Christmas in July

I love the idea of Christmas in July! It reminds me to start planning ahead for the big season, and the more I get done now, the less stress there is around December. How many of you celebrate this? I know the folks over at Patience Brewster love to get an early start on the holiday season. Which is why I'm  collaborating with them in celebration of Christmas in July! Looking for some fun ornaments this year? Patience Brewster is an artist who makes these delightfully whimsical collector's ornaments. Be sure to check her out! 

I use this time to get started on my Christmas crafting, gift making and creating my Christmas cards. Maybe this year I will even get them addressed and written early. One stressful year, I didn't even get them mailed until July!

A tradition my sister and I have had for a number of years is to make a December Daily. It is a mini album that we prepare ahead of December that we use to document each day of the holiday season. Having it ready for the season makes it simple to take a photo or two, and journal a bit about that day, stress free.

Cover

inside pages with pockets and tags

inside pages with windows

I love to add lots of fun elements to mine like pockets and tags and peek a boo areas.  Projects are so easy when you use coordinating products or kits.

Making a list and checking it twice?  There are pockets inside to keep receipts or a pencil. Heading out to do some holiday shopping and you need a way to keep track of it all?  Going online to shop? That's where this notepad will come in handy, all decked out in finery.

Here's an idea for gift giving...a boxed book. Decorate the outside of the box, and each of the pages to coordinate. It folds out like an accordian, so once the photos are added, it can be opened up and left on display if you like.

And of course, an Advent calendar is a must to celebrate the season. This was easy to make by using a large sheet of patterned paper, cutting little flaps and adding numbers. Under each flap is a little surprise.

I am still working on my cards, but on Saturday, I head out to an all day Christmas in July scrapbook crop. Even if it's ninety degrees out, we will celebrate with a turkey dinner and all the trimmings. Oh, I am looking forward to this outing!

Are any of you celebrating Christmas in July? Please share with us what you are working on. 

Jingle Bells, Rudolph, White Christmas...anyone else have their Christmas songs playing?