First, a freebie download for all of you lovely readers — because we truly appreciate you taking the time to visit our little blog. We’ve made a tradition of designing a homemade calendar every year, and even though 2012 was creeping up while we were mid-kitchen renovation, we stole a moment (while the wood putty dried) to put one together for the new year.
In previous years our calendars were mostly text-based rather than photo-heavy. For example, our 2010 calendar featured a dozen quirky family phrases and inside jokes laid out in clean, bright colors. In 2011 we used a numerical theme, where a family-related fact matched each month (May, the fifth month, noted “Five years in Richmond,” while July, the seventh month, read “Seven years spent together”).
This year we moved away from text-on-white and embraced a photographic approach. Each month of our 2012 calendar showcases a photo we took during the corresponding month of 2011. It’s a simple, sentimental way to look back and think, “Oh yeah — that’s what Clara looked like exactly a year ago.” A photo calendar isn’t earth-shattering, but it felt especially meaningful because 2011 was the first full year we had Clara with us. And yes — that girl can pose like a pro.
To give the photos a slightly nostalgic, “historical” feel we used a free Photoshop action called “Heartland.” Then we brightened the pages by adding a colorful, curvy border at the top and bottom of each month. The header and month numbers use the Lobster font, a friendly, modern script that gives the calendar a polished, handmade flair.
If you’d like to personalize the calendar yourself, we created a downloadable Photoshop file that includes all twelve colorful frames. You can add your own images and tweak the text to suit your family. Here’s how to customize it:
- Add your photos as a layer placed behind each frame in Photoshop so the image shows through the window.
- Download the Lobster font if you plan to edit any text; without it, text may default and look off.
- Apply the Heartland action to your photos if you want a similar vintage look, or convert them to black and white, boost the saturation, or leave them full color — whatever fits your style.
Once personalized, print the pages on sturdy cardstock, trim them to size, and hang the calendar in your kitchen, office, or mudroom. We plan to print ours once we buy a fresh color ink cartridge and finish some final kitchen fixes. We’ll probably hang it with a binder clip or two so each month is easy to flip. Whether it’s up by February or March, we hope it inspires you to make a small, homemade calendar for yourself or as a thoughtful, inexpensive gift for friends and family.
Switching gears to a seasonal surprise: a little package arrived from my Secret Santa. I had mentioned that Mrs. Limestone invited me to participate in a Secret Santa among a group of bloggers, and I worried I might stumble picking two perfect gifts for someone in December. The package arrived festively wrapped with a tiny “Peace On Earth” ornament on top.
Inside was a small silver box that read “Good things come in small packages,” which made this petite 5’2″ gal smile. Tucked beneath the lid was a sprinkling of glitter and three sweet ornaments engraved with the initials for my husband, our little one, and me. They were delicate-looking but unbreakable — ideal for homes with young kids. There was also a tiny glittering bird that fit right in with our other seasonal pieces.
I have no idea which blogger sent the gift, and I’m loving the mystery. The possible Secret Santas included a lovely list of fellow bloggers and friends, any one of whom could be responsible for the thoughtful surprise:
- Mrs. Limestone at Brooklyn Limestone
- Michelle at 4 Men 1 Lady
- Bryn at Bryn Alexandra
- Emily at Emily A. Clark
- Shelley at House of Smiths
- Melissa at The Inspired Room
- Janell at Isabella and Max Rooms
- Paloma at La Dolce Vita
- Jacin at Lovely Little Details
- Nicole at Making it Lovely
- Marian at Mustard Seed Interiors
- Lauren at Pure Style Home
- Tanya at Save the Date for Cupcakes
- Michelle at TenJune
- Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick
- Laura at You Stir Me
We hung the new initial ornaments on our tree right away, along with the glittering bird. I love that these ornaments aren’t breakable, so they sit comfortably among our paint chips and ribbons without worry. The red on the initials coordinates nicely with our red ribbons, and the glitter around the edges catches the lights on the tree.
Our tree has filled out more over the last few weeks because many ornaments from our homemade advent calendar have been taken down from the door and placed on branches. Clara and I have enjoyed choosing the perfect spot for each one as the days pass. Traditions like these — crafting a calendar, filling an advent calendar with little surprises — don’t cost much or take a lot of time, but they bring big joy to the family. They make a half-torn-apart house feel festive while we sand, prime, and paint cabinets. Maybe we’ll play Christmas tunes while we putty and pretend the sawdust is snow.
Update: You can find a curated list of our favorite holiday decor finds — many priced under $15 — to help inspire your own seasonal decorating.