Journal Your Christmas Giveaway

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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.

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1193 thoughts

  1. Theresa Grdina says…
    11/04/2009

    I am going to focus on what I LOVE. I am done doing what is expected of me or what others want me to do...this year it's all about thinking through my choices and doing what makes me happy. That said, I am hoping a day or two in the scrapbook room (or more) should help and a quiet day or two spent enjoying the decorations and sounds of the seasons should do it! My wants/needs are simple. (lol)

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  2. Katie Johnson says…
    11/04/2009

    I don't mind the chaos. I am the one out shopping on Christmas Eve morning...and I like it. I love the energy in the air as everyone is out and about. :)

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  3. Olof Birna says…
    11/04/2009

    I already bought must of my christmas gift. I also have started on the albums that I am going to give away on christmas. Plus, two years ago I decided I was never again going to stress about the extraordinary humongous before christmas cleaning. So, the result is (hopefully) relaxed christmas :)

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  4. Brenda says…
    11/04/2009

    I will just live in the moment as what more can you do? It get's to be too stressful otherwise.
    Brenda Magliacane

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  5. emily.preston@gmail.com says…
    11/04/2009

    I plan to have a more sane Christmas by going back to a more traditional celebration. My parents and I are very close and it seems that my mom and I never get as much done as we plan to. This year we are focusing on less gifts (especially the ones that you are buying last minute and no thought to them). We plan to bake more and have nice semi-fancy dinners at home.

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  6. Tineke Blokzijl-Haar says…
    11/04/2009

    This holiday season is going to be very bittersweet. It will be our first christmas without my father-in-law, who has passed very suddenly on 5 January 2009 at the age of a mere 55 years. We miss him terribly.
    This Christmas will be one where we all live through our own special memories. Here in the Netherlands we have two days of Christmas and the second day we always spend with my husbands family (us four, his parents, his grandmother, his brother, his sister and her husband and kids, one of his aunts and her daughter). We alway go on a Christmas hike (the same one each year) for a breath of fresh are, stopping for hot cocao at the sheep fold and after that eating together. My father-in-law had a very large role in this day and it will be unbelievably strange to spend this day without him.
    So, even though this Christmas will be bittersweet we will savour our memories and enjoy each others company.
    Sorry for the long story, just had to be told.

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  7. Caryl Hope says…
    11/04/2009

    We travel most Christmases but this year I want to be home for the holidays and focus on enjoying the season and making new traditions for our family.

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  8. Robynne says…
    11/04/2009

    I want to take things slower. All the busy stuff has been taken care of so I just want to take each day at a slower pace and really enjoy the reason for Christmas.

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  9. Anne in Scotland says…
    11/04/2009

    I intend to wrap presents as I buy them - and buy less!
    Thanks for the chance of the class.
    Anne
    :)

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  10. Annie says…
    11/04/2009

    So funny you asked this! I woke up this morning thinking about our annual Christmas party and planning how to get started early. I hope I can incorporate the keep it simple philosophy and keep the stress levels under control.

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  11. Kota Venter says…
    11/04/2009

    I wil try to bake the cookies in the beginning of December and not leave it till the end. And this year spend christmas at relatives, not them at my house, 3 years in a row is a lot, I need a break!

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  12. Laura Bruynell says…
    11/04/2009

    My plan this year includes having shopping done by October 31. Missed that deadline but I only have a couple more things to buy. I wrapped what I have bought. November will be my month to bake and food shop and decorate for the holidays. Once December arrives I plan on relaxing and enjoying the holiday.

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  13. Christine H says…
    11/05/2009

    I've been contemplating both of these projects thinking pre-made book + daily prompts/ideas might be just the perfect combo for me. Thanks for the chance to win part of this duo. As for the holidays, my biggest challenge is going to be finding a new spot for the tree. We now have a piano where the tree has gone for 14 years! The rest is all good!

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  14. Carol says…
    11/05/2009

    Sanity is not an option in my holiday household. That being said , I vow to do at least one fun thing everyday. For me that is usually baking or scrapbooking. I will remind myself that all the school activities, shopping, concerts and visiting with friends and relatives are making the memories we will continue to remember and cherish for years to come.
    Carol from southen MD

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  15. Lori says…
    11/05/2009

    This past year we set aside the money we wanted to budget for Christmas and put it into a separate account. That keeps any holiday money from being used for other things AND when that money is gone, it's gone. We decided on the budget during the more sane months and hope that it creates a less stressful December.
    Thanks for the give-away opportunity!
    Lori

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  16. rachel marquette says…
    11/05/2009

    my plan for a smooth sane holiday season: buy less! make more homemade, mindful presents. get everything done in november! so the only thing left in december is to wrap, bake cookies, and snuggle with my family under the christmas tree!

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  17. Mariette says…
    11/05/2009

    I just want to stay ahead by doing stuff in advance, otherwise defnitely more crazyyyyyyyyyier than ever. I love Christmas and all our little family traditions, and do not want to loose any of that because of the craziness. Thats why I also love to do your album well in advance. Thanx for starting so early this year.
    Mariette

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  18. sara@bosterfamily.com says…
    11/05/2009

    We are celebrating (for the first time in a long while) without extended family visiting. I hope to create a very simple, laid back Christmas. All the shopping is done and I hope to have everything wrapped in the next two weeks. Then it is done!! Lots of baking, cooking, crafting, photographing, field trips, service projects, etc. are all rumminating in my mind as ways to celebrate the seasion.

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  19. Mary S. says…
    11/05/2009

    my plan is to try and just enjoy the holidays and everything that comes with it. Creating family projects and activities will make it much more enjoyable!

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  20. Crystal LaDoux says…
    11/05/2009

    I plan to just slow down and enjoy the season! Simplify things and enjoy the little things!
    Crystal

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  21. Tammy B says…
    11/05/2009

    We're hoping to "tone things down" a bit; concentrate more on giving of ourselves and experiencing the meaning of Christmas rather than what gifts / gift cards someone might want because they already have too much "stuff". I want to feel peace this holiday season.

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  22. Lani says…
    11/05/2009

    My Christmas wish is to enjoy the little every day things, and to avoid getting caught up in the 'should do's' - spend more time on the 'want-to-do's'.

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  23. Rhea says…
    11/05/2009

    I'm not sure that my Christmas' will ever be sane - six kids does that, but I absolutely love Christmas and the amazing gift that we got over 2000 years ago. Thanks again for sharing!

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  24. Queen of Bristol says…
    11/05/2009

    First of all I also want to create a December Daily which helps a lot reflecting upon yourself and your life. Due to a lot of bad news this year I really hope to be able to spend more quality time with my family - usually it's always work & worries, so I really hope this year it will be a little quieter.
    All the best to you Ali
    Sandy
    from Austria

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  25. Laurie Takens says…
    11/05/2009

    I've already purchased most of my stocking stuffers which helps tremendously. I also try to have all of my shopping done before Thanksgiving which leaves most of December open to just "enjoy"

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