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.
I'm making our Christmas season much simpler by shopping our church's alternative gift market instead of the mall. We'll be giving things such as nuts & bolts to build a Habitat House, a goat for a family in Guatamela, blankets for homeless, etc. One stop shopping that can actually help others and not just result in more stuff in someone's closet or basement.
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I hope to have my shopping finished by Thanksgiving this year to be able to enjoy the christmas season baking, decorating and having friends over to visit.
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hopefully, i'll be more organized. i'll get the stuff that i always save for later - christmas cards, shopping and such - done early... the house is cleaner this year, so that's one less task to do -
i have my box of december daily supplies, i've got the pictures for my christmas card.. and i'm trying to cutback on shopping - ;) - saw that someone was going to skip black friday - i might do that as well.. ;)
thanks for having such an inspiring blog - i love the way you emphasize the point to relax and enjoy.. "it is ok"
sue
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Hmm, I try every year to keep the insanity to a minimum and have finally realized that you just have to get revved up and enjoy the ride! The more I can do ahead of time and the more shopping I can do online definitely helps... But most of all, having time to create gives me some breathing space, even if it is just a little project.
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I don't think I will be having much of a sane Christmas:( We are moving from Florida to northern Kentucky on Saturday and I will be busy setting up our new home and not really thinking about the holidays. I did the 25 days of Christmas last year and loved it but I won't be able to this year.
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because I have little ones, I plan to wait to do any shopping until they have made a list for Santa. Last year, I thought I was all done and then a Santa letter came home from school with an insistant little girl naming an item we had not planned to get.
But seriously, we are trying to keep it simple this year and just enjoy the season and being together!!
AmyC
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Use lots of lists and try to prepare and decorate as many things as possible ahead of time!
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I'm going to try to get my grading done earlier, which will mean that I am not baking and shopping at the last minute!
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We are keeping a tradition that was started last year-the LEGO advent calendar. I hope to document the daily excitement from my son as he predicts what is next, and opens the collection. Also, I think that we are going to draw names for gifts in my husband's large family. This will help narrow down the shopping load.
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This would be such a cool tool to work along side the "Holiday Daily 2009" I am putting together for my family. We are Hispanic so we celebrate "Dia de Reyes" on Jan.6th and that ends our holiday season.
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WOW!!! What an awesome giveaway!! I'm hoping to get shopping done early and enjoy the holiday as it was meant to be enjoyed!
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I am REALLY trying to have all gifts bought by the first week of dec.! Crossing fingers ;D
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I hope to take time to enjoy the season with family and friends and not spend so much time worrying, planning, and running to really be in the moment. I have lists going now to try to keep it simple and get things done ahead of time. Thanks for the chance:)
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A sane Christmas season.....hmmmm is it possible? Ideally, my Christmas shopping will be done well in advance of Christmas Eve. :) And once again, instead of making all of my holiday cards, I will use photo cards from Costco and only handmake a few for close friends and family. I'm also not planning on going 'overboard' on baking this year. I'm thinking just 'fun' baking with my kids so they can decorate and enjoy the process! Thanks for the chance to win!
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Just keeping in mind that family is the most important thing (everything else will fall into place).
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This year we are buying a bit at a time so I started during the summer. Hopefully that will not only take some of the sting out of the bills, but allow me more time to soak up the holiday and not stress over the materialism.
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I plan to focus on the people and not the stuff!! Spending time with those you love and who love you and making memories! No Drama! :)
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It looks like I will be working at least part of Christmas this year :( Other than that, I am trying to keep it simple and focus on family and relaxing!
Oh, and if I should win...I really don't have any scrappin' friends, so the friend can be whoever posts after me!
Thanks,
Linda
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I have started to Christmas shop already. Plan to do more this weekend. I bought a album for 4x6 pictures for my 25 days of Dec. Some pages may end up being digital and some will be full scrapbooking. I am going to try use lots of supplies I have and enjoy the project. Will try for some fun shots and keep in mind that we don't remember days we remember moments.
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My plan is to focus less on the gifts and more on the traditions. We are going to cut down our own tree, do breakfast with Santa and have a big holiday celebration for family and friends the week before Christmas.
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I guess the main things we do are keep it simple, try not to do too much, try to mainly do things we really want to and enjoy doing, and plan ahead!
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I plan to scale back on the over the top gift giving. Making gifts from the heart, more charity and more time with family.
We planned our first family trip to Walt Disney World as the gift for the kids.
Thanks as always for the creative pieces.
Trindin
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This holiday season I plan to "be" in the moment more and concentrate on the experience of the holidays rather than material objects. More hot chocolate by the fireplace, gazing at the stars and building snowmen and less of buying the latest gadgets.
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I'm not sure that Christmas will ever be sane in our house. This year, however, I can see that my 12 year old son is at the threshold of growing up...so I plan to emphasize on more "child-like" activities...to celebrate the what's left of my son's childhood.
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I am trying to get most of the Christmas preparations (gifts) done before December hits, so that I'm not spending the whole month running from one store to another!
I want to spend more time doing fun and meaningful activities with the kids. I'm trying to say "no" to the things we cannot do or aren't meaningful, without feeling horribly guilty about it.
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