No resolutions, only memories to make

Hello.  I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.

It's almost time for the new year to start.  This year instead of making resolutions and then feeling bad when I can't or don't keep them I have decided that I will only plan to make some great memories this coming year.  Part of this is due to the fact that we had to make a "Year in the Life" type book for our adoption hearing.  Sadly that book became part of the perm. court records because I really liked having that little snippets of life.

This calendar has spots for monthly plans, which are things I hope to be able to do, even if it's just a trip to the beach, build a snowman or something as big as Feb. 1st - stop smoking (this is a plan, not a resolution, I am going to give it my all, but I am not going to beat myself up)

There is also a place for some photos (of course not all from the month as I will still be doing scrapbooks) just some from the month that were standouts.  A place for funny things someone said and also a place for documents, drawings, ticket stubs or what have you.  (Anyone have a good word for this?  I used Docs in this copy of the calendar but I am not liking that word)

To help out with that I thought a new calendar would be a great way to do this.  I had this great vision in my head, and things started out as planned, but then I hit a few snags along the way, along with the stresses of the holidays, well it didn't come out as I had visioned (and I will be redoing this) but I still want to share because I love the concept.

Part of my problem was that earlier this month I got a hair up my bottom and tore apart all my stacks and tossed papers that I didn't think I would use, between that and having been on a spending ban my paper choices were very limited.  After the beginning of the year when things settle down I will go pick out the exact papers I want for this.

My other issues were:
1. A soon to be 2 yr old that wanted to help each step of the way.
2. I used the chipboard book boards in 12x12 for the cinch.  These are covered in a white paper and I found out when you use wet adhesive (such as Beacon's 3n1) is causes it to pull away from the chipboard center and wrinkling (next time I will use plain chipboard, which I actually had on hand but thought the white would be nice), also these boards are not all the same size and nor are they a true 12x12 (or the papers I used were not 12x12)
3. When doing a project like this you will need at least 4 NEW mats for your cricut, I actually had one split in the machine (I could see it coming but thought I could do "just one more" sheet, silly girl)
4. This really is not something to try to do in one week (especially a holiday week)
5. Long ago on the Cricut MB a gentleman gave the tip to hide the score marks and score yourself to avoid paper lumpys (right now I can't think of a better way to describe it) from showing.  Well I remembered this tip AFTER I cut out all my pockets, and having limited paper, I just had to roll with it.
6. If you have small children in the house, they WILL bump you when you are trying to write, line up calendar squares or anything else that is going to stand out like a sore thumb, do small parts during nap time or after they go to bed.
7. Folding 48 library card pockets is a pain, don't attempt them all in one day.

So now onto the concept and my ill-fated first attempt at my 2012 Memory Calendar, wait, are you still here?  Ok just wanted to be sure after blabbering on so much.

This is how the calendar will stand on the shelf once I make the new one.  It will be held together with book rings so after the year is done it will be year in review book.

Here is January

The 3rd picture shows a picture of the tags that are in the "plans" and "you said" pockets, as soon as I dig out my stamps I plan to stamp them with some lines.

I am not going to do all 12 months of photos because I think you get the idea, but I will show some of the ones I like and also some that will show some hints.  Such as March, I thought this shamrock paper I had was the cats meow for March, UNTIL I folded the pockets.............Make sure you either have a nice double sided paper or nothing on the back, here you will see the back of this sheet had the DCWV logo all over it :(

I really liked this one for August since we have lots of BBQs and also the family is usually all up for the Annual MooseFest in August.

I liked this one because September is the start of my favorite season FALL.  The last picture shows those "paper lumpys" that I was talking about if you don't hide the score lines before you cut.  When you have a pretty straight forward fold like this it really is best to hide the score marks to avoid those little things sticking out.

I used my Gypsy to set this all up and cut with my Expression.

Library pocket is from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More at 11.5 inches (you get 2 a mat) after cutting them, I used my paper trimmer to cut off the top a smidge so they fit 4 to a 12x12 sheet.  The tag is also from TBBM cut at 5.60 inches.

The calendar itself came from Designers Calendar and cut at 6.25 (height) some of the months I used the outline, some I just laid the outline down and then glued in the squares that cut out.

The font on the pockets is from Nifty Fifties at 1.25 inches and welded.  The font for the months is from Winter Woodland (shadow) at 1.25 inches also.

Next time I want to cut little candles for all the birthdates and special things for the holidays or at least get some neat cool layered stickers like the ones I put on the December pages in this one (need to hit Walmart up tomorrow so I can score some of the same ones on clearance LOL)

I promise to come back and show you all the one I make to replace this one, because I really love the idea of handy something like this to remember the year.  We all have those times when something was said or done and we say "I will write that down or scrap that" and we just don't get to it, but by having this right out in the open and being able to take care of it just a month at a time I think it will not only be a nice book at the end, but it might also help you recall some of the information you need for full scrapbook pages you don't get to until later.