Marquee

Did you hear....Christmas is only 46 days away!! What!!!!!! Yes can you believe it ....and I don't know about you but I am so very excited. It really is my most favorite time of the year. One of the things I love the most is decorating my home and with some of the new Marquee Love Christmas collection  available now at Michaels it is even easier! I want to share with you one area in my home that is all ready for December! I have this fun peg board that I bought recently from Kmart Australia and I am loving it as a place to display my light boxes. It is now also proudly displaying my new Mini 4 inch Marquee Banner lights  that are strung together to make  the word WISH.

 

 These are so fun and the easiest DIY light up Christmas Banners ever. They can totally be customized to suit your decor. Let's see where  I started. I gathered my supplies- the four inch letters to spell wish, the coordinating remote to turn the letters on and off,  Marquee Love coloured bulbs, white glitter paper and  my new favorite Deco Art Metallics Teal paint.

 

 I then painted the outside of the letters with the teal paint and allowed them to dry. I trimmed around the letter inserts with some of the white glitter paper and inserted them into the letters and then added in the colored bulbs.I then followed Heidi's instructions she shares on her video below to string my lights together.

 

I then hung them at an uneven level on my pegboard,  tying some fishing line around the pegs and white wire that attaches all the letters. To hide the wire I tied two red and white striped ribbons and attached them to the pegs.

 

The neat thing about these lights that I mentioned before is that you use the remote to turn them on and off. Do you spy that black and white box sitting on the bottom shelf- that's the remote. On the shelf above the "wish" you can also see the battery pack and antenna that is needed to turn the lights  on and off. Heidi shares in the video why it is important that the battery pack is visible, be sure to check that out.

 

I also used my shelf lightbox and included some of the slides meant for the regular lightbox to decorate my peg board.

 

And finally I used my regular lightbox with more of the new Christmas slides, icons  and backgrounds to complete my display.

  Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year... and now it is going to be even more special! Check out Heidi's how to video here!

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a zesty photo bomb!

There's a stunning new mood board over at Jot Magazine. It is so fresh, zesty and inviting. I couldn't wait to join in on the fun.

To create my layout I grabbed some of my new DecoArt Metallic paints and created a painted background for my photos.

The Teal,  Green and Shimmering Silver were the perfect combination for both the mood board and my photo.

I love the texture and shine that is created without the bulk using the paint. I accentuated my photo with some Heidi Swapp wood veneer words and vintage stamping!

 I hope you get a chance to play along with this stunning mood board.