Day 1 of 12 Days of Christmas & Crafty Christmas Challenge...

It's 2 for 1 special today!

So glad you're joining me...welcome to day 1 of the 12 Days of Christmas with my friend Mish and also  the Crafty Secrets DT Christmas Challenge.  

 

With the holidays approaching and so much to do,  Mish and I thought we'd get started with a project all about organization...holiday planners, notebooks, journals, etc.  I seem to have a love fest going on with planners of all sorts, and so I have enjoyed each minute spent on preparing a little holiday planner to share with you today.

 
 

I used a lot of random items to make up my planner....it's composed of folded tea-stained book pages that form a pocket, recipe cards, envelopes, glassine and paper bags, and dividers taken from the Crafty Secrets Wood File Folder Album.

I used two of my favorite Crafty Secrets stamp sets throughout this planner including the Christmas Mail and Vintage Christmas Clear Art Stamps.  

Here you can see how a folded page from a book can create a perfect pocket to hold tags, lists, recipes, photos, coupons, etc. by simply adhering the bottom and side edge, leaving the top edge open to fill with your treasures.

The Crafty Secrets Sweet Chips Chipboard Die Cut Shapes work great throughout the planner to frame in sentiments or create dimensional embellishments....love these little numbers.

For this page I folded a glassine bag in half, secured it with tea-stained twill tape, and then slipped in a Papertrey Ink notebook that I had cut to size.

Seeeeee....how fun!  I love pockets and envelopes...it's kind of like a game of hide and seek each time you open up your planner.  

Crafty Secrets has the most beautiful vintage images...I used the Double Sided Merry Christmas Creative Scraps and Christmas Images and Journal Notes throughout.  

A smaller glassine envelope attached to the back of the page divider creates another instant pocket and then another book page pocket stuffed with a tag shown here as well.

Love, love, love the bitty tea-stained square envelopes all dressed up in fabric, doilies, stamps, buttons, etc...these are so much fun to create.

I used a Martha Stewart library pocket and card on this page...another little place to tuck an essential Christmas list or memory.

Melissa Frances rubons are a staple in my crafty life...they always come in handy.

A bitty little fabric yo-yo I made using some tea-stained fabric scraps...tucked in the center of some scrunched seam binding from Memrie Mare.  The pink glass glitter star and velvet flower are also from Memrie Mare's etsy shop.

Here you can see some tags tucked into the book page pocket....

And lastly, another small square envelope all dressed up attached to a folded paper bag that forms another pocket for tags and such.

I have a few pages left to go before I'm done, but hope that you'll get a few ideas from the completed pages I've shown  you today.

Mish and I are also going to be sharing favorite recipes with  you throughout our 12 Days of Christmas event and here is one of my very most favies.

Melissa's Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

2 cups granulate sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp. vanilla

4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled

4 eggs

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 cup Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup powdered sugar

Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses

1.  Mix sugar, oil, vanilla, and chocolate in large bowl.  Stir in eggs.  Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

2.  Heat over to 350 degrees.  Grease cookie sheet.  Roll dough into balls and drop into powdered sugar.  Roll to coat and place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.

3.  Bake 10-12 minutes.  Unwrap Candy Cane Kisses and place one in the center of each cookie.

Enjoy!

Now a few more links for you to follow and get inspired by...the Crafty Secrets team...
 Vicki Chrisman Team Leader

Pam Hooten

Heidi Blankenship

Linda Duke

Michele Kovack

Flo Teixeira from France

Julie Campbell

Mary Hamer

Anna Wight (November Guest Designer)

I'm so happy you stopped by.  Mish and I will be back to continue our 12 Days of Christmas after Thanksgiving.  I hope to pop in again here this week with some other projects for you.

Happy Day 1!

Melis

Comments

[laura huffman]

i've been playing while waiting for your post. so excited to see what you gals did. not disappointed either. knew i would love what you did. and i do, i want some crafty secrets product. i'll have to justify, but i think i really need it to have a well rounded Christmas stash. i love pockets too. will try your cookies. thanks so much. have fun.

[JeanFB]

Ooooh, a spectacular post, Melissa! Your planner is positively adorable - so many fabulous details, I was sitting here oooohing and aaaaahing all the way through! And I will have to try that recipe - chocolate yum!

[suzy girl]

This is absolutely FABULOUS! You really are inspiring me. Your work never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for sharing.

[Vanessa Menhorn]

This is gorgeous, Melissa! I so love your work and I enjoy every visit here! Thanks for sharing the recipes! Vanessa x

[patriciad]

Wow. Amazing planner. And the recipe? The only thing better than chocolate is DOUBLE chocolate!

[Ale Loiacono]

Just beautiful Melissa, the most gorgeous planner I have ever seen! :)
Thank you so much for the inspiration! I loved it!

[mamajulie]

What a Christmas treat--two of my favorite blog posters with crafts and recipes! Thank you so much!

[Bev]

Well, you certainly did not disappoint! Your book is wonderful. I love Crafty Secrets goodies--just can't put them together in the magical way you do. Guess I will get to work and try. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas.

[Char4355]

Oh Melissa, Spectular shabby goodness!!!! I must make one :-) Thanks for sharing!!

[dee]

simply wonderful!!!

[Danielle Flanders]

OHH my word!! Amazing!! love every bit of this. xo
Dani

[Cindy Holshouser]

I've been looking forward to this series of posts! Thank you as always for sharing your beautiful work.

[Cele Schaffer]

This is SO YUMMY!! We MUST see the rest of the pages when you have time...Thank you for sharing your best "stuff" with us! Happy Holidays

[Mary Hamer]

Sweet Melissa...this is just breathtaking! I wanted to just pluck it off my screen and go through the beautiful pages. I can't wait to see more of your and Mish's creations!

[Elizabeth S.]

Oh, I love this! Love the shabby look. Can't wait to see what else you and Mish have planned.
Thanks for the recipe.

[Chris Dodaj]

What a sweet little planner, Melis - it's just stunning! Looking forward to trying that recipe too!

[Patty O'Malley]

Oh,Melissa, this is just stunning! I love looking at all the many details. I'm just in awe!

[Janice Marcham]

What can I say Melissa! Simply gorgeous! I've been over the post numerous times. I might just be up all night!

[Glee]

Hi Melissa...remember me? I dropped by to tell you that I follow your blog as a lurker. I know...I am kinda chicken that way. I have watched you grow in your craft to be a "shining star" and I am so pleased and proud of you! I wish you and your family a "Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!"

Love ya, Glee

[Vicki Chrisman]

How darn adorable! LOVE this!

[Linda Duke]

Beautiful Melissa... Love my items I purchased from you. Hugs

[Patty M]

Swoon!!!! I stopped by earlier but didn't have a minute to leave a comment. One of my favorite little books you've made. I will definitely be trying one of my own before the holidays are in full swing. Wish I had time to make one for all my dear ones. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Patty

[Carol R]

Gorgeous! So many wonderful ideas have been presented. Beautiful pages and I love the pockets! Thank you for the delicious sounding recipe too! Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

[Julie Campbell]

So beautiful, Melissa! Each page a new delight...love all the detail and attention you add...just perfect!

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving with your sweet family...

Julie

[Alice W.]

this is so beautiful and fun, Melissa! i love all the pockets and envelopes. makes me think that i'll find some little treasures in each of them. such a wonderful project. thanks for sharing!