Create!: Christmas Card Album * Part IV (Final)

I put the finishing touches on just as my family was putting the spaghetti and garlic bread on the table.

Create!: Christmas Card Album * Part I
Create!: Christmas Card Album * Part II
Create!: Christmas Card Album * Part III

And I'm posting this after Saturday night tubs (I surprised our 9 year old in a walking cast - and threw her in the tub, casted leg dangling over the side.  I was sick of the whole sponge bath wash cloth thing.  Her laundry basket aka stool started caving in half way through but with some giggles and quick scrubbing - she came through it with a dry cast) and after putting the 2 year old to sleep (which still involves rocking.  I won't quit - I enjoy it too much.  He's my baby. sniff), and I kind of nodded off.....but I want to get this done tonight so I'm going to post despite my fuzziness.  Something might not make sense - feel free to shoot me an email.

Photo above - I began punching the pages with the Bind-it-all.  That machine rocks my socks. As I punched, I put them in the pile on the left and I worked my way through the book.

 

In the cases where I had several pages in a row all the exact same size - I put those in the machine together. 

Important: You can still do an album if you don't have a Bind-it-all (altho - take it from me, who is very very very very picky about what tools I purchase - this one is worth it).  Alternatives to consider are using a hole punch and weaving ribbon or O-Rings for your binding. 

 

The Bind-it-all has this handy little gadget on the side so that you can run your punch all the way down your binding and keep it spaced correctly.  By sliding that black thingamabob forward, I'm sliding it thru the slot and creating more punches further down the row. 

This is better described in their awesome video library (Chapter 3 would be the one where that is described) 

Now, as you must imagine, my paper sizes are all over the board within this book. Because of that, it's difficult to keep all the pages precise. You'll notice on this one, the striped card, has a half punch on the right.

That's okay. It only happened a couple times - but it happened. I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

When I get my new work station - I'm also going to get better lighting so I can provide better photographs.  Deal?  Until then - I apologize. 

When I was punching my pages - I started at the center. I inserted my page so the arrow (just above the first T in Zutter) was at the middle - and I punched. Also - to know me is to know I'm an eyeballer - I don't measure it, but it would be easy to do so.

After I punched everything, I began assembling.  Confession - I utilize the Chapter 4 video every.single.time I do this step. My brain simply won't retain it on it's own - I've accepted that, and I use the tutorial.  Now that I've posted my step by step here, I might be able to come here and figure it out - but I'll probably still go to the video.

Because this book had so many pages in so many different sizes - I put them on one by one, just to doublecheck and make sure I got it right.  Ever since that year that I put a card in upside down - I double-check twice.

 

I put the pages on, starting with the last to the first. (Note - I did NOT put the back cover on.  This was intentional)

 

The insides all stacked as they should be - I then slid on the cover.  I'm really digging that cover, if I do say so myself. 

 

The last thing that goes on top is the back cover.  What you are looking at is the inside of the back cover (I ended up using the inside of the snowman card because it seemed fitting)

 

I now hold it all just as it is shown, insert the coils into the Bind-it-all and give it a squooosh with the lever. Word check isn't recognizing squoooosh as a word, but you and I both know what it means.

And now it's time to open it up.  The reason we stacked the back cover on the top of the book is so that this part of the binding lies within the book rather than on the outside.  It makes the whole thing a better, happier, easier to handle and more like I knew what I was doing when I put it together sort of book.  It's done right.  (I love those videos)

So let's look through it just a little bit more. Here was a card I received from the family I was a nanny for in Finland. (Hi Seija!) Their card included a CD, and I figure this is a good safe place to keep it.  I punched the card on the binding and included it in full.

Other ideas for CD's are to include an envelope that it could slide in and out of.

The card on the right is the front of the CD card and the card on the left is a regular greeting card as well.  If you look closely, you can see that the fold on that card is not the side where I punched it.  Again - that's okay.  I can still lift it open by the corner to read the message inside.  It fit better the way I put it, so that's the way it went in.

I'm a little bit 'so there' when I type tired, aren't I.  heee.

 

In Part III I mentioned how I added that card piece on the left, and  how it peeks through for a few pages.  There it is there. It happened that a few 4 x 6 cards fell before it, so I can view it amongst several pages.  It makes me smile, and so glad that I didn't leave that spot white.

 

There it is, still peeking through. And there are the Anderson's in their swimsuits while I'm all wrapped in a throw and my hoodie typing this. 

 

Laid out flat - the back cover is very simple and coordinates with the front cover.

 

And from the top. My new favorite book.

And that's it. 

I ended up not doing the tags/label dividers on this one like I did for 2006. I might still add them, but I probably won't.  I figure if I put those in every few years, it helps me keep track.  My plan, tho, was to use the circle punch to create the tabs and tuck them in where they needed to be.

I think I'll wind down my night with a cup of hot cocoa.

And tell me - did you enjoy the step by step? Will you make an album?  Do you do something different altogether?  Will you join me for some hot cocoa?

Comments

[Mom]

Already had my cocoa -- I'm heading for bed. Can I send you my pictures and let you make the book?

[Brenda]

Great tutorial! I'm so glad to hear you have trouble remembering how pages go on the binding. I always have to get my reference materials out...it doesn't stick with me either. Cocoa sounds lovely.

[cuz Karen]

hubby is drinking the hot cocoa.. but I love it.. I plan to get some paper I like (my paper stash is low and nothing is appropriate) tomorrow and something to use to put it together. maybe the hoopy things.. LOL I just need to make the covers.. I love it already.. I want to make these every year.. this was so great.. easy for my wandering mind to follow and the pictures really helped me.. I'm hoping I got all my cards facing right.. I had a mishap with one, but have worked out a soulution.. and it will work now, and not have to be upside down.. LOL do this again sometime.. I've loved it..
goodnight hun.. I'll send you a picture of mine when I'm done..

[Petra]

I've been wanting to do this since you talked about it a few (couple? I don't know how long) years ago on scrapsupply! I am SO glad you posted this tutorial because I'm so totally going to dig my cards out (that aren't divided by year - just thrown in a tub with Christmas stuff... think I'll be able to figure out which are from which year? Hmmmm.) and make some of these!!! Um, when my craft room is ready for me to get to my desk - the wall just started going up today... but still... this link is bookmarked!!! Thank you!! :)

[Erica Hettwer]

I loved the step by step! I've been thinking about making a card book and this is the perfect jumping off point for me. Thanks!

[Jill Sprott]

I am so not a tool person, but I really, truly, absolutely need a Zutter now. ;) This album is fantastic!

[Sasha Farina]

stop it will you? LOL.. this is so amazing I want my own Zutter! goodness me.. you're so inspiring!

[Heli]

Very nice work!
Would you make one for me, please!;)

[Eileen]

I've been saving all my Christmas cards for years now (hate to throw that stuff out especially the photo cards). This is such an awesome idea and your book looks beautiful! What a treasure! I had just seen Ali's idea, but cringe at the punching here and there. I'm not one to crop photos like that:) This is exactly what I was looking for...now just to purchase one of those binding things...Thanks so much for sharing!

[JoAnn]

What a beautiful project. I just put them on pages each year with our Christmas layouts. I love to look back and see how the families have changed. Ran out of tape runner at 10:30 last night working on Christmas layouts so after church we need to stop somewhere so I can work more today! Can't believe I ran out of adhesive!

JoAnn

[Sasha "sweet thang" Holloway]

you really have inspired me to break out my zutter .. this is a beautiful project

[chris]

It's magnificent!!!

[tania]

i WILL make one....as soon as my desk is clear of CHA assignments. LOVED the in depth tutorial. you're FABULOUS! heading to my blog now to link it up.

[Patti Isaacson]

I've been saving my cards for years and I'd love to put them together like this! It's a great idea, and I loved seeing how it all went together. Patti Isaacson

[Angie]

What an awesome tutorial!! This is proof that I need to get a Zutter. You have me inspired to try making this book myself. Thanks Sharyn!

[reyanna]

This is awesome! I've always wanted to do one. Maybe I will some day! Thanks so much for the inspiration! :D

[Mia C.]

Awesome tutorial! Thanks for posting this!

[Mary Jo]

Your album is adorable! I especially love that snowman on the cover :0)
I am seriously thinking of getting a bind-it-all. Even though I know I don't *need* it, I do so many mini's these days. I think it would be a good investment.

[Jenny]

What a great idea! I would def do an album like this!

[Brita]

WOW!!

[Kathy Z.]

I'm inspired :)

[Beth]

I'm inspired too. I did Ali's idea last year with my square punch and put all the Christmas letters together in a page protector along with it. I want to try your idea this time as it was hard to decide which bits to punch and keep etc...

[amy tangerine]

this looks awesome!!

[Emily]

Soooo cool. Love it. You should do a community education class! I think it would be a hit!

[Terrah Rominger]

Wow, I am beyond impressed. LOVE this idea!

[Peg Graham]

This is a fabulous idea!!! I am planning on doing this with the last few years of Christmas cards I have saved. woohoo! Thanks Torm!