How to Create a Calendar With Digital Pictures for Your Loved One

A photo calendar using digital pictures makes a great holiday gift for this year or next! Make one for the grandparents, aunts, uncles, busdrivers, teachers, and everyone on your Christmas list. The only cost associated with these are having them printed at your local print shop or Kinko's. Even if you don't have a digital camera, you can have your old Polaroids scanned for a purely vintage look. Your loved ones will love this gift idea as it is unique, original, and from the heart!

For each month, pick a themed photo or a photo capturing a moment that happened during that month. For example, if the gift is for your parents and they got married in January put a wedding photo on that month's page. You could put a baby picture of yourself on whatever month's page you were born on. Any special event that you want to document and record is game.

If you want to use your kids as subjects, the options are endless. Use a general theme for each month highlighting any holidays or seasons that might fall in that time frame.

If you want to have current photos, here are some suggestions for props and costume:

For January, dress your kiddo's up in party hats and blowers or warm clothing (hats, scarves, gloves, pajamas). Take a snapshot of them making snowflakes or ice skating or sledding.

February is a great time for Valentine's day photos. Arrange valentines received from your child's classmates or use old ones and snap! Dressing your child in red also makes a great February pose!

For March, take a shot of your child making a shamrock or leprachaun or making green cupcakes! Action shots are great!

April has tons of possibilities. Spring is the season for puddles, butterflies, bees, caterpillars, and Easter. Get some shots of your child jumping in puddles or holding a piece of nature. Easter is also great. While the kids are in the act of egg painting or hunting, get the cameras rolling. These memories are forever!

May is the season of flowers and Mother's Day. Get a picture of your child in a bed of bluebonnets or whatever your local wildflower/state flower is. A picture of child and Mother is also great or one of her opening her gifts on her special day surrounded by her offspring.

In June, get some shots of the kids eating ice cream, Father's Day moments, and graduations. Kids have pool parties and summer vacations during this time so don't ignore these opportune moments.

July offers up Independance Day which means picnics, barbecues, apple pie, and fireworks. Work with your props. Use an old American Flag as your backdrop.

August is the month of extreme heat, sprinklers, and back to school. Get pictures of your kids running through the sprinkler, swimming, or getting on the bus with their new backpack full of fresh school supplies.

September could offer more school photos. Shots of your child with his teacher on the first day of school are timeless.

October, of course, means Halloween and pumpkin patch visiting. Kids love to carve pumpkins and have hayrides at the pumpkin patch.

November is the time of Thanksgiving and the Fall Season. Have your child dress up as a Pilgrim or Indian (some younger children make fringed vests and hatbands in school). Collect fall leaves. Have your child help you make the turkey and pumpkin pie.

December offers limitless possibilities. Have your child help you make gingerbread men or cookies. Pine cones are a great outdoor backdrop. Snap a shot of your family decorating the Christmas tree.

These are just a few suggestions. Your loved ones will thank you for such a thoughtful, unique gift.