Jingle bells, jingle bells.  Can you hear the carolers approaching?  As the season cranks into full speed, I find myself haunting galleries and blogs looking for ideas for decor, scrapbooking, and photography.  As I viewed layout after layout, I loved the titles taken from the songs of the seasons.  Words and phrases from popular songs instantly bring the idea of Christmas to the scrapbooking page.

There are certain moments that I capture every year like trimming the tree and my children opening presents.  However, I am always on the lookout for other ideas.  What new way can I see the holiday this year?

Both Renee and Gabby have elegantly captured a ceramic holiday piece with beautiful photography.  I love how they have detailed the sentiment behind the piece.

Open by Dora Phillips

Digital Supplies: Kit: Stroke of Midnight by Twin Mom Scraps (Ginger Scraps), Stitches: Stitched by Anna White No. 04 by Anna Aspnes (Designer Digitals), Font: Bodini.

Design Notes: This kit had just the perfect colors to work with my pictures, but did not have holiday embellishments.  No worries!  I made a Christmas tree out of a party hat and a star shaped balloon. 

Journaling: On Christmas eve you can find Zack by the tree shaking presents to pick just the right one to open!  He just cannot keep from touching them all.

The Perfect Gift by Rene Tibbets

Digital Supplies: Kit: Wrapped with Love Value Collection by Nicole Young (Digital Scrapbook Place), Template: Live Out Loud Quick Click by Tina Chambers (Digital Scrapbook Place), Word Art: Christmas Moments Word Art by Tina Chambers (Digital Scrapbook Place), Software: Adobe Photoshop CS4, Fonts: DSP Dog Artist by Suzanne Walker (Digital Scrapbook Place).

Design Notes: The photos are from Christmas 2010. My family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve, so my husband and I are usually alone on Christmas Day when our grown children are with other loved ones. We have created our own traditions for Christmas Day just for the 2 of us. We cook lunch, then go see a movie together in the afternoon. This layout is about the gift he gave me for Christmas and how it combined a tradition from my childhood and my future Christmases.

Journaling: When Gary and I were looking at Christmas decorations this year, I noticed some coffee mugs in a glass case. They looked exactly like the mugs my mom had when I was growing up. I loved those mugs and looked forward to drinking hot chocolate from them every Christmas when I was growing up. On Christmas Eve when we were opening presents with our kids, Gary had 2 packages for me. I opened the first one, and there were the mugs I had seen. The second package was a cookie jar that matched the mugs. I was so overwhelmed when I realized Gary had gone back to that store and bought those mugs for me after I had told him how much the ones my mom had meant to me as a child.

Xmas Eve @ mom's by Gabby Covey

Digital Supplies: Template: Ingrid's Templates - Set 15 (Peppermint Creative), Dear Santa Papers by Miss Mint (Peppermint Creative), Dear Santa Elements by Miss Mint  (Peppermint Creative), Canvas Basics  Sweet by Miss Mint (Peppermint Creative), Candy Cane Alphabet Red by Miss Mint (Peppermint Creative), Fonts: Iris, Pea Dalovely Damanda.

Journaling: As we have done for many years, we have spent Christmas Eve at Mom’s house (along with Dad). Thankfully, this year we didn’t have to drive through snow, but we did have to deal with the fact that I had come down with a pretty bad cold. *sniffs* Everyone was trying to stay away from me so as not to catch my cold, to ensure everyone was healthy for Amanda’s wedding that was coming up soon. It was nice to have Marc there for his first Najera Christmas, as well. As always, Mom had many of the decorations that she’s had for many, many, many years -- including this ceramic tree with little lights that glow from the light in the inside of the tree. And, as is tradition, we had Mexican food -- yummy! A nice time was had by all, and so we bid goodbye to another Christmas. I personally hope that next year’s is much healthier and less stressful! December 24, 2010