Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about our site? We've got answers! Check these Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about OrganizedChristmas.com.
If the FAQ below haven't answered your question or concern? Ask us a new question.
Site owner Cynthia or Webmaster Ryan will answer your question as quickly as possible.
Printing Issues
Having trouble with printable forms from this site? Bring your questions here ... and check to see if they've been answered.
I love your templates, but my friends and I use the Junior notebooks and when we shrink the templates, it's too small. Please format for the Junior notebooks.
As a free site run by one person (plus one up-and-coming young Webmaster!), we have only so many resources available--and we have to limit what we offer to match what we have to offer it with.
That includes the bandwidth to serve the site and the processing limits of our computer server--as well as the time required to convert our entire forms set to a different size or format.
Just this week, we got a lovely link-in from mega-site Lifehacker that has pushed our server resources close to the limit--and have meant I'm on the 10th straight working day with no end in sight to keep tabs on site and server.
Bottom line: I can add it to the to-do list, but don't hold your breath.
Some options if you want different-sized forms? Many printers offer the ability to print more than one form on a single page; that should reduce the printable to a size more compatible with junior notebooks.
Readers can also get creative! Use our forms as a model to create your own custom sizes; you can see lots of examples at Christmas Planner. Or check the Web for scaled-down pages; you can find lots of examples here.
I would like to make both the Adult Journal In A Jar and the Child's Version. I've tried printing out the slips to do so and find it extremely difficult. I can only print one page at a time and then have to go back to the original page to repeat. What am I doing wrong? Also is there any way I can order the entire package that I can then re-print on my printer at a inexpensive cost? I think it is a very worthwhile activity and would like to give them to others.
Thank You
Syvilla, I'm not qualified to give tech support for printing issues--I'm not a computer expert, and all I can do is make the files available.
However, most of the time, when your browser pops up a "print" window, that window has an option to print multiple copies of the page. That would save you some steps.
There's no "one file" available to download all of these pages at once. It would be a VERY large download, and since I don't have anybody to help with tech support, I wouldn't be able to offer help for people who had trouble copying it.
Just one of those "get what you pay for" deals. As a free site run by one person, it's not possible to provide this kind of help.
Cynthia
Boo Poem and sign printing problem. I cannot get them to print a full 8/11 page. What am I missing?
Maria says, "Click on the poem, underneath will be a link to a printable page, click in the green box- it opens it up full size! Then you can print."
The reason for this is, the image on the page is just a thumbnail, and is not intended for full page printing. Opening the .pdf file at the bottom of the page will give you a full-sized image that is optimized for printing.
Do you offer online planning options or pages I can edit on my computer?
While Organized Christmas offers a full range of free printable planner pages, this site does not provide online planning tools or downloadable planner formats.
Two reasons: time and money. This free site is operated by one person and run on a financial shoestring.
To offer online planning tools--and permit thousands of users to create accounts, log on frequently and store data--we'd need extensive server resources, hired tech help, and warm bodies on the payroll to handle customer service.
To do so, the site would have to move to a subscription model, charging access fees in the range of $15 to $25 per month.
Similarly, offering downloadable planner software or documents is way beyond our site's capacity. To do so, we'd have to hire tech help to create them, solve issues of different file formats and operating systems, set up customer support options, and buy more server capacity.
Again, this kind of convenience wouldn't come cheap: we'd have to charge for these documents, requiring even more back-end investment in credit-card processing, storefronts and customer service. Think something in the range of $35 to $65.
At the end of the day, I'd rather keep things free ... and simple.
I Found A Problem ...
Something not working quite right behind the scenes? Alert us to site problems in this area.
I have been able to print out all of the 2010 calendar pages except August and September. It tells me I am not allowed to get it. Any help. Thanks for a wonderful site.
We found the problem and fixed it!
Thanks for letting us know and being specific about a problem so that we can figure out what is going on and fix it!
There's a lot on the site that Cynthia and I don't look at everyday, so we appreciate you letting us know about problems like this.
-Ryan
I can't open your pdf links past "get organized week." When I save the files, adobe asks for a pdf password to open them.
I'm sorry--I have no idea why you are getting this error. I tried to reproduce it, but two different computers and several browsers later, the .PDF versions of our forms are all printing and saving correctly.
Similarly, I checked the site logs, but can't find evidence of any global problem that would prevent you from seeing the forms. We're seeing thousands of visitors a day, and this is the first issue of this type that's popped up.
The only potential issue I can think of is that you may be following old, saved links. Because the location of our printables does change from time to time, we recommend linking to the form's page, not to the file itself. The page will always have the current link.
Once again, I'm sorry.
Please note that when I use print button to display print friendly version located on the bottom of "Simply Season's Greetings: Using Computers to Send Christmas Cards.... in Get Organize's "To Read This Week", the print friendly copy's window's print option under File; the print icon option in the window; the print screen option Ctrl P; nor just highlight and print selection will not print the print friendly copy and .... closes down your web site.... any print option I use in the print friendly copy window closes your entire web site and returns me to my browser. The only way I can print this info is to highlight the original page and print "selection". I have diligently been printing everything you have available in Organized Christmas in all print friendly versions and have run into this same problem only one other time...in Get Organized's "Before the Season: Family Values Checkup". Something is corrupt in print friendly version of these articles... I printed boat loads of stuff on your site yesterday with no problems until this.
Pat, I'm sorry--I don't know what is wrong or how to fix it.
Thing is, I can't reproduce the problem you've described. I tried two different operating systems on two different computers, used three browsers on each and checked the connection through two different ISPs--everything is fine.
We haven't made any changes over the weekend that impact the print-friendly pages. And I checked the site error log, and there's no entry that would indicate any problems with this page. The print-friendly pages are showing up properly, they're printing properly, and there's no hint of what might be happening as far as I can see.
If it was a corrupted page, the issue should be gone by now. All cached pages at the site are flushed once an hour--but I can't tell whether that is the problem.
It may be an issue somewhere down the line, but I'm not able to "peek down the pipe" to learn what is wrong.
All I can suggest is that you try a different Web browser or computer. These things are frustrating for us all.
Cynthia
Questions About This Site
Have a question about how our site works? Get in touch with site owner Cynthia or Webmaster Ryan here.
The Organized Christmas message boards closed in January, 2008, due to the retirement of our site owner.
Not to worry: content areas, including articles, stories and printable Christmas holiday organizers and forms, are still online and available to help you get organized for the holiday season.
Use the menu bar above to browse our site, or check out these successor forums opened by OC members:
I love your site, but I'm too busy to come here every day for the Countdown. How can I get you to email my assignments every day?
While we don't offer e-mail services (been there, done that, had my hair turn white!), there are several ways to follow the Countdown.
Our Twitter feed or RSS feed will link you to each day's stories and assignments.
On July 15, a reader wrote:
"Also, the design for the Organized Christmas page is extremely unattractive. Is it my computer display? The page is gray, peach, and green. The gray background with the pine green font is ugly and difficult to read. What happened to your gorgeous site from years past?"
Yes, it's "out with the old, in with the new" ... theme, that is. As we work on site updates for 2009, a theme change is necessary as we add new features and enhancements to the site.
Our older "red" theme won't let us use some of the exciting new options that are in the works for later this year--and it had its own share of hard-core detractors.
The good news? If you really hate the fresh new look, we'll soon give you the option to select a different theme that's more to your liking. Watch the site later in the season for more information.
Back to work!
---Cynthia
Copyright and Republication
Need to know about republishing our articles or using our free printables? Get answers to questions about copyright and republication here.
Our copyrighted materials are offered for personal use only, and may not be sold--but we're happy to grant republication permission to non-profit or church groups for use in classes, programs or functions.
Use our contact form to request a republication permission. Web site elves will get right back to you!
Short answer: links are okay, but copying is not!
We're tickled that you love our content, but have to ask you not to republish it elsewhere on the Web. All of our articles, planner page and free printables are copyrighted, and may not be republished on blogs or social networking sites.
We love it when you link to us! Short teaser excerpts of 250 words or less, together with a link back to our site, are always welcome.
Media
Learn how to contact site owner and author, Cynthia Ewer--and get answers to other media-related questions here.
As a working writer, I do not accept uncompensated writing assignments.
And while I wish other bloggers well, running this site network doesn't leave time for me take part in blog content exchanges.
Love it! I'm always happy to speak with the press--and never happier than when talking about how to simplify the holiday season.
Get in touch with me via our contact form; I'll get right back to you.
--Cynthia
Advertising
Interested in advertising on our site? Need to know our policies about selling text links or joining affiliate programs? Get answers here.
OrganizedChristmas.com does not sell advertising directly, offer paid links, or participate in affiliate programs.
To advertise on our site, we suggest Google Adwords' site-specific program. It's the easiest way to bring your product or site to the attention of our readers.
Our site participates in the Google AdWords program. Advertisers can buy text links or image ads on our site by joining Google AdWords, and specifying a site-targeted campaign naming our site.
