Looking over our site, do you have the idea that over-the-top embellishments are standard fare for a handmade holiday planner?

For a different idea, take a look at this simple handmade holiday planner. Shared online by Scribd user Menucca, it's a 10-page, hand-drawn set of holiday planning pages. Uploaded in December, 2009, Menucca's calendar is for a previous year--but what does it matter when her pages are so fresh and creative and fun?

Menucca's whimsical doodle style makes for a unique and personal planner. Download her shared pages, or use her work as inspiration for a fresh take for your holiday planner:

Menucca's Holiday Planner

Simplicity doesn't have to be boring; check out this altered composition book from the Heart of a Lamb blog!

Starting with a simple composition book, blogger Doresa's holiday planner takes advantage of coordinated patterned paper, embellishments and stickers from stamping supplier Close To My Heart.

Using products designed to work together makes it easy to create a pretty planner (that looks like you worked MUCH harder than you did!)

Fast and festive? We love it:

Holiday Planner Magic

Here's another pretty, practical Christmas notebook from blogger Kristen Stryker.

Behind the lovely cover, you'll find sections for lists, menus and holiday planning.

We like Kristen's eclectic approach to supplies and embellishments.

Because she's mixed and matched offerings from multiple suppliers, this project would make good use of holiday bits and pieces from the supply stash.

Another inspiring planner tour to help organize the holiday season!

Kristen's Christmas Planner

Drop around to blogger Calie's Creative Corner to see a lovely example of an altered composition book turned Christmas planner.

Adding cover embellishments and custom tabs, Calie's planner also includes a convenient receipt envelope tucked inside the rear envelope.

With a calendar added to the inside front cover, Calie will be covered for her holiday planning this year!

Altered Composition Book: Calie's Christmas Planner

Here's an innovative but simple holiday planner from Samantha, who blogs as the Rubber Stamping Diva: an altered composition book.

Note her custom touches that make this project sparkle! A pen holder loop attached to the back cover keeps writing tools close at hand. Inside pockets stand ready to hold gift receipts, while a just-for-fun set of beaded bookmarks makes it easy to find lists, planner pages and calendars.

Last of all, a creative ornament cover embellishment gives this easy project a dazzling creative touch. Nice job!

Christmas in July: Altered Composition Book Holiday Planner

So you like the Christmas pocket planner concept, but need more room? With full-size pages and the convenience of pockets, blogger Just Plain Happy's holiday planner is worthy of note!

Check out her colorful, clever solution to holiday planning. Slip full-sized planner pages, notepads and receipt envelopes into the decorated pockets of this Christmas planner to organize gifts, crafts and Christmas cards.

It's a winner!

Just Plain Happy's Holiday Planner

It's purse-sized and powerful: an altered spiral notebook turned holiday planner!

Papercrafter Krista, blogging as Scraps in Bloom, shares her method for creating a tiny treasure for holiday planning with this step-by-step tutorial. Beginning with a small notebook, she shows how to add covers, divider pages and embellishments.

We'd suggest including a fold-out envelope for receipts--and we love the ribbon-tab dividers!

Made in multiple, these small Christmas planners would make wonderful gifts for a special sister or friend. Get crafting!

Tutorial: Altered Spiral Notebook Holiday Planner

Papercrafting, scrapbooking and rubber stamping your Christmas planner? Move over for a new crafting inspiration, with this notebook tour of a quilter's Christmas planner.

Quilter Cathi added a printed paper label to festive fabric to make this wonderful Christmas planner.

Custom-made divider pages and title page add to the appeal of this handmade Christmas notebook, so don't miss Cathi's version of the Christmas Countdown calendar!

Check it out!

A Quilter's Christmas Notebook

Downsizing your Christmas notebook this year? Take a look at this simple--but powerful--purse-sized Christmas planner created by Laurie.

Blogging as My Home For The Holidays, she's made small and simple her goal this year. Using downsized copies of Christmas planner forms from OrganizedChristmas.com, her hand-made notebook has all the organizing elements anyone would need to get organized for Christmas.

Laurie's Holiday Planner

If simple--but pretty--is what you're looking for in a Christmas planner, check out this offering from FiskarCrafts.com.

Using a simple composition notebook, these clever crafters have added a pretty, three-dimensional cover. Stamped felt holly leaves form a pretty frame for a die-cut title.

We like the innovative stamping technique of running scrap cardstock through a crimper, then using it as a rubber stamp to create candy-stripe effects.

Holiday Planner