I have been documenting December annually, but not quite consistently, since 2010. When I finally got caught up with all of my December Daily projects at the end of 2022, I thought I had turned a corner. Then my 2022, 2023, and 2024 albums all had smooth starts that petered out once the season got busy.
For 2025 I made a deal with myself. I would try documenting December with a single double-page layout. If I later regretted my decision, I would purchase the 2026 kit and start a habit of using new supplies to scrapbook the previous year. This would allow me to capitalize on the momentum I typically have in November.
At the end of this post, I’ll share my plans. In the meantime, let’s break down the whole process of creating this epic Christmas scrapbook spread.
Designing the Layout
My goal was to capture the interactive vibes of December Daily, but scaled down for a double-page spread. I wanted to use as much stash as possible, but I also felt like I needed a design anchor.
The only thing I purchased for this project was this Vintage Vellum & Cardstock Tag Die Cut Pack from the 2025 December Daily collection. I was proud of my restraint, because of course it’s all gorgeous and super fun.
I was particularly eager to revisit some of the products and tools that helped turn me into a paper scrapbooker. In this photo below you can see the stamp set I had used for many of my numbers in 2011. There’s also a peek at a Starbucks holiday sleeve, which has been a feature of every project since the beginning!
As with most of my projects, I’m always thinking in layers. I started with some of the largest pieces to start building the grid, then filled in gaps with vellum pieces. Once I had an overall structure, I started identifying pieces (i.e. homes for stories) I already had as well as making new ones.
For example, the vellum envelopes (10, 17, 22) are from Heidi Swapp Stop the Blur kits, as were the plastic note holders (8, 14, 23). The envelopes and pockets (1, 21, 20, 25) were almost certainly from old Studio Calico scrapbook kits.
The pockets and flaps I made were using dies. Most of the tags were from my stash or from the die cut pack, but a few were cut with dies. My favorite new tool from this experience was the We R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 Punch Board, which made the envelope for no. 19.
Planning the Stories
From my very first project in 2010, I have always approached December Daily as a collection of stories from the season. I have never worked on it daily, nor have I attached the stories to the date other than the 24th and 25th.
My favorite part of the process is actually getting a head start in November by documenting all the planning and preparation already taking place. This mindset typically results in a 1-25 list of stories: things that have already happened, things I anticipate happening, and a good amount of blanks for what is still unknown.
This was my final story list for 2025:
- Letter to December / Us right now
- Dear Santa / Emily right now
- Holiday nails
- Prep Day / community
- Wrapping gifts early
- Baking cookies
- Sourdough
- Volleyball
- Starbucks
- TV fireplace / decking the halls slowly
- Emily’s social calendar (gingerbread)
- Advent calendar
- Emily’s concert
- Comfy clothes
- Christmas cards
- How I’m feeling right now / selfie
- Emily helping me wrap
- Emily’s gifts for friends
- Steve’s health update
- Tree / Simple decor this year
- Breakfast for dinner w/ Steve’s family
- Parents visit / Emily sick
- Work festivities
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Hybrid Photos and Stories
I used the story list as a checklist for setting up my photos and stories with InDesign. This part took some time and was completed over three separate sessions. I set it up in one document with three types of sheets to print:
- Photos on photo paper
- Journaling on transparent sticker paper
- Journaling on cardstock
Typed journaling is consistently my recipe for getting out all the thoughts and feelings. I am delighted to have so many little stories in my project, but I should have done a test print before I got too far along. The font size was just too small.
Assembling the Pages
I treated each number as it’s own mini project. Even though I had a full design concept, it felt important to complete each little bundle before the final layout assembly. I also didn’t want to lose which photos and journaling pieces went with which number, so I cut them out number by number.
Details of Each “Day”
Below is a gallery with detail shots of every number. You can click to enlarge it and navigate with the arrows. Let me know if you have questions about any of the design aspects.
Answering Your Questions
Are you pleased with the result? And did you enjoy the process? Was it easy to fit everything in? | I am pleased overall. I do wish I had found a way to do more to the background for it to feel cohesive, like ink blending around the entire border. But when it came to that point, I wasn’t into it. The process was a little fussier than I had imagined, but it did also feel easy.
What helped you decide what should go into each number? | I assigned a story from my list to each component, allowing any motifs or sentiments to guide my choices. But as my daughter says it was mostly “on vibes.”
Will you slip them into regular page protectors? If so will you cut the flaps to access the interactive pieces? | I am considering putting them in shadowboxes with doors, but most likely just regular page protectors. I don’t think cutting flaps would work well given the number of interactive components.
Will you do this again? Did it fulfill your DD “itch”? If you do this again would you do anything differently? | I elaborate more below, but I do think there is something to this concept. It did fulfill the “itch,” as a similar concept did for Week in the Life.
What was your starting point? | In addition to the Ali Edwards ephemera pack, the first pieces I pulled were the scalloped envelopes, the large vintage card, and the Starbucks sleeve.
Did you stay with the process you intended throughout or did you change direction to make some accommodations or adaptations while putting it together? | Once the components were all laid out, I didn’t deviate much. However, I didn’t decide on hybrid journaling until the last minute.
What print sizes and fonts did you end up using? Do you feel they were successful, given your size constraints? How do you feel about the readability of your journaling, or is this a mostly photo-forward project? | I used my classic choice of Remington Noiseless and I’m pretty sure I ended up at 6pt. I can read it, but it’s way too small. I appreciate that I was able to include a lot of words, perhaps more than I would have in an album. This project was definitely not photo-forward. Part of me misses that, but the scope of the project did influence my photo-taking. In other words, I didn’t put as much effort into it.
Did you plan it all ahead of time or just fit things in as you went? | I definitely had to plan out all the components and it was a bit of a puzzle. Once I incorporated my stash of Heidi Swapp Stop the Blur products I was able to fill in smaller gaps.
My 2026 December Daily Plans
The short answer is that I’m not sure. I feel confident that a big album won’t be on my plate for a while (maybe when Emily is a senior?) and I will take an “alternative” approach to documenting this year’s holiday season. Here are the additional facts I know:
- If I were to do a layout again, I would find a way to include more larger photos and long journaling at a more reasonable size.
- It is appealing to create more repetition with a little pockets approach, either on a full-page background or using pocket pages.
- I am attracted to the idea of going all out to decorate a journal cover (not sure what size) and then do hybrid pages on the inside.
I think it all boils down to recognizing the joy of creating a container for these stories and the ease of filling them with an uncomplicated approach. That’s my way for December Daily in this season of life.
I love your December Daily layout! What a great idea! Love the vintage-y feel. Great layouts!
I love this, I often struggle to complete a whole December album. This approach looks doable after the month is over.
I absolutely love this double-spread layout, Jen. You’ve captured something of the busyness of the month with so much content, but the consistent color and style choices help it feel cohesive. It’s a clever way to satisfy your DD desires without committing to a huge project, AND you’ve incorporated lots of stories. You’ve inspired me to give DD another go so maybe I’ll try including some of your tips later this year!