December Daily 2009 : Days Four, Five, & Six

Shannon you could always do something like the 12 days leading up to Christmas :).

I totally understand your comment about "distracting." Remember, this is supposed to be a no-stress project - it is supposed to be something to make the holiday experience richer rather than more complicated. It's hard not to compare what we make with what other people create - the best advice I have is to embrace what you make yourself. We all go through times where we "try on" similar things that other people are doing...that is part of the fun...and part of the process of figuring out what we like best about creating with and keeping our own memories.

Oddly enough, I was caught up before the weekend but fell behind on the weekend pages! (Somehow, having my husband around throws off my "schedule.") Oh, well. I caught up on the journaling last night and will get some pictures printed today!!
Thanks for the inspiration! Because of you, I took the time to write my 7 month old a Christmas letter.

I love how your album is turning out Ali! I'm doing mine competely digi. I just couldn't find what I wanted in time to do hybrid. I have completed Days 1-5 along with a cover. I really love this project and I hoping to use it as a warm up for Project 365 next year. Next year I am definitely doing hybrid!

Your two children are just so cute and cute together -- love that! Thanks for always sharing as you do; your life, your passion, your art.
Also, our family is wishing yours the best season ever and a happy new year (can't wait to see what the future has in store for all of us)! =)

I have an 18-year old that will head off to college in September. So, this is our last holiday as a "we all live at home family." We have two younger kids that are 4 and 6. It really hit home that he made a comment almost a week ago about this being his last year that he would be home for all the prep, or something like that. To tell you the truth, after I heard "last year at home" I kind of went into my shell and started thinking about all the traditions we had when he was a youngster. This is only my second DD, and I'm so glad I'm doing it. For the stories, for the memories, for the chance to take photos of our everyday life, for being joyful that we can celebrate Christmas. Rejoice in the time you have with your husband and reminisce about your daughter when you're out on your date nights together. Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, Happy Kwanza...whatever it may be, make it a good one.

This is my first December Daily (first album, ever) and I am so, so, so glad I decided to do this. Each day I have to work through some compulsions to perfect, change, "correct" things. But I've mostly succeeded in letting it go, working with my original layout, and moving on.
On Friday, my plans for a spirited, holiday-themed day were derailed, when my mom called me crying because something happened to her knee, and she was in excruciating pain. But instead of pouting about the images I thought I was going to capture that day, I took my camera with me to the hospital and wound up capturing, and documenting, the day as it actually happened. Not some fantasy, but my, real hardcore life. Years from now, I know I'm going to love having a keepsake of that day, more than I will love a picture of a tree. And I wouldn't have done it if it weren't for this project.
Coincidentally, i slammed a knife into my finger and managed to chop off half of my finger nail last night. So the season continues to be filled with comfort and joy, and just plain real stuff, too. And I love being present for the journey. For once.

thanks for this project!! i love it!!!

Hi Ali,
I really love the DD and enjoy the process. The part that I don't enjoy is that my camera is broken. We are planning to buy a new one in the next couple of days. So for right now...I take cell phone pictures and they only come out if there is enough light :( So that part is kind of frustrating.
On the days where I had almost nothing out of the ordinary to do, I go and use Jessica S. Holiday workshop DD ideas and journal about that.

I am using elements. I think I may have finally gotten it. LOL
I got it to at least not warp. But it is enlarged. Is that right? What if I wanted it to stay small? Perhaps I'll try it with the shift key too.

One thing you also might want to check is that the resolution of your photo is 300dpi (the same as the overlay). 
Ali Edwards
blog : http://www.aliedwards.com
email : ali@aliedwardsdesign.com
twitter : http://twitter.com/aliedwards

Thanks Liz :)

Hobby Lobby still carries the sharpie poster paint pens. :-)

Yes and Yes! I am LOVING the process and I did stay up late working on my album to get caught up. This is my 1st time to do an 8x8 album - which is so fun. I am branching out and doing pic sizes like 8x8, 6x8, 4x4, I was so 4x6 ordinary before. I love how you do this - so that for the inspriration! I don't have my pictures in my album as I am using scrapbook pictures to develop them, so my album looks quite incomplete. Last night I purchased the vol 2 december layered template - which is really cool! thank you again for your inspiration!

Hi Ali,
Love your pages. I'm getting there on my December daily, my biggest problem is staying caught up. But I am determined to do this and complete it, so I will get there.

Had a big weekend with our annual Open House to kick off the Christmas holiday party season so rather than catching up I fell behind. But now that we're past the party I hope not only to catch up but to actually STAY caught up. We're having a very different holiday due to the loss of a dear uncle in October, our oldest son moving to Singapore, and our youngest son having to work Christmas Eve & Day. I hope my DD album will help us find the traditions we can still do, discover new ones that work better (at least this one year), and how to cherish all the little everyday things that make December such a special month.

Okay, I just posted 2 above here, but I just wanted to say "thank you" for showing us how to recolor text from the Yesterday Today class. I wanted to go w/ a brighter red for the text on my december 6th page. I changed the shade of red for the "today is December" text from your vol. 2 december template (these are great - if anyone else is interested!) It was sooo easy and now all matches with my brighter red journaling! thank you

i just finished catching up days 1-4 :)
it was fulfilling and inspiring to actually dig in.
i feel relieved to remember, that YES i can do this!
your pages are so fun to look at!
thanks-
a

OMG! SERIOUSLY! How CUTE are your kids!!

Hi Ali,
Well I was going to catch up on last years album this year, and yet I find myelf wanting to document this year too. Its funny cos I don't have kids and I thought I wouldn't want to, but I have decided that my christmas experience is still valid and should be recorded. So here I am taking notes and journalling again for December! Still no pages though....although I had fun shopping for Christmas stuff on the weekend. I have a concept - just need to make it happen...again!