Last year I pulled an empty Trader Joe’s ice cream sandwich box out of my daughter’s trash can.

“I’m going to use this as my December Daily this year.”

And I did.

I didn’t even cover it. The colors were perfect for Christmas, and honestly, the ice cream theme was pretty sweet.

Sometimes the best creative projects start with something that was headed for the trash!

What Is a December Daily?

A December Daily is a Christmas memory-keeping project where you document the days leading up to Christmas with a photo, story, thought, list, or little piece of your day.

The concept is an original idea by Ali Edwards, and it’s become a favorite tradition for scrapbookers, journalers, and anyone who loves documenting everyday life.

But here’s what I love most:

There are no December Daily police.

You don’t need an expensive kit, perfect handwriting, or a beautifully decorated page every single day. A December Daily can be as simple or elaborate as you want.

It’s really just a place to save the little things you don’t want to forget.

**Here I swatched the wrapping paper I used to wrap the prizes for the games we play on Christmas Eve. *Notice the pencil page mark in the right corner (more about that below) I forgot to erase.

**This page was interactive with a little book flap documenting the Merry Thriftmas haul on December 15th.

How to Start a December Daily Journal

You can use a mini album, traveler’s notebook, composition book, handmade journal, greeting card, or even a repurposed box.

I usually like at least 25 to 31 pages, but don’t get too hung up on the numbers. This is creative journaling, not homework.

Before you start decorating, choose a Christmas theme or color palette. Maybe yours is vintage Christmas, pink Christmas, gingerbread, snowmen, Santa red and white, boho, or even 90s Christmas nostalgia.

One year I did a Gingerbread theme. Another year was vintage. My very first December Daily had a crown theme, and every page had a crown somewhere on it.

A theme gives your journal a little personality and makes it much easier to decide what belongs on the page.

DIY December Daily Supplies

Please don’t think you need to go shopping before you can start.

Use what you have!

Gather a pen, glue stick, scissors and whatever Christmas ephemera is already lying around. Think gift tags, wrapping paper scraps, old Christmas cards, receipts, ribbon, stickers, stamps, magazine clippings and canceled postage stamps.

I’ve even used a gift bag for a cover.

If buying a pretty coordinated Christmas kit makes you happy, absolutely do it. But don’t let not having one stop you from creating.

Keep everything together in a pencil pouch, cosmetics bag, pretty box, or even a dish on your desk so it’s easy to grab when December gets busy.

How to Make a Simple December Daily Journal

One of the easiest December Daily journals I’ve ever made started with a greeting card.

You already have a front and back cover, and it opens like a book. Easy!

For the inside, choose eight pieces of paper and fold them in half. They don’t have to match. Use copy paper, notebook paper, ledger paper, scrapbook paper, Christmas coloring pages, old book pages, brown packing paper or whatever you have.

Place the folded papers inside one another and tuck them inside the greeting card. Make sure they’re smaller than your cover.

Then poke three holes along the fold, one near the top, middle and bottom. Use embroidery thread to sew the pages together with a simple three-hole pamphlet stitch.

And just like that, you have a handmade December Daily journal.

Now comes the fun part!

**Found these vintage Christmas cards at the antique store. Paid $2.50 each. I think maybe from the 1950s or 60s.

December Daily Ideas for Decorating Your Journal

Add a pocket to the inside cover for little pieces of Christmas ephemera. Make tags from cardstock and ribbon. Add stamps, stickers, die-cuts, decorative paper and handmade paper clips.

You can even make your own ephemera by tracing cookie cutters onto cardstock or scrapbook paper.

*I like to number my pages in pencil before December arrives, but I don’t completely decorate every page.

Leave some room for the actual memories.

And here’s another little trick: number one side at a time.

An eight-page signature gives you 32 individual sides, which is plenty of space to document the month without creating intimidating double-page scrapbook layouts.

Your decorations will actually help inspire you when it’s time to write.

** I took an old book page from Elsie’s Holidays at Roseland (a children’s novel written in the late 19th century) to cover the front and back inside cover.

** I love creating whimsical paper dolls for focal points, journal tags and bookmarkers & cute paperclip characters.

What to Put in a December Daily

This is where it gets really fun.

Write a short story about your day, a favorite memory, a scripture, a prayer, a Christmas gift list, what you ate, something funny the kids said, or simply one thing you want to remember.

Add photos, ticket stubs, receipts, candy wrappers, coffee stickers, Christmas cards, recipe cards, party invitations, wrapping paper, church notes, or even the tag from your live Christmas tree.

You can watercolor, doodle, hand letter, collage, or simply write.

I recently reread my 2024 December Daily and found my Christmas gift list for my grandchildren, what we ate, what we did, and even the hysterical blindfolded marshmallow-scooping game we played.

I had completely forgotten some of it.

Until I read it again.

That’s the magic of Christmas memory keeping.

** The special details: The bedazzled jewel on the top of the snowman’s hat, the pom pom strip on the edge, and the personal story of how I wrapped my grandson’s gift and made a scavenger hunt for him to find it. My mom did the same thing for me and my brothers when we were little. That tradition continues…

** Every December I choose a Word of the Year and I like to include it in my December Daily.

You Don’t Have to Document Every Day

Please don’t turn your December Daily into another thing on your Christmas to-do list.

Maybe you write in your December Daily every evening. Maybe you do it with your morning coffee the next day.

If you miss a day, or two, or three, you’re not behind.

Keep a little box or envelope next to your journal. If you don’t have time to make a page, jot down one word, save a receipt, tuck in a Christmas card, or write a quick note about what happened.

Date it and put it in the box.

When you have time, you’ll have little reminders waiting for you.

That’s creative journaling at its best. Flexible, personal and pressure-free.

** December 22 – Doodles and a reindeer donut. Sweet & Simple.

Make a Christmas Charm Dangle

And then there’s my favorite part: the charm dangle.

Start with a 2-inch paper clip and tie waxed cord, baker’s twine, or embroidery floss around the top. Add bells, charms, buttons, beads and little treasures, spacing them with knots.

Choose pieces that coordinate with your Christmas theme and make the dangle as long or short as you like.

I make mine detachable so the journal can still lay flat.

It’s one of those little details that makes your December Daily feel like your December Daily.

** Thrifted & Vintage Treasures: The green jewel button, mini mouse ornament, red and green glass bead, and snowman earring.

Get Ready for December 1st

The idea is simple: prepare a little now so you’re ready when the Christmas season gets busy.

I keep my finished December Dailys in an open box on a shelf in my studio. When Christmas rolls around, I bring them down and put the box of journals on the coffee table or bookshelf for my friends and family to look through.

Every year I discover something I had completely forgotten.

We’re not just making a pretty journal.

We’re making a little time capsule of our lives.

** My display box of December Dailys.

Want a December Daily But Don’t Want to Make the Journal?

I got you.

I have handmade creative journals in my Etsy shop, each with its own personality and theme. Some include paper doll bookmarks, handmade paper clips made from thrifted and vintage materials, pockets, tags and charms.

They’re ready for you to decorate, add your dates and start documenting your December.

[Shop Nancy Joseph Studio on Etsy →]

And if you want more ideas, visit my December Daily for Beginners post for a HUGE list of December Daily prompts.

Now go find that old Christmas card, gift bag, cereal box or ice cream sandwich box you’ve been saving for absolutely no reason.

It might just be your next December Daily.

** The 2026 December Daily – Vintage Christmas Card Series. Choose your favorite at Nancy Joseph Studio

More than anything, I hope you start this little tradition.

Not because you need one more thing to do in December, but because someday these ordinary little pieces of your life will become the things you treasure most.

Write down what you ate. Save the silly receipt. Take the photo. Write the story. Document the people you love and the things you did together.

Because one day, you’ll pull that December Daily off the shelf and remember a Christmas you might otherwise have forgotten.

And I have a feeling your loved ones will thank you for saving those pieces of your life for them, too.

Happy creating, friend. And here’s to your very first (or next!) December Daily. ❤️

Related – Word of the Year: How to Choose the Right One (Step by Step)

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And, If Your Creativity is More Than A Hobby…

Maybe you’re an artist, crafter, maker, or creative, and somewhere along the way you realized this isn’t just a hobby for you.

You know there’s something more here. But maybe you’re still carrying that old “starving artist” mentality. Or you’ve heard the voice that says, This isn’t a real job.

I wrote Getting Ready: Step Boldly into Your Creative Calling for you.

It’s about what happens when you stop separating your creativity from your faith, your identity, and your business, and start seeing the whole picture of what God has placed inside you.

If you know you’re called to create but you’re ready to stop treating your creativity like a hobby and start stepping boldly into your calling, Getting Ready is waiting for you on Amazon.

[Get your copy of Getting Ready on Amazon →]

Thank you for visiting my blog where I love blending Beauty & Creativity for Self-Care and Mental Health. Before you go, if you haven’t already, grab the free resource below and Make it a beautiful day! Nancy