christmas binder

Okay...don't call me a hypocrite. but I just might be one. I was just complaining about all the halloween crafts that are coming out...and now I am doing a christmas one. 

How I justify it
A. I start shopping for Christmas in Sept.
B. To get a cheap deal on binders you have to shop the school sales...which are now.

I am christmas crazy. I stress myself out and since I start so dang early, I often forget what I have already gotten and then when I oh...I mean Santa Claus sits down to wrap I--ur--he is surrounded with  piles of crap. (my daughter would shoot me for saying her LPS are crap.)

so I made a binder to keep all the info contained!!!!!

wow. glare.

I started with a binder (I originally thought I was going to get one without the see through pockets so I bought this polka dotted fabric to cover the entire thing (much like my notebooks I covered using hot glue)

but found a steal of a deal on the nice ones with the front cover. So I just made a pretty cover  to slide in.

(resulting the magnificent glare!)

took a manila folder (isn't that a funny word...manila.? makes me laugh...Or LOL as the cool kids are calling it)

and made some decor for the front of it

perfect spot to keep all those receipts in.

adorned a 15cent notebook

and of course adorned a pen

super easy too...just some hot glue

and roll roll roll and then trim

Now you can add a folder to keep ads in

or just use the front and back pocket of the binder

Now each page of the notebook is someones name.

I just put ideas...I occasionally clip out pictures of stuff that looks like them...and then when I have bought them something I put a check mark by it. (It looks all nice and tidy now but by dec 1 it will have a big cross through some ideas and circles and drawings...it will be a hot (but organized) mess.

I also keep a list of the people I need to send christmas cards too.

you could put a copy of each of their addresses in this folder so each year it's ready to go.

We also draw names on my side of the family...so you can keep the list of who had who in here so next year you won't have to try to figure out if anyone is getting a repeat person.

so hopefully this year..I won't have a bazillion papers around with ideas and lists and what I have bought.

okay....christmas break is over. go back to enjoying your kids back to school.

(mine started today...whooooppppee)

 My Paper crafting obsession contacted me about these great free printables she has done that would go so well in this binder...

and there is even more..go check it out!