craft : 2009 calendar



Hi Everyone -

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! I was busy finishing up my first calendar. For 2008 we purchased 5 calendars: 2 letterpress, 1 wall, 1 small, and 1 for my agenda. I realize now that it was quite costly, so for 2009 I wanted to reduce our purchases by at least 1 and decided to make a small calendar myself. I've wanted to do so for a while, but didn't have any art I could imagine looking at all year long. But, the photos of some of our collections seemed good enough for a first go round.



The Adobe programs we have are out of date for our new computer, so I created the calendar in Word from scatch. I tried to find a template online, but they were too large. In school, I created a website informational architecture with complicated schematics in Word (crazy!), so a calendar shouldn't be too hard.



I used 8.5" x 11" photo paper for the calendar and linen for the cover. Ultimately, each month will be cut into a 4" x 5" rectangle. I started with a 2-column/2-row table on each page for a total of 3 pages. Then, I created a template using a smaller table for each month and automatic numbering in each cell containing a date. Special holidays are in red. Finally, I copied and pasted that table into each cell of the 2-column/2-row table, changed the image for each month, and adjusted the dates, as necessary. (Does this make any sense?)



Once printed, cutting the calendar is the hardest thing for me to do - ugh! I use a rotary cutter and a ruler in order to get straight, flat edges instead of a paper cutter. The little paper button was made using the Martha Stewart Crafts paper punch purchased at Michael's (don't see it listed on either site) and is tied with waxed twine. I'd like to give a couple of these as gifts and included an envelope with an image printed on the back. The thing I like most about this calendar is that it can be changed whenever I want to, which could be pretty soon. I've already purchased Natasha's sweet calendar, so that's 2, so far.

xo, Cindy

27 comments:

julie king said...

your calendar is wonderful. i love the diminutive size and of course the photos are stunning.

Laura said...

it's lovely! i wish i were half so talented!

Lizzy said...

Beautiful.
The End.

aimee said...

this is fantastic!! it looks so professionally done; i can't imagine how long it must have taken you to make it!

Jude said...

I'm a Word geek so yes, it all makes sense. What a great job you've done! It really looks beautiful. Kudos to you, Cindy. ☺

Dallas Shaw said...

beautiful. I have been doing so much photography lately and this would be a great idea. thanks for the details

Krissy | Paper Schmaper said...

It looks beautiful! You are so talented :)

Angela said...

how pretty.

Stephanie said...

I feel your pain on outdated Adobe programs! You did a great job, though!

please sir said...

WOW - you did an amazing job - really looks beautiful!

please sir said...

Thanks for your lovely comment! Interview site seems to be up and running now - don't know what happened?!

Anonymous said...

Your calendars look beautiful!!!

Mrs.French said...

yet another thing I have yet to tackle....yours is lovely. How about you come out here and we could make one together? just a thought...seriously, you should be so proud! xo t

dee said...

Those photos are absolutely gorgeous! You are so talented. I love that you love calendars so much that you can't help yourself! So sweet:) Like me with stray dogs. And shoes!

Melissa de la Fuente said...

This is so beautiful Cindy! Gorgeous and I love the sweet tie wrapping it all together!
xo
Melis

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

So pretty! A really wonderful accomplishment. You can be proud month to month.

Cindy said...

thanks everyone! it wasn't too bad if i don't include nudge left, nudge right, etc. ;)!

Unknown said...

cindy, it's GORGEOUS!! oh my gosh, i totally want one. :)

Bonbon Oiseau said...

looks fantastic you crafty babe you!

Vana said...

I love it! So pretty! I too was using a rotary cutter to soon discover what i have been missing...i now have the exact same monster they use at Kinkos...terrific piece, which i could highly recommend to anyone working with paper.

Cindy said...

thank you so much jess, deb and vana! jess, i'm sure we can work something out ;)!

Anonymous said...

Wow, this is so gorgeous! Well done!

Julia said...

You are so, so talented, Cindy! Mine arrived yesterday in all of it's glory! You created such a beautiful package, I could hardly contain my excitement--I didn't want to unwrap it, it looked so beautiful!

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! You are so, so good to me! XOXOX

Cindy said...

i'm glad you liked it jewels - i worked extra hard because you're a professional designer!

Anonymous said...

This calendar is so lovely! And so is your blog :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work.

Cindy said...

thanks to you both!