We all want to be the one that gifts THAT gift – the one that is truly enjoyed ALL year long. The one that doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. And, if you’re a mom like me, you want it to be something that your kids had a hand in making. When I finished making our 2015 calendar in November (the day before Thanksgiving, literally… I was down to the wire, ya’ll…), I told my mom and my bff… “friends don’t let friends make a calendar like this EVER again.” And “don’t EVER let me think I can do this kind of project again. I might go crazy.” So why am I sharing this EPIC project here, and already saying I’m doing one again this year?
Because it’s January. And by starting NOW on this project, I have the whole year to get it done!! (Thanks, Mom and Rena for the encouragement to do this again!!!) And so do you. And the best part for you – I’ll be giving you various art ideas all year as we do them, so you’ll be able to follow along right behind us and make your own amazing, EPIC calendar for 2016!
Inspired by artist/author Eric Carle, we did a wide variety of art – painting, chalks, markers, etc on sheets of textured card stock, and then I cut the papers to make a collage for each month. Becca helped glue the pieces down, and selected Washi tape for each picture. (She’s a little Washi obsessed… just like Mommy.) Then, I scanned each picture into my computer, and printed the pictures out on our color printer. By scanning, I was able to make an awesome cover, which has a preview of each month. Then I printed out calendar blanks and typed up a sheet that explains what type of art is included on each collage. I used photo splits to attach the sheets to each other (fronts to backs), then laminated and comb bound each calendar.
Here are some close-up photos to give you some ideas for your 2016 calendar! Plus, later this year, I’ll share a FREE printable set of 2016 calendar blanks, so you don’t even have to worry about creating those – just start working on your art, and I’ll help walk you through creating this calendar for the important folks in your kids’ lives!
Plus, throughout the year, as we do our art, I’ll give you ideas for how to modify this activity to involve more than one child – so don’t think you have to worry about making a calendar from each child! There are ways to make some months be a collage of art from each child, and then also making certain months especially just from one specific child in your family (perfect if they don’t share the same birthday month – let them be the star of their own month!) And yes, baby Grayson will be taking part in making the art for 2016. (Again, I may be slightly off my rocker… but I think it’ll be worth it in the end!!)
SO – check back next Friday for your first art project… we’re ready to make our February collage, and so are you! (Yes, we may not do our collages in order… we’re full force excited about Valentine’s Day around here… so we’ve got February done already!)
Please note – due to the fact that the family members who will receive our calendar read my blog, we’ll give you art ideas and show photos of our sheets of painted paper, but will not be posting photos of the finished collages. Gotta keep something a surprise for Christmas! (And I want you guys to be original in your collage ideas…) Next January, I’ll be asking for photos of your finished calendars… and feel free to share your photos of completed activities you’ve done inspired by my blog ANYTIME by sending me an email: butterbeesandbumbleflies@gmail.com Please be sure to put on your email if I can share your photos on my Facebook page.
Butterbees and Bumbleflies 
One thought on “The Christmas Gift They’ll Be Talking About All Year”
Comments are closed.