If you're looking for a handmade Christmas gift — or some genuine inspiration for your own journaling projects — this flip-through of my latest Christmas journals and embellishment boxes is worth a look. Each box is a complete little world: a handmade junk journal with beaded cover details made by my mum and dad, a December daily mini journal, a loaded pocket insert, and a whole collection of tags, buttons, envelopes, and thread. I'm currently only able to ship within Australia (more on that below), but even if you're watching from the other side of the world, I hope you come away with ideas.
What we cover
A full flip-through of one complete Christmas journal box — the journal itself, its loaded pocket insert, the December daily booklet, and every extra goodie packed inside — followed by a cover showcase of all six journals (three green, three red) and a look at the extra covers I made that are still waiting for their journals.
What you'll learn
What goes into a complete handmade Christmas journal box, including:
- A junk journal with beaded, lace-trimmed covers, a ribbon closure, vellum pages, scrapbook paper, and hand-sewn details
- A loaded pocket insert (two versions — a three-pocket for the green journals, a five-pocket floating pocket for the red journals)
- A December daily mini journal with approximately 24 pages and bead-trimmed binding
- Embossed envelopes, a handmade envelope, a bag of tags, buttons, and bells
- A cardstock pocket piece with a hanging handle, and an unembellished cardstock bell ornament to decorate yourself
The difference between the green and red journal boxes — the journals themselves are structured identically inside, but each colour series comes with a different loaded pocket style. Green journals include a three-pocket loaded insert; red journals include a five-pocket floating pocket insert with journaling spots and tags loaded throughout.
Why the journals are left mostly unembellished inside — the pages have some sewing and small details, but they're intentionally kept spare. The box is so full of loose tags, papers, and embellishments that the whole point is for you to make the journal your own. I left the space for you.
How the beaded covers are constructed — each cover was handmade by my mum and dad. Between every bead on some covers there's an individual stitch. The lace, bead work, and ribbon closures are all sewn in place — nothing is glued or removable.
How pocket inserts fold flat for boxing — the loaded pockets fold down to fit inside the box during shipping, then pull back up and hold their shape once you take them out. No need to press or reshape them.
The December daily mini journal as a standalone project idea — 24 pages, one for each day of December leading to Christmas. The binding has little beads hanging from it. It coordinates with the main journal in colour and theme, but it works as its own thing.
How a cardstock bell ornament works as a giftable blank — thick cardstock, unembellished, included so you can add your own details and hang it on the tree, use it as a tag, or do whatever feels right to you.
Tips & gotchas
If you're outside Australia and hoping to order one of these boxes in time for Christmas, please message me directly before placing an order. Shipping delays are significant right now, and realistically you'd want the box in your hands by the end of November — which may or may not be possible depending on where you are. I'd rather we figure that out together than have your Christmas box arrive in January.
When you unpack the loaded pocket inserts, you'll notice they've been folded down to fit the box. Just pull them back up gently and they'll hold their shape — they don't need any coaxing or flattening. The cardstock keeps them structured once they're upright.
If you're inspired to make something similar yourself, keep in mind that leaving the journal pages mostly bare is a deliberate choice, not an unfinished one. When you're putting together a box full of loose embellishments, over-decorating the journal works against you — the whole joy is in the filling-in.
A beautiful beaded cover doesn't have an expiry date. Some of these will become journals later in the year, or next year, and I think that's fine. Making things with care means they keep.
