CoffeeBreakCorner: DIY 2012 calendar

So, 2011 is finally coming to an end...

and what's a better way to kick off 2012 than with your own calendar to help keep track of your success! Today, I have for you a super easy DIY desk calendar tutorial. I made one for myself last year and found it to be very useful. It helped keep me on track and organized-- I used it for everything-- to track bill due dates, doctor's appointments, etc. And I know it will definitely come in handy for all you business owners out there-- it can help keep track of your invoices-- the order dates, shipping dates, etc. Anyway, I hope you find it as helpful as I did. =)

Materials you will need:

-Microsoft publisher

-Printer

-recycled cardboard-- cereal box or any type of box

-black cardstock paper

-glue

-ruler

-scissor

But Before we begin, I want to give a little shout out to Dawn of p1xie for featuring my DIY pompom tutorial on her blog. Be sure to drop by her blog to see how her pompom topper turned out. =)

Okay, now we can begin.

Step 1. Open Microsoft Publisher... Start menu-->All Programs--> Microsoft Office --> Microsoft Office Publisher

Step 2. Select the 'Calendars' folder. It is the 4th one over.

Step 3. Before we do anything else, let's set the calendar year to 2012. At the right side of the page under 'Options' click on 'Set Calendar Dates' button.

Step 4. The 'Set Calendar Dates' window will pop up. Change the date and year--

Start Date: January 2012.

End date: December 2012.

Step 5. Now select the template you would like to use. I am using 'Understated'. It is at the bottom left. Double click to open the template.

Step 6. Here's where you have two options--

#1- You can leave the calendar as is. Skip to step 16 if you want to leave it as is.

#2- customize it to your liking. If you want it to look like mine... continue to step 7.

Step 7. Click on the 'January 2012' text box and delete the line (January 2012)-- you have to delete the whole line; it will not let you delete just 2012.

Step 8. Now type january into the text box.

Change font to Arial.

Size: 54.8

Style: Title2

Color: Black

Select Bold

Adjust it so it's centered at Mon. and Wed.

Step 9. Click on the text box icon (left hand side tool bar) and place the text box where indicated. It should be next to the month text box. See below.

Step 10. Type 2012 into the text box. Change font color to RED.

Font: Arial

Size: 54.8

Style: Normal

Bold


end result should look like this

Step 11. Now select all (Calendar)-- left click mouse and drag over the dates and bold the dates.

Optional--Step 12. Change weekend dates to Red and add in Holidays.

Use the number tabs at the bottom to nagivate through the months. Follow the yellow arrow (see picture)!
1 is Jan.
2 is Feb.
3 is Mar.
So on

Holidays worth mentioning (federal):
-Sunday, January 1, 2012- New Year's Day
-Monday, January 16, 2012- MLK Jr. Day
-Monday, February 20, 2012- President's Day
-Monday, May 28, 2012- Memorial Day
-Wednesday, July 4, 2012- Independence Day
-Monday, September 3, 2012- Labor Day
-Monday, October 8, 2012- Columbus Day (Thanksgiving Day in Canada)
-Sunday, November 11, 2012- Veteran's Day*
-Thursday, November 22, 2012- Thanksgiving Day
Tuesday, December 25, 2012- Christmas Day

Step 13. Now we are going to merge the empty cells together so we can add an inpisiring quote. Left click and drag mouse over the 4 empty spaces (right hand bottom 4 spaces).

Then Right Click--> Change table --> Merge Cells

Step 14. Select the text box tool again and place it at the empty spaces below. Type in the quote of your choice.

Here are my two favorite:

-I'm not telling you it's going to be easy. I'm telling you it's going to be worth it. -Art Williams

-Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet. -Bob Marley

Step 15. Repeat Steps 7-14 ... for each month.

Step 16. And..You're all done. Now you can go ahead and print your 2012 calendar.

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Now to make the board that holds the calendar together...

Step 17. Take your black cardstock paper and draw a 3" by 3" square.

Step 18. Now on that 3" x 3" square, draw two diagonal lines (like below) across it. Cut out the square and cut away the piece that says 'cut away- will not need.

Here's what you want it to look like:

Step 19. Fold the right flap down and put glue on the left flap. See picture below. Then fold left flap down.

End result should look like this:

Step 20. Now cut the cardboard to size. I am using half of a recycled cereal box. You can use whatever cardboard you have lying around--- i.e boxes left over from Christmas.

Measurements-- 9 in. height * 11 1/2 in. length