Day 22 - Still to do

Here's my current to do list - Xmas related, but I've also got a mound of packing to do for our trip to Torquay, so there's also another long list related to that!

Day 21 - Today

I'm a bit behind with uploading as I've got this horrid cold that is doing the rounds. Hope I feel better by Tuesday.

This is an honest description of the house today!

Day 20 - Tale of the unexpected

Today's prompt was to talk about something unexpected that had happened - maybe a card or a visitor. I have an idea for this prompt, it's about a card that was addressed to Steve only, and for the life of us we can't work out who it's from! I may use that for today's prompt, but for now I'm going to wait and see if anything else unexpected happens!

Day 19 - A Letter to Santa

This is what I wrote:

"Dear Santa, I hope you've had a good year and are ready for the big day next week. Sorry I haven't written earlier but I have been very busy getting ready myself.

I have been very lucky to get an early Xmas present - my Cricut Expression - and so I'm just looking forward to seeing everyone else open their presents.

There are a couple of things I would like help with - that everyone has a relaxing and stress free time, we all have a healthy 2008 and that it doesn't rain too much in the Summer Holidays.

Thank you

Fay xx"

Day 18 - Food Glorious Food

Today's prompt is all about what I'm going to eat on Xmas Day. As I'm not cooking, I don't actually know, but I guess Roast Turkey & Beef with all the trimmings. I'm so lucky that Marg does all the food planning, prep and cooking over Xmas. She's such a fantastic cook and Xmas wouldn't be Xmas without her Xmas dinner. I cannot thank her enough for taking on the onerous task of keeping on top of the food over Xmas - big kisses and hugs to her xxxxx

Day 17 - I saw this and I thought of you

Today's prompt was about finding that perfect present for someone. I am really pleased with what I've bought Eve this year (my 9 year old sister). We always try to do something crafty together when I go to Torquay, so thought this sewing machine would be great. I've altered a little suitcase I bought and have put a sewing kit in it, along with some fabric and basic sewing patterns.

Day 16 - Grateful

What am I grateful for? Quite a few things, but these are those that came to mind first over Christmas. More instructions today for a simple, quick page. I've used sequins and brads for accents.

Day 15 - Guests

Who do I see over Xmas? Do I have visitors or do I do the visiting? Shimelle gave instructions for a simple and quick page today. I've used another Rhonna Farrer digi background.

Day 14 - Fa la la la la

Today's all about Xmas music, which I LOVE!!! I've kept the page simple, used a Rhonna Farrer digi page, typed on some words, wrote out my journaling and added some glitter pen

It's come out a bit dark

Day 13 - Present Giving

The prompt today is about how the presents get from under the tree to their recipient. Well ours don't go under the tree for a start - the girls' are in their santa sacks, and Steve and I pull ours out of their hiding places. As we're not at home for Xmas, we don't have a tree in our bedroom to put them under. Generally our present giving is a bit ad-hoc and en-masse. I think I'd like to start a new tradition here and am going to give it some thought.

The quote at the bottom of the page reads "Love is what's in the room with you at Xmas, if you stop opening presents and listen." I've been wanting to use that quote since starting the journal!!

Day 12 - Memories of Xmas Past

Remembering past Xmas's is always going to be difficult for me, as I will always remember mum. So with today's prompt I have decided to complete the LO, but have left the 3 journaling tabs blank. I want to take some time to reflect on the past ad really remember the good times. I may not come back to this page until after Xmas and maybe get some of the family's input.

Day 11 - Oh Christmas Tree

The prompt today was all about the Christmas Tree. I've journalled about how our tree has changed since having the girls - fom a real tree to an artifical one, new colour schemes each year to a steadily evolving one. Shimelle asked us to include one of her pet hates - wire dec hangers - so I've added some paperclips to represent them.

Day 10 - All The Trimmings

Today's prompt was to keep it simple and quick. and use the paper I'm planning to use to wrap my Xmas Presents. I love wrapping up presents - well, I used to. It would be one of my Xmas highlights, having lots of lovely co-ordinated trimmings and I'd take my time to wrap each present beautifully. Now, I just don't have that much time to spend. I'm really pleased that the paper I've chosen this year matches the tree decor (quite by chance) - red & white

Day 9 - Traditions

Today, I have documented our family traditions and Shimelle's artisitic challenge was to include some hidden journaling, so I have kept it quite simple and journaled inside an envelope I've made and stuck it onto a background. Both sets of paper are Rhona Farrer digi papers.

The colours are more beige than in the photo.

Day 8 - Do You See What I See ...

I'm posting a day late as I wasn't able to complete my page when the prompt arrived yesterday. It's about looking at what is changing around me, now that Xmas is approaching - so I need to take lots of festive photos. I've still not taken everything I want to, so I will be back to post a picture soon.

Day 7 - A To-Do List

Time to get organised - today's prompt was to focus on my Xmas Shopping and document what I've got left to do. I've also done some journaling on the tag to reflect my views on giving and receiving.

"I enjoy giving and receiving gifts. I love finding that perfect gift for someone, but do get despondant when I don't - I'm not good at buying just anything. Dad is my perennial problem - he has everything, but the simple things, like a bottle of wine, just don't seem enough.

I do generally like the presents that I'm given, but that's mostly because it's what I've asked for.

I'm enjoying buying for Lily & Mia more and more as they're able to tell me what they want!"

The colours haven't come out well on the photo - might try to do another one in the moring.

Day 6 - Memories Good and Not so Good

Today I was asked to think about my Xmas memories, the ones that were good and the ones that were not so good. As my Xmas's have been pretty good in the main, my journaling is as follows:

Naughty - "My memory is of Mum retelling this story as I don't actually remember it myself. It is of one Xmas Eve when Lee & I (I guess we were approx 7 & 5) got up in the middle of the night and opened all of our Xmas presents. Mum spent the rest of the night re-wrapping our presents so that we had somethig to open in the morning."

Nice - "The memory that stands out is when I was heavily pregnant with Lily. My last Xmas before becoming a mum. My expectation of what lay ahead was so strong. I couldn't get involved in too many festivities, but I was well looked after. Sadly, it was also the last Xmas with Mum - ironic."

Day 5 - Counting Down

Today I had to think about how the family counts down to Xmas. This year I have made the girls an advent calender from matchboxes and I'm hoping that this will become part of our Xmas traditions.

Day 4 - Time to Daydream

Today I was asked to daydream about my perfect xmas. I'm pretty lucky in that all of my xmas's have been pretty perfect in their own little way, so I took the opportunity to think about aspirational elements and took my photos from websites such as Country Living magazine.

The page is 6x12 folded to fit in my 8x8 covers, so there is a front and inside page to it.

I ran into a few problems today, which went against everything Shimelle had asked me NOT to do - get stressed. The layout took me much longer than I would have liked as I spent ages looking for photos on the internet, I re did some journaling and then spent ages trying to find a decent light in the house to take a photo by.

Lessons learnt - to stay away from the computer as much as possible when scrapping (I only end up messing about otherwise) and to take photos the following day if I haven't been able to complete the page before it gets dark.

Hope to do better tomorrow.

Day 3 - Xmas Cards

Today I had to consider my thoughts on Xmas Cards. Do I make or buy them? When do I send them? How many?

This year I have handmade a few, and so have included one on my layout. I really liked Shimelle's LO, so I decided to scraplift it.

Day 2 - The Weather

Day 2 is to talk about the season we celebrate Xmas in, and therefore it's winter in the UK. I've taken a photo of a sprayed on snowflake on the window whilst it was raining outside.

Day 1 - Document your Manifesto

Well, it's Dec 1st (actually it's the 2nd, but I'm a day behind blogging!) and Shim's first prompt arrived in my mailbox at 8am.

The prompt was to get me to write an intro to my journal, a forward, a manifesto, a declaration as to why I have undertaken this project.

Although I was given a sample manifesto, I decided to use with the declaration from the 2006 class. It reads:

"Starting Dec 1st, I will keep a Christmas journal. In it, I will write something everyday to reflect on the holidays of my past, enjoy the holidays of the present and dream about the holidays of the future. To some this will be a stack of paper and scribbles, but not to me. I am taking back my Christmas. I am letting it be something I relish and most importantly I am giving myself time everyday no matter how crazy this season becomes. I hope you will share, encourage and understand as I make something with my own hands, my own words and my memories."

My Journal Cover

During November I decided to sign up for Shimelle's Journal your Xmas online class. It is designed to help me document the holiday season for me, Steve and the Girls. The class starts December 1st and goes through to the 6th of January—the twelfth day of Christmas. Every day, I will receive a prompt with a theme for that day’s page, writing to get me started and pictures of pages from a range of artists, all designed to let me decide if I want to take my time to make something original and from scratch or work quickly by borrowing ideas from others.

Whilst waiting for the class to start I decided to make my journal covers.

It's made from strong shipboad, covered in Pomegranate Bazzil, KI Memories Lace and white velvet ribbon. I plan to use book rings to bind it together.