Journal Your Christmas Giveaway
The first time I did any sort of journal/creative adventure during the holiday season was Shimelle Laine's Journal Your Christmas back in 2005 (check out my December 2005 archives for more).
My experience in Shimelle's workshop inspired me to create my first December Daily in 2007 that was published in my Studio A column in Creating Keepsakes magazine. The main differences being that I set up the structure of my album in advance (trying to keep it simple) and that I wanted to focus on documenting the daily activities over the course of the 25 days leading up to Christmas without specific prompts.
Over the last couple of years there have been lots of people that have combined the two concepts - creating a foundation in advance and using Shimelle's prompts as guides for page topics and inspiration.
It's a creative adventure I highly recommend so I thought it would be fitting to give away a spot to Shimelle's class this week.
One person and a friend of their choice will recieve a spot in Shimelle Laine's fabulous Journal Your Christmas online workshop.
Journal your Christmas is an online class that takes you right through the Christmas season, from the 1st of December to the 6th of January - the twelfth day of Christmas. Through 37 full colour prompts that arrive in your inbox daily, you'll be inspired by topics that let you enjoy this year's celebrations while reliving your very favourite Christmas memories, and you'll have plenty of ideas for making your pages with hundreds of beautiful examples from a variety of scrappers.
Instead of letting the holidays run you, a Christmas journal has helped many women take back their Christmas so they can enjoy and celebrate the magic of Christmas. Other class benefits include a printable Christmas planner, digital and printable supplies designed exclusively for class and a bonus guide to improving your Christmas photographs including easy-to-use tips from dozens of professional photographers.
To be entered into the giveaway please leave a comment below sharing how you plan to create a more sane holiday season (or more crazy if that's what you need). Comments will be closed on Thursday at 8pm Pacific with the winners posted shortly after.
Our Christmas will probably be a little more crazy because we will probably be moving in December! I will try to stick to our standard traditions to keep sane, and included in the mix a new fiance for my daughter. All in all, I am so blessed!
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I've always knew I wanted to be ready for Christmas "early", but I never actually set a date. When a friend mentioned on her blog that she wanted to be ready by Dec. 1st, so she could actually enjoy the holiday, it just hit me as something I could really do. So, I am off to a good start and I'm so motivated and inspired that I even thought I really could do a December Daily Journal this year. I know I would enjoy that so much.
Win or not, Ali, you already inspire me w/ each post, thank you so much!
Melle in FL
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we just came back from a 2 day, family road trip. we took the boys to see Imagination Movers.
super-cool concert + really happy boys = early christmas gift and sane holiday!
oh, yeah!
:)
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I plan to have a sane holiday season by focusing on moments and time rather than money and things.
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Sane? With almost 3-year-old triplets? Please! But, I can already see that Christmas will be beyond magical this year. Because of this, I'm determined not to stress and let the magic of the season unfold itself. It really doesn't need my help!
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I hope that my Christmas craziness with be somewhat contained this year. My husband and I recently moved away so our chaos will be limited to the amount of time we are "home" with our family in Vermont. Hopefully this will help us prepare for the chaos and then be able to fly back home and enjoy the quiet of our home again. :-)
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As a childless couple, my fiancé and I don't have as much craziness as most. Last year, we didn't even decorate because we knew we would traveling. This year, I am going to try to make sometime for us to a Christmas. Instead of just visiting Christmas at his parents, my parents, grandparents, friends, etc.
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I have a plan.... to shop early, to go to bed early at night so I can get heaps done through the day... and all while planning a wedding for 200 people in January. Will I succeed? Who knows!!
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A sane holiday this year is going to mean just staying home and hanging out with the family. Getting crafty, making our presents and warming up our home with homemade decorations as well. No mall shopping.
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We are taking things easier this year, staying home for Chirstmas day (I hate traveling with santa presents). We are having a BBQ instead of the usual big cooked meal (I live in NZ so christmas is in Summer). We don't have any plans over the holidays, just take what comes and hopefully head to our river (farm that boundaries the river) and go camping, total bliss :)
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i am going to TRY really really TRY to be more relaxed myself -- that is really all i think i need to do to have a more relaxed & less stressful holiday season-- at least, thats what i am hoping :) we will hafta see how well that works for me -- & IF I am able to acutally DO IT! LOL!!
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Oh my! I'm just praying for a regular Christmas. We moved to our new home (1000 miles from family and friends) Jan 1,2006. November 06 large tree fell into our house and we had to move out for two months, small Christmas no tree.
2007 moved 90 year old inlaws near us, she was very ill. Very little time for Christmas activities, but did have tree and decorations since we did them Thanksgiving weekend. 2008 father-in-law died at Thanksgiving, went to CA. for buriel week before Christmas, 40 year record snow fall in Washington, trapped in CA. Arrived home Christmas Eve, didn't even send cards for the first time in my life. WOW. SO, I want a regular Christmas this year, a whole month to document, which includes our wedding anniversary and my daughters birthday. Looking forward to it. LOL
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HI ALI,
THIS SEASON I PLAN TO FOCUS MORE ON OUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND FOSTERING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS....WITH LESS HECTIC RUNNING AROUND TO PARTIES, GATHERINGS AND FRIENDS HOUSES. PLAN TO CUT BACK ON THE "GIFT GIVING" JUST FOR THE SAKE OF GIFT GIVING, AND WANT TO FOCUS ON HELPING OUT ANOTHER FAMILY WHO NEEDS A HELPING HAND. MY HUSBAND OWNS A PLOW COMPANY AND WE'LL BE DONATING OUR SERVICES TO HELP AT OUR LOCAL WOMANS SHELTER UP TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON. I ALSO WANT TO SHOW MY CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK TO OTHERS--LEARN TO GIVE WITHOUT EXPECTING TO RECEIVE.
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I've been going through photos of last Christmas looking at what things we really enjoyed doing and what things just added extra work/stress to the holidays. Ice skating = worth the trip, crowded shopping mall = not worth it. It's helping me plan this year.
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I would love to document my holiday. This is something I have wanted to do for so long but just never got it accomplished.
Lisa H.
Knoxville
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With a new baby in the house and 3 other children, I need all the sanity I can get! LOL! But it's these early memories for my kids that i don't want them to forget. I'll take any advise on how to keep the memories alive for and in many years to come.
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I love journaling and writing! This class sounds wonderful!Thanks for the opportunity!
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I'm not sure how successful I will be in creating a more sane holiday season, since I already have a long list of things I'd like to do over the holidays - but a few things I have done already will hopefully help keep things a bit calmer later on. I have started shopping (a good start) I have started making Christmas cards and I have completed two gift mini albums - so I do feel good about that :)
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I plan to keep the focus on Jesus Christ...the real reason for the season!
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I'm hoping to enjoy the season with my husband and not get caught in last minute preparations, so I plan to get all my decorations and gifts done before December.. hopefully! :)
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You know Ali I am lucky because we travel cross country to our daughter's home and spend the holidays with her. I don't have the pressure of the tree, and stuff so I do really get to enjoy Christmas and all it's trimmings. I can take the photos, journal the happenings and truly enjoy each day. I do cook the entire Christmas Day dinner which certainly involves some stress but over all I get to document.
:) Catherine
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Wow, great giveaway!! I'm pacing myself, making ierogies one weekend, doing cards in advance, getting shopping done before the middle of December. Anything to avoid the rush!
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Over the last few years, I have been trying to cut back on the number of presents I purchase for others and spending less time worrying about whether they are going to like it, etc. Material items are nice but not the real reason for the season.
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We are scaling back this year and not go over the top like we have in years past. I just want to enjoy the time with my family and try to not stress about things that don't really matter.
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to keep a more sane Christmas I plan on keeping my focus on my two little boys and hubby
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