Stay on schedule in 2011 with this easy-to-make calendar. Credit: Seth Smoot


If you're having trouble finding a calendar to suit your style or decor, try making this simple version out of office supply materials. Colorful paper is used to create monthly tabs that help you flip quickly from month to month. The clip is useful for holding invites or business cards, and you can also tie a pencil to it so that you are never searching for something to write.


Credit: Seth Smoot

Supplies:

cork clipboard

X-acto knife

letter and number stamps

black stamp pad or black pen

colorful paper

scissors

gluestick

pencil or pen

1 yard string or ribbon

12 copies of calendar PDF printed out on office paper (you can print one here)


Instructions:

1. Trim the top of the calendar pages 1.25". Use an X-Acto blade to cut the opening for the month tabs by following the dotted guides at the bottom of the page. For the first page, January, cut a slit on the first guide at the far left. On the second page, February, cut a slit on the second guide. Continue for the remaining months.

Credit: Seth Smoot

2. Cut out twelve .5" x 5.5" strips of colorful paper for the month tabs.


Credit: Seth Smoot

3. Line up the calendar pages in order and clip onto clipboard. Feed one strip of paper through the cut slit on the first page. Fold in half and glue with a glue stick. If you are using cardstock for this project, place a heavy book on top of the strip until the glue dries. Continue adding strips to the rest of the calendar pages.

Credit: Seth Smoot

4. Use rubber stamps or handwrite monthly abbreviations on the colorful strips of paper.

Credit: Seth Smoot

5. Now stamp or write in the numerical dates for each month. Hint: If you are stamping the numbers, a time-saving technique is to start with 1- and be sure to stamp wherever you will need a 1 (1,10,11,12,13,14,21.....) then move onto the two (2,12,20,21,22......).

Credit: Seth Smoot

6. The calendar is complete. Now use two feet of string or ribbon to attach a writing instrument. Better yet, use different lengths of ribbon to tie several different colored pencils or pens, using one color for each member of your family.

Want more fun ways to kick of 2011? Check out ideas for a fun family brunch.