My day is 7 Swans-a-Swimming. 

I found an image online of the sheet music, shrunk the image and printed it. 

Then I sprayed it with Candy Apple Glimmer Mist. 

Christmas is coming soon…lots to do! 

I had the stomach flu for most of the week, then towards the end of the week, I had 2 events to get ready for.  One being my husbands family Christmas and the other, a coffee fellowship time at church this morning.  Whew! 

Today, I finally worked on my December Daily. 

I got out my sewing machine and decided to make pleats for paper! 

Here’s how:

• Cut a scrap of paper that is the appropriate size for your layout (paper project).  Then cut a piece of ribbon quite a bit longer….I didn’t measure it, but I would guess almost double the length. 

• Next I applied adhesive to the back of the ribbon (or it can be applied to the paper).

• Begin your ribbon with a little excess hanging off of the edge so that you can tuck it around the back.  Now you can start to create pleats along your paper.  Pleats can be as close or as far apart as you want. 

• Once you have reached the end of your paper, wrap the end of your ribbon around to the back and secure.  You are ready to sew! 

• Paying attention to the direction that your pleats fold, sew in the same direction.  You can use whatever type of stitching that you want.  I used a zig-zag stitch. 
• Here are 2 examples of the pleats that I made. 

• To finish, you can simply trim off the excess paper along the bottom, (or leave it) and attach to your project!  I also added a santa flair pin to this set of pleats. 

It’s as simple as that! 

That completes my December Daily: Day 4. 

Above, I used an old piece of sheet music, misted it with Caramel Apple Mist, to make it look even older.  As a result, the edges always roll up from being damp.  I love that effect!!!  The Santa is a gift tag.  He fit perfectly with the theme of my December Daily. 

On day 3, the Santa is a 3D sticker that I placed inside a frame that I cut using my Cricut Expression. 

If you aren’t familiar with a December Daily, let me explain!  It is a Scrapbook/Journal made PRIOR to December.  The idea was created by Ali Edwards (she is amazing!).  You pre-make a page for each day of December.  That way, when the holidays are underway, and you are stressed by the hustle & bustle, it will be much easier to simply insert a picture from that day, or journal about it. 

Last year was my first time that I participated in creating a DD.  I made one mistake.  I tried to “scrapbook” each page ahead of time.  I used titles and themes for each page.  Yes, they were Christmas-themed, but it made it more difficult, because if the page was themed with “Christmas Lights” and I didn’t end up doing anything on that day of December that had anything to do with lights, then it seemed to mess up my page.  In other words, I detailed it TOO much when I made the page. 

SO, (if that makes sense), this year, I am attempting to remember the “less is more” theory.  That way, when it comes to that particular day of December, I will be able to title the page using what fits. 

If you’ve never tried it…give it a whirl!  You won’t be disappointed! 

This is just a glimpse of some of the pages that I’ve uploaded. 

The above page is an intro page.  This paper is so pretty that I didn’t want to cover it up!  The bird part actually feels like felt. 

I’ve completed my December Daily thru page 15, but I haven’t uploaded all of the pix yet. 

I am hoping to have the entire DD completed in the next day or so.  I need to begin my Christmas cards…amongst other projects, lol. 

Ok. Time for a snack.  Enjoy your evening!