Welcome back everyone from what was more likely a busier weekend than most! This week, we'll be presenting the last three days of our Happy Holidays event and with only a one more opportunity available to partake in it's gifts galore opportunities, you'll want to make sure to visit and leave your comments before our announcing the winners on December 22nd. Today is actually going to be the last day in which we offer up one of our non-traditional giveaways and if you're a mega-fan of coffee like some of us here at Crate, then don't delay in reading today's prize details! Though, before you jump ahead, we've a few projects to share, including a Starbucks-inspired mini album from our CP Girl, Amy Heller - it was actually Amy's album that gave us the idea for today's prize! It's a Semi-Daily December album housed in Starbucks cozy cup holder! 

 

Hi Crate Friends! It's Amy Heller here today with a super fun holiday project great for those of us with limited time to complete a full daily album for December. I don't know about you, but I swoon over all the beautiful December Daily projects out there. However, I know that it would be a futile attempt for me to try a daily project like that at the point in my life with two young, active kids and a million other things going on this time of year. 

A couple weeks ago, while I was struggling on how to do an edited version of December daily, I came upon these awesome pressed paper coasters from Red Robin at dinner one night. I was instantly inspired! They reminded me so much of these two beautiful pieces of Crate Paper patterned papers:

When I got the four coasters home from dinner, I decided I knew just what I wanted to do! I was going to make a mini December album from them using Snow Day as my inspiration and incorporating the Flakes, B-side patterned paper into the design. (I used Snow Day papers, chipboard, layered chipboard, borders and phrases all for this mini).

Around that same time, I had my daily Starbucks (does this sound familiar, or what?!) cup sitting in the kitchen with it's popular holiday themed artwork staring at me from the countertop. A-ha! I decided, what a great way to keep my mini album housed and protected - use the wrap from the cup and use it's printed sentiment as a prompt for my album title! So, that's the title for my December Mini - "December Stories are Gifts to Share". 

As with most December albums, this one is not yet completed since it's only the first part of the month. So, I will be sharing the completion of the album for Crate Paper in a three part series on my blog entitled the Re-Purposed Holiday Mini Series with Crate Paper. I hope you will join me! In the meantime, I want to share with you what has been completed thus far.

This is the mini housed in it's wrap. I decided to take a shoelace approach to connecting the back of the wrap so that it can be loosened and tightened as needed throughout the process of it's creation. So far it's worked out really well! 

 

Cover - Without Wrap

 

The mini is a top-flip album. I chose to use a repurposed chain from a set of chipboard instead of an o-ring, because, from a design standpoint, the o-ring was too obtrusive. I also like the adjustable chains for the reason that they somewhat "disappear" when you have a small mini such as this. 

 

Interior Pages 1 & 2

 

Interior Pages

 

Yep, I stitched right over my photos, and that's OK! :) Throughout the album, I chose to break things up between photo pages and title pages with a die-cut overlay in gold that picks up the warm tones in the "Flakes" paper. 

 

The journaling above is on the back of the Starbucks photo and is a lead-in to the photos I will have of the sweet treats the kids will indulge in throughout the season. 

 

Here's where I began layouts that need to be finished throughout the month (again, see my blog!). I kept the "themes" more generic and will let the stories and photos create the themes later when they are placed. 

 

I just know that at some point, we'll have snow. In Connecticut, there will be snow - at some point here soon.

 

In this "Memories" section I'm going to fill it with all sorts of things, like visiting santa, building gingerbread houses, making cookies, etc. Should be a fun one...

 

And here's the last lead-in page, all ready to fill in with those fun images from Christmas morning. All of these lead-in pages have coordinating blank patterned paper pages and overlays that I'll use for journaling and separating photos as I fill them throughout the month. 

I think by keeping my album compact (3.5" wide) and having already repurposed themes, it'll be easy to fill in vs. doing full daily entries. The album will hold a ton of special memories and not take up more spare time than I'd like to give up during this busy time of year. Plus, it makes me feel like I'm making a daily even though it's really just a month of memories. 

Don't forget to take in your surroundings and always check out those pressed paper coaster when you're out for dinner or drinks. You may just have a piece of great inspiration for your next project! Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you'll come check out how I filled in the rest of the album at my blog! Take care!

 

And a few more handmade projects from two of our team members and of course, you! We're focusing predominantly on layouts today, though Amy's "JOY" series is premiering too - we couldn't keep them a secret anymore..they're so, so cute!! 

Did we just not mention how cute these were? Oh man, heavenly layers of Snow Day alongside mismatched trinkets of both white and bold colors! We simply can't get enough of it all...again, the artist of this vibrant series is Amy Parker!

 

This layout brings back so many happy memories from our own childhood, what about yours? Remember days at the ice rink with siblings and friends and visits to the warming house so as to get a break from the cold? We've not forgotten what great times were had on the ice! Davinie's layout redefines the ice skating experience - forget the skates! Instead, slide and have a blast doing it! The photos say it all....

 

From Japan, Michiyo Nobeno sent these to us and we instantly fell in love with them! We think you will too - take a peek at the trees in the lower right corner of the second layout!! It's just the toppers, though they're perfectly suited for the location and are irresistibly fun!

 

We're not really sure if we shared this one yet, but if so, well, we're almost certain you won't mind! It's creator is Sophie Cresoy - turns out, this is her boy's first encounter with snow! What a jubilating time for the little one - snow & sledding! 

 

The stitched outlining caught our attention on this one! It's nearly perfect along with them precious young boys! Thank-you Suz for inviting us to share this with our blog readers during our event!

 

We're sneaking in an extra layout because with Christmas being so close, we didn't want to forget posting it altogether! Amy Heller submitted it as an Elle's Studio project, but thought we might want to post it here as well since it's a flurry of Snow Day goodies. Gotta love the snow!! 

 

The moment you've been waiting for..a chance at a $40 (um, that's a lot of coffee folks!) Starbucks Gift Card!! If you've yet to comment at this point, and are a regular inhabitant of the Starbucks chain, then now is the time to finally leave one. Don't wait a single second longer - there's coffee brewing people!  Crate wants to honor you with fresh, hot coffee! And wouldn't you know it, this is the last official giveaway of the event - the winner of the Starbucks card and all other giveaways is to post this Wednesday...mark it on your calendars!

Even though we're saying goodbye to new prizes at this point, we'll still have plenty of projects to keep you preoccupied 'til December 22nd. There are more tutorials too - so do continue to join us in the coming days! As Amy has already mentioned, thank you for stopping by and have a great rest of the week!

Comments

[Kelly Massman]

Love the layouts and love Starbucks! Your other projects are so cute too! Thanks for a chance to win!

[sandra m.]

i love how amy used items from eating out to make a mini album, great idea.

[Romy]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading and watching this post. There's so much inspiration in here. Thanks a lot for sharing!

[Amy Coose]

That mini blows my MIND! You have such an inspiring DT. Thanks so much for the chance to win some serious coffee.

[Nicole]

Loving all these projects and such inspiration it gives me to stop hoarding my snow day line and start using it. Starbucks sounds lovey thanks for this lovely opportunity.

Have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

[Valerie Bishop]

Yum!! What fun giveaway!! And more amazing projects!! Thanks so much for sharing!

[Sobeida Rodriguez]

The projects and layouts are adorable! Thanks for the chance to win such an awesome prize!

[Andrea M.]

Your projects have been incredible this month!! That wrapped mini is too precious. Keep the inspiration coming, girls!

Thanks for the chance for more macchiatos! :)

[rkokes]

that album and joy frame are AMAZING-fantastic projects!

[Dawn]

LoVe Starbucks...can you say Hazelnut Latte? I knew you could!! They just opened a Starbucks near my son's school. Now I can drop him off and go thru the drivethru and have a couple of minutes just for me!!

Merry Christmas!!

[Keshet]

I love me some Starbucks:)

[Donna]

I love it...totally unique and fresh :)

[Misty Willis]

Every single project feature today is absolutely stunning! It is truly one of my favorite things to do...to come over to the CP blog to see the latest creations by the super talented DT gals. :)

[Jenny A]

I love all the projects!

[joparker]

Wowzers!! LOVE that mini...great to read the story behind the inspiration too! LOVE the JOY frames.. and ALL those layouts rock!! (Starbucks rock too!!)

[aubree]

I can already smell the chai latte a brewing....

Love the layouts and projects!! Happy Holidays!

[Cynthia B.]

I don't think I can tell you in enough words how amazing these projects are!! And thank you, Crate, for these amazing giveaways!
One of the reasons I love going to Barnes and Noble is to buy coffee (or hot cocoa) and biscotti from the in-store Starbucks. Sounds SO good right now. Thanks for the chance!

[Anja]

I love all this cute projects!

[Brenda]

Love all the projects! Thanks for the chance to win!!

[Ann-Marie]

Immediately had to bookmark this post on my Google Reader! Such gorgeous, inspiring projects!

[Bethany C.]

Fun, beautiful, inspiring projects!! AND...I could totally use that boost of Starbucks caffeine to help me through the rest of my Christmas 'to do' list!!

[amy tangerine]

love these projects and love coffee, of course. thanks for the chance to win!

[Ashley Van Etten]

I especially loved Michiyo Nobeno! And I love (more like obsessed) with coffee!!!

[Celeste B.]

What great projects. I really need some Snowy Day..probably more than Starbuck's...but Starbuck's would be good. Thanks.

[Sherri]

my, my, my, my my-o-my so much Crate goodness and inspiration in one post. I'm on sensory overload, and loving it. Thanks for sharing such wonderful projects with us, I especially love the mini-mini album.