Every year when I buy a new calendar, I always try to pick the one that best suit my artistic personality.
And at the end of thatyear, I am reluctant to just throw out that little piece of wall art just because it's usefulness has run out.
If you're like me, you would have a stack of calendars from years gone by that are just too good to throw away.
But what can you do with them? Here are seven ideas to use those wonderful prints, aside from framing them to hang on your wall.

1. Cut out objects (people, flowers, animals, etc.
   ) to use as wall art.
   Mary Engelbreit's characters would make a wonderful and colorful storyboard for your child's room.
   Attach to the wall with re-positionable tape
2. Make a mobile.
   Cut as many pieces of one shape, string together for a colorful mobile.
   I have seen a gorgeous one made of hundreds of butterfly cutouts.
   Make sure the shape is simple but distinctive.
   Use a decorative paper punch to make things easier.
   
3. Something easy to make would be an ornament made from strips of calendar.
   Cut long strips about 1/2 inch wide and 5 inches long.
   Stack 10 to 12 strips and punch a small hole in each end.
   Thread fasteners through each hole and spread out the strips.
   
4. Cut one large letter from each month's page to spell out your child's name (or any message for that matter) to tape on to a wall or canvas.
   
5. Make cone baskets.
   Cut a circle and cut out a 3/4 section.
   The size of the cone depends on the amount you cut out.
   Form the remaining into a cone shape and secure in place.
   Embellish with lace, ribbons and other found objects and attach a handle.
   Fill these with candy and hung as ornaments, or used at Easter instead of a traditional basket.
   
6. Find an envelope pattern online and use that to make some colorful envelopes.
   Use a stick on label for the addresses and a coordinating sticker to close.
   
7. You can also use the old calendar as a diary of sorts.
   A friend of mine attached movie tickets, concert stubs, invitations and even some photos in the appropriate dates and keeps a stack of all her calendars in a decorative box.
   

Just remember that calendars, although quite sturdy, are not acid free so they do tend to yellow with age.
If you want to prevent that from happening, there are sprays that you can use to protect them.