12 Days of Christmas Gifts - Day 7 Photo/Journal

Hi Crafters

This project is great for using up the ends of ends of your paper pads and when finished make pretty gifts for friends and family

The inspiration for this came from Lyriclover on YouTube, check out her items for Christmas 2017 Christmas Craft Fairs.

You will need:
at least 8 sheets of 12 x 12 papers preferably double sided
Plain white or cream card to make the photo mats
coordinating decorations for the pages

Take 4 of the 12 x 12 sheets and and score them at 7cm from the base and then fold in half
Fold and burnish the scored lines to form for double sided pages

Choose the sides you like the most to have as the outside pages and the then select the best side for the inside pages I have put the single sided papers in the middle as the plain side will not show once they have been glued together
Stick down a narrow strip on the outside edges of the folded flaps

Layer the pages on top of each other glue the inside pages together. So in the picture shown I would glue the plain white sheet and layer the second folded sheet on top.
Do this until the 4 sheets are together and form your journal.

Decorate the flaps and make photo-mats to pop in the flaps, which will also hold journaling and memorabilia, such as ticket stubs, programmes etc

I have chosen to leave the photo-mats plain so that the photographs stand out. They can be any size provided they fit into the journal and coordinate with it.

Here are the photo-mats that are then popped into one of the pages.

As you can see I have also added a set of little round card circles as I thought these would be lovely for mini photos

All of the card stock I have used comes form a First Edition Christmas Paper Pad

I have added a strip of coordinating card to make the binder, you do this by cutting a width of card that allows cover both sides, glue well and lay half on the front of the journal. Fold over the edge allowing some room for movement ad then stick down on the back.

You could make these for Bridesmaids to collect all their memories during the run up to the wedding.
For friends or family who have a special event coming up.
With the six pages there is plenty of room for 20 or so photo-mats, notes and keepsakes.

Hope you enjoy making this and using some of your stash. It is a good way of clearing some stock to make room for new.

Happy Crafting
Dee