Handmade photo calendars are quick and easy to make - particularly if you use some of the free printable calendar templates that are widely available. These offer a great way to make custom calendars, and if you are a scrapbooker or stamper, you'll already have many of the supplies you require. Photo calendars make great gifts and they are ideal for family and friends.
What is a Photo Calendar?
A photo calendar is a calendar that is designed to feature a photograph as well as the calendar. The calendar can be placed anywhere on the page, with the rest of the page available for photographs and other mementos. This is a great way to make a very personal and thoughtful calendar which make a thoughtful gift particularly for people who you don't see very often. As well as adding photos, you can decorate the calendars with a wide variety of other embellishments such as stickers, rubber stamped images and other scrapbooking supplies.
How to Make Your Own Photo Calendar
Making your own photo calendar is simple. The two key features are the photograph and calendar. This gives you plenty of creative opportunities. While you can print the calendars directly onto the paper that you are going to make the calendars from, you could also consider printing the calendars onto plain paper and cutting out the calendar before attaching it. This is a simple way to create a calendar and allows you to achieve a different layout for each month, without having to adjust the way the months print on each page. Calendars can be made in any size and if you are making the calendars from standard A4 or letter sized paper then you also have the choice of making the calendar landscape or portrait.
Types of Calendar Templates to Consider
There are many different types and style of calendar templates available and the choice will depend on the photo calendar that you are planning to make. It is important to pick a calendar template that is big enough that it can be easily read, without being so big that it detracts from the photograph. Free printable calendars are typically black and white and these means that they will work well in many designs and layouts. To create a more finished look you could consider drawing a colored frame around the calendar to match your color scheme.
Free Printable Calendars
Many websites offer free printable calendars and an Internet search will return you some interesting options. However here are three links to free printable calendars to get you started:
- Calendar Labs - a selection of options for printable calendars by month
- PDF Calendar - print monthly calendars in pdf format
- Print Free - a range of different monthly calendars with and without holidays highlighted
Tips for Making a Handmade Photo Calendar
Here are some tips for making a handmade photo calendar:
- Use a good quality paper, this will give the calendar a more robust feel and stop the pages from curling over time.
- Make a calendar that has a different page for each month and feature an appropriately themed photograph on each month's page
- Pick photo from a special event for the anniversary month
- Write captions and sentiments that add your own personal perspective
- Write special dates on the calendar - these can act as a useful reminder
Make custom calendars this year for a special gift for family and friends.
Kate Pullen - Kate Pullen is a freelance writer specializing in arts and crafts , and is an accomplished craftsperson. As well as being a designer / ...
