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. susan m says…
    11/05/2009

    I hope to be able to start my shopping sooner rather than later.

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  2. Jennifer says…
    11/05/2009

    I am already planning gift lists, and will have my Christmas shopping done Dec. 1st so I can spend the month of December doing the "fun" things with famiy & friends.

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  3. Christine Drevo says…
    11/05/2009

    I have created a list of people who I need to purchase a gift.
    A list for creating a gift and due dates to finish and send out of state.
    I also have scheduled when the decorations go up and when they come down and what I will be making for Christmas Dinner.
    I also have a list of what I still need as far as decorations. So basically I'm list crazy!

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  4. Cindy D says…
    11/05/2009

    I'm just gonna go with the flow this year!

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  5. Judi says…
    11/05/2009

    We plan on notbuying gifts for each other this year and just plan on spending quality time together doing festive things instead

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  6. Kimberly Minyard says…
    11/05/2009

    this would be so awesome to do!

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  7. Cindy Ericksen says…
    11/05/2009

    This is a wonderful idea and a gift you are sharing. My hope this holiday season is to provide my mother in law, with dementia, a way to remember the beauty and moments of the Christmas season. She loves looking at completed scrapbooks. Creating a scrap/ journal of the seasons activities would be a beautiful gift for her. -Cindy

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  8. kelly nelson says…
    11/05/2009

    that is a very good questions. one i have no idea how to answer. every yr i say i am going to keep it simple and i still find myself in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. guess maybe that is what the holidays r for my family. we have the rest of winter to rest and take it slow.
    kelly n

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  9. Kim Wark says…
    11/05/2009

    I would love to document my Christmas this year...I really want to enjoy the season with peace and joy.

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  10. Bernadette says…
    11/05/2009

    We are doing a little of both. Little more travel = little more crazy; lots more "let it be" to not sweat the small stuff and truly enjoy the imperfection that is really everyday life. It should be fun!

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  11. Ruth says…
    11/05/2009

    I hope to keep the holidays simpler by not scheduling too much or even expecting too much. The idea of journaling the days of Christmas really intrigues me as it will help get it done right away when the details are fresh instead of dragging on forever, when I have already forgotten the details. This course sounds GREAT!

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  12. Anne T. says…
    11/05/2009

    This will probably be our last truly insane Christmas since our baby is due in February. I'm going to try to keep up with our crazy busy and jam-packed schedule of visiting a million relatives. This year I do hope to be a little more proactive about getting Christmas cards done early and hopefully some shopping too. Then next year we'll see. I'd like to slow the pace down a bit and be able to enjoy some quality time at home with our little one.

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  13. Pam says…
    11/05/2009

    The Daily journal will help my family plan ahead of time what events/activities are the most important to us. Sometimes we get so focused on just the two days (Christmas eve and Christmas day) that we lose site of how beautiful the season really is.

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  14. Katie says…
    11/05/2009

    I am going to try to get everything for Christmas taken care of before Thanksgiving. One year (when expecting a baby due on December 1st) I had it all done by Halloween. It is such a liberating feeling to have things done 'early' so I can truly relax and enjoy December!

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  15. Kelly says…
    11/05/2009

    I'm unemployed this year, so Christmas has to be more simple. I'm actually looking forward to it. Lots of homemade gifts & goodies. Trips to go ice skating & look at the lights. Hot chocolate & cookie parties at home instead of fancy dinners. This will be year #3 for my December Daily. I'm really looking forward to documenting this year with my more simplified mindset. Shimelle's class would help me look at things even more differently than the last two years. Thanks Ali for all of your inspiration!
    Kelly B

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  16. angie says…
    11/05/2009

    Planning, planning, planning and getting most everything accomplished by Dec 1st!!! I want to be able to spend as much time with my little ones enjoying the season and feeling the emotions of it all this year instead of just going through the motions. I am tired of getting so wrapped up in it all and I really want a fun, quiet reason to exist this year and take it all in.

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  17. Marti Richards says…
    11/05/2009

    My plan to make our holiday season more sane for us is to have all the Christmas shopping and decorating done by the end of this month. Then starting December 1st, I can sit back and enjoy the season with my family and capture in my first ever December Daily album.

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  18. Kelly says…
    11/05/2009

    One christmas thing a day--no more no less. I keep sane if there's only one thing to accomplish a day!

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  19. gina f. says…
    11/05/2009

    we are going to keep it more sane by just buying gifts for the kids instead of everybody (i have a large family). The best part is being all together and having fun!

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  20. Kathy W says…
    11/05/2009

    This is the first year in over a decade where I will have time for me during the holidays. Finally, I can do all the things that I really want to do: cookie plates for all the special people who do important tasks in my life, making my own wreath (somebody send me fir boughs from Oregon!), making my own holiday cards, inviting the neighbors for an afternoon/evening open house, playing holiday music on the piano, creating rather than buying gifts. Focus on process and finding pleasure in such: that is my wish...and finishing my December Daily from 2008! Thanks for the chance to win the workshop; it sounds awesome.

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  21. Carol says…
    11/05/2009

    I plan to buy a few items I usually bake to save some time this year like fudge and cookies. I found some great fudge at a store in the mall and will just put a pretty bow on the box and viola! That allows me to have more time to sit down and visit with family and friends!

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  22. Yvonne S. says…
    11/05/2009

    Ali, You have put the jingle into my holiday! I am so looking forward to doing everything in a simple manner (decorating, buying, wrapping, etc.) and doing this album will be the perfect finishing touch. Not to mention, a LASTING gift for years to come! I'm ready to get started!

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  23. Shawn says…
    11/05/2009

    Less is more this year. This year we are using the money we would spend on gifts and taking a family vacation after the holidays. My children have way to much stuff and really don't need another shirt, so we are all getting the best gift of all...time well spent.Thank you for the chance at a great giveaway.

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  24. Stacy says…
    11/05/2009

    I am planning ahead - already working on Chms cards and gift lists (I've even purchased some)!

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  25. Shelly Pope says…
    11/05/2009

    This year has been hard financially on our family since half of the year my husband was out of a job. We are making most of our Christmas presents (lots of love and crocheting!) Those kinds of presents mean the most anyway. :)

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