Calendar Time!

 Well, hard to believe summer is in it's last month, at least here in Minnesota.  It's this time of year I start preparing to make my Mini CD Easel Calendars.  Right now I'm taking preorders for my finished calendars. 

I started making these about 10 years ago.  I stumbled across them, when I was buying some stamps and other stamping supplies from someone off of Craigslist,  She had one of these setting out, and while she was gathering my things, I took a look at it, fell in love with it and asked her about it. And as they say, the rest is history.

This calendar is one of my favorite January designs.  I'm sadden that I sold this cute snowman a few years ago.

I will take you through my process, in case you are interested in making these for yourself or are interested in ordering a premade one. Every month has a different design and I try not to duplicate the months from one year to the next, but this year I might do a year of my favorite designs from the past years, although I already have a new design in my head for December 2026, 

I'm fairly decent at computer technology. When I started my job with the Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources many years ago, our computers only had DOS on them. If you know what that means you are either a techy or very old, as am I.  We then moved into the world of software, and our first word processing software was Word Perfect, and I had to teach myself had to use it, since my boss would not pay for training.  Then the State took away Word Perfect and replaced it with Microsoft Word, which I resisted, at least at home and continued to use Word Perfect until it was no longer supported. Then I had to adapt to Word. Was not happy about, but they didn't ask me. 

So back to the calendar, I designed my own template, which I have used for the last 10 years. It only took me a few days to refine it and now I make it available on Etsy. The calendars, when cut, measure about 3-1/2" x 3-3/4".  They make wonderful gifts.  I have several repeat customers and am taking preorders for the finished calendars up to August 15.  

Here's the link for the downloadable PDF:  https://cottagelanestamper.etsy.com/listing/1780274273/printable-calendar-template-for-2026 

The template is in PDF form and downloadable for a nominal fee.  I need to put a disclaimer in here.  A couple of years ago I had and Etsy customer give me some bad feed back because she couldn't edit it. She downloaded my calendar and she was from Australia and couldn't change the holidays.  So I made her a custom copy. Unfortunately that bad review is still on my profile. :-( 

I found the source for the cases and this year, through unforeseen circumstances, I have acquired and abundance of them, so I am selling some of my surplus on Etsy. 

Here's the link:

https://cottagelanestamper.etsy.com/listing/4344917273/calendar-cases-mini-cd-jewel-cases

Here's a little video on my process. 

This is the paper cutter that I mentioned in my video and a link to it on Amazon: 

https://a.co/d/dzVLP2W 

Carl Manufacturing 12210 Heavy-Duty Trimmer 

12-Inch 36 Sheet Cap. 14-Inch x12-1/4-Inch x3/4-Inch

Here are my designs from last year for a little inspiration. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  If you have an suggestions for future tutorials please leave a comment.  I like trying new things.  

Now I have to get back to my scrapbooks.  I'm making each of my grandsons a scrapbook, and I am learning a little along the way there too.  My oldest is 19, I'm in 2013 and am only going until his graduation last year.  So I have a few more years to go for his and then there are his two younger brothers!!! Oy Vey!

Take care and may God bless you!  Happy stamping!

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