Bonjour lecteurs! Too early to talk about Christmas? If like moi, you are trying to be a bit organisée, you may have probably started looking for presents already. I hate rushing through the shops when they are busy etc. So this year, I will try to do my Christmas shopping online and I will go for something personalisé as much as possible. Do you like l’idée? Then join me and create a Christmas memory book for your family to cherish with all your best moments of 2024!
Why A Christmas Memory Booklet?
J’adore that they are unique and c’est l’excuse parfaite to go through all your best photos. I love nothing more than reminiscing happy memories!
Booklets like this will also be a beautiful bespoke items that you will cherish for years to come.
Plus Christmas is usually such a whirlwind! In between buying gifts and wrapping them up, decorating the house and the tree, prepping all the food etc, it’s not always easy to savour it all. A Christmas memory book is such a fun way to spend quality time with your loved ones.
Documenting Your Adventures
If you’ve been following me for a while, you will know by now that I love nothing more than a good adventure with my tribe.
Once more, 2024 has been full on with days out, trips and chilled days at home, all captured through our lenses. Everyone does it, we all take pics on our phones, but how often do you actually look back at those memories?
Here we go, while creating your Christmas memory book, you can relive it all. Even better, your booklet will become a family treasure and a physical piece of your family’s history. Something you can look back at any times. Or if like me, you’re an expat, you can give it as a present to your far away family.
Christmas Memory Books For Kids
Christmas memory books are also parfaits for kids. Not only it allows them to express their créativité, but it will also help them with their literacy skills.
Let them be on hands and take fully part with it. They can help you select the pictures, or even write the story behind the capture etc.
C’est fantastique for their imagination and it’s l’excuse parfaite to bond with the little ones.
Plus who doesn’t like a new project over the Christmas break? It will keep them busy and will for sure be a lot of fun!
Meanwhile, parents can just savour the moment, relax and spend quality time altogether. Are you sold? Let me show you how to make one!
Even better, why don’t you turn it into an annual tradition for your family?
What You Need To Make It
First of all, gather all your supplies et c’est très simple! All you need is some paper. I would also gather some glue and scissors. You can also add some sparkles and stickers. Don’t forget coloured crayons, markers, stamps and even some holiday-themed washi tape if you have some et voilà!
Next, collect some family pics and other items you may want to include. It could be tickets to a show you saw all together or even a travel card when you spend a day in London, wrapping paper scraps to decorate etc… It’s up to you. After all, this is your Christmas memory book so you can do what you want.
You can also look for templates on Pinterest or create your own one.
Create Your Christmas Memory Booklet
Now that you are ready, time to start! First, I would choose a theme. We would probably call ours ‘Frenchie Adventures’. But you can go for anything from ‘Christmas Fun’ to ‘Family Traditions’… Anything really, as long as each member of the family can take part.
Gather all your memories linked to Christmas. Look for old Christmas cards or previous wish list maybe.
Arrange the booklet pages to make a tale. It can be chronologiquement or by activity. It’s up to you. Assign a few pages to each family member and let the fun begin! Make it even more festive with some Christmas music and a good hot chocolate… Let the children express their imagination. The only rule is to have fun together.
Are they stuck for idées? Use interactive prompts to help them get started. Par exemple, questions like “What I want for Christmas…” or “My favourite thing about Christmas is…”
Once everyone has finished their page, tie it all together. With a hole punch, add decorative ribbon, binder rings, or just staple it. I would also use some cardboard as a cover or laminate it so that you can keep it longer.
Some Themes Ideas
Not sure where to start? There are so many ways you can do this. I would love to capture all our past holidays. It would be such a lovely afternoon spent, altogether reminiscing what we’ve bee up to.
Or you can keep it strictly around le thème de Noël and make lists of all your fav Christmas food, movies, songs…
You can also leave some blank pages that you will fill in over the years. This way, it will become your new tradition each year.
Other good idées? You can add some recipes pages with your favourite holiday recipes: let the children draw les ingredients and include step-by-step instructions.
You can also dedicate a page or two to reflect the year and write your wishes for the New Year…
Keeping Your Christmas Memory Booklet
Store it safely in your seasonal storage box so that you can find it easily.
I would also scan each page so that you can keep a digital back up in case you lose it or it gets damaged. Plus, this way you can also share it with your family like grandparents. They will certainly love this.
Where To Find Printables & Templates?
If you want additional resources, there are load online to help you.
On Pinterest, search for “Christmas memory booklet templates” and “holiday crafts for kids”. Or you can find more free printables on family blog. I particulièrement like Mum In The Mad House. She has so much on there, regardez!
Canva also offers many digital booklets that can be printed and shared with relatives.
Other Christmas Projects With Your Family
Loved making a Christmas memory booklet with all the family? Fancy more projects to do together? Here are some other Christmas crafts idées:
- Create a bespoke tree decorations with family pictures or hand-drawn patterns
- Make your own DIY Holiday Cards. Simply ask the kids to draw something and you can get it printed
- Create an Advent Calendar with tiny goodies or activities for each day leading up to Christmas
Let me know if you did some others in the past. I am always looking for new things to do with Stanley. Enjoy creating a Christmas Memory Booklet with your family.
See you soon with plus de surprises for our annual Frenchie Xmas Competitions…
Collaboration
