So it’s February and time to get those Christmas pages done ladies. I know, I know you are already done with all yours – but alas I am not. I have been known to procrastinate from time to time. (*blush*) But when the time comes to get them done, then here is a great way to whittle down that stack of Christmas letters and photos.

An excellent way to save those Christmas letters every year is with scrapbooking!  I use large 12×12 pages and put them in albums that I set out every year at Christmastime. They are wonderful for taking a trip back to Christmases past. When loved ones who sent the letters have passed on, it is neat to read their words and hear their voices in my head.

On this Aunt Joy and Uncle Lars page, I simply added the letter my aunt wrote that year, a couple embellishments and a title highlighting who the letter is about.

Sometimes there is a letter page with writing on the back side. In those cases I have used two different methods to address this: a hinge or a pocket. 

To make a hinge I cut a piece of cardstock the length of the letter and approximately 1.5 – 2” in width. Then I fold the cardstock in half lengthwise and attach one side to my background paper and the other to the letter. Next I use a bone folder to press the fold tightly so that the letter will lie flat on the page. Note: there will be a large section of background page exposed when the reader lifts the page to read the letter; therefore, I often place a little surprise sticker under the letter.

TO MAKE A POCKET I fold the letter in the fashion I want it and then cut a piece of cardstock larger than the letter. I attach the cardstock on three sides to my background paper. Leaving the fourth side unattached where the letter will slide inside the pocket. Note: there will be a large section of cardstock exposed that you will need to embellish. I have often used the cardstock as a mat for a photograph that was included with the letter but any stickers, rub-ons, quotes or other embellishments would be pretty there too.

This is an extremely fast way to put those letters to good use in making your very own Christmas memory book. 

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Tagged with: annual | letters

Categorized as: Album | Christmas