Advent with ATDML - Day 13 - December Daily journal

Unlucky for some the 13th, but not for you as we continue with our seasonal craft inspiration and today I am sharing some pages from my December Daily journal. I try and do this journal each year and usually make it about half way through the month and run our of time/steam but this year I am determined to finish!

I have prepared some of my pages in advance so just need to print off the photo for the day, add my journaling and embellishments. I have kept things much more fluid in my album this year by combining 6x8 pages, some which came in a pack from Simple Stories with decorative edges and some I cut myself from kraft paper, with smaller 4x6 pages and also page protectors. I have also added in a couple of postbox cards that I purchased to send but loved them so much I wanted a couple in my album too!

I have also focused more on telling stories this time. Including the leaving up of last years Christmas wreath in the porch all year as I had not taken it down by 12th night and the tale of my husband having to crawl under the paperchains the elf had strung across my sons door for he would not let his dad take them down in case it upset the elf!!

I have combined several collections in my album from Kaisercraft Silent Night to Bo Bunny Merry & Bright and Simple Stories Classic Christmas to Stamping up and then added in just a few embellishments including sequin stars, a pack of star enamel dots, gems and seasonal washi tape. Learning from the last few years I have restricting myself to flatter embellishments in the hope my album will shut at the end of the holidays! 

  

Are you doing a December Daily journal? If you are be sure to share some pages on our Facebook page, we'd love to see them!

Pop back here tomorrow for more inspiration from Karen who has an exploding box with a surprise for us.

Advent with ATDML - Dec 8th - Xmas pudding card

Short of a card or two this Christmas or just want to make a unique one for someone special? Then why not have a go at a pudding card! I saw something similar on Pinterest (plenty more ornate on the decorations I might add!) and thought it was a lovely idea for a handmade Christmas card.

I drew the pudding shape by hand onto a piece of folded brown cardstock and cut it out (maintaining the join at the top). I repeated on white cardstock so the top and the sides of the icing drips were the same shape as the card and then I drew in my drips and shaped the piece accordingly by cutting away the non drips element. I added the icing drips piece to the pudding card on foam pads and then covered the white in a thin layer of glitter paste (Bo Bunny Sugar).

When dry (didn't take long) I added a couple of leaves punched from green card, some berries (I used sequins but red gems would look great too, or punched out circles with some added stickles), a twine bow and gem and finally a sentiment sticker.

If you decide to have a go at the pudding card do share your creations with us over on the ATDML Facebook page in our Advent2016 Creations folder. See you back here tomorrow for day 9 of our creative advent calendar with your ATDML design team.

Advent with ATDML - Dec 3rd - Home decor Twine Tree

Day 3 of your advent inspiration from your atdml design team and I'm sharing an inexpensive home decor item for the holidays that I have had pinned on Pinterest for quite a while it seems!!

You'll need the following supplies for this project: polystyrene cone (Hobbycraft or The Range), wet glue (I used modge podge), string or twine, scissors, an electric tealight and clingfilm or a sandwich bag.

Cover the cone in cling film or a sandwich bag (I used the latter) and then run twine through glue and wrap around the cone. I found it easiest to pour some glue out into a bowl and use my fingers to ensure that the twine was coated as I went along. Work your way up and down the cone in a random fashion being sure to go as high up as possible to get a nice point. Press firmly to help the twine stick to itself as you go.

Set aside to dry (the glue will dry clear) and then carefully remove from the cone using a twisting motion. The bag should then come away with some gentle persuasion but being clear it doesn't matter is small amounts are left behind on the inside of the cone.

Decorate if (I used a few seasonal coloured gems and then place an electric tealight under for a homemade rustic tree decoration for your home.

Pop back tomorrow to open your next creative advent calendar window with Karen and if you didn't see Jane's planner yesterday be sure to check it out, just scroll down or click here.

Advent with ATDML - Dec 1st - Photography prompts

Welcome to your 1st day of advent calendar with ATDML - a creative window to be opened each day, yes EVERY day, from now until the big day where your design team will bring you month long festive inspiration.

As always we start of the month with our photography prompts - the last set for 2016 and lets have some festive fun with these,

We look forward to having you join us each day to open your creative advent calendar with ATDML. See you tomorrow where Jayne will be sharing a little something festive with us all.

Advent with your ATDML Design team

Yay! It is the start of December which means your design team can reveal that we will be posting EVERY DAY up to Christmas eve sharing an advent of creativity with you. Pop here to the blog every day in December and open a virtual window into your advent calendar of papercraft!

All through to Christmas come and get some festive crafting inspiration from the team. We will be sharing layouts, cards, minibook pages, December Daily entries, elf antics and home decor items, plenty to inspire your festive makes.

Here is just a sneak at what we have in store for you.

Get ready to get your festive craft on with your favourite team! First up will be our photography prompts as always for the 1st of the month so pop back later for your last set for 2016.
Ho! Ho! Ho!