In 2007 I did a project for the holiday season called "25 Days Until Christmas."
A woman named Sophia posted a blogging challenge over at Two Peas in a Bucket. Here's her blogging challenge from 2007:
Here's a little blogging inspiration for the next few weeks while we count down until the big day! This year, rather than one big meme about Christmas, use the questions below as a prompt. Answer one each day of December. It doesn't have to be your entire entry, add it to whatever you are posting. I'm posting them on this first day of December and will answer one on each designated day. I will also ask each day in the month. A little holiday cheer each day! By all means, share photos to go along!
1. Colored lights or white lights on your house or not at all? 2. Hot chocolate or Egg Nog? 3. What's your favorite holiday dish? 4. Does Santa wrap the presents or just sit them under the tree? 5. Do you hang mistletoe? 6. When do you put up your decorations? 7. What's your favorite holiday tradition? 8. What's on the top of your tree? 9. Do you have a nativity displayed through the holidays? 10. Candy Canes, traditional or flavored? Or Chocolate Covered Cherries? 11. What's your favorite holiday goodie to make and share? 12. What's your favorite Christmas song? 13.When did you learn the truth about the "magic" of Christmas? 14. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? 15. Is there a special ornament or Christmas decoration that you wouldn't feel like Christmas without? 16.Do you take neighbor gifts/treats to anyone, everyone, a select few? 17. Is your big meal on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning or Christmas afternoon? 18. How do you decorate your tree? 19. Snow? Love it? Dread it? Tolerate it? 20. Do you remember a favorite gift? 21.Do you have a family get-together during the holidays with extended family? 22.What's the most important thing that you must do each Christmas season? 23. Do you bake Christmas cookies? 24. Do you leave cookies and milk for Santa? 25.What's your favorite Christmas memory?
Back in 2007, this gave me an insane idea! What about creating a Christmas album? A page a day for the next twenty-five days, answering each one of these questions! I challenged my readers (all twelve of them) to play along and I managed to keep up with the project, which really impressed me at the time. I was not a daily art maker then, so it was a struggle.
Anyway, I thought I'd share a few of the twenty-five scrapbook pages I made back in 2007:
And not to get all sermony on you. But. My scrapbooking style has changed a lot since I made these pages, but I still LOVE reading the journaling. I know it can be hard to journal, but I think it's really really really really really important to do it! And my favorite thing about this project? So many "family lore" stories were put down on paper. I want to do more of that. All of those stories that get told, all of those family traditions, all of those wonderful tales — I need to get them written down.
How about you?
Love this idea and your pages. So cool.
Love this idea and your pages. So cool.
Love this idea and your pages. So cool.
Love this idea and your pages. So cool.
Or you could come and do Journal Your Christmas with Shimelle.
Or you could come and do Journal Your Christmas with Shimelle.
Or you could come and do Journal Your Christmas with Shimelle.
Or you could come and do Journal Your Christmas with Shimelle.
I love this idea! 🙂
I love this idea! 🙂
I love this idea! 🙂
I love this idea! 🙂
You know what Julie? I think you’re absolutely right – the older I get, the more I want to record the stuff that “makes” us a family so we don’t forget!
Thank heavens I blog!!
You know what Julie? I think you’re absolutely right – the older I get, the more I want to record the stuff that “makes” us a family so we don’t forget!
Thank heavens I blog!!
You know what Julie? I think you’re absolutely right – the older I get, the more I want to record the stuff that “makes” us a family so we don’t forget!
Thank heavens I blog!!
You know what Julie? I think you’re absolutely right – the older I get, the more I want to record the stuff that “makes” us a family so we don’t forget!
Thank heavens I blog!!
This is a great idea, thanks for sharing.
This is a great idea, thanks for sharing.
This is a great idea, thanks for sharing.
This is a great idea, thanks for sharing.
I like the simplicity of the first one of them, Julie
Just had a closer look to see who those very serious looking children were, and its you! and your little brother. Funny how we tend to think of only long ago photos as being serious, or the people in them ie – and yet we often are, if its not a ‘posed’ shot. Lovely colors and ideas in them, interesting how styles change over time…
I always remember the leadup to midnight mass, the smell of the incense, being so tired but still alert, the excitement of something good just round the corner… and the sound of crinkling paper and secrets, the hiding of treasure in my mothers wardrobe…
have a good rest of it… cant believe its that close, I’d rather have a christmas -free christmas at times, to be true… cannot stand all the hullabaloo and pressure to spend that it often carries with it actually. If we can relate to each other peacefully and share some time and meals together, and do good things like make art, and share some new books, and ideas for the future, and play music as well, thats ok though!
In the southern hemisphere its more about sun than snow, usually, we hang out for a swim at the river or line up to get into the pool! hopefully not too melting but maybe just right warmth would be good…
enjoy the start of it!
I like the simplicity of the first one of them, Julie
Just had a closer look to see who those very serious looking children were, and its you! and your little brother. Funny how we tend to think of only long ago photos as being serious, or the people in them ie – and yet we often are, if its not a ‘posed’ shot. Lovely colors and ideas in them, interesting how styles change over time…
I always remember the leadup to midnight mass, the smell of the incense, being so tired but still alert, the excitement of something good just round the corner… and the sound of crinkling paper and secrets, the hiding of treasure in my mothers wardrobe…
have a good rest of it… cant believe its that close, I’d rather have a christmas -free christmas at times, to be true… cannot stand all the hullabaloo and pressure to spend that it often carries with it actually. If we can relate to each other peacefully and share some time and meals together, and do good things like make art, and share some new books, and ideas for the future, and play music as well, thats ok though!
In the southern hemisphere its more about sun than snow, usually, we hang out for a swim at the river or line up to get into the pool! hopefully not too melting but maybe just right warmth would be good…
enjoy the start of it!
I like the simplicity of the first one of them, Julie
Just had a closer look to see who those very serious looking children were, and its you! and your little brother. Funny how we tend to think of only long ago photos as being serious, or the people in them ie – and yet we often are, if its not a ‘posed’ shot. Lovely colors and ideas in them, interesting how styles change over time…
I always remember the leadup to midnight mass, the smell of the incense, being so tired but still alert, the excitement of something good just round the corner… and the sound of crinkling paper and secrets, the hiding of treasure in my mothers wardrobe…
have a good rest of it… cant believe its that close, I’d rather have a christmas -free christmas at times, to be true… cannot stand all the hullabaloo and pressure to spend that it often carries with it actually. If we can relate to each other peacefully and share some time and meals together, and do good things like make art, and share some new books, and ideas for the future, and play music as well, thats ok though!
In the southern hemisphere its more about sun than snow, usually, we hang out for a swim at the river or line up to get into the pool! hopefully not too melting but maybe just right warmth would be good…
enjoy the start of it!
I like the simplicity of the first one of them, Julie
Just had a closer look to see who those very serious looking children were, and its you! and your little brother. Funny how we tend to think of only long ago photos as being serious, or the people in them ie – and yet we often are, if its not a ‘posed’ shot. Lovely colors and ideas in them, interesting how styles change over time…
I always remember the leadup to midnight mass, the smell of the incense, being so tired but still alert, the excitement of something good just round the corner… and the sound of crinkling paper and secrets, the hiding of treasure in my mothers wardrobe…
have a good rest of it… cant believe its that close, I’d rather have a christmas -free christmas at times, to be true… cannot stand all the hullabaloo and pressure to spend that it often carries with it actually. If we can relate to each other peacefully and share some time and meals together, and do good things like make art, and share some new books, and ideas for the future, and play music as well, thats ok though!
In the southern hemisphere its more about sun than snow, usually, we hang out for a swim at the river or line up to get into the pool! hopefully not too melting but maybe just right warmth would be good…
enjoy the start of it!
What a great and do-able idea! I’m going to use these prompts to continue in my daily journal now that we’ve come to the (sniff) end of your 30 Days class. Thanks for all you share with us, Julie–your art and your heart. Blessings at the holidays and always!
What a great and do-able idea! I’m going to use these prompts to continue in my daily journal now that we’ve come to the (sniff) end of your 30 Days class. Thanks for all you share with us, Julie–your art and your heart. Blessings at the holidays and always!
What a great and do-able idea! I’m going to use these prompts to continue in my daily journal now that we’ve come to the (sniff) end of your 30 Days class. Thanks for all you share with us, Julie–your art and your heart. Blessings at the holidays and always!
What a great and do-able idea! I’m going to use these prompts to continue in my daily journal now that we’ve come to the (sniff) end of your 30 Days class. Thanks for all you share with us, Julie–your art and your heart. Blessings at the holidays and always!
So you think journaling is important I take it Julie. LOL
I love the pages that you shared with us and think that I will use the questions to play in my art journal each day until Christmas.
So you think journaling is important I take it Julie. LOL
I love the pages that you shared with us and think that I will use the questions to play in my art journal each day until Christmas.
So you think journaling is important I take it Julie. LOL
I love the pages that you shared with us and think that I will use the questions to play in my art journal each day until Christmas.
So you think journaling is important I take it Julie. LOL
I love the pages that you shared with us and think that I will use the questions to play in my art journal each day until Christmas.
Great idea! Your style has evolved, but those pages are still very “you”. Love them! And thank you for sharing Sophia’s prompts. 2007 seems “pre-blogging” to this late bloomer–I’m sure there are treasures upon treasures out in cyber space!
Great idea! Your style has evolved, but those pages are still very “you”. Love them! And thank you for sharing Sophia’s prompts. 2007 seems “pre-blogging” to this late bloomer–I’m sure there are treasures upon treasures out in cyber space!
Great idea! Your style has evolved, but those pages are still very “you”. Love them! And thank you for sharing Sophia’s prompts. 2007 seems “pre-blogging” to this late bloomer–I’m sure there are treasures upon treasures out in cyber space!
Great idea! Your style has evolved, but those pages are still very “you”. Love them! And thank you for sharing Sophia’s prompts. 2007 seems “pre-blogging” to this late bloomer–I’m sure there are treasures upon treasures out in cyber space!
Love your pages! I started a journal of family stories for my daughter who loves all things ancestry!I was just writing them down but now I’m trying to incorporate some pictures; paint, templates etc. Your pages give me so much inspiration!
Love your pages! I started a journal of family stories for my daughter who loves all things ancestry!I was just writing them down but now I’m trying to incorporate some pictures; paint, templates etc. Your pages give me so much inspiration!
Love your pages! I started a journal of family stories for my daughter who loves all things ancestry!I was just writing them down but now I’m trying to incorporate some pictures; paint, templates etc. Your pages give me so much inspiration!
Love your pages! I started a journal of family stories for my daughter who loves all things ancestry!I was just writing them down but now I’m trying to incorporate some pictures; paint, templates etc. Your pages give me so much inspiration!
Thanks for the list of the 25 questions. I have always wanted to do a December Daily ala Ali Edwards style but my children are all grown up so I thought what am I going to do on each page?? Now I have the solution. Need to get cracking on putting that mini-album together today. Thanks for the nudge.
Aloha, Kate
Thanks for the list of the 25 questions. I have always wanted to do a December Daily ala Ali Edwards style but my children are all grown up so I thought what am I going to do on each page?? Now I have the solution. Need to get cracking on putting that mini-album together today. Thanks for the nudge.
Aloha, Kate
Thanks for the list of the 25 questions. I have always wanted to do a December Daily ala Ali Edwards style but my children are all grown up so I thought what am I going to do on each page?? Now I have the solution. Need to get cracking on putting that mini-album together today. Thanks for the nudge.
Aloha, Kate
Thanks for the list of the 25 questions. I have always wanted to do a December Daily ala Ali Edwards style but my children are all grown up so I thought what am I going to do on each page?? Now I have the solution. Need to get cracking on putting that mini-album together today. Thanks for the nudge.
Aloha, Kate
Love your pages, Julie. I’ve blogged since 2006 and remember having a bit of a debate with a sketch-type art journaler who refused to accept my belief that art journaling and scrapbooking would morph up a unique hybrid of documentation. I just wish she could see your pages here. Great reminder that anything’s okay as long as it is authentique. xoxo
Love your pages, Julie. I’ve blogged since 2006 and remember having a bit of a debate with a sketch-type art journaler who refused to accept my belief that art journaling and scrapbooking would morph up a unique hybrid of documentation. I just wish she could see your pages here. Great reminder that anything’s okay as long as it is authentique. xoxo
Love your pages, Julie. I’ve blogged since 2006 and remember having a bit of a debate with a sketch-type art journaler who refused to accept my belief that art journaling and scrapbooking would morph up a unique hybrid of documentation. I just wish she could see your pages here. Great reminder that anything’s okay as long as it is authentique. xoxo
Love your pages, Julie. I’ve blogged since 2006 and remember having a bit of a debate with a sketch-type art journaler who refused to accept my belief that art journaling and scrapbooking would morph up a unique hybrid of documentation. I just wish she could see your pages here. Great reminder that anything’s okay as long as it is authentique. xoxo
I believe in the story too! I am doing my first ever Daily December a la Ali Edwards and I definitely plan to tell the stories. I love your questions! They are great ideas for those days when it all just seems to much — EXCELLENT prompts!
I believe in the story too! I am doing my first ever Daily December a la Ali Edwards and I definitely plan to tell the stories. I love your questions! They are great ideas for those days when it all just seems to much — EXCELLENT prompts!
I believe in the story too! I am doing my first ever Daily December a la Ali Edwards and I definitely plan to tell the stories. I love your questions! They are great ideas for those days when it all just seems to much — EXCELLENT prompts!
I believe in the story too! I am doing my first ever Daily December a la Ali Edwards and I definitely plan to tell the stories. I love your questions! They are great ideas for those days when it all just seems to much — EXCELLENT prompts!
My kids are all grown and gone. even the grandkids are are off and on’t need ol’ grandma anymore. For a few years i just got so tired of all the “to do’s” of Christmas. Now i want to just go down memory lane, even if no one but I every look at the pages. Your pages are wonderful, julie.
My kids are all grown and gone. even the grandkids are are off and on’t need ol’ grandma anymore. For a few years i just got so tired of all the “to do’s” of Christmas. Now i want to just go down memory lane, even if no one but I every look at the pages. Your pages are wonderful, julie.
My kids are all grown and gone. even the grandkids are are off and on’t need ol’ grandma anymore. For a few years i just got so tired of all the “to do’s” of Christmas. Now i want to just go down memory lane, even if no one but I every look at the pages. Your pages are wonderful, julie.
My kids are all grown and gone. even the grandkids are are off and on’t need ol’ grandma anymore. For a few years i just got so tired of all the “to do’s” of Christmas. Now i want to just go down memory lane, even if no one but I every look at the pages. Your pages are wonderful, julie.
Julie, it is so funny! You are the only person I know besides my husband who hates mint!! BUT – he also hates candy canes, so you aren’t the same. . .
Julie, it is so funny! You are the only person I know besides my husband who hates mint!! BUT – he also hates candy canes, so you aren’t the same. . .
Julie, it is so funny! You are the only person I know besides my husband who hates mint!! BUT – he also hates candy canes, so you aren’t the same. . .
Julie, it is so funny! You are the only person I know besides my husband who hates mint!! BUT – he also hates candy canes, so you aren’t the same. . .
Julie, this is so wonderful. This is what I wanted to do this year. More of the stories and traditions and even from my childhood. Thanks for sharing all these prompts, it will be great for my Merry December art journal.
I love seeing your layouts, so cool and fun just like they are now. Such cuties you and your brother were, precious memories.
So is this what you will be doing this year or another version of it.
Julie, this is so wonderful. This is what I wanted to do this year. More of the stories and traditions and even from my childhood. Thanks for sharing all these prompts, it will be great for my Merry December art journal.
I love seeing your layouts, so cool and fun just like they are now. Such cuties you and your brother were, precious memories.
So is this what you will be doing this year or another version of it.
Julie, this is so wonderful. This is what I wanted to do this year. More of the stories and traditions and even from my childhood. Thanks for sharing all these prompts, it will be great for my Merry December art journal.
I love seeing your layouts, so cool and fun just like they are now. Such cuties you and your brother were, precious memories.
So is this what you will be doing this year or another version of it.
Julie, this is so wonderful. This is what I wanted to do this year. More of the stories and traditions and even from my childhood. Thanks for sharing all these prompts, it will be great for my Merry December art journal.
I love seeing your layouts, so cool and fun just like they are now. Such cuties you and your brother were, precious memories.
So is this what you will be doing this year or another version of it.
Ok Julie, I’m gonna give it a try. The questions make it so much easier. I’m going to start pulling some pictures and updating my blog with the info. Thanks for the reminder and no, you aren’t preachy.
Ok Julie, I’m gonna give it a try. The questions make it so much easier. I’m going to start pulling some pictures and updating my blog with the info. Thanks for the reminder and no, you aren’t preachy.
Ok Julie, I’m gonna give it a try. The questions make it so much easier. I’m going to start pulling some pictures and updating my blog with the info. Thanks for the reminder and no, you aren’t preachy.
Ok Julie, I’m gonna give it a try. The questions make it so much easier. I’m going to start pulling some pictures and updating my blog with the info. Thanks for the reminder and no, you aren’t preachy.
Hey Julie, thanks for posting this. such a great idea. Even if it’s just a couple of sentences, it can be really fun to read later. I printed these and may not do them daily but as a group. Jane
Hey Julie, thanks for posting this. such a great idea. Even if it’s just a couple of sentences, it can be really fun to read later. I printed these and may not do them daily but as a group. Jane
Hey Julie, thanks for posting this. such a great idea. Even if it’s just a couple of sentences, it can be really fun to read later. I printed these and may not do them daily but as a group. Jane
Hey Julie, thanks for posting this. such a great idea. Even if it’s just a couple of sentences, it can be really fun to read later. I printed these and may not do them daily but as a group. Jane
Thanks for sharing this post Julie! I’ve decided to use each prompt to come up with a daily FB status for December. Did ‘thankfuls’ all of November.
I’m also starting my 4th December Daily. I do love the collection that’s accumulating. I will also be art journaling and I have Project Life pages for the second year. So Christmas will be widely covered!
Thanks for sharing this post Julie! I’ve decided to use each prompt to come up with a daily FB status for December. Did ‘thankfuls’ all of November.
I’m also starting my 4th December Daily. I do love the collection that’s accumulating. I will also be art journaling and I have Project Life pages for the second year. So Christmas will be widely covered!
Thanks for sharing this post Julie! I’ve decided to use each prompt to come up with a daily FB status for December. Did ‘thankfuls’ all of November.
I’m also starting my 4th December Daily. I do love the collection that’s accumulating. I will also be art journaling and I have Project Life pages for the second year. So Christmas will be widely covered!
Thanks for sharing this post Julie! I’ve decided to use each prompt to come up with a daily FB status for December. Did ‘thankfuls’ all of November.
I’m also starting my 4th December Daily. I do love the collection that’s accumulating. I will also be art journaling and I have Project Life pages for the second year. So Christmas will be widely covered!
Thank you for posting this again, its just my speed! Happy holidays!
Thank you for posting this again, its just my speed! Happy holidays!
Thank you for posting this again, its just my speed! Happy holidays!
Thank you for posting this again, its just my speed! Happy holidays!
Those are wonderful pages!!! And you are so right! Let’s get our thoughts and stories put on paper!
Those are wonderful pages!!! And you are so right! Let’s get our thoughts and stories put on paper!
Those are wonderful pages!!! And you are so right! Let’s get our thoughts and stories put on paper!
Those are wonderful pages!!! And you are so right! Let’s get our thoughts and stories put on paper!
Love the pages!
Love the pages!
Love the pages!
Love the pages!
totally cool pages and love the idea!
totally cool pages and love the idea!
totally cool pages and love the idea!
totally cool pages and love the idea!
Thanks for this wonderful post.
Thanks for this wonderful post.
Thanks for this wonderful post.
Thanks for this wonderful post.
I will be doing my regular daily journal this December. Nothing fancy. 🙂
I will be doing my regular daily journal this December. Nothing fancy. 🙂
I will be doing my regular daily journal this December. Nothing fancy. 🙂
I will be doing my regular daily journal this December. Nothing fancy. 🙂