a combination of good things

1. My mother in law gave me PhotoShop Elements 11 last week. I installed it on my new, Windows 8 laptop (this is a post for another time but to sum it up: learning curve is steep).

2. After Mass on Christmas Eve, we had our pictures taken quickly and got lucky with a few good ones.

3. I stumbled across a great assortment of Project Life quote freebies on Elise Blaha's blog.

1+2+3=a new timeline cover photo...

I hope you have had a great Holiday. We surely have. I cannot wait for a great 2013.

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getting my merry on-

There have been fancy parties for work...

plenty Elf on the Shelf shenanigans...

treat making of the sweet and savory variety...

 

Mason jars for sweets.

 

Tree shaped veggie pizzas for an annual ornament exchange...

Admittedly, since Friday it has been hard to find any spirit at all. The sadness over the shootings in CT is crippling. My girls and I have been speaking openly and praying fervently. I know of nothing else to do.


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2013 calendars for gifting

This is my 4th or 5th year for making calendars for my family members. My love of digi scrapbook stuff + picture taking always makes this a given. But this year I have worked more, taken most photos with my iphone instead of my DSLR and I find myself with less time to make this tradition happen. About 10 days ago, I thought this would be the year I did NOT do them.

And then I saw these awesome 4x6 printables from Eighteen25:

And we did an impromptu at-home photo shoot that resulted in a handful of worthy pictures of the girls, dog and family. 

Last year I gave simple 4x6 photos that contained a monthly calendar and were joined by a 4x6 magnetic frame and acrylic easel. Easy peasy.

So to capitalize on the Eighteen25 freebies and last year's framing options I devised this plan...

I retrofitted an 8x10 calendar template from Scrapflower to include one photo of my girls and to print at 4x6. Making this:

into this:

I printed all freebies from Eighteen 25 and included two more photos (one of just my girls and one of our family). I spent just under $15 for all of these at Costco and I will have a total of 10 sets to give (and 1-2 for myself!).

Today I quickly packaged them in a cello bag and added a bit of washi tape and they are ready for giving! Woot Woot and Merry Christmas!

Past calendars:

I hope this gives those of you who think it may be too late for handmade gifts an extra push. Pin It