I checked out lesson 1 of Debbie Hodge's Your December Story this weekend, and I want to tell you about the class and give you a peek at how it's inspired me. And I'm giving away one pass to the class. (If you already purchased the class, you'll get a $24 gift card good for any other GIS/MSD classes.)
Your December Story is shaped around the Hero's Journey
This December, like Dorothy dropped into Oz or Alice tumbled into Wonderland, you will receive a call to adventure. You will move from the ordinary world into a one of magic and tests as the holiday season arrives.
Many of the most-loved and best remembered stories play out in a story form described by Joseph Campbell as "the hero's journey." This class has prompts and page ideas for visual storytelling that have you telling Your December Journey, from the heralds, to the challenges, mentors, special tools and the return to the known world and what you take forward.
You can take the journey and get a $10 gift card . . .
but only through midnight Wednesday, November 20th. When you purchase "Your December Story" by midnight PT, Wednesday, November 20, you also get a $10 gift card that you can use for Get It Scrapped and Masterful Scrapbook Design classes. Click here to purchase Your December Story and get the $10 gift card.
The Intro and first lesson inspired me!
I love Debbie's idea of using "the hero's journey" to describe our days and life leading to Christmas. We can relate so much of what we do with the hero's journey idea, can't we?
The idea is magical to me, so I decided to take a magical route with a mini album with some sparkle! You don't have to do a mini album ... Debbie is doing her December Story using 12x12 layouts, and I've heard of others using pocket pages. It's all up to you and that makes it easy.
I chose my papers first ... a collection of browns, reds, and blues ... not your typical Christmas colors, but I just love them together. And this is a mini that will evolve over the month. So I'll be adding more later. I finally caved and used some Exclusive Mercantile papers by Lisa Dickinson that I've been hoarding forever.
I love the story-telling technique Debbie describes. I'm keeping my album quite simple, sticking to the circle shapes and using lists to "tell" my story.
I cut a bunch of circles at once with my Silhouette and I created my lists using Wordle!
Debbie gives so many prompts for page ideas to tell "your story" and I picked the ones that spoke to me right at the moment.
Would you like to win a spot in this class?! Don't worry, if you've already registered for the class, you'll get a $24 gift certificate for any other GIS/MSD class!
See how the rest of the blog hoppers are using this class (and get 20+ more chances to win)
- Anna Aspnes
- Betsy Sammarco <--- YOU ARE HERE!
- Christy Strickler
- Marie-Pierre Capistran
- Katrina Kennedy
- Carrie Arick
- Doris Sander
- Melissa Shanhun
- Michelle Houghton
- Sue Althouse
- Terry Billman
- Kiki Kougioumtzi
- Susanne Brauer
- Sian Fair
- Jana Morton
- Paula Gilarde
- Kristin Tweedale
- Katie Scott
- Amy Kingsford
- Tami Taylor
- Stefanie Semple
- Katie Nelson
Leave a comment telling me what are the early signs of Christmas for you? I will draw the winner on Thursday, November 21, 2013.
Early sign of Christmas is my son starting to make is Birthday list on November 1 (he is born on Xmas day) and the SNOW
ReplyDeleteThe most obvious first sign of Christmas is the commercials that you see on tv and the stores getting ready at the same time the Halloween stuff is still out. :) But my favorite early sign of Christmas is looking at the calendar to decide what time I'll be taking off from work and getting excited to spend time with family! Thanks for the chance to win the class, it looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteEarly signs of Christmas for me starts with Christmas music. I start listening on Nov. 1 and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade truly starts the holiday season.
ReplyDeleteEarly signs of Christmas is seeing outdoor lights going up before the harsh weather
ReplyDeleteThe early signs of Christmas for me are putting up lights and watching Christmas movies.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome, Betsy! Love the circle design of the album and the subway art added in with the photos.
ReplyDeleteLove your circles! I've got the wreaths ready to go up the day after Thanksgiving - and the mantle of snowmen!
ReplyDeleteLove Christmas journaling. Would like to win. I still have a seat in the class and looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThe too early signs of Christmas Decorations in the stores before Halloween.
ReplyDeletei KNOW Susan! I was shocked when I saw Christmas decorations in mid October!
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ReplyDeleteEarly signs of Christmas for me is the sudden influx of store catalogues in the mail.
ReplyDeleteEarly signs of christmas for me: I feel a little apprehension regarding presents and money. yeah, I have to be honest.
ReplyDeletethe snow falling is a visual cue, seeing it makes me want to bring out the music, and I bought 2 new albums this year so I'm listening to carols already!
ReplyDeleteLove your book Betsy...I think the early signs of Christmas is peppermint creamer and my son wanting some peanut butter balls. lol
ReplyDeleteThe early signs are the kids starting to trickle in their gift ideas. That, and the street decorations going up in early November.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome, thanks so much for the amazing chance! Last year I attempted to do a DD and I spent more time gathering ideas than I did actually creating anything! Shame on me! I SO NEED THIS! :)
ReplyDeleteFun, love your take on the challenge!
ReplyDeleteI love the circle idea! very very cool! The early signs of Christmas for me is Halloween. As soon as I start thinking pumpkins..my mind automatically goes to Christmas! he he I just love the Holidays!
ReplyDeleteBetsy I love your approach! This will be my first December album and I want to document family, friends and the special activities that make Christmas, Christmas. The class looks great!
ReplyDeleteRoberta V.
I forgot to mention what the early signs of Christmas are for me - cold weather, catalogs coming in the mail, and peppermint bark in the store.
DeleteRoberta V.
The early signs of Christmas (besides the obvious plethora of decorations immediately after halloween) is the feeling of excitement I begin to feel around mid November that something wonderful is about to happen. I love that!
ReplyDeleteso so cute betsy! great idea!
ReplyDeleteThe early signs of Christmas for me are when I start playing Christmas music (usually in October) and when I buy my first bag of cranberries at the grocery store.
ReplyDeleteSigns of Christmas include a late fall trip to the beach and seeing all the leaves finally falling. A bare tree signals...Holiday time!
ReplyDeleteThe early signs of Christmas is the shorter days and with it the long, dark evenings, made more cozy by candle lights.
ReplyDeleteHere in Wyoming it usually snows in October. So I get the Christmas bug then. And then there's the box stores bringing out the decorations just after Halloween.
ReplyDeleteWe just watched the movie Elf at my son's school Friday evening...so that was my early sign this year. What an interesting idea to use the Hero's Journey to view the month of December. Love your idea for a mini-album and thank for a chance to win a spot!! :) Evie
ReplyDeleteAs a child it was the start of Christmas baking with my mother. Some recipes required baking early and storing in a cool spot for the flavors to bloom. So our first batches were started day after Thanksgiving. We would put on some Christmas records, 33s (dating myself I know) and go for the whole day. Try to do the same now that I have kids of my own.
ReplyDeleteLisa T.
early signs for me are the coziness after Thanksgiving. Even though we don't really get seasons here there's something about Thanksgiving that signals the start of the Holiday season for me.
ReplyDeletemy brain switches to christmas mode after my sons birthday which is on the 12th october. i start collecting ideas for decorating, making lists and planning for christmas dinner.
ReplyDeleteEarly signs for me are Costco Christmas lights, and my mom's yard. Mom is Canadian, so as soon as Hallowe'en is over, she starts with the Christmas music and decorations. She does leave a few turkeys up, but it's definitely Christmastime.
ReplyDeleteWell, the early signs of Christmas is the radio music change to non-stop Christmas music and approaching cold weather. Wow, this sounds really unique and different way of experiencing the holidays. I love the concept. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteThe early signs of Christmas here come in the mail--toy catalogs! My boys love paging through these to generate their lists for Santa!
ReplyDeleteOh I love those wordle lists - definitely inspired by those.
ReplyDeleteFirst signs of Christmas around here is where I see the street lights going up...
The early signs of Christmas came in my email - ads that were full of the colors of Christmas. I am already signed up for this class - I am enchanted by the magical storytelling element.
ReplyDeleteThe early signs of Christmas is the garland in stores or my nighbor who puts up her 9 Christmas trees the beginning of November!
ReplyDeleteThe earliest sign of Christmas for me is packing our Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. They usually have to be turned in before Thanksgiving so purchasing gifts and packaging them are our first chance to get into the giving spirit.
ReplyDeleteI see them setting up the Christmas tree selling booths. We always love it when the fresh trees arrive from the northwest to hawaii.
ReplyDeleteFor me the signs of Christmas are the ads coming in my email box and magazines. I also just love when I start to hear Christmas music while shopping
ReplyDeleteMy son has turned on the Christmas music channel on the cable channel. Love it, but not quite ready yet. Thanks, jeannett_mcgee@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteThe neighbors at the end of my street already have their lights up! Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteHearing Christmas music on the radio right after Halloween!
ReplyDeleteMy mom calls early in Nov for our wish lists because we live a thousand miles apart and she wants to shop and send them in time.
ReplyDeleteEarly signs of Christmas for me was seeing a fb post saying, "100 days til Christmas" and this was in sept (i think?!) and of course seeing all the Christmas goodies on display before the end of October!
ReplyDeleteChristmas displays in the stores. They are usually way too early, but they remind to start thinking and planning.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun it would be to win this class. I love seeing the lights on the houses.
ReplyDeleteJulie
love love love this circle design!
ReplyDeleteEarly signs of Christmas around here includes my in laws decorating in the middle of November for Christmas!
Early signs of Christmas for me are the jacarandas in bloom and the cicadas in full song :)
ReplyDeletebeautiful color scheme and great idea (don't count me in the giveaway) :)
ReplyDeleteI plan to record my Dec. in notes and pictures along the way. Then in Jan when the snow is flying and the temps plummet I plan to put it all together on a beautiful way. Grandchildren will make it gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteCandy Cane M&Ms at Target - that means it is time to get in the spirit (and start snacking!)
ReplyDeleteHearing Christmas music and seeing Christmas candy.
ReplyDeleteChristmas commercials --- the cheesier, the better!
ReplyDeleteLeeAndra
My December Daily kit arriving in the mail this year! And, Christmas catalogs and gift giving ads on television and in the newspaper!
ReplyDeleteChristmas music - that's the best sign
ReplyDeletehearing Christmas music on the airwaves
ReplyDeleteI love thinking about presents for people, and I love to get my shopping done early. That's the beginning of Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhen my neighbors put up their lights during the warm weekend in Nov. They don't turn them on--but they're poised & ready for Dec 1st!
ReplyDeleteEvery year it seems to start earlier.... Stores selling/decorating, music playing, lifetime/hallmark movies. I love Christmas and put my tree up, listen to music and watch movies the day AFTER thanksgiving. With all the early nov Xmas stuff I feel like I miss out on fall and thanksgiving
ReplyDeleteI was standing in a department store a few weeks ago and they were playing Christmas carols - that is when I realised how close we are to the big day.
ReplyDeletemy kids like to inform me the number of days til Christmas on Halloween night after they are done with Trick-or-Treating.
ReplyDeleteEnd of year concerts do it for me - kids learning ballet or music, or even at school. It seems that parents can take a breath and move on to the next challenge - preparing for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteIt is not until the first Christmas card pops through the letterbox that I can feel that Christmas is really approaching!
ReplyDeleteIt is not until the first Christmas card pops through the letterbox that I can feel that Christmas is really approaching!
ReplyDeleteEarly signs of Christmas come with my son's birthday on 25 November ... as I'm shopping for his birthday I see Christmas decorations in shops
ReplyDeleteWhen lights start going up in the neighborhood. Can't count stores anymore--they start putting out Christmas stuff way too early.
ReplyDeleteLight in the Park in our town! My Christmas season officially starts on the Friday after Thanksgiving - that's when my boys help me put up the tree! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI really shop year round and stash things here and there. So when I hear my first Christmas song, I go on the hunt to gather my purchases and the holiday begins....Maybe I should use the title Goin' on a Gift Hunt, I'm not scared!
ReplyDeleteOur first local Christmas parade is our first sign that Christmas is very near!
ReplyDeleteI'm already registered; love this concept!
ReplyDeleteShine on!
Kelley