a bunting made from Instagram photos

We (I mean Tim and Evelyn) finally took down the Christmas tree, shoved the dry thing out the door and swept up 1 million needles. And then we (I mean mostly I) sat in our living room and had feelings.

This tree really fit us this year.

It was sparce in needles and a tad bit forlorn as I like them to be.

It pulled our highs (and goals met!) into a string of pictures from my last year’s Instagram Feed,

hosted a very anticipated cousin overnight,

was the backdrop to a few hard goodbyes,

and a favorite place for Ev to tea and talk with her imaginary friends.

A few seconds gone and it just felt a little empty and cold in here. Or perhaps the honest reality of January decided to set in. But it’s all going to be ok. Day 4 with no tree and I’m warming up to the empty. I even kept a box of household stuff in the basement for now.

I did however hang that string of 2014 highs on the chalkboard wall. They were never meant to just be Christmas decor.

I love that a year turning over asks you to look back for a bit, a chance to take the good and leave behind the clutter, to say in at least one context: it was a good year and this is why.

For a few years, I’ve been curious about putting pictures on my tree in some way but didn’t love the idea of framed ornaments, and regular photos seemed flimsy. Until I ran across the company, Social Print Studio. They connect to your Instagram and send you these not-flimsy, white trimmed, cutie pie squares. I picked 24 pictures from my Instagram feed and it became a year in review for our tree. Click and done for about $12.

Since I won’t physically, emotionally and creatively be capable of repeating this exact tree next year, I never can, I’ll have to figure out other uses for pics in 2015. I am going to be printing again and again. I love them.

These squares would be great for a birthday party swag or baby bunting – a year of growth strung together, a stack tied in twine for a friend or grandma, or a collage tacked to an empty wall.

Oh and I bought the mini-magnets too.

Happy day 15 of 2015!

~Heather

Last Updated on June 15, 2022 by Heather Bursch