I know that it’s already a couple of weeks into the new year, but maybe you’re like me and you still haven’t thrown away your 2005 calendar for whatever reason. You know, it does feel like a shame to throw out a calendar that is full of great pictures. There are actually a lot of things you can do with those pictures instead of chucking them in the trash can. Now, if you are more on top of things than I am, and you still like some of these ideas, just go out and buy a new calendar. Since the new year has already begun, you can get 2006 calendars for a steal. Once you have a calendar with some pictures you like, use the pictures for one of these projects:
Mount the pictures on cardboard or cardstock and make puzzles for kids. You could laminate them with contact paper before cutting them out if you’d like.
Use them to wrap small gifts.
Use them for scrapbooking. You could use the pictures or the calendar itself as the background to highlight a specific month or holiday that you have pictures of. Or just cut out parts of pictures or the names of months for accents to a page.
Cut pictures into small squares and use them as a mosaic to decorate cards.
If you really like the picture, why not just frame it? Buying old calendars filled with paintings or photographs is a really inexpensive way to buy art for your home. Mat the picture for an even nicer look. Search thrift stores to get the best deals on frames.
Use the picture to mat a photo.
Laminate pictures or cover with contact paper to use for kids’ placemats.
Make beautiful glossy envelopes. Carefully take apart an old envelope to trace as a template.
Use them for a collage craft for kids.
If nothing else, you could give your old calendars to a teacher. Teachers are great at reusing things for classroom projects. I know a lot of teachers (especially elementary school teachers) collect these types of things.
Especially if you have kids, you can probably see that old calendars can be used for many different craft projects. Now that your creative juices are flowing, I’m sure you’ll never want to throw away another calendar again.