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Happy Holiday Season, Everyone!
YAY! It's time to think about Document Your December (aka DYD)! Some simple planning will make your December documentation easy later. So now’s the perfect time to start dreaming about what your project might look like this year. Knowing your theme, size, products and vision will make it a snap when your holiday season spices up with a booked calendar (even if it's mostly chores) and tempts you to throw in the towel.
Think of this post as a starting point, not a checklist you have to follow perfectly. It's meant to stir your creative juices and get you thinking about what you might like to try no matter if you are a first-timer, or seasoned pro.
What Story Do You Want to Tell?
There are so many ways to approach DYD, and that’s one of the things I love about how we do it here at The Lilypad. Using “Document Your December” instead of a “daily” label gives everyone more freedom to define the focus of their own story, or change it up from one year to the next.
Ask yourself:
- Do I want to create something daily? Then a 1-25 label works great! You might want to decide if you are doing spreads for each day or one page.
- Or, do I want to focus on capturing random moments and memories connected to the holiday season in general? It's okay to have more than one page from one day, because some days during the holidays are really busy and others are slower. So perhaps you don't even want to date the pages? Free yourself from that if you want! No pressure.
Consider "Stories of Our Christmas" or "Holiday Stories" or "Our (My) Christmas" rather than a daily December prompt, if you wish. That gives you permission to start documenting whenever the Christmas events start popping up. You can also use the less busy days to document timeless stories like playlists, neighborhood lights, family traditions, wish lists, aesthetics, weather, chores, shopping, wrapping, decor, details, etc. if you still want to hold yourself to a daily topic page for December 1-25.
General Holiday or Family Traditions Album: works for most, great for blended families too!
- Focus: Capturing the spirit and traditions of togetherness — baking, decorating, travel, cozy nights, gift-giving, family games, or winter fun.
- Ideas:
- Consider featuring themes that includes any and all celebrations, preparation, joy, traditions, togetherness, decorating the tree, baking cookies, attending events, volunteering, etc. Include photos, origin stories, and what each one means to you. Include recipes, photos of baking days, handwritten ingredient cards, or “family food moments.” Where did you get that recipe? Capture the process and the people who make it special. Use photos, journaling, and even song lyrics to capture holiday lights, favorite music, movies, or shows your family enjoys together each year.
- Document family dinners, virtual get-togethers, game nights, or community gatherings. Focus on the people — portraits, laughter, conversations, and candid shots.
- Capture the ways you give — gifts, volunteering, kindness projects, or traditions of giving back. Include reflections on gratitude and compassion.
- Tell the stories behind your decorations — special ornaments, handmade crafts, heirlooms, or yearly decorating rituals.
- Highlight new activities or changes in your celebration — blending cultures, children growing older, moving to a new home, celebrating with new people, or starting intentional traditions. Mix in older photos or journal entries that capture how your holidays have evolved — childhood memories, loved ones who shaped your traditions, or stories retold every year.
- The quiet in-between moments — wrapping gifts late at night, morning coffee before the chaos, or the calm after celebrations. These often become the most treasured memories.
- Possible Titles: "The Season of Us," “Stories of December,” “Holidays at Home” or "December Moments"
Everyday December: Some people may skip traditional holidays altogether and focus on capturing everyday life during this cozy and often chaotic time of year:
- Ideas: First snow (or beach day if southern hemisphere!), morning (coffee/tea) rituals, favorite clothes, books read, movies/shows watched, meals, weather, gatherings, cozy corners, pets, evening routines, etc.
- Possible Titles: "My December Days," "Twelve | Twenty-five" or "Comfort & Joy"
Faith-Based: If you want your story to be more faith-based, consider if you want to approach this through the lens of Advent, gratitude journaling, your faith-based traditions, the theme of light in the world, preparing for Him, devotional journaling, or something else.
Ideas:
- Capture the meaningful traditions that bring Christ into your home — reading the nativity story, Christmas Eve service, candlelight worship, baking for neighbors, or giving to others in need.
- Document moments of gratitude throughout December — big or small — as a way of honoring the gifts God gives daily. Each page could feature a verse of thanksgiving or a prayer of praise.
- Use light as a visual and spiritual motif throughout your album — candlelight, morning sun, Christmas lights — and pair each image with verses or reflections about hope, redemption, or renewal.
- Each page pairs part of the nativity story (Mary’s faith, Joseph’s obedience, the shepherds’ awe, the Magi’s journey, etc.) with a moment or reflection from your own life that mirrors that theme.
Non-Christmas: If you don't celebrate Christmas or want a different focus, consider a book focused on your holiday or traditions. This can be adjusted and personalized!!
Hanukkah:
- Focus: Lighting the menorah, favorite latke recipes, dreidel games, family gatherings, and reflections on miracles or gratitude.
- Ideas: One spread per night; a “8 Stories of Light” theme; or a recipe + photo combo for each family celebration.
- Possible Titles: "Hanukkah Happenings," "Festival of Lights 2025" or "Our 8 Nights of Joy" perhaps
Diwali: Even though it often falls before December, Diwali memories might still find their way into a “Season of Light” project.
- Focus: Diyas, rangoli art, sweets, family rituals, and themes of renewal and light over darkness.
- Possible Title: "Lights, Love, and New Beginnings"
Kwanzaa: principles of unity, creativity, and purpose (each day can be a story).
Las Posadas: community gatherings, candles, and processions.
Saint Nicholas Day, St. Lucia’s Day, or Three Kings Day (Epiphany).
Family traditions unique to your heritage — from feasts to crafts to acts of kindness, share how your family spends the season.
Winter Solstice or Seasonal Reflections
- Focus: Embracing the change of season, coziness, nature, rest, and renewal.
- Ideas: Documenting winter walks, favorite cold-weather rituals, reflections on the past year, or “light returning” themes.
- Possible Titles: "Stories of Stillness" or "Light in the Darkest Days"
Holiday Family Recipes
- Focus: Celebrate the history, people, and flavors behind the foods your family makes every year during the holidays.
- Idea: Each spread features one family recipe with journaling about its origin — who made it first, where it came from, or a memory tied to it. Include handwritten notes, photos of the cook, or scans of vintage recipe cards. Consider a photo of the prepared dish. Is there a specific pan or plate it is served on?
- Possible Titles: "Our Christmas Kitchen" or "A Recipe for Memories"
New Year Reflection
- Focus: Wrapping up the year — what you learned, loved, and want to carry forward.
- Ideas: Favorite moments of the year, consider a year in review spread, things you’re grateful for, resolutions, or a “word of the year” introduction.
- Possible Titles: "Looking Back, Moving Forward" or "Hello, New Year"
Community Projects or Kindness Projects: For those who want to focus on giving rather than celebrating:
- Focus: Volunteering, donations, acts of kindness, or community events.
- Possible Title: "Season of Giving" or "Light the World"
What Size and Format Will You Use?
Choosing your project size early can really help you plan your design, products, and printing options.
Once you’ve decided what kind of story you’re telling, think about how much space you’ll need.
- If you love story driven pages, consider a larger size to make your words easier to read.
- If you’re all about photos, smaller formats can work beautifully too! Yes, even just printing 3x5 photos and using a small format journal with printed goodies to do a hybrid album!
There are so many size options — take a look at printing sites or browse albums at your local craft store to see what sparks your interest.
How Do You Want Your Project to Feel?
Cohesion can really bring your album together — and there are a few fun ways to achieve it:
Structure:
Maybe you want a consistent setup — like journaling on one page and a photo on the next — or you might prefer pockets throughout your whole book. You can use the same template daily, or alternate between a few repeating layout styles for the pocket page depending on how many spots you need for the day.
Products:
Try using a single DYD collection or a coordinating set of supplies. Matching papers, colors, and elements will automatically give your album a unified, elevated look.
Style:
What kind of scrapbooker are you? Minimalist? Artsy? Cluster-loving and embellishment-happy? Choosing a style you love (and sticking with it) helps keep your pages visually connected.
-Consider the first few pages of Jan's (@IntenseMagic) rectangular layouts:
Jan uses products that work together and a consistent style - though not identical placement.
-Consider Claire's (@Claire Grantham) square layouts:
Claire uses consistent title style and journaling style along with page construction to stay cohesive.
- Consider Marijke's (@marijke) rectangular foundation pages:
Marijke uses consistent shapes and product to keep a cohesive look.
Feel free to browse the DYD gallery for more ideas!
This list is definitely not complete, but hopefully it gets your creative wheels turning! I’d love to hear what you’re planning this year below!
Let’s get this season of storytelling started!
