A Coastal Christmas: A New Junk Journal Collection + Free Printable Journaling Cards

I’ve finally finished my Coastal Christmas collection, and I’m really happy with how this one has come together!

I started out with the idea of creating something a little different from the traditional Christmas collections, with a relaxed coastal feel, pretty watercolor illustrations and a lovely mix of dusty blues, sea-glass greens, sage, warm ivory and touches of coral. I wanted it to feel like Christmas without the snow and winter weather, with a little sunshine, seaside charm and all those lovely festive details we enjoy at this time of year.

Although the collection has a coastal theme, I didn’t want everything to be about shells and the beach. I’ve included Christmas trees, wreaths, beautiful bows, wrapped gifts, festive greenery and some summery details too, so the whole collection feels like a relaxed, warm-weather Christmas. I think this makes it lovely for anyone who enjoys coastal style, whether they live by the sea or simply love that light, breezy look.

The idea for this collection actually came from a lovely message I received from a customer last year. She’s in the US, in a warm coastal area, and mentioned that she enjoys decorating for Christmas without the traditional winter and snow themes. It got me thinking about creating something a little different.

Living in Australia, I’m used to Christmas in the middle of summer, although I’ve always been drawn to the traditional snowy Christmas designs myself. But I really liked the idea of creating something that feels warm, relaxed and festive, without going down the usual tropical or novelty route. So that’s how my Coastal Christmas collection came about, and I’ve really enjoyed exploring a different take on Christmas!

There are now five coordinating printable kits in the collection: junk journal pages, a folio kit, a loaded tag kit, a waterfall folio and a set of journaling words and fussy cuts. I’ve also put together a free printable page of three coordinating Coastal Christmas journaling cards, which you can download from my Planner Lovers Resource Library or Patreon.

I’ll share a little more about each of the kits below, along with some ideas for using them together or adding a few festive touches to your everyday journaling and papercraft projects.

Free Coastal Christmas Journaling Cards

To celebrate the new collection, I’ve created a free printable page with three Coastal Christmas journaling cards to coordinate with the kits.

The cards feature the same pretty watercolor illustrations, coastal colors and Christmas details, with a lovely mix of blue gingham, soft stripes, greenery, bows and decorated Christmas tree. There’s a combination of decorative designs and space for adding your own notes, little memories or journaling.

They’re perfect for tucking into pockets, adding to your junk journal pages, decorating your planner or using alongside the other pieces in the collection. You could also use them as little Christmas notes or add them to a handmade card or gift.

The free printable is available in both The Planner Lovers Resource Library and Patreon, so you can download a copy and enjoy creating with the collection.

Download the free printable from the Planner Lovers Resource Library
Find the free printable on Patreon

Coastal Christmas Junk Journal Pages

The Coastal Christmas Junk Journal Pages are a lovely place to start if you want to make a festive journal or add some seasonal pages to an existing one.

This printable set includes six double-page spreads featuring seaside cottage scenes, decorated Christmas trees, seashells, starfish, festive wreaths, wrapped gifts and beautiful Christmas greenery. There are also some lovely coordinating patterns, including gingham and stripes, along with soft watercolor backgrounds in dusty coastal blue, sea-glass, sage green, warm ivory and coral-peach.

I particularly love the little seaside cottage scenes, which bring together the coastal and Christmas elements without making everything feel too traditional or wintery. The different papers also give you a nice mixture of illustrated pages and simpler backgrounds, so you can add your own photos, journaling, pockets and embellishments.

I’m planning to use some of these pages to make a little Coastal Christmas junk journal, adding pockets, tags and a few of the other pieces from the collection. You could also use individual papers in your existing journal, create festive collage pages, or add a little Christmas decoration to your daily journaling.

Shop the Coastal Christmas Junk Journal Pages on Etsy

Coastal Christmas Junk Journal Folio Kit

I’ve also created a coordinating Coastal Christmas Folio Kit, which is a fun little project if you enjoy making interactive paper crafts.

The kit includes a printable folio base, coordinating pockets, cards, a belly band and optional backing paper. Everything features the same coastal Christmas illustrations and watercolor colors, with pretty patterns and plenty of little festive details.

The folio is a lovely way to keep tags, journaling cards, notes and other little paper treasures together. You can decorate it with the included pockets and cards, then add your own fussy cuts, photographs or handwritten notes to make it personal.

I also like the idea of using the folio as a little keepsake for Christmas memories. You could add a few photos, jot down some favorite moments from the festive season, or simply fill it with pretty bits and pieces you’ve collected along the way.

If you enjoy making small junk journals, this folio could also be used alongside the printable journal pages to create a little coordinated project.

Shop the Coastal Christmas Folio Kit on Etsy

Coastal Christmas Waterfall Folio Kit

For something a little more interactive, there’s also the Coastal Christmas Waterfall Folio Kit. This one includes a lovely layered waterfall feature, with five panels that flip open one after another to reveal coordinating designs.

Along with the folio base, the kit includes pockets, cards, tags and a belly band, plus optional backing papers for the folio and waterfall panels. There’s also a printing and assembly guide to help you put everything together.

I really enjoyed designing this one, especially the waterfall feature. It gives you extra little spaces to decorate, add journaling or tuck away small memories, and it’s a lovely way to show off the different patterns and illustrations in the collection.

The finished folio could make a sweet little Christmas keepsake, or you could use it to hold photos, festive notes, journaling cards and other paper treasures. I think it would also make a lovely handmade gift for someone who enjoys junk journaling and papercraft.

Shop the Coastal Christmas Waterfall Folio Kit on Etsy

Coastal Christmas Loaded Tag Kit

The Coastal Christmas Loaded Tag Kit is another fun little project, especially if you enjoy layering papers, adding pockets and creating small interactive pieces.

This printable kit includes coordinating tag bases, pockets, inserts and matching ephemera, all featuring the same pretty coastal Christmas illustrations and watercolor colors.

I love loaded tags because they give you so many opportunities to add little layers and tucked-away pieces. You can use the pockets and inserts to hold journaling notes, small cards, photographs or little messages, and decorate the tag with your favorite fussy cuts.

They also make lovely additions to junk journal pages, or you could use one as a decorative feature inside your folio. I think a finished loaded tag would make a sweet little handmade Christmas gift too, particularly for someone who loves collecting pretty paper creations.

Shop the Coastal Christmas Loaded Tag Kit on Etsy

Coastal Christmas Journaling Words & Fussy Cuts

And finally, I’ve created a set of Coastal Christmas Journaling Words and Fussy Cuts to go along with the other kits.

This set includes 32 unique Christmas words and phrases, each supplied in four coordinating colorways: dusty coastal blue, muted sage green, sea-glass blue-green and warm coral-peach. There are also coordinating fussy cuts featuring pretty bows, seashells, starfish, Christmas greenery, wrapped gifts, a decorated tree and other festive details.

These are probably some of the pieces I’ll reach for most often when I’m decorating my own journals. I love being able to add a little word strip or a small fussy cut here and there to finish off a page, or layer a few pieces together to create a little cluster.

They’re particularly handy for adding small snippets of Christmas journaling, festive sentiments or decorative touches to pockets, tags, cards and collage pages. And because the words come in four coordinating colors, it’s easy to choose something that works with the papers and other pieces you’re using.

I’ve included a mixture of traditional Christmas phrases and some that have a more relaxed, summery feel, so you can add a little festive personality without every page looking the same.

Shop the Coastal Christmas Journaling Words & Fussy Cuts on Etsy

A Few Ways I’m Planning to Use the Collection

One of the things I love about creating a coordinated collection is being able to mix and match the different pieces, but I also enjoy using individual items in quite simple ways. You don’t need to make a big project every time you sit down with your journal!

Little festive pages in my Mini BlendBook

My Mini BlendBook is where I often just play around with pretty papers, fussy cuts and little decorative details. I enjoy making small pages and spreads purely for the joy of cutting out bits and layering them together, without worrying too much about whether the page is particularly useful or productive.

For this collection, I can see myself creating little Christmas collage pages with the journal papers, adding a few of the word strips, and layering some of the shells, bows, greenery and other fussy cuts. Sometimes I’ll start with a pretty background and just see where the page takes me. Other times, I’ll choose a phrase I like and build a little page around it.

I also shared a whole series on creating a Christmas Mini BlendBook over on my free Patreon membership, if you’d like to see how I put one together and get a few ideas for your own festive journaling. Follow my Christmas Mini BlendBook series on Patreon.

It’s such a lovely way to enjoy the creative side of journaling, especially when you don’t feel like doing much writing. The free journaling cards would be perfect for this too, either as a starting point for a page or as something to tuck into a little layered spread.

Adding little details to my Daily BlendBook

In my Daily BlendBook, I tend to use these sorts of pieces a little more sparingly. I might add a small pocket to hold a note or a photo, tuck in a journaling card, or layer a little strip of patterned paper somewhere on the page.

The journaling words are particularly useful for this. A little phrase such as Christmas Cheer, Warm December Days or Merry Little Christmas can add a festive touch without taking up too much room. I also like adding a few fussy cuts here and there, perhaps a little bow or some Christmas greenery, to make a page feel finished.

You could also use the papers and embellishments to decorate your weekly planner pages, add a little seasonal color to your monthly spread, or create a small Christmas memory-keeping section throughout December.

Making a small Coastal Christmas junk journal

If you’d rather have a dedicated place for your festive journaling, the printable pages and folio kits work beautifully together to create a small coordinated junk journal.

You could use the journal papers as your main pages, then add pockets, tags and cards from the folio and loaded tag kits. The waterfall folio is another lovely option if you enjoy interactive elements and want somewhere to tuck away extra photos, notes and little memories.

Add some of the journaling words and fussy cuts throughout, and you have a lovely little collection of coordinated pieces to work with. Of course, you can also bring in your own papers, ribbon, lace, photos and other embellishments to make the journal feel more personal.

Other festive paper crafting ideas

There are plenty of ways to use the collection beyond journaling too. The tags and cards would be lovely for handmade Christmas cards, gift tags, small presents or happy mail. You could use the patterned papers for little envelopes, decorative panels, pockets or other paper crafts, and the fussy cuts make pretty embellishments for almost anything.

The free printable journaling cards are another handy addition. You could write little Christmas messages on them, use them as journaling spots, or add them to a handmade card or gift. They’re also a nice way to try out the collection before deciding which of the other kits you’d like to use.

And if you don’t feel like making a whole project, you can simply print a few of your favorite pieces and use them to add some seasonal decoration to your existing journals or planners.

Download Your Free Coastal Christmas Journaling Cards

If you’d like to try a little Coastal Christmas crafting, I’ve made a free printable page of three coordinating journaling cards to go with the collection.

You can download them from The Planner Lovers Resource Library or Patreon and use them in your junk journals, planners, folios, cards and other festive paper projects.

Get the free printable in the Planner Lovers Resource Library
Download it from Patreon

I hope you enjoy them!

Bringing It All Together

I’m really happy with how the Coastal Christmas collection has come together. I wanted something that felt festive but a little different, with all the lovely Christmas details alongside a softer coastal palette and a relaxed, warm-weather feeling.

I also wanted the kits to be flexible, so you can use them for a larger project like a folio or small junk journal, or simply pick out a few pieces to use in your everyday journaling, planner decorating or creative collage pages.

And that’s probably how I’ll use them most myself – a little bit of everything, depending on what I’m in the mood for. Some days I’ll enjoy making a little layered spread in my Mini BlendBook, other days I’ll add a few pretty details to my Daily BlendBook, and sometimes I’ll sit down and make a whole folio or small journal just for the fun of it.

The free journaling cards are a little extra to get you started, and I hope they’ll inspire you to make something of your own, whether that’s a full Christmas journal or just a pretty little page with a few layers and a festive word strip.

If you enjoy coastal colors, pretty watercolor illustrations and creating your own festive paper projects, I hope you’ll enjoy this collection too.

You can find all five Coastal Christmas printables in my Etsy shop, The Lost Paperie, and mix and match the kits to create your own little collection of Christmas journals, folios, tags and paper treasures.

Explore the Coastal Christmas Collection in my Etsy shop

Happy journaling x