Hi Roadies, I was a little intimidated, but so excited to be invited to create a mini book for the Sparkle and Shine Holiday embellishment kit! You can see the whole book at this gallery link, but I thought it might be fun to share a few tips and tricks of the actual process of making this fun book. So here are a few behind-the-scenes pictures and details!
When I first opened the kit and saw all the bits and pieces in there I knew I wanted to use up as much of it as I could. I loved it all! So I was glad that the mini album had room to add more pages and it could handle some bulk and still stand on its own.
The wooden Bingo buttons are so perfect for crafting holiday memories- they allude to games and fun- such a nostalgic detail. They just are so fitting whether you make a countdown to Christmas book like I did, or another advent calendar or craft, or even a December Daily album! The buttons are adorable as is, but I decided to ink them with white chalk ink to create an even more 'winterized' look to them. I can tell you that the chalk ink was fast and easy to do, but have to warn you that it does rub off a bit- even after it is dried. So painting or using a permanent ink might be an option if you are not into smudges. I personally don't mind the smudging, because to me it adds to the charm and homemade feel of a project. And with 6 kids at home my house is never smudge-free anyway! =)
Once I had the concept for making a Christmas countdown book, I had to come up with 25 ideas to fill all the pages. That was the toughest part of the whole project! =) I did jump on Pinterest for a few ideas,but mostly I just randomly crafted each day on its own and let the book sort of evolve. I knew there would be some traditions to keep in there year after year, and some that we can easily change out or add in again as needed.
We are big coffee lovers at my house- even several of my kids love a splash of coffee in their flavored cream/milk. So using a local coffee sleeve as a page was fitting and is an easy way to personalize a book.
I thought it would be fun to use actual items in the book too, especially for my kids to get excited about, so a real packet of hot cocoa mix and a plastic spoon were tucked into it as a page as well. This is something that can easily be punched and added into the book at the start of the holiday season each year!
A couple of other ideas that I loved were hand-cutting shapes- like the star that I stitched with kraft twine, and also there is a page where I traced a moose cookie cutter onto paper and cut it out and used that as a page too. Don't be afraid to just have fun with projects like this and use your favorite shapes, traditions and love of things that bring you joy all season long!
There is so much more I could share about this kit and book I made with it, so like I said, feel free to check out the gallery for the complete book and a list of step-by-step instructions if you want to create one just like it yourself! You can use the ideas and customize a special book for your family or friends too! There is plenty left over to make some cards or tags as well. I just know this kit will add charm to your holiday season in lots of ways! Happy crafting, everyone!
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