Title: “Family Calendars”
Exhibitor: Elaine Tschaggeny
Description: Giving the gift of a calendar to family members helps
develop relationships and build family unity. Although the calendars vary in style from year to year, the special dates of birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc., are always included. Family photos of special events, vacations, etc, can be used for the calendar pages. Use of new computer technology makes the calendars even easier to produce.
How To’s:
Computer resources
Instructions for putting together a family calendar
Instructions for do-it-yourself calendar
Computer programs make it easy to create a family calendar. There are many programs available. They automatically transfer birthdays and holidays from one year to the next.
Some editing is required each year because some holiday dates
change from year to year. Of course,
dates of significant events are added each year, i.e., birth of new babies,
birthdays of new spouses joining the family, deaths, etc. We also include
the date of our yearly family reunion that is an annual event the last weekend
of July.
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Instructions
for putting together a family calendar:
- Print each month’s calendar page using the computer program of your choice.
- Create a title page for the front of the calendar. We write or print using the computer something like: “Have a Great 2002,” “Thanks for the Memories,” “Merry Christmas 2001. You could also sign your own names or trace around a small child’s hand. We have also included on the title page a favorite family photo or various photos recently taken of our immediately family.
- Choose a theme if you would like. Some ideas are: ancestors, old black and white photos, baby pictures, young photos of the older generation, teen photos, wedding photos, silly pictures, sports pictures, grandparents and grandchildren, favorite family recipes, pictures drawn by the children, etc.
- Choose photographs you want to feature each month. This is the fun part! I choose pictures I’ve taken myself, collected over the years, or sometimes borrow them from other family members. I keep track of which pictures I use from year to year and month to month and try to feature all family members. The pictures usually have something to do with the month they are featured, i.e. the pictured person’s birthday month, graduation month, anniversary month, seasonal photos, etc. Mounting the photographs on scrapbook paper with boarders, using mats and stickers, adds interest and eye appeal to the calendar page.
- Lay out a sample calendar in the order you want it assembled, i.e., (a) clear plastic sheet, (b) title page, (c) January’s picture on the back of the title page, (d) January’s calendar, (e) February’s picture on the back of January’s calendar, and continue likewise through to December.
- You may want to call several copy shops to check the prices on color photocopies (if you want color), spiral bindings, and having holes punched or drilled.
- Give clear instructions at the copy shop. (1) Print the calendar in the proper two-sided layout order. (2) Apply a clear plastic sheet (which can be purchased at the copy shop) over the title page after the calendars are printed. The plastic sheet over the title page of the calendar will prevent the weight of the calendar from tearing a hole through the calendar and protect the title page. (3) Bind the calendar. The copy shop can bind the calendar for you with a spiral binding (black, white or clear) or you can tie ribbons through two holes punched at the top of each calendar. (4) Drill the holes at the bottom of each calendar so when you advance to the new month it can be easily hung. You can also punch the holes yourself.
Instructions
for do-it-yourself calendar:
Here is a simple variation of the family calendar. This version is much easier and less expensive. I think my family preferred the original calendar where they didn’t have to change the pictures themselves.
- Create photo albums with copies of some favorite pictures taken over the years and give it to your family. They can choose from these photos or other family pictures those they want featured each month on the family calendar.
- Create a title page as explained above.
- Use a piece of plain white cardstock with a shiny side, available at the copy shop, to mount the removable pictures on. The shiny, heavier paper won’t tear during the year when photos are attached with masking tape or something sticky and removed each month.
- Use one clear plastic sheet to protect and hold the photographs in place.
- Print each month’s calendar January through December.
- Bind the above together to form the do-it-yourself calendar.
- Punch a hole in the bottom of the first three pages (title page, shiny cardstock and clear plastic sheet).
- At the end of each month, the completed monthly calendar is torn off revealing the next month. You may change the picture featured each month.
This is such a fun gift to give. The family really looks forward to receiving our family calendar
for Christmas. Two years ago we didn’t
make one for Christmas gifts and this was met with such disappointment that we
made and gave the calendar for Mother’s Day that year. I’m sure that you will come up with lots of
great ideas yourself. Have fun!
