Saturday, January 10, 2009

Homemade Christmas I

I never know what to get my Papa Whittle (a man who has everything) for Christmas, his birthday or Father's day. He is not hard to shop for. I just want to always get something I know he will appreciate and won't collect dust. This past year, in September, he was able to go on an amazing trip to Washington D.C. I knew what his Christmas present would be and all the other Whittle grand kids were on board with me. I created this "Honor Flight" scrapbook for him with the pictures he and his guardian made from the day trip. Papa was great to keep all the notes, newspaper clippings, and brochures from the trip, so I was able to put all of this into his scrapbook for him (and us) to remember in years to come. Here are some examples of the pages I made for him.

Title page with Papa in front of the fountain at the WWII Memorial along with a brochure about the honor flight.

His welcome letters and things to know he received from the Honor Flight people. Also included is a newspaper clipping with his picture saying he was one of the ones going as well as his name badge and small pocket flag someone had given him.

Papa at the WWII Memorial. The picture at the bottom is from the WWII Memorial brochure telling what the different things mean at the memorial.

Papa looking around the WWII Memorial. The picture below is one that was given to him and the poem on this page was on the back of the picture. At Arlington Cemetery watching the changing of the guards.
This trip was one my Papa still looks back on with such fond memories. He was given such a hero's welcome home and we are so glad he had this opportunity to go see this special place. You can go to the memorials' website and register your WWII veteran, so they will always be remembered and honored.
For those of you who care, I have found when doing a whole scrapbook about a particular day or event, to follow these guidelines for a quick putting together of the scrapbook:
  1. choose two or three key colors
  2. choose a simple layout that can be used on all pages
  3. choose a few simple embellishments so the focus is on the pictures of the event or day
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10 comments:

  1. KristinJanuary 10, 2009 at 5:29 PM

    Love them! I wish I had a creative bone in my body.

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  2. LORIJanuary 10, 2009 at 6:15 PM

    WHAT A LOVELY GIFT, AND A GREAT IDEA FOR THE MAN WHO HAS IT ALL! I'LL BET HE LOVED IT! STOPPING BY FROM SITS!

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  3. angie {the arthur clan}January 10, 2009 at 7:14 PM

    These types of homemade gifts from the heart are the best possible gifts to receive or give. This is fabulous!

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  4. SandyJanuary 10, 2009 at 7:17 PM

    That turned out great Becky! I know this means so much to him!!

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  5. KatieJanuary 10, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    The color idea is genius. I'm trying to get my baby album well under way for my baby girl before she gets here. I just need to decide between pink and bright green or pink and chocolate brown. My MIL's baby shower for me was with the green and my sisters and mom's baby shower for me (separate states)with the brown. Only six more weeks to figure it out and get crackin' on it.

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  6. AndreaLeighJanuary 10, 2009 at 8:50 PM

    What an incredible, thoughtful present!

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  7. Karin @ 6ByHisDesignJanuary 10, 2009 at 11:14 PM

    oh how lovely, Becky! What a treasure you created!

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2009 at 8:13 AM

    What a thoughtful gift! And it looks amazing, wish I could make my scrapbooks look so good.

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  9. JulieJanuary 11, 2009 at 1:40 PM

    that is so special!!!!

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  10. SusanJanuary 11, 2009 at 8:28 PM

    What a wonderful idea and thanks for the tips. I'm planning to do a scrapbook for my dad's 60th birthday of all his accomplishments over the years, so those tips will definitely come in handy.

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