More 12x12 Christmas Layouts with Authentique

Good morning, Crafters! I am back with MORE 12x12 Christmas layouts to share! (To see the first two layouts, click HERE.)

Before we get to the project today, I have to tell you that I am actually at the hospital today doing my pre-op "stuff" to get ready for surgery on December 20th! I am having all sorts of tests to see if there are any red flags before surgery on Thursday. I will be having a 5 hour surgery and be staying one night (hopefully) in the hospital. After that I expect a 6-8 week recovery, and I will probably not be able to do much crafting or sitting at the computer for a few weeks. I am praying that I recover well and quickly, but as with any major surgery, you never know until you are neck deep in it! {smile}

If the blog goes quiet, you will at least know what is happening! I pray all of you have a wonderful Christmas season! 

Now, on to the project! 

These two layouts hold approximately 12 photos! Plus there is room for saving ephemera or extra photos, plus areas for journaling!

These two pages are actually the inside of the front and back covers of a spiral-bound album project that I am working on. I always like to add pockets to the inside covers of my mini albums, so why not do the same for this 12" x 12" version?!

I am going to use a large, wire binding, that is nearly 2" in diameter. I will need 23 "loops" for the holes in my pages and covers. I am using a heavy-weight chipboard. This style is white on one side and kraft on the other. 

First, cut black cardstock and splice it together to make a piece that is 14" x 14". It takes a bit of measuring, but if you cut one piece at 12" x 12", two at 12" x 3", and one at 3" x 3", you can splice them together to make a 14" x 14" panel.

Angle the corners and add adhesive as shown above.

Wrap the cardstock as shown. This is the inside of the cover. Make sure to burnish all the areas where the paper is spliced together.

Trim decorative paper to 11 7/8" x 11 7/8" to cover both sides of the chipboard. Do this for BOTH chipboard covers. I used Nostalgia Three for the front cover and Nostalgia Five for the back. I will decorate the outside of the covers at another time.

I used Nostalgia Two for the inside front cover. I used Spectrum Tricycle Red cardstock for the inside back cover, then trimmed a sheet of Nostalgia One to 11 1/4" x 11 1/4" and attached it over the Spectrum cardstock.

After I added my paper, I punched the holes needed in order to bind the book with the wire binding. 

Let's work on the rest of the inside FRONT cover first. We will be creating an envelope-style pocket that is actually a double pocket. Plus we will create some photo mats and a 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" scrapbook page.

To create the envelope, cut black cardstock to 6 1/2" x 12". Score at 1/2" from the sides and bottom edges. Add adhesive and angle the bottom corners. Cut another piece of black cardstock to 4" x 11" and trim it into a triangle shape as shown. Score 1/2" from the top and add adhesive.

Attach the pocket base to the bottom of the page. Tuck the flap of the triangle piece under the top edge of the pocket, making sure the adhesive is attached to the inside of the pocket. You will have a large pocket BEHIND the envelope. 

You may wish to add magnet closures, but be aware that once you stuff your envelope, you magnets may not work. so take care where you place them.

Now, you will need to make the front pocket of the envelope. 

Trim Black cardstock to  6 1/2" x 12". Score at 1/2" from the sides and bottom edges. Add adhesive to the scored flaps, but do NOT attach the pocket yet. Using the envelop flap (the triangle section) as a guide, trim the pocket as shown above. Attach the pocket to the front of the envelope base.

Add decorative paper to all surfaces of the pocket. I used Alpine Six to line the inside of the envelope pocket, Nostalgia Eight for the flap, and Nostalgia Nine for the front of the pocket.

I added two hinge stickers from the Festive Details sticker sheet. Instead of using brads, I added red enamel dots to the hinges.

 I attached a sticker (Festive collection) to a small die cut doily to decorated the envelope. (You may want to hide your magnet closures under this area.) 

I have made a 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" scrapbook layout to tuck behind the envelope. The layout is double-sided with space for two 6" x 4" photos and one 7" x 5" photo.

Start by cutting black cardstock to 10 1/2" x 10 1/2". Since this is a double-sided layout, I used heavy-weight cardstock. Then cut Jingle Seven (stripes) paper to 10 3/8" x 10 3/8" and attach it to the cardstock panel.

Trim Jingle Seven (holly) paper to 9 1/4" x 7" and mat with black cardstock cut to 9 3/8" x 7 1/8". Attach the panel to the layout approximately 3/4" from the top edge and 2 3/4" from the left edge.

Trim Nostalgia Three (snowy dots) paper to 3" x 10 3/8" and mat with black cardstock cut to 3 1/8" x 10 3/8" Attach the strip at 4 1/2" from the top edge. Cut two photo mats to fit 6" x 4" photos and attach them to the panel as shown. I used ivory and black cardstock.

Add the "ho ho ho" punch-out (Jingle Elements) to the top of the holly panel. Add glitter enamel dots as shown. Add a "memories" tab sticker (Nostalgia Details) to the lower right corner of the holly paper.

Create a stacked embellishment in the lower left corner of the layout. I used a snowflake die cut and stickers from the Nostalgia Details sticker sheet. I also added a glitter enamel dot to the center of the snowflake sticker.

Flip the layout over and cut Nostalgia Seven (plaid) paper to 10 3/8" x 10 3/8" and attach it to the cardstock panel. Trim Nostalgia Five (multi-colored dots) paper to 5" x 10 3/8" and attach it to the center of the layout. Add scallop border stickers (Nostalgia) to the top and bottom of the multi-colored dots paper.

Trim Nostalgia Three (snowy dots) paper to 1 1/2"" x 10 3/8" and mat with black cardstock cut to 1 5/8" x 10 3/8" Attach the strip to the center of the layout.

Cut two panels to 6" x 6" and mat with black cardstock cut to 6 1/8" x 6 1/8". (I used Nostalgia Six and Nostalgia Two.) Arrange the two panels on the diagonal, as shown above.  Cut one photo mat to fit a 7" x 5" photo and attach it to the panel as shown.

Add a tag cut from a paper scrap to the left of the photo mat. Add a glitter enamel dot to the tag. Trim the sentiment from Nostalgia Eight paper and mat with red and black cardstock. Add a snowflake sticker and a glitter enamel dot. Place the sentiment block on the lower right corner of the layout.

Place the layout into the pocket as shown.

A fun "half layout" fits into the envelop pocket!

Create some photo mats and a journal spot for the pocket. The large photo mat is 5" x 10" and has circle photo mats for photos or embellishments. The smaller photo mats hold 6" 4" photos. They have decorative paper on one side and plain paper on the other. 

 Here is the back of each piece. However, the journaling block could be plain on the back if you wish. I matted the journal block (cut from Nostalgia Eight) with ivory cardstock.

You could create several of these half-size layouts for your pocket.

 The other photo mats and journaling spots will fit into either pocket.

Here you can see I have the "half layout" in the envelope pocket and the other mats are tucked in front of the layout behind the envelope.

Let's work on the inside back cover!

Cut  Spectrum Tricycle Red cardstock to 10 3/8" x 10 3/8" and add it to the inside BACK cover. Then trim a sheet of Nostalgia One paper to 11 1/4" x 11 1/4" and attached it over the Spectrum cardstock. Punch the binding holes AFTER you have attached the paper. (I forgot to mat the newsprint paper with black cardstock, so I used a ruler and a black marker to give the illusion of a black mat behind the newsprint.)

Cut a photo mat to fit a 7" x 5" photo and attach it to the right side of the layout as shown, approximately 1 1/4" from the right and bottom edges.

Create a long pocket by cutting black cardstock to 9 1/2" x 5" and score on three sides at 1/2". Trim the top edge of the pocket into a "V" shape as shown. Add adhesive to the 1/2" tabs and attach the pocket to the left side of the layout. 

Decorate the pocket with Jingle Three paper and a strip of Solitude One and a punch-out from Jingle Elements.

Use a 8 3/4" x 3 7/8" tag (Graphic 45 Large Tag) for your pocket. Add Solitude One paper to the tag and then a journal block from Nostalgia Eight paper. Tie a ribbon trough the hole in the tag and then add a bit of twine.

Cover the back of the tag with Solitude Six paper. (I used a matching tag die to cut my paper to fit exactly.)

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you are inspired to pull out your Christmas papers and make some layouts! 

Authentique Supplies Used:
Solitude: 12x12 paper
Nostalgia: 12x12 paper, Details Stickers
Jingle: 12x12 paper, Elements punch-outs
Festive Details Stickers, Elements Stickers (2012 release)
Spectrum Tricycle Red cardstock

Additional Supplies: 
Ribbon: Stampin' Up red grosgrain
Twine: ivory craft suppl
glitter enamel dots: Doodlebug Design Sprinkles (Lily White Glitter)
Tag and tag die: Graphic 45
Cardstock: Worldwin Papers Natural and Black
Paper doily: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts
Binding punch: We R Memory Keepers Cinch
Chipboard: Grafix
Adhesive: ATG tape, Scor-tape, white glue

Really Reasonable Ribbon December Blog Hop

Welcome to the Really Reasonable Ribbon December Blog Hop! You should be coming to my blog from the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog. (For the complete blog list, scroll to the bottom of the post.) After visiting me, hop over to the spectacular Ginny's Blog next!

At the end of the hop, comment on the RRR Blog post, answering the question listed, for a chance to win the December Ribbon Club Assortment shown below. (The Design Team appreciates your comments, too!)

The December Ribbon Club Assortment is called Winter Blues Assortment. So, the only winter blue I see here in southern California is the ocean and the sky...if it drops down to below 68 degrees here, that is winter, baby! {it is a hard life, I know} But, I do love a blue, white, and silver combination! 

I am currently obsessed with making multiples of things. In October I made a 6" x 6" home decor panel, which you can see HERE. At the time I thought it would be fun to have a bunch of these chipboard panels to decorate various shelves and tables of my house. As you all know, I am great at thinking up ideas, and not so great at long-term projects! But this time, I did manage to make a second panel!

I used Authentique Frosted papers, because they are so very frosty! I love the glues and lavenders, plus...silver! So sparkly! 

I wrapped a 6" x 6" piece of thick chipboard with the snowflake paper. I then wrapped the Royal Blue Diamond Satin and the Porcelain Satin with Silver Edge ribbons around as if wrapping a package. I then used more paper to cover the back of the panel to hide the messy bits.

I matted the image, cut from the same paper, with ivory and blue cardstock. I then wrapped a 5 x 4" piece of chipboard with some plaid paper and attached the image to the chipboard. I popped up a little sentiment with some foam and then added a few sparkly enamel dots. So very cute!!

I cut a doily from ivory paper to tuck under the image. I rubbed the doily shape with some glittery watermark ink.

I created bows with the Royal Blue Diamond Satin ribbon, Porcelain Satin with Silver Edge ribbon, and White Crochet Lace. I glued the bows to the panel and then added the large, glitter star. I have no idea where this came from, but suspect that a friend gave it to me. The glitter dove is from my hoard, and I cannot remember where it came from, but I only have a few left...time to source more!

I also added glitter spiral, and a few flowers and leaves. I dabbed the flowers with a bit of glitter glue to make them sparkle. The silver leaf is from a floral pick I found at the craft store.

Thanks for looking! I hope you like my second panel! It was fun and easy to make, but is so pretty for decorating a table or shelf!

Now, hop over to Ginny's Blog to see what she has for you!

Here is the RRR Blog Hop Order in case you get lost!

Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings (REMEMBER, LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE RRR BLOG FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!)
Gloria - YOU ARE HERE!

Ginny

Cheryl

Bonnie

Karen

Kathy
Linsey
Cherry

Shelia

Trims: Really Reasonable Ribbon December Ribbon Club (Royal Blue Diamond Satin, Porcelain Satin with Silver Edge, White Crochet Lace)
Glitter star: unknown
Glitter dove: art supply
Glitter spiral: Wild Orchid Crafts Silver Spiral Stamen
Printed paper and die cuts: Authentique Frosted
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Natural; blue unknown
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Silver leaf: floral supply
Enamel dots: Doodlebug Design
Glitter glue: Ranger Stickles Star Dust
Dies: Cheery Lynn Designs French Pastry Doily
Chipboard: Grafix
Adhesive: white glue, hot glue, ATG tape, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D foam squares

Monthly Coloring Series - December

It is December 1st! Please, tell my how that is possible!! The year has gone by so quickly! The good news is that it's time for the next installment of my monthly coloring series! 

For those of you just joining me, I will be coloring one image each month, using the Power Poppy digital flower images, found HERE. If you missed any of the previous projects, see the links at the end of the post. 

Let's see DECEMBER project! 

I love the rich, deep red (with a hint of pink) in this poinsettia. I know that poinsettias come in various colors from deep red to white. 

The bracts (leaves) range from flaming red to orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, and marbled. I have even see a "bonsai" variety! Here in the USA, we normally display these lovely plants around Christmas time, but I can see them making a statement for other holidays, too! 

I chose the Poinsettia and Pomegranates digital stamp set for my December image,which is currently a $6 download. This image is also part of the clear set, Poinsettia. You may like the Ultimate Poinsettia digital set, which is also available as a clear set, called Winter Wonderland.

Using Adobe Illustrator, I created my panel at about 5 1/4" x 5 1/4". I rotated the image slightly and sized it at approximately 4 1/4" wide.  

The finished panel is 6 1/8" x 6 1/8". I have used a stitched square die to cut out the main image panel (which measures 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"). My plan is to display each monthly image at my desk, as shown above.

I am using "Great Vibes" as my font, which I sized at about 45pt. I printed the panel onto Hammermill 100# cardstock with my Epson ET-3700 using black ink. (So far, I have had excellent results using Copics with this printer ink and paper combination.)

My images are colored with a combination of Copic Markers and Prismacolor Pencils. I first lay down the Copic markers, and then go back and add depth and highlight with the pencils. I finish with more highlights using a gel pen.

I wanted the poinsettia to have a deep red/pink color and to look soft, like velvet. Pomegranates range in color from a greenish/orange to pink during their life cycle. I decided these were baby pomegranates, and were unripe, so I colored them orange-pink with a green tint.

Here are the color combinations I have used for the finished project (listed in this order: Copics, Prismacolor Pencils, Gel Pens.):

Poinsettia: R29, R37, R59, R89, YR24, Y13, Y17; Primrose, White

Pomegranates: R24, R27, R35, YG17, YG21, YG23, YG67; Chartreuse; White gel pen

Fir: G24, G29; Prussian Green

Background: BG0000, BG000, Colorless blender

My cardstock panels are black, dark red, and dark green. I added a satin bow and a few velvet leaves. I topped the bow with a few bells and a pomegranate "berry." 

If you missed the September post, click HERE. 

If you missed the October post, click HERE.

If you missed the November post, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by! I will have a new image January 1st!

Digital image: Power Poppy Poinsettia and Pomegranates
Cardstock: Hammermill 100# Digital Color Copy; dark red, dark green (unknown); WorldWin Papers Midnight
Markers: Copic (see list above)
Pencils: Prismacolor (see list above)
Gel pen: Sakura Gelly Roll White
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Red Satin
Bells: craft supply
Berry: floral supply
Velvet leaves: Petaloo
Enamel dots: Simple Stories Say Cheese III
Die: Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Squares
Tools: We R Memory Keepers Guide Layers
Adhesive: ATG tape, Scor-tape, hot glue