I have had quite a few emails over the last couple of months, asking about more detailed instructions for creating a calendar so I will try and give you a little more info.
First thing you will need is a magnetic surface. You can purchase galvanized metal sheets from Home Depot or other building supply stores and they will generally cut it for you. Mine is 12 x12. You could also use magnetic paint to make your surface magnetic. Sarah from Sugar and Shimmer used a cookie sheet for hers.
I purchased a vinyl calendar grid for my calendar from Treasury of Memories but they are no longer in business. There are a lot of online vinyl places that could customize your vinyl or just draw the grid on your sheet with a permanent marker. My grid measures approximately 11.5 x 8.5 inches. I purchased a plain 12 x12 wooden frame from Michaels and painted it black.
Here are some of the basic supplies that I use:
- Office tag circles {found at Staples or other office supply stores}. They provide a great variety of circle sizes.
- Bottle Caps {found at my local scrap booking store} I usually use 4 or 5 of these each month.
- Glass marbles {found at Michaels}. Make sure that you get the ones that are flat on the back. Also check to see that they are clear. There are also some pearlized ones that distort the colors of the scrapbook paper. You can find instructions on the glass marble magnets here.
- Chipboard. You can find chipboard in a variety of shapes to go with your monthly theme. Just paint or cover in coordinating scrapbook paper.
- Square chipboard or cardboard. I always have at least 5-6 squares in my calendars and just use cardboard cut from a cereal box to mount the paper on to give it a little more strength.
- Magnets. I use the cheaper magnets from the dollar store {10 for a $1} for most of my shapes but also use a few thicker magnets {purchased from Michaels} for the titles and to add a little more dimension throughout the calendar.
- Vinyl numbers. I cut mine out on the Silhouette. The numbers are approximately 0.4 inches high {this is the actual height of the numbers not what shows on the sizing grid in the Silhouette Studio} If you don’t have access to a vinyl cutter, you could easily use stickers or rub-ons.
- Glue. I use Quick Grip on almost everything {from Michaels} I’m sure there are lots of other glues that you could use but this is always my go to glue.
- Scrapbook Paper. My paper this month is from My Mind’s Eye {the blues}, Scenic Route {the red}, and Simple Stories {the green dots and the stripes}. It is generally easier to just stick with one paper line but I was trying to use up some left over papers. Look for double sided coordinating cardstock to cut down on costs as you only need about a 4×12 section of each pattern. I like to use at least 5 different patterns.
- Embellishments. This is the fun part! Use coordinating buttons, stickers, chipboard, or create you own using the same paper line you have chosen. I had some stickers in the same Simple Stories line that I used for this calendar. Use pop dots or inking to add extra dimension to your project. I also like to cut out shapes from the scrapbook paper that I am using {like the Watermelon used above}
Hopefully that helps you out! If you have any other questions, just let me know. If it seems like too much work to create a monthly calendar, you can always do a more neutral theme and just use the same magnets from month to month {and maybe add a special one for holidays or birthdays}. I would love to see what you come up with!
If you want to check out the rest of my calendars, just click on calendars under the Labels tab on my sidebar.
Happy Thursday!!
I linked up with Be Different Act Normal, Chic on a Shoestring, The 36th Avenue, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Christina’s Adventures, Somewhat Simple, Lil Luna, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Today’s Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, Home Stories of A to Z, Skip To My Lou, Ask Anna, Embellishing Life, Craft-O-Maniac, CRAFT, Under the Table and Dreaming, I Heart Naptime, Young and Crafty, Tatertots and Jello, Paper Issues, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Thirty Handmade Days, Whipperberry, Tidy Mom, 504 Main and The Shabby Nest. Head on over and check them out!
love it! so creative.
I love it! And I’m loving the new blog decor! (A belated congrats on your blogaversary too!) : )
How cute! I love this cute calendar.
I am in love with this! I have some old cookie sheets that I have been saving and now I know what to do with them. I will be starting mine soon 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration! You are very creative!
This is a stunning project – tthanks so much for sharing. I love how you have mixed up the different shapes – it looks great!
Lowri
http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/
ADORABLE!! Thank you for the tutorial! Hopped over from Whipperberry.
Love your calendar! Thanks for visiting me!
That is awesome!! I love that you reuse the numbers so you only have to make it all once. I’ve been thinking about making a menu planner (for 2 weeks at a time) and creating little marbles or tiles for the meals I typically make. Thanks for more inspiration for that project! Going to Pin this now. =)
WOw this is AMAZING!!!!! I love love love this. I want to make one for me. So clever and adorable. you are so talented.
so cute!!
Thanks for linking up! I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2011/great-ideas-5/
Have a fabulous weekend!
Ok, I just have to tell you..I made one of these..(so NOT as cute) on a cookie sheet. I wanted one that I wouldn’t have to change up for the seasons…I was wrong (yes, I will admit it!) I am so going to copy you and make a seasonal one…this is just too cute…plus fun!
I blog at http://www.mushkiloves.com and I would love it if you stopped by and check it out, if you like what you see…I would love it if you became my newest follower!
Have a great weekend!
Kirsten 🙂
What darling calendars. Have you thought about selling on ETSY? I think you could sell lots. I would mostly definitely buy.
I love this!
I would love to see you share it on my new link party “Sundae Shake Up”. I hope to see you there!
Jacque @ Jacque’s Soda Parlor
thesodaparlor.blogspot.com
P.S. I am having my first giveaway, right now! The winner will receive a 16×20 Custom Family Tree. You should check it out!
This is SO adorable!! Love, Love, Love it!! You could really go into business making & selling these on Etsy for those of us who don’t have a craftsy bone in our body!! I want to buy the first one!!!! 🙂
Looks awesome, I will bookmark this!
P.S. I am having a giveaway on my blog, I hope you will check it out and enter to win!
SOOOOO CUTE!!
I saw one of these a while back, can’t remember who, how, where and I forgot about it. I really want to make one, and now here it is. Thank you.
~via CRAFT
I love making calendars and the idea of a magnetic one is so cool. Thanks for sharing the tutorial !
I love magnet calendars. Way to go on completing the whole year. I honestly don’t think I would get that far. I hope you will link up to the Tuesday Confessional link party starting tonight at 8pm MST. I’m co-hosting with A Reason to Skip the Housework, so your post will be seen on BOTH blogs!
http://www.craftyconfessions.com
I hope to see you soon!
~Macy
This is so wonderful! I love magnets. So much work to make the whole year… Thank you for sharing
how super cute is this
seriously the cutest thing. loooove this.
Great!! I love all of your calendars…and this one is so summery! 🙂
Thanks so much for linking to “20 Below Thursday”, and for adding my link on your blog! 🙂
Love it! This is so cute!
It is really cute!
Thank you so much for your comment on my blog and your link here! Your calendars were my inspiration 🙂
awesome magnetic calendars ,very creative,please do spare some time in visiting my sitejune 2012 calendarthanks