Transition with Thankfulness
November is here, meaning it’s the perfect time to settle in with a cup of hot cocoa and get scrappy! Although the weather may be turning frosty – depending on where you live, of course – the warmth felt while capturing daily memories remains.
Whether you’re catching up on Halloween photos (no shame, we’re all there!), crafting tributes for Remembrance Day, or getting your turkey day plans and Thanksgiving memories ready, there’s something for everyone this month. November is all about that cozy transition from fall pumpkins to winter snowflakes. And, of course, if you’re ready to dive into Christmas crafting, it’s never too early to get a jump start! So grab those photos, papers, and sparkly bits, and let’s explore some November projects.
Sweater Weather: Embracing a Picture Perfect Fall
The end of fall means school photos are likely now a staple adorning many family mantels. Claire W. has perfectly captured the warmth of youthful smiles in a layout featuring her granddaughter.
Claire explains, “I’ve always equated fall with back to school season. This photo of my 4 year old granddaughter practicing her letters melts my heart. My layouts often have multiple layers of pattern paper, a cluster or two with my photo taking center stage. The library catalogue in the background dictated my colors and embellishments. A little stitching and voila another memory captured!”
Lest We Forget: Honoring Remembrance Day
For many, November is a month to honour and remember veterans. It is a month to give thanks for our freedom, and to hold those currently involved in the atrocities of war or oppression close to our hearts. Remembrance Day (also known as Veterans Day or Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in many countries, and is held on November 11th.
The following scrapbooking projects, although perhaps more solemn in nature, reflect on this remembrance. They breathe life into memories and legacies of the past, and honour ceremonial traditions we hope will continue for future generations.
Scrapbooking Layout - Never Forget
The first Remembrance Day project designed by Claire C. is beautiful and sincere. Claire explains, “Coming from a military family, certain days are very poignant to me – Remembrance Day/Poppy Day on the 11th November is one of those. I always turn the radio on just before 11am to acknowledge a minute’s silence – somehow doing it with other humans makes it feel stronger. I always get a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat when the Last Post is played.”
Claire continues, “This layout is of a couple of random photos that I could find – again, my photo storage needs an overhaul. I chose the red, white and blue to signify Great Britain and cut out a ton of poppies on the Silhouette machine. Because my mum never threw away anything, I had an old NAAFI bag which she had kept. It was perfect – so very old and matched the photos, agewise. NAAFI stands for Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes and it is where we used to shop (like the PX in the USA).
The white is acrylic paint through a dotted circle but then I decided to smoosh more white paint. When I had finished and stuck everything down, I felt it needed a border, so I trimmed the page and mounted it on some white paper (the paper that used to come in scrapbook albums).
I like the page but now I feel I need to actually find out more about everyone else and actually find photos for them.”
Remembrance Clipboard
The second Remembrance Day project is a clipboard I designed. As a teacher I am involved yearly with our school Remembrance Day Ceremony assembly. Additionally, the Canadian Royal Legion annually holds poster and literary contests for students in Kindergarten – Grade 12. I always incorporate these contest activities into the weeks leading up to November 11th, and my school generally has both elementary and junior high students read aloud their poems at our assembly.
When I created this project I envisioned displaying photos of students reading poems aloud, holding posters they’d created, or celebrating having been selected as a Legion contest winner. If school-aged activities are not currently part of your daily life, perhaps you have heritage photos of family members/friends who have served. The clipboard could be displayed as yearly decor each November, and photos could even be exchanged or updated.
Adding a clip enables student-written poems or war letters/documents to be displayed. I even added a piece of coordinating paper to the clip to tie it thematically to the project.
For another interactive element I incorporated tags into the cenotaph-style design at the bottom, which can be pulled out to add notes/journaling. Other vintage memorabilia could also be slipped into the pockets along with the tags.
Scrapbooking Layout - Thanks For Everything
Our third Remembrance Day project is designed by Alison, and also commemorates school-based ceremonies.
Alison writes, “I thought of this (layout) I made ages ago – November, 2013!! I was so inspired by my daughter’s school Remembrance Day assembly and had a free cut file to use. I incorporated the Poppy pins we were given at the assembly into my embellishments (attached with brads instead of the pins they come with). And my journaling talks about how Remembrance Day feels different now as an adult than it did when I was my daughter’s age. I tried to keep the background as neutral as possible to allow the red poppies, the red cut file title and the photos to stand out.
Alison also adds, “This layout is over 10 years old and when I look at it I see things that make me cringe (the line of brads down the left anyone?) but I am so glad that I documented this event and that I have a record of both the assemblies from that time in our lives, and my thoughts on what November 11 means to me.”
Turkey Time: American Thanksgiving
In the U.S. Thanksgiving is fast approaching. It’s a special time of gratitude, with loved ones gathered ’round to share a delicious meal and precious time together. After the feast many people unwind with games or football on TV, while others prepare for the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shopping. Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season with joy, food, and family. Here are two projects sure to kick off some holiday crafting, too.
Scrapbooking Layout - Here With You
When describing her layout Laurie says, “Using warm, autumnal colors created the cozy, richness of the season. The title, along with phrases like ‘love this most’, ‘here with you’, and ‘making memories’ emphasize the appreciation of how grateful I am for shared memories like this.”
Card - My Heart is Wherever You Are
Thanksgiving is, as mentioned, a time of year many families gather together to share in each other’s company (and enjoy a huge meal…bring on the ‘turkey pants!).
But for those moments a family member is unable to attend the festivities, sending a thoughtful handmade card might be the perfect gesture to show they are still in your thoughts. The fall colours lend themselves perfectly to the occasion.
Come on Ring Those Bells: Early Christmas Crafting
“Get crackin’ on Christmas” is a phrase you’re likely to have heard floating around crafty circles (especially if you’re a Jenn Shurkus fan). Sending handmade holiday cards is an age-old tradition still upheld by many, including me. Last year I sent over 80 cards in December, which meant crafting seasonal cards was a year long endeavour. November is the perfect time to amp up card production in preparation for what is sure to become a blur of handwritten sentiments, addressing envelopes, and postage stamps.
If you’re looking to add seasonal variety to your Christmas cards, consider incorporating more of a winter vibe. Animals like polar bears & snowy owls, mixed with cool shades of blue offer just one example of a more non-traditional aesthetic. Silver Stickles and sparkly gems add finishing touches.
Mixing Seasons: Combining Fall and Winter Elements
To wrap up, I’d like to leave you with some tips for blending late-fall photos with early winter touches in one layout. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to blend those cozy fall vibes with the frosty beginnings of winter as you make your seasonal transitions. These ideas give plenty of room for personal style, allowing you to adapt and make project your own.
- Use Layered Textures: Mix burlap, plaid, or woodgrain textures with sparkly or metallic accents like silver, white, or light blue. This creates a natural blend of fall warmth with winter cool.
- Play with Color Gradients: Start with deep reds, oranges, and browns on one side of the page, gradually transitioning into whites, icy blues, and soft grays on the other side. This smooth gradient reflects the seasonal shift beautifully.
- Add Subtle Snowflake Details: Sprinkle a few small, glittery snowflakes across your page. Mixing them in with leaves or pinecones adds that touch of winter without overpowering the fall theme.
- Incorporate Seasonal Icons: Combine pumpkins with pine branches or add a scarf and mittens to a fall-themed photo. Small hints of winter accessories alongside fall elements will keep your page seasonally balanced.
- Mix Nature Elements: Include pressed leaves, acorns, and pinecones with hints of “frost” (a dab of white or glitter). This creates a natural look that ties together both seasons.
- Use Transitional Quotes or Captions: Add phrases like “Fall into Winter” or “From Cozy to Frosty.” It’s a fun way to convey the feeling of change and helps unify the theme of your layout.
- Highlight Layered Photos: If you have both fall and early-winter photos, layer them with frames or mats that suit each season (think: warm tones for fall, cool tones for winter) and overlap them slightly. This creates a natural, blended look.
- Include Seasonal Washi Tapes or Borders: Border your photos or journaling sections with a mix of fall- and winter-themed washi tapes or patterned borders. A leaf or plaid tape mixed with silver or snowflakes can tie it all together.
- Blend Your Fonts: For any journaling or labels, use warmer, rustic fonts for fall elements and pair them with elegant, frosty-style fonts to represent winter. It’s a subtle but effective way to enhance the seasonal blend.
Until next time…stay fun and fantabulous, scrappers!