Hybrid Calendar – 20 Days of Christmas
A personalized calendar makes a great gift for those on your Christmas shopping list (and of course yourself!). By creating a hybrid calendar, you can easily reproduce several copies of the same design. Follow along as I show you how to make a quick and simple hybrid calendar for 2012, made even easier by using a digital calendar template.
For this project, you’ll need the following supplies:
- Digital Calendar Template
- Digital Paper and Embellishments
- Software
- Color Printer, Paper
- Chipboard – 2 pieces cut to 4 1/4 x 6 7/8 inches
- Adhesive
- Binding Machine and Coil
- Distress Ink (if desired)
I used the following kits:
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Step One: Open January template, desired photo, paper and embellishments. Click on the dark gray background layer at the top of the template. Then, drag and drop your photo into that area, moving and resizing as needed.
Step Two: I resized the paper and moved the ribbon and bracket to show more of the photo. Use the Move Tool and select the ribbon, bracket, bracket border and month layers by holding the Shift key as you click on each one. Drag these layers lower on the template. Then resize the paper layer by clicking on the handle and dragging so it is behind the ribbon layer.
Step Three: Add paper and clip to the paper layer by clicking CTRL-G. Repeat for the bracket and bracket border layers. Add paper or embellishment over the ribbon layer.
Step Four: I moved and rotated the bracket and month to cover a distracting element in the photo. Add shadows and other embellishments as desired.
Step Five: Flatten image by selecting Layer>Flatten Image. Crop page to remove any items extending beyond the edge in preparation for printing. Select the Crop Tool, then for Aspect Ratio choose “Use Photo Ratio” and crop the image.
Step Six: Open new file by choosing File>New>Blank File, then in the dialog box choose Preset “U.S. Paper” at 8.5 x 11 inches at 300 dpi. Drag and drop your January page onto the new file and rotate it 90 degrees in order to print two pages per sheet of paper.
Step Seven: Complete your February page as above and add to the 8.5 x 11 sheet for printing. Align the two images for ease in cutting. Leave plenty of space for the binding punches at the top of each image (to the right as shown above).
Step Eight: Print your sheet on matte presentation paper or white cardstock. Trim to leaving 3/4 in. at the top of each page and 1/8 on all other sides (your page should be 4-1/4 x 6-7/8 inches. Ink edges if desired.
Step Nine: Punch and assemble the calendar. If you don’t have a binding machine, you can punch three holes and use binder rings. Use chipboard as your front at back cover, which also allows the calendar to stand upright. You can paint the chipboard or design a digital cover, print it out and adhere with strong adhesive.
Now you’ve got a great gift to give (or keep) that can be displayed on a desk, a shelf or even hung on the wall. To see the rest of the calendar pages, check out my gallery later this week.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season and take a little time to do something crafty!
