DT Project – Countdown to Christmas

For this project I have made a single sheet minibook “The countdown to Christmas” You can use this little book for all kinds of projects, kids letters to santa with a wish on each page (my daughter will be making one for this purpose), to list the things you have to remember to do in preparation, add in photos of what you have done in the lead up to Christmas or just add in journalling about what makes the festive season special for you.

I started with a 12×12 sheet of double sided patterned paper and folded it in half, then folded one half back on itself and the same the other side. Then turn around and fold the same the other way to give you 16 folded squares.

Cut down the middle fold 3 squares long (not all the way through), turn the paper around and cut down the folds to the left and right, again 3 squares long only.

Once cut you will be able to start with square one and fold backwards and forwards until you reach the last square.

Make sure the book opens the right way and flick through, when you get to a page where the page opens at the top fold this down to make a pocket.

Holding the bottom of this flap (so you remember which side to punch) put this into the Fiskars Effervescence Border Punch and punch along this edge. (You will get 2 pages like this to make pockets)

Flipping further through when you come to the pages where you get 3 squares folding out, use the Fiskars Everywhere Punch and punch a hole in the middle square. (You will get 2 pages like this). You will also be able to do this on the middle pages.

You can then stick down the back of the flaps (remember to only glue the left and bottom or you won’t fit in a journaling card), and behind the punched hole (adding a photo first behind the aperture if you want one).

Once you are happy you have all your flaps tucked and stuck in place, I used the Fiskars  Vines Border and Corner Punch on the front page top right hand corner.

Place the page in and punch both flaps, then remove the page, turn it over and use the straight edge again on the other edge so it gives the effect the you have punched around the corner.

For all the journaling blocks I used the Fiskars Paper Trimmer and cut 5x5cm squares. I punched the corners of each of these squares using the Fiskars Hearts 3in1 Corner Punch.

I tucked 2 of these squares into the pockets I had made and stuck the rest on each page throughout the book at different angles.

I added finishing touches such as buttons and bling and a stamped image for the front, and then added the journaling.