Pam's Magnet Calendar

The metal frame of the calendar measures 12" x 12", and because it is a classic style, the exact same frame that Pam originally used is still available today at craft and art supply stores! The size of the circle on Pam's original calendar was 10 inches in diameter. The size of the circle on the calendar we did on the show was 7 inches because it was done on the computer; however, a method for making it without using a computer in either size is also given.

Our directions also give directions for using specific stamps and coloring pens, but obviously if you prefer a different design, you are on your own to improvise with stamps, stickers, stencils, rub-ons, or your own talent.

Materials:

12" x 12" metal frame*
8-1/2" x 11" card stock for the calendar face
12" square of mat board for the background
12" square of corrugated cardboard to fill in the frame
spray adhesive
Magnetic Creations Wall Treatment paint
paint brush or sponge
Therm-O-Web Heat 'n Bond iron-on-vinyl or 12" x 12" laminating sheet
Tombow colored markers
Hot Potatoes Outline Rose Flower rubber stamp
black acrylic paint
fine-line black permanent ink pen

* The frame is assesembled using two Nielsen Brainbridge Frame Kits containing two 12-inch-long metal pieces each.

1. On the computer, draw a circle 7-3/4 inches in diameter and fill it in with a grid of 1-inch squares. Print out on a sheet of cardstock (figure B), or if you will not be using a computer, draw a grid on a sheet of card stock.

2. Draw a 7-3/4-inch circle on another piece of card stock and cut it out very carefully (figure C).

3. Place the cut out circle on the gridded sheet and trace around it using a black ink pen so you have a crisp outline. Cut out the gridded circle (figure D). Note: If you prefer to make the calendar with the larger circle, simply draw a circle 10 inches in diameter and follow directions as for the smaller circle.

4. Cut a 12" x 12" piece of poster board and, with a pencil or pen, draw a fine line from corner to corner diagonally in each direction (figure E).

5. Center the cut-out circle on the poster board and ink in the drawn lines from the outside corner of the square to the edge of the circle. Do this at each of the four corners. Remove the circle.

6. On the cardboard square, stamp the flowers, placing one on each side of the drawn lines (figure F). You will have stamped eight images.

7. Stamp four more images in the spaces between the corners (figure G). Color in the flowers and leaves with coloring pens (figure H). Note: If you have cut the larger circle, you will stamp flowers in the corners only (figure I).

8. Once again on the computer print out on stock card the months of the year, the numbers 1 through 31 for the dates, and any clip art that pertains to special days or occasions. You should find these programs on both PCs and MACs. If you prefer, you can select your own font and do this with your preferred look (figure J). Or, this can all be done by hand or with rub-on letters, numbers and images. However you choose to do this, be certain that everything is contained within a 1-inch square so it will fit on the grid.

9. Protect the entire surface with a sheet of iron-on-vinyl, a laminating sheet or by running the page through the Xyron. Note: Whether doing the days, months, numbers and images by computer, by hand or by using stickers or rub-ons, it is best to line everything up on a single sheet to make it easier to laminate everything all at once and, even more importantly, to make it easier to cut everything out.

10. Before cutting, mount the sheet or sheets on a piece of mat board using a spray adhesive or press onto a sheet of adhesive-backed Press-On.

11. Using a ruler and sharp-bladed craft knife, carefully and accurately cut out all of the squares (figure K).

12. Apply a 3/4-inch strip of adhesive-backed magnetic stripping to the back of every square.

13. And now the application of the item that makes it all work...the magnetic paint. Apply a coat to the back of the gridded circle (figure L). Apply a coat to the back of the 12-inch square card stock board, and apply a coat to the 12-inch square of corrugated cardboard that you will use to fill in the back of the metal frame. Allow to dry thoroughly.

14. Attach the gridded circle to the background square with spray adhesive (figure M).

15. Stack the background square and the corrugated cardboard square and insert in frame (figure N).

16. Place dates and any selected special occasion markers in position. Voila! A great gift for yourself or someone else for almost any occasion!