Thursday 1 December 2011

December Daily Album Cover

I'm so excited to share today's project! At the very last minute (like Monday) I decided I was going to do a December Daily album this year! At first I was thinking I'd make the cover from chipboard until I suddenly remembered a very old leather binder I have that was actually used at the bank I used to work at. I hoard anything and everything - always have - and when we were clearing old stuff out of a store room in the bank this was going to be thrown away!!! "I'll have it!!" I cried - desparate to get my hands on such gorgeous shabbiness LOL! That was oooooh probably about 18 years ago - I kid you not - and I've been hoarding it ever since thinking it will come in useful some day!! Well now it has :). Sorry about the awful picture - I created my album at night and needed a before shot.


As you can see it is very well used and worn around the edges - perfect for my distressed tastes without me even having to get any sandpaper out :)!


It has a really cool way of opening - I've never seen anything like it before or since. You press on that metal tab at the top of the binder and it pings open - it still works perfectly after all those years.

Here's how it looks inside. I'm not going to alter the inside covers as I feel it's a bit of history I don't want to cover up. So, that's what it looked like before.......








......and here it is now!!

The Noel pennant is by MME - I have used their Lost and Found Christmas 12x12 papers and die cut sheet for my album - love the gorgeous rich colours and all the glitter!


I used Tim Holtz' pinecone stamp and embossed it in gold around the top and left edges of the book to give it a rich look - so pleased how it turned out as I was unsure if it would take to the leather but it worked perfectly!


I then created a spray of flowers and leaves and other Christmas embellishments. The bow is one I had in my stash and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. The bells are by Papermania.
The gold poinsettias are from a Prima Christmas bauble set as are all the gorgeous leaves. I added some metal snowflakes here and there like the one peeping out of the poinsettia. These are from the Hobby House.

The brad in the gold poinsettia is from Whiff of Joy and I added some berry sprays from Hobby Craft too.

I die cut the numbers using a Tim Holtz die.

I hope you like it and will check back to see the rest of the pages. I'm not really sure how it works as far as showing the pages but I'm figuring that as I haven't added anything to the first page yet (as today isn't over yet LOL) I'll show you the 1st's tomorrow and so on. Thanks for looking! x

14 comments:

Kylie said...

Oh WOW Jane! Gorgeous work Hunny
xxx

Debbie Pamment said...

WOW Jane - your album makeover is STUNNING! It will be extra special with the history behind it!
xXx

Johanna Visser said...

Wow. I love it.

Greetings Johanna

Marrie said...

Hello Jane,

I like your album and i am curious to see the rest of the pages.

Greetings Marrie

berucrafts said...

Wow, a great idea to christmas 2011

Kirsty said...

Hi What a super folder you kept ;0). It is such a wonderful idea. your decoration is simply perfect ! The flowers and bow are stunning. The gold embossing is so beautiful too ! Love it look forward to seeing your pages ! Kitty ;0)

Katharina Frei said...

Awww, I am so jealous of your super vintage cover. This is fabulous!! I would have kept it for more than 18 years...LOL Great story!
You did magic on the cover. I am so looking forward to seeing your pages.
Katharina x

Christina C. said...

OMG...this is EXQUISITE....love all the sparkle and your gorgeous flowers and bow...WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!

Hanneke said...

What a wonderful project Jane! I love the colors you used and that album looks great. I also save a lot of things that I think might come in handy some day. Got that from my mom, lol :p. Hugs, Hanneke

Janette said...

What a fabulous way to re-use such a treasure Jane, I love what you've done with it too.xx

MagsB said...

We had binders like that at the library where I used to work! Every time I tried to open one I got my fingers pinched by the clip, so take care!

What a fabulous job you've done! I'm really looking forward to seeing more!!

love MagsB x

Riet said...

So beautiful Jane.

Hugs Riet.xx

Tracey T said...

What a transformation, Jane! It's beautiful! Tracey x

Grenouille Greetings said...

Well the last comment was going to be my last one but I love this album and I love how you hoarded this for 18 years. I must show your post to my hubby who is always on my case about my hoarding of treasures! Hugs, Lesley