Last year we DIYed a calendar for our kitchen complete with a favorite quote each month (you know, for a nice inside-joke vibe). You can check it out here.
But last time we were waaaaay slow and didn’t finish it ’til February. So in an effort to keep that from happening again this year, we decided to complete the project before our big move distracted us (in just one week and counting!).
We stuck with the same general look: colorful text on a clean white backdrop. But instead of meaningful words and funny phrases, we chose to do this one by the numbers. Sesame Street style if you will. Observe:
Basically we took each month’s numerical equivalent and related it to something personally meaningful to our lives. For example, we’ve got one baby girl, we will have called two houses home (once we’ve moved) and Sherry and I have each lived in three NYC boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn (though never together).
Some months even mark “anniversaries” that we’ll be celebrating in 2011, like our fifth year of living in RVA (that’s what we Richmonders call our city to make it sound cooler). And in ’11 we’ll be hitting the seven year mark of knowing one another.
We basically followed the same design process as last year’s calendar (words on top, days on the bottom) and again we cobbled everything together in Photoshop. Oh and we used another free font suggested by How About Orange (this time it’s called Matilde) and just printed each page out on standard 8.5 x 11″ cardstock (it’s amazing how long and “custom” it looks when you cut off the sides).
Also like last year, we’ve got the Photoshop file available for download in case you’re interested in downloading it and editing it to create a version for yourself. Obviously you’ll need to have Photoshop and know your way around a .PSD file well enough to change the text to something that’s relevant to you. And you’ll have to download Matilde into your Photoshop fonts folder to edit the text without changing the typeface once you download the calendar HERE (if clicking doesn’t work, try right-clicking and select “save”). You also may want to try this link if the previous link didn’t work for you (again, try right-clicking and selecting “save” if a regular click doesn’t do the trick).
You’ll only see December when you download it because that’s the layer that’s showing (the rest of the months are hidden layers) so to edit and print each one, just “show” the one that you want and move from month to month. And to people without Photoshop (or without enough know how to get ‘er done even if you have access to it) we definitely think you can whip up something in Microsoft Word or even PowerPoint. Or try etsy for an affordable alternative that still has that homemade feeling.
Although 2011 may still be a few weeks away, we decided to take our new calendar for a test spin on our usual hook in the kitchen – the same 3M hook that we added when I gifted Sherry with the culinary-themed 2008 calendar that commemorated the completion of our kitchen reno. Oh the memories…
Speaking of calendars, do any of you ever DIY your own? Or buy the same theme each year? For about a decade in grade school Sherry’s mom gave her an angel themed calendar every year on Christmas morning. But maybe angels aren’t the chosen subject matter for you. Are you more into calendars with quotes from The Office? Or articles from The Onion? Perhaps you prefer photo calendars from Shutterfly or Snapfish? Or maybe you’re just too smart phone obsessed to even have a paper calendar anymore?
No paper calendars, but we do have a big white board calendar that hangs on the door between our kitchen and garage. I just erase it on the last day of each month and put up the next month, complete with holidays/appointments/other scheduled things. There’s even a space at a the bottom for notes where I can put our grocery list items. It’s been really helpful for both of us.
I also have a running calendar in list-form on my work email that I occasionally update and email to my husband so he can add any events to his work calendar and ask for days off as appropriate.
Paper calendars are pretty/fun, but they’re just not functional for us.
We totally buy the same themed calendar every year. We are the proud parents to two puggers (pugs) and every year we make sure we get our Pug Shots calendar http://www.amazon.com/2011-Pug-Shots-Wall-Calendar/dp/1423803817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291647314&sr=8-1 We love the quirky pug photos that grace our wall each month! But I may have to try your DIY calendar for my office :-) Also in past years I’ve made a photo collage calendar of my nieces and nephew for my sister.
Love it! I think this one is my favorite of all the ones you’ve done. Such a neat idea! :-) I would think this kind of thing would even be easy to do in Pages on Mac (I love that guy!), so I may have to try it there since I don’t have Photoshop.
We always get our calendar from a ministry we support – keeps us focused on others throughout the year and adds photos from other countries to our home, which I love because anything ethnic is right up my alley!
Do you guys actually write on your calendar thru the year (and then keep them as mementos of events thru time)? Or is it keep nice and neat just for decoration?
We definitely use it to write down birthdays and events and all that. I also have a day planner so that comes in handy for things that require more details and longer notes.
xo,
s
“What handmade treasure can I give this Christmas…Hmm.”
Solved. Thanks, I love this idea.
Our calendar at home always has the same theme – pugs. And my work calendar is from 2007…I just reuse it year after year, and find a month that has the same date/day of the week that the current month calls for. Is that frugal or cheap? I say frugal AND green! (Or just cheap)
Love the calendar! My mom usually gets me a Sierra Club calendar for Christmas (love their photos and it fits on our kitchen cabinet really nicely), but I’m thinking about DIYing a perpetual calendar soon.
This is so neat! Thank you!! :D
Hey guys,
Great job! I love the clean lines on the font. Odd question: Are you going to have posts going while you move–like you did when you had Clara? I keep telling my husband in a panic “the YHL people are moving soon, I bet they’ll go offline for like weeks!”
Just wanted you to know I’d miss you!
We definitely plan t keep posts coming, but they might just be diary style updates like “today we’re painting this wall this color- wish us luck!”
xo,
s
I love your calendar. It’s so great that it can be customized. It reminds me of the twelve days of Christmas song.
Here’s our 2011 calendar:
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/almost-2011/
Love the calendar this year. You both are so creative! My Aunt makes a calendar for every family member each Christmas with photos from the year before. It’s so great to see those pictures everyday.
I love your calendars! We usually use snapfish and make them using last that years photos so when you get to the month you have pic’s from exactly a year ago. It’s amazing how fast the kiddo’s grow!
The download link isn’t working for me! Maybe it is just me?
Hey Sarah,
If clicking doesn’t work, try right-clicking and select “Save” since that might be the action required for a PC. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I hate to say it… but since the world of smart phones emerged we don’t even have a “real” calendar anymore. It’s a shame!
Super cute idea! Love it!
That’s actually a really cool idea for a calendar. I usually buy the cheapest thing I can find at CVS pharmacy for our office, but I think I just might steal….err….customize the one you guys have out there for us!
Every year since I was a tween my dad has bought me a Far Side calendar for Christmas. It’s always been our personal favorite because we both share that stupid sense of humor…. I mean, common… a Spamalope is hilarious… That calendar is really cute and a great idea. Also, 1001 free fonts is a great place to get some fonts too. http://www.1001freefonts.com/
I love these! So creative (as usual)!
My younger daughter always wants a puppies and kittens calendar. The older one picks a different one each year, she’s gone from Twilight, to Jonas Bros, to Paris and this year she wants one from The Office.
I totally have a calendar! The last few years I’ve got a landscaped one for a $1 at Target, but you may have inspired me to create my own! I did a photo calendar one year and that worked out really well-so meaningful!
At work, I have a Sudoku day-by-day calendar. My husband gets me one every year for Christmas. And I always get him a Dilbert one. :) We have a wall calendar at home in the office. A free one we get with our zoo membership. I love it! Lots of pretty animals and macro shots of bugs! Sadly, we’ve moved and haven’t renewed our membership so I don’t know what we will do this year. I like the idea of getting something beautiful that can get recycled into art later down the road. I did that when I was in high school and college all the time!
This is just too cute. I was looking for a year on one page,but I think I may just have to do this. Love it!
I love this. Sorta bummed, though. Just bought the Snow and Graham one for 2011. Could’ve saved a few bucks. This question is unrelated, but in your 1/2 bath…in the mirror, I can see a reflection of something hanging…is that a light? If so, what does it look like/where was it purchased? Thanks!
It’s the teardrop chandelier from Urban Outfitters. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
What a great idea- so smart to do it before the end of the year!
This is so sweet. I just had a thought…
Will y’all be doing any sort of Clara / Nutcracker themed weekly photo shoots for Christmas? Just an idea-r : )
That’s so cute! We haven’t figured it out yet, but it’s definitely a contender!
xo,
s
When I saw April’s “Family of Four” I thought to myself ‘wait a minute!!! Are they having another baby?!?!!’ but then I remembered Burger! Hahaha :)
Very cool idea guys!
Awww so cute! I love that you made it uber personal! The closest i’ve gotten to making a calendar is by writing out one on my dry erase board… and I’m not sure if I’d currently use/need one… but I think it’s worth a try to make one and find out! =)
Love the idea — thanks!
xoXOxo
Love your calendar idea. Very inventive. I use a calendar that I have on my fridge that is a dry erase board. We are too busy in our lives with adding appointments and activities and that works best for us.
Love the number idea! Very creative! I’m currently putting together a calendar for my husband to have while he is stationed overseas. Lots of personal pictures highlighting important dates (birthdays, our daughters due date, anniversaries, etc.)
Great idea! This is another printable calendar I love this year – not quite DIY since someone else designed it, but at least partially DIY since you have to print it out and cut it up. And free!
I found it at:
http://www.alicecantrell.com/blog/2010/11/2011-printable-calendar.html
Fair warning – the site loads a bit slowly
We make ours each year but its been due for some pizazzing up for a while now! Love your number theme this year.
LOVE IT!
I just DIY’d a big ol’ wall calendar for our kitchen. I LOVE planning things out and seeing the whole year up at once so I made a 4′ x 2′ wall calendar for the entire year with fun seasonal scrapbook paper to adorn each month. I made it on a white board so I can reuse it each year. I LOVE it. It’s already being used :)
http://picardyproject.blogspot.com/2010/11/wall-calendar.html
I love it! Thanks for sharing, the link isn’t working for me either… like, it says nothing found–I don’t even get the option to download. So I’m not sure if the link is just wrong or what…
We usually just buy 1 for $1 somewhere. No theme, not usually that cute, but a calendar. I’m totally doing this though. I love that it can be personalized, I’m excited! Plus, I love that it’s crisp and clean. That’s what we’re trying to do (not the mention, after Christmas our first project is painting our cabinets white! woohoo!)
Hey Sarah,
If clicking doesn’t work, try right-clicking and select “Save” since that might be the action required for a PC. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
@Sarah and Sherry — The link isn’t working for me either! I get the “Whoops! That Page Isn’t Here” message from WP.
Hey Marilyn,
If clicking doesn’t work, try right-clicking and select “Save” since that might be the action required for a PC. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Love that calendar, very cute idea. I always make a photo calendar with pics of my kids from the previous year put together thru Shutterfly. I make 3, one for us, and 1 for each set of grandparents…it’s like a scrapbook for all and my kids love going through it and talking about the pictures.
I did a post on my blog recently about what to do with the “leftover” tops of calendars. You know, the part above the date information. I have some pretty letterpress and travel images from two old calendars and I just can’t figure out a project for them. Shoot me some ideas if anyone has them!
My Post: http://www.bitsandpieces-blog.com/2010/10/ideas-for-old-calendars.html
Love the calendar! I tried clicking on the download HERE link and it brought up a page that said “Whoops! That page isn’t here.” I don’t know if it would have something to do with my browser or cache but just wanted to let you guys know! I’d love to download it…
Thanks!
Hey Paige,
If clicking doesn’t work, try right-clicking and select “Save” since that might be the action required for a PC. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Great DIY! very neat idea.
http://jannsboutique.blgospot.com/
Too cute. I was thinking that you could totally work with individuals and sell people their own custom versions of this calendar…until I got to the part in your post where you offer the free downloadable template. You guys are awesome.
ah, thanks so much! That did it.
ah! thanks so much…that did it!
It only lets me save the link when right clicking–which doesn’t help when the link says nothing found! I’ll check back later! Or suck it up and do the work myself…. ;)
Hey Sarah E,
Neither of us are on PCs anymore, so I’m sorry we can’t be more specific about the terminology. Perhaps another Windows user could assist? If there’s an alternate to the “Save” option (perhaps “Save As” or “Save Location”) that might do the trick.
-John
So cute! It’s very appropriate too for the time-frame–kind of like “Twelve Days of Christmas”. What kind of paper do you print this on? I love the idea of giving this as a Christmas present.
Also, have you ever heard of Gimp–free photoshop-like software? Do you know if you could edit it using this program?
Hey Laura,
If you follow the link over to last years calendar template we did encourage people to use GIMP and it seemed to work for some (although some people had issues, which is why we didn’t bring it up this year). We love sharing things like this, but unfortunately it doesn’t always mean that everyone is able to download them and edit them depending on their computer and the programs they have.
xo,
s
So how did you print each layer separately? I am trying to print this (i customized it! yay!) but one time it came out as the blank layer (1 page) and the next time it came out as all layers on one page. kinda messy. any help would be appreciated! :)
Hey Sarah,
Check the post for those details. You basically have to “hide” and show each layer to print them each separately. Maybe getting a Photoshop guide from the library would help? Good luck!
xo,
s
Love this calendar! I haven’t been able to find one I liked, so I may have to try this out.
I remember when I was 15 I asked for a calendar for Christmas, and my specific instructions to my mom were, “Something funny, or something with hot athletes…nothing cute. No animals.” You know what she got me? A calendar full of guinea pigs competing in Olympic sporting events: guinea pigs doing gymnastics, guinea pigs playing soccer, guinea pigs swimming, etc. Her response when I looked at it in confusion? “Well, it’s funny and they’re athletes!” She obviously ignored by distaste for cute animals.
Hi! I love the calendar, unfortunately I can’t download the file either (and I have a Mac myself…)
So sorry it’s not working seamlessly and easily for everyone! With all of the moving madness going on we don’t have the time to trouble shoot each issue, but we hope that it works for as many people as possible! And if not, hopefully you guys can DIY one in Photoshop or even in Word or PowerPoint using the same basic concept if it floats your boat!
xo,
s
Love the both calenders! Great idea! I’m assuming the “no biting just kisses” is something you guys say to Burger. ;-) I cracked up because my husband and I say the same thing to our dog Gus. We thought we were the only ones!
Yes! Burger is a funny little nibbler sometimes…
xo,
s
When I met my husband I had a “hot” Houston firefighters calendar hanging in the kitchen that a friend used to get me every year. My husband didn’t love it to say the least. Since he had to look at that calendar for almost an entire year I found a “hot” women firefighter calendar for the next year. I had a friend take headshots of me making super sexy (yeah right!) faces and taped them over the faces of the calendar women. I wrote ridiculously cheesy and mildly inappropriate sayings like “I’m burning for your hot body” or some such thing. We laughed all year at that calendar. I haven’t done anything like that since and I miss it!
I’m totally stealing your idea. Thank you!
I use a PC. I downloaded the file when I read your blog in Google Reader, and it worked fine, but your link here on your site is different. It has an extra “/2010/12” in the link.
This is the link that worked for me: https://www.younghouselove.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/YHL%202011%20Calendar.zip
Thanks for that info R8chel! We’ll update the post with that detail to hopefully help those who are have issues.
xo,
s
How do you have time to do all of these projects in the middle of a move? Do you guys ever get out of the house? :)
Nope. We’re total blog hermits. But we’re ok with that.
xo,
s
I typically create my own calander as well at snapfish.com. Each month is a new picture of our two kitties (no babies yet). Its cool b/c for each day, you can also add more pictures – like my picture goes on the May 11 spot for my birthday. We add all family members and friends so we’ll never forget a big day or anniversary.
We haven’t had a calendar up in quite some time, but with all the blank wall space in our new house I think this might be the year! I love that Matilde font too, I downloaded it a few weeks ago when How About Orange posted the link on her blog. So cute!