If you ask us, it’s never the wrong time in the year to make yourself a brand new calendar that might help you keep your days, filled with all of your responsibilities and commitments, a little more organized.
Just because we’ve passed the new year doesn’t mean you can’t still map out the weeks and months ahead! In fact, that’s part of the beauty of making your own calendar rather than buying one; you can choose the timeframe of where it starts and ends rather than having to skip half of it to get to the place you want to start filling it out in.
We’ve been keeping our eyes open for as many different DIY calendar making resources as we can find, just to get ourselves inspired and really make sure we make something we love and will really use when we get started.
15 DIY Calendar Ideas
Are you feeling just as intrigued as we were, if not more, by the idea of making your very own calendar? Check out these 15 fantastic ideas, designs, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search!
1. Chalkboard desktop calendar
Rather than something with lots of note taking space and organizational motivation, like a giant wall calendar, are you actually mostly just looking for a small piece that can help you count down the days to something exciting? Well, if you also want to fancy up your work desk a little bit then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at this cute chalkboard desktop calendar that Loven Stamps shows you how to make from a party banner!
2. Colourful chalkboard wall calendar
Maybe you’re really just looking for a way besides your cellphone to remember what the date is when you’re signing forms in your office, so you need something simple, reusable, and that’s very easy to see anywhere in the room? Then perhaps you’d get along better with this colourful clipped countdown calendar from Princess Pinky Girl that lets you note the month on a chalkboard piece right underneath the numbers as well. Just make sure you get into the habit of swapping the numbers each morning!
3. Giant grid chalkboard calendar
If you’re going to put in all the time and effort it takes to make your own calendar, would you actually prefer to also make sure there is space within it to make notes and jot down appointments too just so you can keep your family a little more organized? Well, if you also still like the chalkboard idea as much as we do, then maybe you’ll give some consideration to this jumbo grid calendar from Thistlewood Farms made from upcycled wooden window frames and chalkboard backing in each square.
4. DIY chalkboard tape wall calendar
Are you pretty into the idea of an adjustable calendar that you can plan your life onto because you have a class schedule to keep track of alongside work but you’re also living in a place right now that’s both small and temporary? In that case, maybe your best bet is to make something very simple right there on your wall! I Spy DIY shows you how to map your new calendar out using strips of chalkboard tape. We’d personally use wipeable chalk markers for this one rather than sticks of chalk.
5. Pretty DIY flipping desktop calendar
Are you still feeling pretty enamoured with the basic concept of a flipping desk calendar but you’re just not sure that the design we showed you earlier is quite the one for you? Well, if you’re a paper crafting enthusiast like a scrapbooker or daily planner as well, then we have a feeling that this adorable and custom cardstock based desk calendar, outlined step by bright step on Making The World Cuter, it just the kind of thing you’re looking for!
6. Glittery DIY dry erase calendar
Are you the kind of colourful, eclectic person who is absolutely convinced that glitter makes everything better? Well, we completely agree with you, so you won’t find us arguing with that logic at all! We will, however, happily recommend this lovely and very glittery framed wall calendar that Darice shows you how to make behind glass so that it comes dry-erase for easy adjusting!
7. Custom pinboard calendar
Are you actually the kind of pre-planner who likes to be able to see the entire year in one go, calling up any date and what day of the week it might be when that day arrives months down the line, or whether you’re free to make an appointment that far in the future? Then maybe you’d prefer this lovely and rather large pinboard calendar that In My Own Style shows you how to customize and lay out the whole year on nice and simply, for your own convenience!
8. Giant rustic wall calendar
Do you actually already have one of those jumbo paper calendars that displays the whole month nice and big across your desk with all kinds of space to write in each day, but you can’t help wishing that you could hang the whole thing on your wall instead? Then we think you’ll really enjoy the rustic inspired way that Houseful of Handmade created a wooden hanging brace to clip theirs into so they could make that happen!
9. Printed clipboard photo calendar
Are you the kind of person who’s always in a hurry and really just needs a simple, very fast and easy solution to seeing the date and day of the week as soon as you wake up, but you’re also a little nostalgic? Then we think you just might be the perfect person to give this clipboard calendar of printed pages a try! It’s Always Autumn gives you some layout options and shows you how they put in their favourite family pictures for each month.
10. Framed gift tag desktop calendar
Just in case you really liked the flipping number wall calendar you saw earlier but you’re just not sure you’ll have the wall space and you’d much prefer a small desktop version, here’s just the kind of thing we think you might be looking for! Pink & Pretty guides you step by step through the process of making it happen using a shadow box photo frame with the glass remove, some small screwing key hangers, and gift tags that you can draw on and decorate or stencil and embellish however you please.
11. DIY calendar banner
Are you actually really just in the market for a simple, slightly more classic and regularly sized paper wall calendar, but you’re still feeling intent on making it yourself rather than buying it? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how The Merrythought used a wooden clamping pants hanger and paper cut into the shape of a banner to make theirs! They even discuss options for layout and printing with you, which is very helpful indeed.
12. DIY bicycle wheel calendar
Are you actually looking for something way more unconventional than what you’ve seen so far, and maybe even rooted in upcycling too, since that’s what you love doing most when you craft? Well, if you can get your hands on an old bike wheel, then maybe this awesome wall calendar from Thistlewood Farms that rotates instead of flipping over or tearing off is the best idea for you!
13. DIY thrift shop mirror to chalkboard calendar
Just in case you’re still not over the beloved chalkboard idea but you’re also not fully decided yet on how you want to present or lay it out, here’s another alternative for your consideration, just to make sure you’ve seen lots of options! This guide from Within The Grove shows you how to paint over a wooden framed mirror from a thrift shop (or even a garage sale, or your own garage).
14. Cereal box and printable DIY annual planner
Did your ears perk up when we briefly mentioned day planners earlier on our list because that’s actually the kind of DIY calendar you’ve been on the hunt for and you want to try making your very own planner book for the first time? Then we think you’ll appreciate not only the tips and tricks that Live Craft Eat has to offer, but also the fact that they show you how to make one just like theirs out of cardboard that they upcycled from an empty cereal box!
15. Big ombre wall calendar
Are you still thinking about how much you loved the idea of making a jumbo all calendar but you’re also quite intrigued by the colourful square designs you’ve seen elsewhere too? Then maybe you’d rather create something that merges those two qualities into one place! We’d absolutely encourage you to take a look at this tutorial from BHG that shows you how to make colourful ombre calendar sections from colourful cardstock and arrange them like a collage on the wall, all in rows.
How to make your own calendar
Have you made other kinds of awesome DIY wall calendars before that you were very happy with indeed but that you don’t see here on our list?
Tell us all about what you created and how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!
