Christmas is almost here!

If you are a scrapbooker you know that non-scrappy people can have a very difficult time shopping for a scrapbooker.

Just because they found a great deal on some zig-zag scissors and 20 year old Hot Off the Press paper doesn’t mean that you are going to be thrilled to receive them. Ugh!

I’ve found the best way to help them out is to create a scrappy wish list filled with exactly the right things! (Taking it one step further I’m linking each of the images straight to the shopping cart at Amazon! No mix ups=Happy Alice!)

PRE-CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

TOOLS

I just saw the new Alphabet punch board from We R Memory Keepers. (If you don’t follow them on Periscope yet… they are just getting started but they started with a bang!) Technically this won’t be out until January, but it’s still on my list. One of the reasons I know it will be great is that I totally love the Envelope Punch Board!

Something I’d really like to play with is the Project Life Fuse tool! I’ve seen some super crafty projects created with this tool and I feel that it opens a world of opportunities with your plastic page protectors.

More circle punches! I ADORE my circle punches and use them for all kinds of things. It’s time to replace a few, and add probably add a few more sizes.

One big ticket item on my list is the Cricut Explore. I’ve held off from buying this as it’s such a big ticket item. I’m still not 100% convinced that I need the upgrade from the Expression, but I have heard such great things that my resolve is starting to be worn down. My problem with these machines is setting up my materials. I actually prefer to use a punch or even a metal die, as it’s faster and easier… that is until you need multiples of something, or a title, and that’s where a Cricut machine truly shines! (Hello Christmas cards!) Hmmmm…. I’m leaving it on the list.

MONTHLY KITS

ALWAYS ON MY SCRAPPY WISH LIST

Thickers. I use them all of the time. If I get duplicates it doesn’t matter because you always run out of letters. Thickers are a great thing to receive!

Sparkly, shiny, glossy embellishments. If it shines I know it will find a place in my scrapbooks, so there’s a lot of options!

Gift certificates for a REAL scrapbook store. Okay, I don’t really love gift certificates, BUT… the one exception is to a REAL scrapbook store. Going in and being able to pick out a bunch of scrappy goodness is AWESOME, so I’d recommend that someone pick out one little embellishment and enclose the certificate with that!

(If you live near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada be sure to check out The Urban Scrapbook!)

MORE SCRAPPY WISHES!

My friends Lisa, Beth and Danielle are also sharing their wish lists today!

Lisa is at My Kreative Pursuits

Beth is at Scrapping Wonders

Danielle is at Scrapper on the Street

SCRAPBOOK CHRISTMAS IN JANUARY

If you haven’t started your Christmas scrapbooking yet I have the perfect way for you to avoid the pending guilt! Join the Scrapbook Christmas in January class! You’ll find out how to capture the memories now and scrap them in January! Click here to scrap your Christmas guilt-free!

I’d love to hear what’s on your scrapbooking wish list too! Share in the comments! I hope you have a a magical Christmas.

*This post contains affiliate links. I only share products I truly use/like and feel good about sharing with you!

You’ll love this unique advent calendar idea!

This was submitted by reader Fiona Hatfield from Ontario, Canada. She replied to one of the emails I sent about advent calendars, (you know you can do that, right?) and I quickly sent her a request asking if I could share it here! (If you are not on the Scrapbook Wonderland email list it’s easy to SUBSCRIBE!)

Lucky for us she agreed and I’m so pleased to share this advent calendar with you!

Fiona created an advent calendar using takeout boxes. Her banister looks amazing with the greenery, lights, and the rich red colour of the boxes.

Like any true crafter (or passionately determined one) she didn’t take the easy route… no pre-made boxes or die cuts for her! She cut each of the boxes by hand using a template.

Here’s what Fiona said.

I made tiny Chinese takeout containers for my advent calendar and attached them to my banister. I have filled them with Christmas experiences (eg. Christmas music dance party, or bake holiday cookies) plus a healthy sprinkling of toys and chocolates. My daughter is more than happy to wake up 30 minutes early every day to find out what’s in the box.

The scary thing is, I made each one of these by hand … No die, no cutting machine … Labour of love.

Here’s a link to the template Fiona used:

http://www.victorineoriginals.com/images/patterns/0014.pdf

Why it’s WONDERFUL:

1. Not only did Fiona HAVE the idea to make the calendar, she ACTUALLY DID IT!

2. She found creative activities and experiences to put inside the boxes, so it wasn’t just about treats or gifts. (A Christmas music dance party? BRILLIANT!)

1. She didn’t make excuses as to why it couldn’t be done. Lack of a die cutting machine might have made the project more difficult, but definitely not impossible.
2. It’s absolutely gorgeous and adds perfectly to her holiday decor.

Thank you so much Fiona for sharing your advent calendar with us! I’m sure this helps to add to the magic of your Christmas season.

Scrapper Showcase

Watch for a new feature we will be starting soon called Scrapper Showcase. We will find out more about our fellow scrappers and their scrappy talents! When did they start scrapbooking? What is their scrappy style? Why do they scrap? Where do they find inspiration?

Scrapbook Christmas in January CLASS!

If you haven’t signed up for Scrapbook Christmas in January it’s not too late! We are in the process of capturing our memories, so we can scrapbook them in January. Click here for more details about the class!

If you love this advent calendar as much as I do be sure to leave a comment for Fiona!

Let your creativity shine!

Alice.

If you like advent calendars then you’re going to love this!

I turned a mini-muffin pan into an advent calendar.

It is brilliant, if I do say so myself!

It makes the perfect gift for a friend that enjoys baking too! It’s like giving a gift within a gift, as she has all the fun of the advent calendar and then keeps the muffin pan in the end!

I’m not going to take all of the credit, I’m sure I saw this idea somewhere… Pinterest maybe? I don’t know, I’ve had this idea in the works for over 2 years, so I can’t remember!

Here’s the backstory…

I bought the pan 2 years ago, but didn’t get it turned into a calendar in time to gift it to my friend. Oops!

This year I was determined that I was going to create this calendar, so I’m thrilled to finally see this project completed!

Create a mini-muffin pan advent calendar.

Start with a mini-muffin pan. This one is from Pampered Chef and makes 24 mini-muffins.

To make the numbers on the doors I found this gorgeous paper from Shimelle’s Christmas Magic line. It’s called Countdown.

It’s cream-coloured cardstock with beautiful gold-glittered numbers.

[continue reading…]

It’s finally time! 🙂

The Creative Christmas Bundle is for sale… but only from Friday the 27th to Monday the 30th.

After that it’s gone. 🙁

The scrappy goodness that’s available in this class is AMAZING! Take a peek today!

P.S. The bundle INCLUDES my Scrapbooking Christmas in January class. This class has a value of $25 and that’s just ONE thing in the bundle!

Want to know more? Watch this video!

Buy it now!

Scrapbooking Inspiration Podcast

You can hear more about the Christmas class on the Scrapbooking Inspiration podcast with Melissa Shanhun. Melissa and I talked about the class, including where the inspiration came from and how it works, LISTEN HERE. (or listen to it on your podcast player!)

You’ll also see a sneak peek at one of the pages I created for the class and Melissa’s page she created too!

I hope you’ll check it out. I wouldn’t be so excited to share it with you if I didn’t think it was such an amazing deal!

Let your creativity shine!

Alice.