From my first CD album I thought about this calendar. Didn't have time to put it together last year, but this year I was determined! and I loooove how it turned out. This one is mine I am not giving it away :)

I already explained how to put together a CD album, and the CD calendar is the same. The difference is that you make two holes at the top (two to help it balance and stand on its own, but not necessary, one is ok too).  Just to make this a complete post about the CD calendar, lets go through the step by step once again.

Step by Step

Step 1. Create your page digitally using the template. Just clip your favourite photos and papers to the shapes provided. Alternatively you can use quickpages:

I should mention I created hole guides for the printed project, but only on the front layouts. I did it so I didn't have to align the holes in the back layouts (I only had holes on the cover, feb, apr, jun, aug, oct, dec layouts) Makes sense?

Step 2. Print the finished layouts on glossy photo paper, you can fit two on a letter/A4 sheet.

Step 3. Cut them out. The template is the exact shape and size for CDs. I might add that, if you want you can use other round albums (chipboard) or cut out cardboard for a grungier look (I have seen it done, looks cool!).

Step 4. If possible scratch the CD surface with sandpaper to make it less "smooth", and add mod podge or chosen adhesive.  Adhere front and back layouts to each CD making sure both sides are facing up.

Step 5. Punch holes with the crop a dile or using a drill. You do have to do one at a time so you can either create hole guides, as I mentioned above, mark with a pencil or use the previous layout as a guide to the next. Whatever you find easier. You can also have only one hole, which takes away the need to align the holes.

 Step 6. Embellish your calendar with real embellishments such as buttons and flowers. Lastly add the rings to the top (I recommend not adding ribbons as that makes it hard to flip from month to month)

Here is my finished calendar:

Buttons by Doodlebug designs, papers are my part on the Summer's Dawn collab with TaylorMade designs. The "real" embellishments are a must for me, but you can just have it all digitally embellished.

Once again the photos didn't come out right, but you get the idea. The white text is not that hard to read and March & April photos are not that pink, who wants to come visit and see this little project in person? ;)

I have one more calendar to show you, but only after I announce my new collab, can you guess who I am collaborating with?

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 

Quick post! Just wanted to share a couple of images with you, especially for the people that got puzzled when I mentioned "CD Calendar", what did I mean by that?

These are called CD calendars because they are meant to fit a CD CASE. All you do is grab a CD case, force it around and use it as a stand, like this 2009 example using the Hybrid Magic 11 template:

There are also "cd cases" made specially for these calendars, they are sturdier and look a little better, I have given one to each grandparent :) My whole family await anxiously for these every year.

I like them too and I have decided I want to see more of them so I decided to put them up on the "clothes' line" on top of my scrapping area ;)

Usually I keep my latest layout in there, but isn't this cute????

Anyway, I better stop admiring my 2009 calendars and get back to working on my 2010 ones ;)

P.S.I have an amazing kit release for you next week with a HUGE freebie, I can't wait!!!!!

The 2010 calendar templates  have been ready for a week and I was hoping to get my own calendars finished to show you but between a naughty printer, sick kids and being really busy, they are not quite ready, but soon! In the meantime why don't you give it a try and let me see what you come up with. Here are my new 2010 Templates:

A CD Case Calendar:

A ROUND CD calendar:

I have been doing a lot of mini CD albums and they are SO much fun that I decided I am doing a CD calendar. You can still use a CD case as a stand but I think these round pages will look good anywhere you display them, will show my finished project to you as soon as I fix my printer.

And since my printer is having hiccups (what is a hybrid scrapper to do without her printer) I have created a 4x6 version of my mini calendar. This way, I can print my calendar anywhere and assemble it at home :) and I love the new cuts:

The front cover is shorter so it shows a little of the creative cuts. I can't wait to put one of these together.

and this last one I created for my CT member Lia, just for fun:

cute isnt it? I love these tiny things! everything is 20% off today!

Now, I KNOW you are waiting for this part so let me share the FREEEBIES hehehe

My usual 2010 calendar stamps with a grungy/vintage look in English and this time I included Portuguese in the same download:

Enjoy!!!!

I have also decided to post last year's A4 Calendar freebies in one download, in case you are new to the blog:

these are VERY popular, fun, quick and easy and if you do run out of time to put your calendars together, they are a great alternative!! Here is an example by Cathy using both freebies and one example by me showing last year's calendar already folded:

(click for larger)

Lastly, if you are a newsletter subscriber, check your inbox for this:

The template includes a 2010 calendar stamp, but I highly recommend it to create a month by month diary like the above photo. I didn't create a calendar stamp like that because there are many around the digiworld already. I especially love this one by Leora, which is the one I used in my example.

I have more to share but this post is already so full of images I will wait :) In the meantime, happy scrapping!

Last year I made a mini calendar for the September'08 Issue of the Digital Artist Magazine. It turned out beautifully! The calendar sits next to my computer and I adore looking at it, I am sad it is almost over. I have already started work on a new project, but for those that didn't try this one last year, I have updated the calendar and am selling the template with 50% off the regular price, I have done the same to last years' CD Calendar:

Mini Hybrid Calendar Step by Step

Step 1. Create your calendar pages digitally using the templates, just add photos and papers and "clip" to provided layers.

I have printed mine on double sided matte paper and included a simple design on the back, just to make the pages pretty when turned:

Step 3. Recycle a cardboard box (I have used a diaper box). Peel of any packaging or covering sheet to show a little of the corrugated board underneath (optional).

Step 4. Fold the piece of cardboard into a triangle and secure with double sided tape.

Step 5. Punch holes through the top. You can do them all at once if you have a crop-a-dile, or if one is not available, mark the hole placement and do one hole at the time.

Step 6. Embellish your pages (optional, but oh so fun!)

All done! Easy Peasy, right? :)

Notes:
•    When creating your digital pages, don’t forget to include a plain paper or "paint" under your text to improve readability, especially when using patterned paper.
•    As mentioned, I have printed this project on double sided matte paper so there is print on both sides of the calendar page.
•    I do not recommend the addition of ribbons to the rings of this project because it would make it too hard to flip the pages every month (it would look cute though hehe).
•    The biggest advantage of doing this digitally is that you can create a couple of different albums to give to family and friends without having to do each design by hand from scratch.

Digital supplies
Hybrid Scrapbooking Magic no.10 - Mini calendar
Chasing Rainbows kit by Michelle Coleman
Fonts are Augie and Peach Fuzz.

Physical supplies:
Double sided matte paper by Epson.
Chipboard alpha by American Crafts.
Flower, pearl and rhinestones by Kaisercraft.
Buttons and frost ribbon by Doodlebugs Designs.
Green ribbon by Love, Elsie.

I hope you have enjoyed this mini calendar and little step by step. Now I will get back to working on a new version of this cutie :)

Watch this space for new calendar templates and the free calendar stamps, coming on Tuesday.

xoxo