December is here my friends, and that means that crafters everywhere are busy working like elves on their Holiday themed projects- from December Daily albums, to pom-pom garlands, and gingerbread houses to advent calendars!
Me? Well, I'm working on the feeding and caring of a huge newborn baby, which means that so far, I haven't had any time to get into the crafty fun that I usually love to do when Christmas rolls around. I'm not going to lie, it's really hard for someone like me (aka: crafty control freak ocd decorating shopaholic) to be right in the middle of newborn craziness during the holidays. I wanted the decorations up November 1st...but I was having contractions that day, so instead of coasting into the holiday season like I had planned, I am behind on everything and it's killing me.
I am trying to be practical and let myself off the hook a bit. Thankfully, I've got last years memories to help me focus on the little things about the holidays that I find really meaningful., like these photos from some of the new traditions we started with Maggie last year, that I added to the Holiday Memory album I made with A Muse Studio products.
We definitely have our hands full this year, but Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without crafting. :D
I really kept things simple with this page, because the photos were so bold and colorful and busy, I didn't want to compete with them. I looked for some of the main colors in the photos and created embellishments and chose papers that would compliment and coordinate, like the soft plum of Maggie's shirt and the mint green in the Christmas cookie. I used my favorite A Muse Studio Bow and Heart Trio Dies and some Heather and Apple felt to add some texture and embellishment to my Vintage Lable ornament tag and stamped sentiment.
I love the bold cherry red against the soft ink colors and the shimmer of the silver ink and tiny gems, and I'm a big fan of the fact that A Muse Studio makes Splash mists that perfectly match some of their cardstock colors. Here I used a ticket die to cut out the stamped image on mint cardstock, and mounted it onto a misted white cardstock background.
I know we'll have to be especially choosy this year when it comes to what we can participate in and have lower expectations for decorating and celebrating. This weekend we'll be going to the local Santa breakfast at the senior center like we did last year, and I know we'll set aside time to bake and decorate cookies with Maggie. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for laughs and fun, no matter how behind I might feel today.
If you want to see more of my Holiday albums with A Muse Studio, you can find more posts here and here. And, if you're looking for a fun get together with your friends over the holidays, why not find a local A Muse Studio consultant and have a craft party?
xoxoxo
-JP
FTC Disclosure: A Muse Studio has provided compensation and project supplies in exchange for this series. All opinions and experiences shared are my own.
