Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A new journal page and my Christmas gift to you

Update: The journal page in this post is no longer available for download. For a selection of free, printable journal pages, please visit my Printable Journal Pages collection. 

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I have to admit it, Christmas is a bit of a mixed bag for me.  There are so many things to love about this time of year: the joy of the season, the company of loved ones, homemade treats and feasts, and goodwill toward all.  But there are also the crazed shoppers in malls filled to bursting and the stresses of finding perfect gifts and cooking perfect meals and making sure that everything is perfect, perfect, perfect.  And not to make light of the stresses, Christmas is a very difficult time for many.

I wasn't sure if I was going to mark the season with a special journal page.  I didn't want to offend those who might celebrate differently than I do or not at all, for I know that Christmas is not a universal celebration.  Most of all, I want this to be a place where we all feel welcome and appreciated and included. 

I mentioned this to a friend who also has a blog and who also thinks a lot about the issues she chooses to discuss on her blog.  I can't speak for her, but I think we both decided to put our thoughts out there, responsibly and respectfully, and just be happy about it already.  Or something along those lines.

So, after this long introduction, I bring you my very first themed journal page.  It's quite different from my usual fare -- not nearly as introspective and way over the top, design-wise.  If Christmas stresses are getting you down, I hope this page will lighten your load. 


And as a little gift from me to you, I'd be delighted to personalize your page -- right at the top there, so that the your journal stocking has your name on it.  I've hand lettered mine, using type as a guide, and then coloured it red with one of my daughter's markers.  (Side note:  I'm still practicing my hand lettering and next year, with any luck, I'll be able to create some spectacularly original script!)


You'll find this week's Christmas-y journal page here.  If you'd like your stocking personalized, just let me know in the comments or send me an email at christie (at) graceisoverrated (dot) com.  Please be sure to tell me exactly which name you'd like to see and be sure to leave me your email address so I can send you the pdf.

Happy Wednesday friends!

32 comments:

  1. LOVE this!!! Thanks for thinking of it :) Can I get TWO?!? One for Sarah and one for me (Jennifer) at jdownings@msn.com My friend and I have had such a great time with these. Thanks!!

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  2. Thank you! Just put Maggie down.
    ryanpatrickhale@hotmail.com

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  3. Love your journal pages! I was wondering if you know where I can get something similar for my 11 year old daughter.

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  4. Great! May I have a page with the name Gilda?
    Thanks! lornavision@gmail.com

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  5. Remember me? I am putting together journals for my granddaughters, Gabrielle and Brittany. Will you make one for their "Christmas Journals"? Thank you so much for your help! ktwtk@yahoo.com

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  6. I love it! I can understand themed pages aren't for everyone but I'm happy you decided to put this one up. :)

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  7. That is really neat! And it makes the Xmas planning seem so much less stressful!

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  8. I'm so glad you created this page and took the leap to post it! I love it. The way you've set it up is BRILLIANT!
    I'm really looking forward to having fun with this page.
    I, too, have been feeling what you described about not wanting to offend anyone by posting Christmasy things on my blog. I did decide to just go ahead and try to be okay with it but this post of yours made me realise that I haven't come out and told my readers the dilemma and explained my desire to not offend! I will remedy that ASAP :)

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  9. I love this journal page! For Christmas, I am binding some pages together and giving them away to my girlfriends. I would love to see more themed pages!

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  10. How generous of you Christie - Thank You! I'm glad you decided to post this themed page. I would love to have a personalized stocking page.

    Amy

    the.k.krew (at) gmail (dot) com

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  11. You are so sweet. I would love to have my page personalized. My name is Jo

    Email: Josette59@comcast.net

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  12. Can you send me one with my name? It is Janet
    jcavett@comcast.net

    Thank you!

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  13. Christie, you never fail to make this blog amazing! Thank you for your hard work!

    I would like mine to say: Heather

    heatherwilson0506@hotmail.com

    Thanks Christie! Merry Christmas!

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  14. thanks so much for this page! and your lettering is so pretty! (:

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  15. Hooray to Christie Elf! It's wonderful and I say as long as inspiration strikes, more themed journal pages would be most welcome by all.

    Favorite Christmas Carol: "Angels We Have Heard On High."
    Most difficult person to buy for: husband.

    Baking cookies remains on my to do list. Happy Santa-ing and be sure to break for warm libations so you don't get hand cramp!

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  16. Thanks for another great page. I appreciate your comments about Christmas - I think the spirit I feel around this time is one of "goodwill toward all," and even though your page is themed I think you've shown you feel that way too. Hope you are having a great holiday season!

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  17. You poor girl, you're going to be so busy personalizing all of these pages! Would you mind making one that says Naomi and send it to jennyhilla@yahoo.com

    Thanks so much, and Merry CHristmas!

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  18. oh yes my 10 year old wants some too! so Hope if you find out let me know!

    I LOVE doing my journal pages it is so great I have them in a binder.

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  19. thank you so much for the personalizing them your awesome and going to be a busy elf :)

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  20. Wow, I love this! :D

    Could I get a personalized page with Erin on it? secretagenterin@gmail.com

    Thank you so much for doing these!

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  21. This is a lovely present from you|| Thank you so much! Could I have a personalized page with the name Silvia? Wishing you the best holidays
    silviasampayo@yahoo.es

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  22. Just came across your blog, and your journal pages. Love them both! Thanks for all your hard work on the pages! You rock!!!

    :o]
    Doris

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  23. love!!!
    kendramiller101@gmail.com

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  24. LOVE IT! The three of us have been enjoying the journal pages for months now =) Can I get three with the names, Kelsey, Emalie & Ryan?
    needlestitches@gmail.com

    Thanks and Merry Christmas!

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  25. I just stumbled upon your blog and I absolutely love your journal pages and other creations. Do you make them from scratch? They are all so wonderful! I will definitely be collecting them in a binder to give to my niece! :)

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  26. Love it. I also just discovered your blog recently and CAN'T WAIT to go back and print some of the older pages and get going. I'm thinking of making a couple copies - one for myself, and one for each of my daughters when they get older. I can really see this as a project a teenage girl would sink her teeth into. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with us and for taking the time to continue this project. Keep up the outstanding work!!

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  27. Just discovered your journal pages and wowie-wow-wow! I love them! Thanks for sharing your remarkable talents with us. I can't wait to get started and put these into a book. Off to sharpen my colored pencils!

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  28. Hope all is well with you Christie....

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  29. Thank you so much for sharing. I've just seen this and wondered if I could have 2 personalised with Dawn & Clive.
    mrsdawncheshire@yahoo.co.uk

    Thank you so much

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