December Daily 2010 | Simple Tips + Thoughts On The First Of December

December is finally here!

I'll be working on my Day One page this evening and sharing it here tomorrow.

For today I wanted to share a four thoughts on this project:



  • My goal is one story a day. Might be short (even just a photo), might be long. I'm not trying to capture every little thing minute by minute. I want to capture a sense of the season and include stories from our life right now.


  • Individual pages matter less than the whole. This is actually a really big one. Don't judge any single day on it's own...it's the whole that really counts.


  • It's completely normal if your album feels "disjointed" in the beginning. Do not stress about this. Your own photos and words will tie it all together.


  • Have fun. Savor this time of year and take this opportunity to capture a piece of your life.


Ready, set, go!



REVERB 10


A cool thing I came across yesterday (via Tracey Clark on Twitter) is a December prompt series called Reverb 10. The tagline is "reflect on this year & manifest what's next." You can sign up to receive a free daily prompt via email. I looked at the prompts from last year and they are GREAT jumpstarts for storytelling this past year. The prompts from 2009 are listed here.

I love this idea. Even if you can't play along in December the prompts would be awesome as a list to work-through for your own personal scrapbook pages or journaling.


TODAY'S POST IS SPONSORED BY | Cocoa Daisy
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98 thoughts

  1. abbeyviolet says…
    12/01/2010

    My vague attempt at planning out some days seems to already be off the rocks so trying to stick with going with the flow and finding one story each day. Looked at Reverb10 and am signed up. It looks like it might be a feed v. email, but am very glad to play along as was planning to blog DD journaling daily anyway. So excited to see everyone's projects as well as how mine unfolds!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. amy says…
    12/01/2010

    hooray - it's december! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Dana K says…
    12/01/2010

    This my first time doing a December Daily. I've been wanting to do it the past couple of years but just couldn't fit it in. I've got foundation pages for days 1-25. I've got my undecorated chipboard covers that I'll finish sometime thins month or soon after Christmas. I'm not stressing about those. My problem is that we started doing Christmas activities a few days ago. I've taken notes and I have the pictures on a flash drive so I can print them. I just need the time to do those pages. I've now decided to let those pages slide and do my December 1st page today and get to those other pages when I can. I really want to do the page on the actual day. I'm looking forward to see what everyone else's albums look like.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Jill says…
    12/01/2010

    Yay - let the magic begin! I started my holiday daily on Nov 25. Many of my pages are still in progress, but I'm getting them done, chunk of time by chunk of time. I'm loving the process this year - more than the past - and keeping it simple. And man, are there piles of holiday all over my craft room. I love the energy though! Going with the flow feels great. Good luck all - can't wait to see the progress and read stories in the flickr group.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Brooke says…
    12/01/2010

    Just started scrapping a couple months ago, not doing a Dec Daily, but watching to see all the creativity unfold!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Newfie Princess says…
    12/01/2010

    When I was an event coordinator for a university and then a large rec complex I would get frustrated when plan a wasn't working and would worry at night how to MAKE it work. During one of these worry sessions I had a wonderful thought come to my head "They can't miss what they don't know, it's only your plan and vision in your mind, let it go". The can't miss what they don't know has has become a large part of me now and no more worry. I often say "Oh well, what else can I do and turn the mental page and not allow my ego to replay the "what if stories over and over". After reading Ekhart Tolle (Spelling) being in the present moment is what I strive to accomplish every day. It has made a tremendous impact in my day to day life and for those around me. Just sharing my own life lesson.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      12/01/2010

      Totally agree.

  7. ckoesters says…
    12/01/2010

    ALi- so glad to see Dec 1st- and you would not believe what I did last night in 4 hours- I must share that I finished my december daily 2009!Yes, LAST year's DD I finished! It felt SO good! It happened when I found a piece of ephemera from last year- and was about to put it in the same place where my 2009 "stuff" was- and since I had all my 2010 DD supplies out- I used the leftovers to finish up a half-started album that I had just "sloted" photos semi-chronologically so I can't tell you how excited I am to have caught up.
    And I kept saying "Perfect is pretty, but finished is beautifuL!" that was a comment from someone else yesterday. Now I have a 2007, 08, 09 and that was a big ol yay for me. By the way: I traded a nap, and watching mad men and an hour of sleep. And the accomplishment feels way better than the hour of sleep would've!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Susi says…
    12/01/2010

    Happy December 1st everyone! I am also very excited about my first December Daily Album. I've followed along every year, but my sons are now adults and I don't have any grandchildren yet. This year I choose to participate in DD anyway and have planned some activities to bring the joy back into this magical holiday season again. I am so grateful for this Ali and for all of the ideas I've found in the many comments by your wonderful followers.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Ellie says…
    12/01/2010

    I am so happy I am doing this. Thank you so much for being so encouraging. I have made my accent for the day and when my boys get home I will gather them and my little girl and ask what they did today for Advent at school and take it from there and a few picture and I will put it together and Giggle tonight! Yay for December!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. gudrun says…
    12/01/2010

    This is the day - 1st of december. :)
    My album-foundation is not finished, but I'm so looking forward to start this project anyway, and can't wait to see what you create. :)
    Have a wonderful advent and december Ali.
    hugs
    gudrun

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Pam says…
    12/01/2010

    Even tho I live alone, I love doing this project. It really helps me to focus on the joy and giving of the season. I'll be spending Christmas week with family, but have to create my own celebrations the rest of the month. Thanks for this project, Ali. It gets me out of myself!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. kris gilbert says…
    12/01/2010

    This is my 3rd year doing the December Daily & I pulled the other two out with our Christmas decorations the other evening. I loved watching my 13 yr old son go through it & remember our weekend trip to NYC in 08 or our "funny" Christmas tree last year that nobody liked but me. It's all in those little albums that bring so much joy! I even kept my grocery receipt from my Christmas week shopping so that in 10 years we'll really have a perspective!
    Enjoy the process of this! It's amazing!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      12/01/2010

      Love including receipts :).

  13. Pam says…
    12/01/2010

    Even those who dislike the holidays tend to have one or two favorite things about it - just ask. Sit down with your family and ask, "What do you want to do this year? What do you want to skip?" You'll be surprised at what your family finds important.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Bonnie says…
    12/01/2010

    Hi Ali.

    I just wanted to say Happy December Daily 2010! I smiled this morning when I imagined all of the people joining the project today. That's lots of positive energy you've created and I am grateful. My first photo, snow on my patio chairs and table. Our first snow of the year. So nice of mother nature to join in too! Big hugs and thank you so very, very much.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. NancyN says…
    12/01/2010

    I am excited to do this project. What better way to start than celebrating my sister's birthday!

    I have a dd with executive function disorder. Everyday isn't perfect and there are times we have to deal with challenges. Last week I ended up taking to the Educational Consultant at my dd's former school. She made a very interesting observation. In the taking 2 steps forward and the 1 step backwards, she said that it "isn't regression, but, a regrouping." I look back and after every challenging time comes a period of significant growth in my dd. I have learned (and still need to remind myself often) that what is "normal" is what is happening at my house. I don't look at others and feel that I should do the same. Different is okay. I need to adjust my expectations, home, and enviroment so that my dd can be successful. If that means Christmas cards with no photos one year because of her unwillingness, it means that I come up with another idea. No biggie, life still goes on and I need to feel good about what we can do.

    Again, I am excited. This is my first year doing this and I've wanted to do it for a couple of years now.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Jana D says…
    12/01/2010

    December 1st has always been the beginning of the Christmas season to me. Since I have had children, the last of which was born on January 4, the season is now extended to include January 6. The 12th day of Christmas. Sort of worked out for me. Anyway. Thanks for continuing to inspire us to capture the Season in pictures and words. This is the first year I have vowed to do it daily. Wish me luck. I know I'll get behind, but I will try to blog a bit everyday. I think that will help when I need to catch up with the paper/glue end of things.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Kelsey says…
    12/01/2010

    I am not sure if this question has already been answered and I would love to be able to read through every post and comment, but I just don't have the time. I was wondering if you ever write something before the month starts and then after its over? I was thinking of doing something of a preface/epilogue style. Any thoughts?

    PS: thanks for your wonderful blog. I brightens my day when I see a new post from you in my google reader.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. December Daily 2010 | 6×8 Title Page Free Download | Ali Edwards says…
    12/01/2010

    [...] Don’t miss my simple tips in today’s earlier post: Simple Tips & Thoughts On The First Of December [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Raylene says…
    12/01/2010

    I've just done some journaling in a Word file, entitled the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I'm not sure how I will add this to my final Dec Daily book, but I'm going to record it all anyhow. It might just serve as a vent -- you know the Bad & Ugly parts! LOL I feel better already! Then I took some photos that will go with the journaling. A good start, I think!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Dedra Long says…
    12/01/2010

    I'm here at work and I can't wait to get home to document the story for today. This truly is the most wonderful time of year and it will be priceless looking back on it in the years to come. This is something I will be doing every year, no question.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Jenn says…
    12/01/2010

    I'm so happy December is finally here! This is my first ever December Daily and I am so excited to start! Although I really have no idea what to expect from myself and this album, I have taken the attitude that I am not stressing about it. I am just going with the flow and whatever happens happens.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Judy Webb says…
    12/01/2010

    I feel very comfortable NOT doing a Daily page. But I do enjoy the enthusiasm of those with small children and an active family. I am doing a Debby schuh "pennies from heaven" mothly blessings album. After all, my husband is 84 and I am 71. Not even little grands or greats living near by. I love looking at everyone's pages and their scrapping talent. Carry on ladies and I will be watching.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams says…
    12/01/2010

    I'm doing a digital version of Dec. Daily - so excited to follow along with everyone's stories!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Karina says…
    12/01/2010

    This too will be my firs year doing a DD. I was inspired by a flickr friend and we'll be taking the journey together - keeping eachother on track so as not to let our perfectionism get in the way of what this project is supposed to be about. I am so excited to get started. My cover in finally finished just last night, and the inside foundation pages are also done and mostly embellished. Now on to the fun part of capturing the story of our life. Thanks to everyone for such wonderful ideas on how to approach this fun project.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. scrappysue says…
    12/01/2010

    i was so totally excited for dec 1st (album made, pages ready) - and when the day arrived, i felt so overwhelmed. i'd taken on a full-time contract for 2 weeks and was out 2 nights in a row and feeling very disconnected from my home.

    i'm also torn now, between taking LOTS of photos every day - like a photo diary, printing one for the page and adding others in decorated envelope pages (someone did some great embellished envelopes on flickr), and how much to journal.

    i see ali has said pick one story and don't try to detail every moment of the day, and that the start of the month will feel scattered. ali - you know us so well!

    i think i'm just going to try and go with it. maybe venture to the store next week to get some photos printed and see what happens from there.

    i want to get photos printed a couple of times during dec, but this means braving the traffic and crowds (in SUMMER!) but i don't want to get so far behind either.

    HELP!!! :)

    Reply 0 Replies

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