Acrylic Frame Calendars
Acrylic frame calendars are easily made with tools and supplies you probably already have on hand. Add an inexpensive frame that you pick up from a local crafts or office supply store and you've got a great project that can be given as a gift or kept to admire for an entire year, or longer if you wish!
Tools Needed for this project:
- Paper Trimmer
- Calendar Template
- Acrylic Frame - either with magnets on the back or a free-standing desk frame.
- Adhesive - double-sided tape would work best for this project
- Stapler
- Letter Stamp
- Black ink
- Patterned Paper - cut to the size of the frame
- Several pieces of coordinating cardstock
- Small piece of white cardsock
- Scissors
- Ribbon
Step 1: We're going to add a little bit of adhesive to the back of the patterned paper so it doesn't slip out of the frame.
So here's how the frame looks with the paper adhered to it. I decided to use a frame with magnets on the back because I wanted something that would stick to my memo board. These frames also come as a free-standing picture frame that can sit on a desk or countertop.
Step 2: Next We're going to stamp the Initial onto some white cardstock.
I chose a "C" because this is going to be my calendar. And since it's my project I can do whatever I want!
You can also chose to add an image instead of an initial. A coordinating little swirly image would have been a nice alternative to the letter "C" that I chose to use.
Very nice. A little off-center but I'm not going to stamp it again. I say it gives it character.
Step 3: Now we add some adhesive to the white cardstock.
Step 4: Stick the white cardstock down on the colored cardstock. Set it aside for now... we'll come back to that in a few minutes.
Next up is our printed calendar. I've found that the templates available at www.mycalendarmaker.com are great for all sorts of projects and they print up really nicely.
Step 5: So now we're going to cut the small calendar boxes out. Just trim along the lines until you have all twelve months.
They should be the same width, but if not then trim them down so that they are.
Step 6: We're going to cut a piece of cardstock down so that it frames the calendar pages. Grab your stapler - any stapler will do the trick - I just like this cute little guy.
Step 7: Here's a neat little trick... turn the stapler upside-down and staple the papers so the open part of the staple is facing up. This makes it so much easier to tear off the months without destroying your beautiful calendar in the process.
I like to add two staples, but you do what feel right.
Step 8: Now we're going to glue both the calendar pages and the letter down to the outside of the acrylic frame.
Step 9: Add a good amount of tape to the back of the calendar. You want to make sure that it doesn't fall off easily on its own.
Here's another tip - don't use super-strength glue or adhesive on this because you can always use the same frame for next year's calendar - which you'll surely be doing because you love it so much!
Step 10: Again, add a good amount of tape to the back of the cardstock with your initial (or image) on it.
Step 11: And stick the cardstock down on the top of the frame.
Step 12: Lastly, we're going to add a little bit of ribbon just to pretty it up. Slide your ribbon into the acrylic frame - behind the front of the frame but in front of the patterned paper.
Step 13: And then tie a knot in your ribbon and cut off the extra bits with some scissors.
I added a cute little belt-buckle embellishment, but you can just stick with the ribbon if you don't have any embellishments... or if you just don't like that type of thing.
And now you have a beautiful calendar that you can hang up, look at every day, and admire while congratulating yourself on your craftiness.
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