Ali Edwards's Blog, page 13
December 12, 2024
Story Play Read | Special Guest Jen Wong
Hi friends! I’m happy to be here on the blog sharing a project using the Read Story Play mini kit. My daughter is an avid reader and I thought it would be fun to document the books she has read this year. She doesn’t keep a reading log, but I was able to piece together some of her reads by logging into her library account and downloading her borrowing history for the year. I then downloaded all of the book covers online and made collages sorted by month.
I was inspired by a folio Pam Baldwin made for a December Daily album a couple of years ago and decided I wanted to try something similar with the packaging the kit came in.
I cut the top and bottom from the kraft envelope and then cut from the middle so that the pages would be the size of a page protector, 8.25” x 7.” Like Pam, I cut the two pieces down the middle and punched holes into them so I can put them into a 6” x 8” album.
On the inside, I decided to make a waterfall element to hold the collages from the first four months of the year. The flaps are sized to 6.5” x 8”, 5.75” x 8”, 5.5” x 8”, and 5.25” x 8.” They are scored 0.5” vertically on the left to create the folding mechanism.
Sandwiched between the two pieces from the kraft envelope is a page protector. In here, I’ve documented the books my daughter read for the middle months of the year (May through August). For these, I created 3” x 4” flip ups, and then attached the chipboard tabs to the sides to show they flip up. I’ve also included the journaling card for her to fill out her Top 5 books from the year.
On the right piece of the kraft envelope, I intend to attach another waterfall element. As you hear in the video, I didn’t attach it yet since the year isn’t over and I need to document the books from December! I made this waterfall so the flaps flip vertically. These pieces are sized to 6” x 5.5”, 6.25” x 5.5”, 6.5” x 5.5”, and 6.75” x 5.5.”
For the cover on this waterfall element, I cut the transparency and then placed a photo of my daughter reading. One of the word phrase stickers adds a small embellishment.
You can see the complete steps I took to make this project in the video below. I also show all of the interactive elements at the end.
This was such a fun project and I hope it inspires you to document some of your reading! You can find me at IG: @circleplusarrow
December 11, 2024
December Daily® 2024 | Story 10
Welcome to Story 10 in my 2024
December Daily® project.
I had a little anxiety breakdown this morning and,
honestly, writing about it helped. So many of us are juggling so many different things this time of year and my anxiety feels really "extra" right now. I know I am not alone in those feelings. Sending each and every one of you love today as you navigate things in your own life.
To tell my story I'm paring a photo + some words on the scalloped 4x4 cards from the Main Kit. To add my title and story number I embossed on a piece of folded vellum that is adhered between scalloped cards (I'll be using those as the base for my story tomorrow).
Here's a look at the process:
Here's some additional photos:
Today I'm using the
cardstock page attachers to add scalloped tags from the Main Kit into my album.
To create the vellum covers I folded a 4 inch tall piece of vellum and then cut off the excess along the outside edge. I adhered the vellum in between the layers of scalloped journal cards.
I used the
Numbers Are Awesome #7 stamp set for the number 10.
I printed my photo 3.25 inch x 3.25 inch and adhered it to the 4x4 scalloped card. I also ran it through the sewing machine to add the stitching.
I used the
Alpha + Number 4x6 Stamp Set for the bottom section. The star stamp is from Holiday Icons Stamp Set.
I printed my journaling on white paper and added it to the journal card. I love use the plus sign for the word "and" and turning it red.
I also ended up adding a photo to the outside of Story 12 (what you see under the pieces for today. I had printed the photo out a couple days ago and it fit well on top of the foundation page I have set up. More details on that when we get to Story 12.
6x8 Star Album
December Daily® Main Kit (scalloped 4x4 cards)
Cardstock Page Attachers
Numbers Are Awesome #7 Stamp Set
4x6 Alpha + Number Stamp
Holiday Icons Stamp Set
Plain Vellum
Versamark Embossing Ink
Gold Embossing Powder
Anti Static Pouch
Heat Gun
Green + White Ribbon
Basics via my Amazon Storefront
Story Play Read | Special Guest Jill Drangsholt
Hi friends! Last year I created a story in my December Daily album showing all of the books I had read that year, so I thought it would be perfect to use the Read Story Play kit to create a page about the books I read in 2024. I had used up most of the 3x4 cards and stickers from the kit in my Week in the Life project, so I challenged myself to create something with the 6x8 papers and chipboard.
What I ended up with is a flip out page with the rainbow colors of the "book stories" page peeking out behind the black and white" more books please" paper. When you open the flap, you will find a list of my top 5 books and how they made me feel, and a grid of all of the books on the other side. I pulled the colorful "December stories" paper from the December Daily collection this year to make my book grid and paired it with the rainbow colored months of the year chipboard tabs. I love how colorful the inside of this page looks!
Check out my process videos for more info on how this page came together and the design decisions I made along the way.
PROJECT INTROPROCESS VIDEO
I originally planned to write out why I chose each of these 5 books for each of the categories, but I ran out of space on a few of them and decided to make my life easier and leave that part out. My advice if you want a more in depth story is to either type it out or skip the large stamped book titles to give yourself more room.
You may notice that there is a square missing. That is for my month of December books that I am obviously still reading. You may also notice that the months are not in order. That was a design choice because I thought it looked better if I moved them around to balance out the colors. It doesn't bother me at all because the tabs are mostly there just for fun. What I really care about is seeing all of the books at once. But you can choose your own adventure and make a different choice if you make a similar page.
Hi! My name is Jill and I live in Idaho with my teen son and my longhaired dachshund. In addition to memory keeping, I love Bible journaling and working on my perfectionism through art journaling. I am also so thankful to have a job that serves as a creative outlet, although that is probably why I prefer working with physical products rather than digital in my off time! When I’m not being creative, you will find me reading on my patio or looking for wildflowers along the Boise River.
December 10, 2024
December Daily® 2024 | Story 09
Welcome to Story 09 in my 2024 December Daily® project.
Today's story is an idea I shared earlier this season on the blog. You can see the
starting place for this one here.
A fun way to bring in some other voices is by collecting drink orders from family and/or friends.
Let's dive in to the video:
Here are additional images:
December Daily® Stars 6x8 Album December Memories 6x8 Transparencies Large Vellum Pieces (digital available) Gold Foil Puffy Alpha 2024 Advent Calendar (Red Number) Plain Vellum StazOn Ink Typewriter Alpha Stamp Set White Circles With Gold Rims Staedtler Lumocolor Pen Basics via my Amazon Storefront
Hello Story Kit + January 2025 Stories By The Month
Today's the 10th of the month and that means a new
Story Kit, Story Stamp, and Stories By The Month kit.
This month we are focusing on stories related to the theme of
Hello.
This month, as we come to the end of the Story Kit adventure, we are taking time to reflect and focus on stories of saying hello. Hello is a greeting and it's a season. We say hello to every new day on this earth and we encounter many experiences in our lives where a goodbye results in a new hello. Let's tell stories together about the various hellos in our lives.
Story ideas for this theme include:
What are you currently saying hello to in your life? Tell a story about a goodbye that resulted in a brand new hello. When was your most favorite hello in your own life? Tell that story. STORY KIT™
PLEASE NOTE: This is the last month of the Story Kit subscription. In January we will be releasing our new quarterly kit called the Storyteller Kit. You can read more details about this change here.
The Story Kit™ includes:
Here's a video overview of the
Story Kit™ and Add-On options this month:
STORY STAMP™
The Stamp Set:
Here's a video overview:
STORY CLASS // INCLUDES DIGITAL STORY KIT
Here's a look at what's included in the Digital Story Kit™:
Your digital kit and the classroom and any Add-Ons purchased will be available to you on the 12th once your card has been charged for the month.
This kit is also available to physical kit subscribers as an Add On each month.
Here are a few project samples from Ali:
Again, thanks so much for subscribing and/or considering our
Story Subscription program! If you have any questions about this program please let us know below in the comments.
Here is a full look at the kit this month:
And a video overview:
This subscription is a great option for those who are looking to tell more calendar/everyday life sorts of stories.
Our Digital Stories By The Month™ kit is now called Inspiration By The Month™. With this subscription you receive access to the Inspiration By The Month™ classroom and the digital kit.
This kit is also available to physical Stories By The Month™ kit subscribers as an Add On each month.
This 6x8 stamp set is available to subscribers to add to their box during the Add On period and
also offered in the shop for anyone else.
Here's an in-use sample:
Story Play Read | Special Guest Nolana Lynch
Hi Everyone!
I’m so excited to share my project using the Read Story Play kit.
Tis the season, and I couldn’t help but pull out the Red journaling card, the plastic paper and also considered the black and white “book love” paper as a jumping off point. Initially, I wanted to do a reading log for next year, using the monthly tab, but then I thought maybe I focus on my December reading and document that!
I enjoyed creating a floating pocket for the reading details, and the “to be read” card - here I’ll document the things I’d like to read for the remainder of this month. Reading comes in so many shapes and sizes in this era, initially, I thought about books but most of my reading now comprises articles, blog posts, social media posts, and so forth.
I started my process by creating the pocket. I pulled out a few frames from this year’s kits to have a play and loved this one from the Frame Scrapbook Kit. I also stitched together the 6x8 “Date Due” plastic page, to about 3 inches of acetate.
I created a pocket out of acetate approximately 2 inches high to attach to the back of the frame. I added two layers of vellum from the December Stories by the Month kit - one was the “December Stories” card. This is one of my favourites to use each month, and I certainly chuckled to myself because this is a layout about reading! I also added the painterly berries and leaves behind for additional texture.
Following this I added on the leaves and flowers. My initial plan included a floating pocket, but somehow I decided to do it on acetate, and in the end returned to my initial plan - such is the life of a scrapbooker sometimes! That being said, the process video shows me adhering the flowers and leaves to the acetate pocket while simultaneously adhering them to the acetate sheet behind. This worked well to make the design more sturdy, however, if you just wanted to work with the pocket, add adhesive to the top of the flowers and leaves, vs both top and bottom.
Once these are adhered and dried, simply tuck your journal cards in. You may even make a mini book to document your reads as there are so many great cards in the kit. You may also add extra journaling, a title etc on your plastic paper piece!
Wishing you the very best time documenting your reads! Feel free to post below with any questions and comments you have!
Until next time!
Cheerios!
Nolana
December 9, 2024
December Daily® 2024 | Story 08
Welcome to Story 08 in my 2024
December Daily® project.
Today's foundation page was originally shared during our
$5 Prep Day earlier this season (this is still available if you'd like some additional inspiration this season - this page set up was shared in the Fold Out lesson along with other ideas from community members). It combines one of the felt numbers with two vellum cards (stitched together to create a shaker for a sequin mix) and one of the journal cards from the Main Kit. I love a simple journal card that invites me to capture a bit of what's happening right now.
Let's dive in to the video:
Here are additional images:
It's the basics of everyday life and the basics of this season that I so enjoy capturing.
On the back I added a photo from Sunday that includes Aaron, Simon, and Betty.
6x8 Star Album with page protectors
December Daily® Main Kit
December Daily® Specialty Card Pack
December Daily® Felt Numbers
Page Attacher
Red Scallop Adhesive Ribbon
Basics from my Amazon Storefront (printers, trimmers, etc)
Story Play Read | Special Guest Pam Baldwin
Hey friends! I’m really excited to be here with you today, sharing 3 projects inspired by the “Story Play: Read” theme. I have loved reading for as long as I can remember and try to get a little bit of quality time in with a good book on a daily basis, even if it’s just a few minutes. These 3 projects are just the tip of the iceberg for story ideas, but let’s take a look.
Project 1: Year in Review!
The chipboard pieces from this collection were the starting inspiration for this 2-page 6x8 spread + shaker pocket. My intention is to add this to my 9x12 pocket page album when I finally get around to documenting December in there. It’s got 3 distinct parts.
Prompt cards from the Read kit help capture some details about how I read and my top 5 book picks for this year. I paired them with a reading selfie and the colourful quote card also from the Read kit.
Books by the month – I borrowed a digital paper from the recent “Fan” Story Kit and made a few modifications (removed the titles from each box and moved the page margin to the left). I used the 12 squares to write which books I had read for each month and added the colourful month tabs from the Read kit to the top of each square. December’s blank at the moment, because we’re not done with it yet. At the end of the month, I’ll print my titles onto clear sticker paper to finish the last box.
Mini book shaker pocket – THIS. IS. AWESOME! It turned out better than I could have imagined!! I usually track my reading for through Goodreads, which came in very handy for putting this spread together. It was also the source of the book cover images for all of my books this year. I made them all mini and printed the images onto glossy vinyl sticker paper. I cut out each cover and stuck it to thin white craft foam to make the miniature books.
I then created a shaker pocket using the “book love” transparency from the Story Play collection and plastic from an extra page protector. I used my sewing machine to create a pocket and slid the books inside before completing the last bit of stitching. I also used the 2024 digital word art to create a vinyl sticker for the front of the pocket. So very happy with how this turned out!
Here’s the process video for how this project came together.
Project 2: December Daily – Currently Reading
I’m working in the 4x6 album this year, and while I had it in mind to use the Read theme for one of my days, the timing of this story was pretty magical. I’m currently reading “The Mystery Guest”, a cozy mystery that’s the sequel to a book by Nina Prost called, “The Maid”. I’ve got to tell you, the first week of December this year was a rough one. I very much needed some down time by Friday night, and reading is like a form of self-care for me. As I was reading, I came to a part where the main character (as a child) was answering a question about why she likes to read, and her answer was perfection! I took a screen shot (I do most of my reading from my phone) and was able to include it in this story. Three components for the second story:
Reading selfie! I read from my phone, so the glow from the screen always lights up my face, but I’ve got to get out my big camera to be able to get the shot because I can’t use my phone as my camera if I’m reading from it, ha! Also!! I saw a great trick to be able to mimic the same capture when reading from an actual book. Tuck your phone with the flashlight on (or a bright screen) in the pages to light up your subject’s face before taking the photo. The demonstration was with kids reading books in front of a Christmas tree and it made the whole scene magical. I printed my photo to be a full 5x6.25 page and added a large green felt number + a wood veneer star from the 2024 December Daily collection + the chipboard “book love” circle from the “Read” Story Play kit.
My book passage – It took me some time to figure out how to include all the elements I wanted to in this spread, and I REALLY wanted to make sure this text from the book was here. I printed it on velum, used my sewing machine to underline the words I wanted to highlight, and added a bit of rick rack + a wood veneer star. It would have also looked lovely with nothing extra at all.
Library pockets seem like such a natural fit for stories about books and reading! I made some of these in the 2024 Prep Day classroom as well. Here, I constructed the pocket out of the kit packaging envelope. I also used a digital version of the “currently reading” card to write about my book.
I still wanted to be able to explain more of the context of the day, so I added additional journaling on the back of the card too.
There are some really fun Christmas book icons out there this year!! I was enjoying a bookstore wander in November and took a few pics of some of the imagery that was inspiring me at the time. Geralyn Sy from In a Creative Bubble has also recently released a new Christmas digital collection, which is where the little tree bookstack die cut is from!
Here’s the process video for project #2!
Project 3: “Books are life”
Some of my favourite reading memories are of reading to my kids when they were little(er). I wanted to capture at least one of these stories and made a really simple 8.5 x 11 scrapbook page using the Read Story Play kit and some fun stuff from my stash.
I opted for a simple grid using the 3x4 kit cards. I printed my photo as if it were an instax/polaroid, and used a cardstock diecut clipboard (Heidi Swapp product) to hold my journaling.
I used dimensional foam tabs to life some of the edges up off the page and give the grid a more layered look. I also intentionally placed the cards a bit tilted to break up the lines of a uniform grid.
I added embellishments from my stash including some fabric half circles from a previous AE kit, cork alpha letters, a paper clip, and ran some stitching around the outside to frame it, leaving the extra threads loose for a little more texture. It’s a super simple layout, but it’s also another story captured!!
Last but not least, process video for project #3!
I hope you’ve found some inspiration here for your own stories about reading!! Definitely let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, and thank you for being here!
December 8, 2024
December Daily® 2024 | Story 07
Welcome to Story 07 in my 2024 December Daily® project!
I took the day off yesterday to spend some quality time with Aaron and I'm excited to be back to my table this evening after some volleyball in the early morning.
Story 07's home is on the back side of the 2x2 pocket page protector used in Story 06. This one was originally sparked by one of the scalloped plastic tags that had the words "simple quiet moments" printed on top. I ended up not using that particular piece after I got going (I need up decided to stamp + use red embroidery floss) but it was definitely the spark that invited me to jot down a couple things I did on my quiet Saturday.
Let's dive into the process video:
Here are additional images of the completed page:
For this design I ended up with three categories of squares:
1. Four 2x2's started with white cardstock as the base. On top of each I stamped the scalloped square tag stamp, trimmed it to 2x2, added my activity using a brush pen, and then finished it off with a gold star brad.
2. Four 2x2's started with a pattern scalloped plastic tag. On top of each of those I used embroidery floss to create a "star." I punched holes first to make the stitching easier (started my stitching from the outside holes into the center).
3. Four 2x2's started with the bold outline scalloped plastic tags. On top of those I either stamped the day of the week, the large number seven, or a couple sentiment stamps from the Paislee Press stamp set.
I really ended up loving how this one all came together!
6x8 Star Album (includes page protectors)
December Daily® 2x2 Scalloped Plastic Tags
Holiday Tag Stamp Set
Numbers Are Awesome Stamp #7
Paislee Press 2024 December Daily® Stamp Set
Misti Stamp Platform
Pendleton Ink
Kuretake Brush Pen
Star Brads
Mini Brads
Embroidery Thread
StazOn Ink
Basics via my Amazon Storefront (printers, etc)
December 6, 2024
December Daily® 2024 | Story 06
Welcome to Story 06 in my 2024 December Daily® project.
We had our annual Book Club Christmas gathering this morning so that became my story for today. I'm pairing a full page photo with two tags layered on top (one for the title and one for the journaling) with a 2x2 page protector. Inside the page protector I've got a bunch of the 2x2 scalloped squares and some photos from today's get together.
Let's dive in to the video:
And here are additional images of my pages:
I took that top down photo of my gift bags and ribbons before heading over to my friend's home this morning. Don't forget to play around with photo angles - I love this top down view.
For my title and journaling I used two tags from the Main Kit layered on top of each other. I used a star brad to hold them together.
On the title tag I used the 4x6 alpha and number stamp set and embossed with gold embossing powder. I added "Christmas Party" from the Paislee Press stamp set this year and ran it through the sewing machine so it would have that pop of red. Along the outside edge of the top tag I added some ribbon from one of the gifts I received to create a little tab to turn the tag.
I also added a tab sticker to the back of the bottom tag.
Love the layers of these two tags.
For the second page I used a 1.5 inch circle punch to punch circles from some of the gifts I received today. I stapled those onto the plastic tags. I embossed the number 6 onto a gold rimmed circle tag and added tab stickers to the tops of each of the photos. To finish it off I used ribbon from one of the gifts and added that to each of the "this December story" tags.
Star 6x8 Album
December Daily® Main Kit
Star Brad
1.5 Inch Circle Punch
December Daily® Tab Stickers
December Daily® Sticker Advent Calendar
4x6 Alpha + Number Stamp Set
Paislee Press Stamp Set
December Daily® Gold Rimmed Circles
December Daily® Scalloped Plastic Tags
Versamark Embossing Ink
Gold Embossing Powder
Tiny Attacher Stapler
Basics via Amazon Storefront (printers, paper trimmer, etc)
