Saturday, November 14, 2009

December Daily

It's only mid November but the shopping malls are already beginning to sport Christmas garlands and lights. In the last few years this is about the time I would begin to feel very anxious. I don't have a large income and at times it's hard enough to make ends meet at normal times never mind the extra expenses that Christmas time brings. I think this is why in the last few years I haven't documented my Christmas at all, I was simply too tired and too stressed.



This year circumstances in the income department, are not really much better. In fact with the economic downturn things are worse. However, I refuse to let a small bank account ruin my Christmas and more importantly my children's Christmas. In the end our memories are about the small things, not the big gifts.



When I was young, my parents could generally afford to give us really nice gifts but that is not what I remember. The memories that stand out the most are the year my Mom and Dad made me a barbie house themselves. I remember the huge family dinners we had at each of my Grandparents place. Another favourite was watching the holiday specials on TV.



My commitment this year is to connect with those small special things that make Christmas so magical. Not just on Christmas Day but all those days leading up to it. Cool no!



And as an avid scrapper I can't let these moments simply slip into oblivion, I want to document them and enjoy that process as well. Many scrapbookers have been involved in a Dec Daily the last few years and some tackle it on their own and others tackle the process with the support of a class. When I decided I wanted to do this I was surprised by the number of classes there are, but I have narrowed it down to two. The first is Shimelle Laine's class Journal your Christmas and the second is Jessica Sprague's class Stories in hand. There are many wonderful classes and I encourage you to shop around.



I was so excited about my decision that I created a Christmas Layout. (Eeeeckkkk did I admit that out loud!) Okay the picture is actually from last holiday season. I know there has been lots of buzz about these classes....is anyone else doing a project like this?




Credits: PP-Holly Joly Mini Kit by Jen Alysson at 2peasinabucket, Swirl Brush- Flourish Borders by MaryAnn Wise at 2peasinabucket, Ornament embellishment by Carina Gardner at 2peasinabucket. The quote is from the Holiday Movie "Elf"

14 comments:

  1. love the quote you've used on your layout. I joint journal your christmas last year but only got a few pages done, maybe i'll do a few again this year :)

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  2. Hi there - I'm one of your classmates in "Blogging for Scrapbookers"! :)

    I've been doing Shimelle's "Journal Your Christmas" since 2005 or 2006 - and yet have to finish my first album as life always got in the way. ;) LOVE Shim's prompts though.

    Have signed up for Jessica Sprague's class too and was thinking of doing the December Daily (Ali Edwards), but given my track record I think it would be too much!! ;)

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  3. Now, if you're looking for good value Shimelle's class can't be beaten! Pay once and you can play every year after that for free. You're right..Christmas doesn't need money spent on it. Have a good one!

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  4. Cute layout! The quote looks especially fitting with that particular photo. :)

    I signed up for Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas last year, but didn't end up getting through it. I don't imagine I will this year either, actually, but the cool thing is that it's always a possibility now that I've got access to the class for ALWAYS! That Shimelle is one cool chick.

    Hoping to get back on board next year.

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  5. I've done Shimelle's class for three years now. All three albums are different, and I really enjoyed making them. I've pulled all my papers together for this year's, but haven't made the cover yet. I love rereading the journals. After the first year, I couldn't imagine doing one every year, but each year is different.

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  6. I'm so excited to see a christmas layout - nice job and thanks for the inspiration!

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  7. Pretty layout. Great attitude about finances and Christmas. I'm in Jessica's class too - excited!

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  8. Love the quote...it goes perfectly on your LO.I'm doing Shimelle and Jessica's classes....hoping to do a bit of combining.

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  9. Yup..the times need to change..back to the basics for christmas..

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  10. sounds so much like my christmas time growing up. With 7 brothers and sisters, the holiday did not focus on gifts under the tree, but rather the gift of being together...

    go you!!

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  11. Gorgeous page and I love the Buddy quote, LOL!

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  12. Very cute LO! I love what you've written here about the memories and relationships vs the presents. Just goes to show what really matters. I hope that you enjoy documenting this season!

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  13. We are going through a bit of a financial strain this year as well - hubby has been out of work since March. I have been ignoring the fact that Christmas is coming and I have no extra money to even begin to do what we normally do for the holidays. Your post has inspired me, though, to focus more on the events, the relationships, and the people and not so much on the things. Thank you!

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  14. see u for shimelle's xmas class
    jo xxx

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