While I admit to generally being less than enthusiastic about New Year's Eve celebrations (I'm usually sound asleep when the ball drops), I'm excited about the promise of possibility that the new year brings. Something about starting over always fills me with a sense of hope. Hope for what, I'm not yet entirely sure. I'll skip the typical resolutions even though I really would like to: a) get washboard abs; b) become bilingual; c) read the 100 best books of all time; and d) properly punctuate. It's a tall order I know, so I might just have to settle for learning proper punctuation.
What I do know for certain about 2009 is that it will be filled with photography (and hopefully, improvement in photography skills), scrapbooking (as usual) and maybe a little more documentation in the form of this blog, which I've kind of taken a liking to over the last 6 months :)
A fitting project share to start off the new year:
This was a gift I created with the help of a Scrapbooks Etc. Stories By Everyone calendar template. We kept one for ourselves and gave one to each set of grandparents. (Sorry Elaine for ruining the surprise!)It couldn't have been an easier project with the Stories By Everyone drag and drop format. The only thing I would change is the binding on the first page. I wasn't aware it would be bound through the photo. Something to keep in mind if you feel inspired to make your own.
I made calendars last Christmas too, but the photos were a little more random. In this calendar, each month's photo was actually taken in the same month of the previous year, so you can page through and see Sadie change and grow. I just love that.
I send real 4x6 printed photos to the grandparents too, but I love being able to share a whole year of Sadie in such a practical format. No fiddling with plastic album sleeves or hammering nails into the wall for frames. Just tack this baby up!
Anyway, hope you all had a wonderful holiday! As expected, it was very busy here, which did not allow for me to hover around the computer. Now that the holidays are over, I hope to be back to regular blogging. Maybe I'll even share the dreaded Christmas album :)
![](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618618775?ie=UTF8&tag=vermar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0618618775"><img border="0" src="41485X8R0VL._SL160_.jpg)
![](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032Y8XH8?ie=UTF8&tag=vermar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0032Y8XH8"><img border="0" src="51RNerVHKRL._SL160_.jpg)
Oh that turned out SOOOOO cute, Mary! I love it!
Posted by: Heather M. | January 02, 2009 at 06:52 PM
I made the same calendar for my husband for Christmas and he loved it! He even hinted that he would like me to do one every year.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Shannon | January 02, 2009 at 06:58 PM
Happy New Year Mary!
Love you idea of using photos from the same month of the previous year for the calendars.:)
Posted by: Linda J | January 02, 2009 at 07:58 PM
"proper punctuation" ... i should add that to my to-do list ... along with "proper spelling". lol!
love the calendar! i should remember that for next year's grandparents gifts ... so much easier than the albums i've been doing every year! lol!
Posted by: laura vegas | January 02, 2009 at 09:19 PM
Happy New Year Mary!! Love the calendar--perfect for hard to shop for grandparents!!
Posted by: Sara Rossi | January 02, 2009 at 09:19 PM
hey, Happy New Year, friend!
i love the calendar:)so perfect! great photos:)
Posted by: lovely cee. | January 02, 2009 at 11:50 PM
That calendar is so cute! I might have to make one myself. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Ashley S. | January 03, 2009 at 07:43 PM
(say, MJ.... i sent you some of the photos from the restaurant and my thing doesn't say they got sent... i got a new computer and it's kind of weird. i'm just wondering. let me know whatever. thnx)
Posted by: lovely cee. | January 03, 2009 at 11:48 PM
That is one cute calendar - especially the July entry!!
Posted by: Crystal | January 05, 2009 at 11:28 PM