July Magnetic Calendar

Here it is {finally!} - my last magnetic calendar!  I started this project last August and have completed a new themed calendar each month throughout the year.  It will be so nice next month to just be able to change the numbers instead of creating a new one!

I have had quite a few emails over the last couple of months, asking about more detailed instructions for creating a calendar so I will try and give you a little more info.

First thing you will need is a magnetic surface.  You can purchase galvanized metal sheets from Home Depot or other building supply stores and they will generally cut it for you.  Mine is 12 x12.  You could also use magnetic paint to make your surface magnetic.  Sarah from Sugar and Shimmer used a cookie sheet for hers.

I purchased a vinyl calendar grid for my calendar from Treasury of Memories but they are no longer in business.  There are a lot of online vinyl places that could customize your vinyl or just draw the grid on your sheet with a permanent marker.  My grid measures approximately 11.5 x 8.5 inches.   I purchased a plain 12 x12 wooden frame from Michaels and painted it black.

Here are some of the basic supplies that I use:

• Office tag circles {found at Staples or other office supply stores}. They provide a great variety of circle sizes.
• Bottle Caps {found at my local scrap booking store} I usually use 4 or 5 of these each month.
• Glass marbles {found at Michaels}.  Make sure that you get the ones that are flat on the back.  Also check to see that they are clear.  There are also some pearlized ones that distort the colors of the scrapbook paper.  You can find instructions on the glass marble magnets here. 
• Chipboard.  You can find chipboard in a variety of shapes to go with your monthly theme.  Just paint or cover in coordinating scrapbook paper.
• Square chipboard or cardboard.  I always have at least 5-6 squares in my calendars and just use cardboard cut from a cereal box to mount the paper on to give it a little more strength. 
• Magnets.  I use the cheaper magnets from the dollar store {10 for a $1} for most of my shapes but also use a few thicker magnets {purchased from Michaels} for the titles and to add a little more dimension throughout the calendar.
• Vinyl numbers.  I cut mine out on the Silhouette.  The numbers are approximately 0.4 inches high {this is the actual height of the numbers not what shows on the sizing grid in the Silhouette Studio}  If you don't have access to a vinyl cutter, you could easily use stickers or rub-ons. 
• Glue.  I use Quick Grip on almost everything {from Michaels} I'm sure there are lots of other glues that you could use but this is always my go to glue.  

• Scrapbook Paper.  My paper this month is from My Mind's Eye {the blues}, Scenic Route {the red}, and Simple Stories {the green dots and the stripes}.  It is generally easier to just stick with one paper line but I was trying to use up some left over papers.  Look for double sided coordinating cardstock to cut down on costs as you only need about a 4x12 section of each pattern.  I like to use at least 5 different patterns.

• Embellishments.  This is the fun part!  Use coordinating buttons, stickers, chipboard, or create you own using the same paper line you have chosen.  I had some stickers in the same Simple Stories line that I used for this calendar. Use pop dots or inking to add extra dimension to your project.  I also like to cut out shapes from the scrapbook paper that I am using {like the Watermelon used above}

Hopefully that helps you out!  If you have any other questions, just let me know.  If it seems like too much work to create a monthly calendar, you can always do a more neutral theme and just use the same magnets from month to month {and maybe add a special one for holidays or birthdays}.  I would love to see what you come up with!

If you want to check out the rest of my calendars, just click on calendars under the Labels tab on my sidebar.

Happy Thursday!!


I linked up with Be Different Act Normal, Chic on a Shoestring, The 36th Avenue, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Christina's Adventures, Somewhat Simple, Lil Luna, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, Home Stories of A to Z, Skip To My Lou, Ask Anna, Embellishing Life, Craft-O-Maniac, CRAFT, Under the Table and Dreaming, I Heart Naptime, Young and Crafty, Tatertots and Jello, Paper Issues, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Thirty Handmade Days, Whipperberry, Tidy Mom, 504 Main and The Shabby Nest.  Head on over and check them out!