December Daily 2009 : Day 18, Day 19

Keeping up with your DD album can be tedious. All fun and joy, but sometimes, in the moment, I feel pressure. But, once I sit down and start playing, and creating, and remembering I seem to feel a calm come over me. I say that I'm doing this for my family, but I"m doing it for me, too. I love telling stories and taking the photos. And, with three kids, and the baking, and the housework, and the other stuff that comes with the season...I make a commitment to do this. And, I have to say that since I've learned to post to the flickr group this year, the awesome comments from other creative people fuels my fire. It's one thing for family to like it, but for another crafty soul to like it, too...now that's an accomplishment. SO, HAVE FUN AND DON'T FEEL THE PRESSURE...THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. You could even pick a random month and do a "March" Daily and document that. You'd be surprised about all the wonderful things that happen in your family during other months of the year...and they might not be as busy for you.

No stress allowed! Last year I didn't even have my supplies until January, and I may not have had a picture from every day on THAT day, but it still documented the season and was beautiful, and I enjoyed the process and the end result _immensely_. Hands down the favorite album I've ever made - THANK YOU for the inspiration! This year I got the base done, and then immediately got sidetracked by life, but I am looking forward to working on things in Jan again when it's a little calmer. Maybe not a December Daily, exactly, but still fun! Winter's Tales? December Stories? =] Happy holidays, for sure. Thanks for taking the time from your holidays to share your album - it's lovely and makes me feel happy and warm to see it and the fun your family is having with their December.

I love the fold out bit with the photos what a great idea.....loving seeing you daily december come together, me my sister Ali and out mum are all doing a daily december album

hi ali! i'm kinda liking that you are only posting pages every couple days: i actually manage to get mostly caught up with you that way! have a quick question: is the background red swirl on page 19 a tranparency, stamp, patterned paper? it looks great, but not sure what type of medium you used. love the idea of a fold out. i've had a day or where just including one photo didnt' seem to be telling enough of the story of that day. love this idea!
merry christmas!

Hi Ali,
I love your pompom garland, did you make it? if so, can you share the how to and where you found enough red, white and green pompoms?
Thanks and Merry Christmas.

Always beautiful stuff, Ali. Some day. Of course, I think having a high quality printer at home with which to print your photos would make all the difference.

This book is so cute! I want to do this next year when I am not doing Project 365. I couldn't consider trying both! Love your work!

Thank you, Ali, for your #1 rule listed in CK Dec issue:
"I will not make things more complicated then they need to be." That mantra got me through last night as i plowed through scrapping old Christmas photos from before I made Dailies. And it is a nice reminder as i create this one.

I love the pull out idea. I have alot of photos from the day that my family exchanged gifts. The pull out is just a perfect way to get more then one photo on a page. Any more ideas to include more photos on a single day?

ooh I love the foldy-outey page! That rocks.

Simon did GOOD!!!! What a perfect tree!!! My kids took over this year and did nearly all the decorating. It was so fun to watch!

Hi Ali,
I want to thank you for doing this album again this year. I am trying to do mine, I have a couple of pages printed out, but not yet finished. I am taking lots of notes and hoping to finish it off in my break between Christmas and New Year. I think you are amazing that you can fit all this in as well as look so happy and look after the kids. I just wanted to say thanks and Merry Christmas.
Judith (Adelaide)

Hi Ali! The fold-out page is an AWESOME idea-I may need to scraplift this idea! Thanks for the great inspiration!

Hi Ali! Love this fold out page. Especially love the photos - they are great. I've fallen behind in my DD, however have been jotting down notes each day and hope to get all caught up in the week after Christmas.

I so like that pullout idea. Life has been so crazy that I haven't been able to actually put anything into my Dec. Daily album yet. But that's okay because I am getting some ideas from you that will make it even better. Thanks. I so enjoy you and your family.

I have my book made (from last year) I started well with taking pictures, but life got crazy :( I haven't even blogged in a week :( sigh. Maybe next year! Love the idea of it though.

Ali, I heard about this on Noell Hyman's paperclipping site and was very excited to try it. I had a few days before December to assemble an album, and I couldn't wait to start.
This has been fascinating. Each day I've been able to find something to use - makes me pay attention. Even just realized this morning that my African Grey parrot, Pepper, is 20 years old today, so he gets to take front and center when he might ordinarily be passed over in the Christmas rush. Quirky stuff like that suddenly shows up. (When your children are grown, you don't necessarily have obvious photo ops and stories if you don't look for them.) Off to hunt up baby (chick) photos of Pepper to compare with today!
Life is glorious when you take the time to look at it, and this has encouraged me to do so. Thanks for this great idea.
My 8x8 album is getting very thick though - where do I find something larger than 2.5" binder rings?

I love being able to peek into your creative window. Thanks for the view. It has been such an inspiration to watch your DD come together.
Congrats on getting the tree. ;o)
Merry Christmas to you all.
Quick ?- What printer do you use for printing your pix?
AM

HI Ali,
I love your blog!! I also have loved having your calendar this year. Did you do one for 2010? I have searched Cafe Press, but I can't find it. I don't think my scrap book room will be the same without it. :)

I love that you have included pictures of yourself-just as you are and not 'posed'! I have not included any of me-I still have a few days to catch up on and the upcoming days so I will plant my camera and use the timer and try and get an ok picture of myself.
Again, thank you for sharing your album with us! Love it!