Well, I did the 2009 version, I loved it, and off course I had to make another one :) This time I used my 4x6 calendar template:

Here is a step by step:

Step 1. Create your layouts digitally using by clipping your favourite photos and digital papers to the shapes provided in the template. For this project I have used my Simple Pleasures collab with One Bright Spot.

Double sided layouts: I am doing the back and front layouts this year. That means when I turn my cover around I will have January on the back. So, instead of 13 pages I will have only 7. The template comes with a couple of layouts, I "flipped" them before adding my photos, paper and calendar stamps. To flip your layout in Photoshop you have to go to Image > Rotate Canvas > Flip canvas horizontally. In Photoshop Elements you have to make sure you select all layers and go to Image > Rotate > Flip Horizontal. You have to do this to make sure your cut outs align, but no need to do it if you are only using the basic version with no cut outs.

Step 2. Print out your layouts.

A little note about printing. This template is sized 4x6 so you can send the layouts to be printed somewhere else if you don't have a printer or what to print lots. However, make sure your prints will not be resized. If you can take the photos yourself to the Bureau you can look into their software and downsize the image back inside the borders. A lot of places that do printing have automatic sets to make sure you don't have white space in your photos, which becomes a problem when you want to print something smaller, it gets enlarged. That has happened to me so I ended up re-printing the project at home. I can still use the prints from the Bureau, I will show you in a minute what I did with them.

Step 3. Start cuting your layouts to shape, but just the sides and top part, do the bottom cut out AFTER you glue back and front pages together to make sure they will line up. Double sided tape or a snail type adhesive dispenser should be enough. After adhering back and front layouts, you can trim away any excess and do the cut out.

Step 4. Punch the holes. If you have a crop a dile you can punch all holes at once. I have NOT printed my layouts with the hole guide because I find it easier to just punch the holes with the crop a dile. But if you dont have one and needs to use a hand held circle punch or a normal paper punch it is much easier if you print your layouts with the white hole guides included in the template.

Step 5. Create the stand. Just cut a strip of sturdy cardboard and make a triangle to the size of your calendar. (you can check step 4 and 5 of my 2009 Mini Calendar for more photos)

Step 6. Punch the holes for the cardboard stand. You can use one of your layouts as a guide to where you should be punching the holes, so you can keep your calendar centered in the stand.

Step 7. Last step, totally optional but my favourite part, is to add embellishments to your mini calendar. I love Doodlebug buttons and I like adding Chipboard letters (American Crafts thickers) to my cover pages. Here is the finished project:

mmm, I should lat you know this is soooo much cuter in person ;) The colours are a bit off in the photos.

Now, as I mentioned, I had problems printing this project in the Bureau, so I couldn't use them in the "layered" project because they were the wrong size, but it is still cute and going to be displayed. Hubby says he is taking it to work, we are using an acrylic frame to display each layout month by month:

I guess you can also put them on the fridge or in a corkboard. They are just too cute, need to be displayed :)

Hope you like this hybrid feature and feel inspired to make one for yourself or as a gift. I have two more calendars to post, so watch this space ;)

xoxo