A Peak At My Christmas Albums

Well I had hoped to get this up earlier but we have been busy around here with work and getting our basement finished - I'm so excited to soon have a dedicated place for classes and workshops! 

As I mentioned last week - I am VERY excited to be able to offer a HELLO DECEMBER kit through Stampin' Up! I love to document our holidays - especially Christmas - there are so many traditions and its such a busy month its easy to have something to take a photo of each day.  

I made a video showing you my past Christmas albums. Now its a 14 min video (yikes!) so feel free to skim through it. My main reason to show you these is so that you can see what kind of things I documented. In the beginning it was mostly a way to document our traditions, but then I stumbled on Ali Edwards December Daily and was hooked to document each day of the month leading up to the 25th. These are great albums I bring out during the holidays to look through and share with family. I hope you will enjoy a peak into my albums: 

Some years I have planned my album ahead of time, selecting products and method (size of album, page protectors, etc.), before the month so that I could put the bones of the album together before December. What I like about this is that it keeps the process simple - once the month starts I just take my photos and keep track of my journalling. Then I either work at it each day or put it all together once the holiday is done. In other years I have waited until the end of the holiday before assembling the album. 

If I do put the album together before hand I try to keep it fairly simple so that in case the photos from a certain day don't go with what I have planned I can move things around. Which is why I love using the Project Life pocket pages. 

Once the album has been laid out, most of the work has been done. Then you just need to add your photos and journaling as you celebrate the season. Hello December is such a fun tradition to begin, and it enhances the holidays as you share and enjoy memories.

When I first heard about December Daily/Hello December a few years ago, I was worried that my life was just not that exciting, what could I document EACH day. But looking back I realize that some of my favourite memories documented are the every day moments - I like those mixed throughout the holiday events! You could also use days where you don't have anything planned to highlight something you love about the season—like the Christmas CD playing in your car or the holiday mail you received from a friend or that yummy treat that only comes at Christmas time.

Here are a few photo prompts to help your creativity flow. Please leave a comment below if you have a suggestion to add to the list!

                        Advent calendar

                        Christmas traditions

                        Letter to Santa/Visit to Santa

                        Shopping list

                        Family activities

                        Christmas tree

                        Christmas lights

                        Baking holiday treats

                        Wrapping gifts

                        Christmas carols

                        Craft or DIY

                        Mailing of handmade cards

                        To-do list

                        The weather outside or temperature

                        Colours of Christmas

                        Visitors

                        Food prep or menu planning

                        Elf on the Shelf

                        Yummy December treats

                        Family photos

                        Decorations

                        Parties

                        Hanging the stocking

                        Memories from childhood

                        Favorite movies

                        Gingerbread

                        Wise words about the season

                        School activities

                        Mail or gifts arriving in the post

                        City decorations

                        Church celebrations

                        Gifts being opened

                        Exchanging gifts

                        Store displays

                        Shopping (seeing presents before they’re wrapped)

                        Compare a moment from last Christmas to one from this Christmas

                        Before and after; for example, before-and-after pictures of the kitchen during     

                           Christmas cooking and baking

                        Trying something new

                        What CD is playing in the car

                        Cleaning up

                        Travel

If you are interested in putting together your own Hello December album - there is still time to get your order in! 

Hello December Starter Kit | Cost $60 + tax | Includes two of the 6"x8" Project Life Photo Pocket Pages (you decide which packs), the Hello December Card Collection and the Hello December Accessory Pack. PLUS Bonus Die Cuts and Embellishments

Hello December Full Kit | Cost $75 + tax | Includes the Emerald Envy 6" x 8" Project Life Album, two of the 6"x8" Project Life Photo Pocket Pages (you decide which packs), the Hello December Card Collection and the Hello December Accessory Pack. PLUS Bonus Die Cuts and Embellishments

PLUS if you purchase the starter kit or the full kit you have FREE access to the CROP NIGHT on Friday, November 25th. You can come anytime between 6pm and 9pm and use my assorted stamps, adhesive and papers to put together your album.

If you would like to purchase your own supplies or just some of the supplies and put together your own kit - you are more than welcome to still join us for the CROP NIGHT - the cost is $15 or FREE with a $25 order. 

Please sign up by November 5th to make sure your bundle/products arrive on time!

For more details or to order your kit/supplies please contact me at

amy.grendel@gmail.com or 613-888-0589.