{christmas memories binder}

We finally took down our Christmas decorations yesterday.  I think I was in denial that Christmas was really over--I just wasn't ready.  I wish I could leave my tree up all year long--I love it.  Some of my other favorite things to look at during the holiday season are all the Christmas cards we receive from family and friends.

I started a Christmas memories binder about 10 years ago, and it has been so fun to look back through the years and see how people have changed and families have grown, including our own. This year we outgrew the original binder, and it was finally time to start another one.  

If you're looking for a way to keep your Christmas cards organized, and have a place to record favorite Christmas memories, you are going to love this project! It doesn't take long to do, and your efforts will last a lifetime and more.

Each year after Christmas (my goal is to have this done by New Year's), I gather all of my Christmas cards and adhere them to white cardstock--both front and back, then slide them into sheet protectors and place into my binder. Nothing fancy here--I want the emphasis to be on the pictures and cards themselves. 

I also write about our Christmas memories for the year, and what we did on Christmas Day.  I include a picture of our own Christmas card, as well as the traditional "kids on the stairs on Christmas morning" picture. Even though I've had a family blog for several years, and write a lot about Christmas there, I still include it in this book.  Actually, I cut and paste from my blog.  :) ("Christmas" font = Before the Rain)

I also type up a "Year in Review", that includes our family's top 10--trips, milestones, and goals accomplished.  I also write a paragraph about each person in our family--their individual accomplishments, what grade they're in, who their teacher is, activities they were involved in, favorite foods, and any other tidbits I want to include. ("Year" font = Peas NJH Whimsy)

The new binder also needed some tabs for the years, and I created my own by printing out the next 5 years on to cream cardstock.  I cut them to size, folded them over, and distressed the edges.  I used double stick tape to adhere them to the sheet protectors.  Easy!

The old binder was in desperate need of a new cover, so I made another one to match the new binder.

I LOVE our Christmas memories binder, and so does my family. My kids will sit and look through it, ask questions about our friends and family we haven't seen in awhile, and read and reminsice about Christmases past. 

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