Simple And Easy Ways
To Make A Calendar

Want to make a calendar that jumps out of the crowd?

Calendars are a great way to show your ideas, your favorite things and give folks a sneak peek into your passions.

They are also a great way to make money whether it's a small business idea, for a good cause or a simple gift idea.

The thing is that most photos these days are digital and exist in your camera, card reader or favorite iMac (or PC).

Your job then is to get your best images and to make a calendar that'll blow folks away when they see it!

What's wonderful about making calendars is the freedom you have to create.

And Those Luscious Holiday Snaps?

So those luscious holiday snaps you took in New Zealand, or riding the horse on the beach in Malaysia can suddenly be transformed into a vibrant and attractive photo calendar that can be shared with everyone!

If you are making a calendar just for one or two people, a fantastic idea is to collect and scan in old photos (from your parent's wedding for example) to mark the month of their anniversary.

You've got a scanner, right? (Scan the images at your local photo shop!) Calendars are also a great resource for artists who are challenged selling their work.

A picture calendar is a more affordable way for an art admirer to show their support and the calendars can be printed professionally by a copy center for low cost.

Of course, you can use your own printer - but you need to keep an eye on those ink costs! (It can quickly blow way out of proportion!)

The bottom line?

It's easier to sell a hundred $15.00 calendars than an original work of art for $5000!

(Depending on the context of your situation, and how good your artwork (and marketing skill) is!

And if you're worried about being too commercial then just be as creative as possible and use different sorts of paper to make your own calendar with!

Celebrate With Photo Calendars

You can also celebrate and share your favorite photos you took this year (remember that trip?) by creating a calendar for your friends and family.

Print your calendars at home or use software (see below) to make the project easier. Your local copy center might even be able to help (but no guarantees there!)

Popular calendar making software includes Broderbund's Calendar Creater and Art Explosion Publisher Pro, or The Print Shop Deluxe.

If you use a Mac (which I hope you do), you may want to try The Print Shop or Nova Development Print Explosion Deluxe. (Long name eh?)

Actually there's quite a lot of free calendar making software online. Just do a simple search for the words underlined above - or see the 'make a calendar' resources guide below.

That's sort of the 'easy dude's way' to make a calendar! Other options include using something like a professional calendar printer to make your own calendar. (You'd want to be making calendars for sale for that option).

Here's a list of specific ways to make calendars:

Calendars make for great children's projects or Christmas presents too. Not to mention brilliant for promoting your wares or home based business.

Yep, your calendar doesn't have to be in the traditional calendar format either.

You can make a yearly calendar on long piece of paper or make a theme based calendar. Maybe you want to give out your favorite recipes. Who says you have to use photos on your calendar anyway?

With a little planning, you can find out all the important stuff that will happen during the year and mark those in advance onto your calendar. (Graduations are always good!)

The things that happen when you make a calendar can really help pull a family together, plus you get to have a LOT of fun too!