A Wish Book for the Kids with Eileen Hull Designs

A Project for the Kids!

When I was a child, I spent many many hours perusing the Christmas "Wish Book".  Perhaps you are a bit younger than me and never experienced the "Wish Book" and you're wondering, what is a wish book?  Well, the "wish book" was the Sears catalog and children throughout the nation spent hours flipping through the pages and pages of toys, hoping that Santa would fulfill their dreams.

Today's project is for the little ones in your house; it's my version of the wish book.  I've seen my niece and nephew go through the flyers that come in the mail and circle their favorite toys and I thought it would be fun for them to have their own wish book where they could write their list for Santa.

I used Eileen Hull Designs by Sizzix Book Binding die to create this fun little mini.  Scroll down near the bottom for a tutorial on how to use this fun little mover and shaper die.

The book has many blank pages so the kids can cut out pictures of their favorite things and glue them in the book.

There are also lots of pockets to tuck in pictures and tags.

We want our children to know that Christmas is not only about toys and Santa; we also want them to know that Christmas is about giving so I've included pages where they can record their ideas for gifts for other family members.

Pocket pages, on the left and right.

Tutorial

Eileen's book binding die is just so fun!  It gives you the flexibility to bind your albums without expensive binding machines.  I've used MAMBI Happy Planner Discs to bind my book, but you could also use rings.

Making the binding is so easy.  All you need is album cover and Eileen's  Book Binding die.  I like to tape the die onto the cover so that it stays where I want it and then run it through my die cut machine and that's it.  You will need a  Movers & Shapers Shuttle or Base Plate as the Book Binding die is a Mover and Shaper die.

Then, all you need to do is snip the opening and slip in a disc.

To make my Wish Book, I used Graphic 45's St Nicholas collection.  For the cover I just layered up a couple of pieces of design paper and added a large sticker at the top, a cut-apart at the bottom and a piece of chipboard on the right.  Then, to finish it off, I added a title and made a couple of flowers using Eileen's Journaling Cards, Flowers & Leaves die set.

These flowers are easy to make!  Just die-cut some blooms with the flower die and give them some shape with a stylus or tweezers and stack them up as I've done in the photo below.

Then to give them some Christmas magic and sparkle, dab with a clear drying glue and sprinkle with Diamond Dust or alternatively, add Icicle Stickles to the petals.

Next die-cut some leaves  with Eileen's Leaf Die and pinch to shape,  Nestle the leaves under the flowers and that's it.

To finish off your book, die-cut plenty of blank pages, use lined paper as well as design paper, so the kids have places to record their wish list.  Give the kids some adhesive, scissors and ads from the paper (you know there will be lots over Thanksgiving week) and see what they come up with.  This would also be a great project to do with the kids.  Let them decorate their covers.  I bet you'll have some very memorable "wish books"!

Sizzix Dies Used

Eileen Hull Designs Magnetic Die - Book Binding

Eileen Hull Designs Die Set 4PK - Journaling Cards, Flowers & Leaves

Sizzix Accessory - Movers & Shapers Shuttle

Other Supplies

MAMBI Happy PLanner Discs

Diamond Dust

Graphic 45 St Nicholas Collection 12 x 12 papers and Stickers