The calender saga continues...

I was working on a post for Wednesday but kept having to stop to send out calendar downloads (not a bad thing) and then I had a epiphany...why in the heck am I writing a new post on a different subject when everyone is crazy for the calendar?  So I got up from the keyboard and went back to the workroom. Thirty minutes later I came up with a few more ideas for you to try.

Printing:
Did you know that the calendar prints in two sizes?
If you drag the calendar from the email to the desktop (I am using a Mac) it prints about 1/4" larger than if you drag it to Adobe Reader.  Again, I am using a Mac so I just drag and drop the PDF onto the Adobe icon on my tool bar and the file opens in Adobe and is ready to print.
If you don't have Adobe Reader you can download it for free here.

Recycle:
I mentioned in a recent post how much I liked 2011 Paper Source Calendar.  I used one on my desk in  2010 and hated to part with the beautiful letterpress paper so I decided to recycle it using the printed calendar over the top of the numbers from last year.

I printed the calendar on some paper I have been hording for a few years.  I use to buy it at Recollections when they were in business... it's a smooth recycled paper.  Wish I had more now that I am down to two sheets. 
Once I had printed the three sheets, I cut out the calendar leaving 1/4" on all sides.  Then I added each month over the recycled 2010 calendar. with adhesive. 

Or you can take it one step further and cut a small slice in the paper and slip it in.

Here is how I did it...Since I was making 12, I cut a template (I am the template queen, just ask Deb) to match the corner...then I only have to measure once.

Place the calendar exactly where you want it on the recycled calendar.
Lay the template on the corner and make two pencil marks on the ends of the triangle.

Remove the calendar.
Using a metal ruler and an X-Acto knife, cut the recycled calendar from one pencil dot to the other. Repeat on the opposite corner.

Now just slip the new calendar in place.
I love this idea because I get to keep the expensive letterpress calendar that I love and enjoy it for 1 more year.  Yeah!

If you don't want to go to all that trouble, just staple it on with a Mini Attacher.

CD Case Calendar from Scratch:
If you don't have an old calendar you can make one from scratch.  You will need an old recycled CD case (maybe it's time to throw out that Michael Bolton CD you've been hanging on to anyway), three sheets of 12 x 12 patterned paper, and three sheets of coordinating cardstock.

Cut 12 pieces of patterned paper 4 5/8 x 5 3/8" (4 per sheet).  I am using an old Basic Grey paper line called LillyKate.  This one is called Cherry Blossom.

Print the calendar on coordinating cardstock and cut out.

Cut out the calendar and adhere to patterned paper with a small bit of adhesive.

You can stop here and the calendar will look just fine or...
Use your sewing machine to stitch the calender to the paper.  (yes Judy, you are going to have to break out the sewing machine again!)

Repeat sewing for all 12 months.
Now you can add the calendar to your CD case.
NOTE: The calendar must stay reasonably thin to store all 12 months in the CD case.

Love it.

Or change it up by rounding the corners and inking edges with Distress Ink.

You can still use the CD case but then I thought, what about a vintage flower frog?  got about 100 of those around the house with pictures, quotes and flashcards in them, so why not a calendar?  It will make a lovely vignette on my desk with my beloved Ticonderoga pencils.  Now I need some chocolate for my pressed glass dish.

Okay, that's all for the calendar...I only have 1 hour left to pack my bag for a quick overnight trip up the coast to Monterey.  Remember, if you have not already done so you can still enter to win one of two kits to make the original calendar with the book covers.  However, you will need to go back to the last post to leave a comment.  We will pick a couple names and Deb will post in the morning since I will be enjoying the aquarium at that time.   If you have already left a comment for a chance to win you do not need to leave another on the last post.  
Thanks everyone!