I’ve been waiting patiently to start this year’s DIY calendar series – and unlike last year’s calendar posts, I’m doing this year’s series with plenty of time for you to make them as gifts!
To start this calendar party off right, I’m sharing three tabloid sized templates that you can download for free! Two of the templates have plenty of room on the top for you to stamp until your heart’s content. The other design has a column down the middle, which is a fun little departure from typical calendar layouts.
MIDDLE COLUMN 11×17 TABLOID CALENDAR
My preference is to print these templates onto 130lb cardstock to get a really professional finish. 130lb cardstock is available in packages of 25 from Paper Presentation. If you choose to print these yourself, head over to your local print shop where the printers can handle large sized paper and print on their 11×17 cardstock, which is likely much more lightweight (e.g. 80lb).
No matter which way you go, your finished product will be a showstopper! For my calendars, I went with three designs, two of which I’ll showcase here:
For the Traditional Calendar design, I went with a vintage rose garden theme using Papertrey Ink Life is Sweet Stamp Set. For the year numbers, I used Clear and Simple Stamps Engraved Alphabet and framed it with Papertrey Ink’s Fillable Frames #10 Mini Stamp Set.
With the Modern Calendar Template, I created a really fun & modern leaf print by rethinking a couple of my stamps.
For more details on the method behind this design, click through to the full photo tutorial…
1. Printout of the Modern 11×17 Tabloid Calendar Template. I printed mine on 130lb cardstock from Paper Presentation and the final product is durable and oh so professional!
2. Clear and Simple Stamps Hybrid Ink in: Green with Envy, Say Yellow to Your Fans, Orange You Fabulous & Party Teal Dawn.
3. Impress Fresh Ink Pigment Ink in Slate
4. Papertrey Ink Sending You Stamp Set; large leaf image. Tip: Flip the stamp over and use the “wrong” side to get a solid leaf image when you stamp.
5. Papertrey Ink Tree Tops Stamp Set; tree trunk image
1. Start stamping the pattern in the middle of your paper. This will help make sure that the finished pattern is well centered on the paper.
2. Once you’ve established the arrangement on the pattern, repeat it.
3. To help with proper placement and alignment of the pattern, stamp it onto a piece of scrap paper, cut it out and use it as a guide for continuing the pattern all over the top of your calendar template.
4. (not shown) Select numbers and stamp the year to complete the calendar. For my calendar, I stamped Papertrey Ink’s Alpha-Blocks onto a strip of white paper, then adhered it to the calendar.
Will you be making calendars this year?
love it! I will have to try this but I have to make it in my language.
Three cheers for you, Mrs AKG 🙂 These are absolutely stunning – will have to give them a go. THANK YOU, for the downloads and great tips 🙂
Your calendars are lovely.
I made these for some of my co-workers thinking nothing of it since I was late getting started. (Late as in I gave it to them this past March) I got so many compliments and questions as to why the people who weren’t chosen didn’t get one. LOL! It really surprised me that even with all the store bought calendars on people’s desk, they wanted to have something handmade. Thanks for the template. I have plenty of paper from the first pack of paper I bought at Fedex. Looking forward to the desktop versions. I just purchased Tim Holtz’s small easel that I want to try out. Love the butterfly calendar. Is it bad that just from a glance I know which company’s butterfly it is from a glance? I truly am a craftaholic! 😉
I love these! I’m totally going to use these for my holiday party take home goodies this year. Thanks so much!!!!!
I JUST finished creating some tabloid calendars to sell at a craft fair! That’s so crazy! 🙂 I love your ideas and your style! Looks great!
Love all three calendar designs!
These are so beautiful and it is so generous of you to give us the template free, thank you so much!
Thanks Amber! I am loving your new blog!
Love the calendars! Your website looks amazing!!
You know what I am thinking ~ AND I just did a cheerleading move ………. I think I hurt myself LOL
as always love it
Thanks heaps for these great templates AND great decorating ideas.
Thanks so much for the design templates for these calendars! Yours are just gorgeous!
i have to tell you that you really inspired me. i made my own calendar yesterday! now i just have to find calender case in my country