So it’s the 11th December, how is everyone’s festive journals going? Are you doing December journalling this year? Do you have a separate journal or are you just continuing in your every day book? I love to make a separate journal full of festive ephemera and stickers. I used to try so hard to document every day in December, but since I started working in the NHS, that became impossible, and the lead up to Christmas (and sometimes Christmas itself) involves a lot of hours on shift and most of my spare time recovering from those shifts.

Recently, Lisa messaged me to say she and Ade were going to be in Yorkshire for a day or two and asked if I was free to meet up. Luckily, I had been taken off shift in return for attending a training day later in the week – it was meant to be! We met up for a little thrifting shopping trip around Hull. We found lots of bargains, had a lovely coffee, a toastie and a huge catch-up. We have known each other for so long, but have never met in person due to the sheer distance between us. Meeting up made me realise she is the kind of person who will be a lifelong friend, and we need to try and meet more often.

On to my page!

OI used the November kit for this page, backing my photos on to the red and grey coloured cardstock to give depth. I used the vintage journalling spots as a layer behind my photos, I always like to maximise my ephemera so I cut one in half to use behind both larger photos.

I used some ephemera packaging that I liked the look of to make a pocket as between the two of us, we took lots of photos when we met up. I used the washi style strip papers to add depth and layers to my page. The photo strips slotted nicely into the pocket, and made space on the back for my journalling.

Whilst we were shopping, I bought some new loungewear /pyjamas from Primark, so I used the ribbon they were packaged in to add tabs to my photo strips. I love to include junk and things I collect from the day when I am journaling about it – there is something special about doing this, and it does become addictive – almost like a game!

I saw Lisa use the chevron stamp on a page she had created with watercolours, I chose to scribble on some card and do similar. This allows me to add some interest to the pages, and have the chevrons as a common theme on most of my pages in my journal. I also added some texture and interest to the edges of my page by adding the trimming that was included in the kit, and some gingham ribbon that I love in December journalling.

We also exchanged a little bag of crafty goodies, and I used the bag that Lisa gifted me, and the stamps she included – again using things that were relevant to that day.

This is just a reminder that not everything in your December journals needs to be festive – nothing about this day was festive or Christmassy apart from the fact it was in December!

Let me know how you are getting on and whether you are doing a December daily / not-daily or how you are documenting the run up to Christmas.

All the best,

Lauren xx