Designing your own calendar is a wonderful way to express your creativity and serve a practical purpose at the same time. By making your own calendar, you give it a personal touch that suits you and your individual style. The beauty of this is that you have the freedom to customise the entire design and make it your own. Whether you're a fan of photography, drawings or handwritten notes, a self-designed calendar allows you to combine all these elements and create your own personal work of art. At the same time, it can also be a meditative and relaxing activity that allows you to focus on your creativity in every way. At the end of the process, you will not only have a functional calendar, but also a unique craft that will stay with you throughout the year. Take the opportunity to create a calendar that is not only beautiful to look at, but also reflects your personality! With our ideas, you will surely succeed.

Types of calendars

Calendar formats

The first thing you should decide is what format you want your new calendar to be. There are a variety of calendar formats that you can use for your own design ideas. Here are some common formats.

Wall calendars are large format calendars that can be hung on a wall or bulletin board. They offer plenty of space for photos, illustrations and personal notes. Desk calendars, on the other hand, are more compact and are perfect for the desk, shelf or bedside table. They offer space for a monthly overview as well as daily notes. An annual planner is usually larger than normal calendars and offers space for detailed planning of appointments and events throughout the year. There are also pocket calendars, which are a handy, small size that fit comfortably in a handbag or wallet. They are ideal for travelling and usually offer a weekly or monthly overview. Photo calendars are the most popular as they allow you to add your own photos to the calendar. This way you can enjoy your memories and favourite pictures all year round.

These are just some of the most common calendar formats. In the following, we will go into more detail about the different holders and paper types.

Calendar holders and paper types

There are different types of calendar holders you can use for your self-made calendars. Here are some common options:

1. Spiral binding: The classic spiral binding is a popular choice for calendars. Here, the pages are punched and connected with a metal or plastic spiral. This type of binding makes it easy to turn the pages while providing stability.
2. Ring binding: With ring binding, the pages are perforated and connected with metal or plastic rings. This allows you to easily add or remove pages and gives you more flexibility in the design.
3. Wooden holder: A wooden holder is a natural and decorative option to hold your calendar pages together. The pages are perforated and attached with a wooden block or strip. This gives the calendar a rustic or natural touch.
4. Perforation: A simple method is to perforate the calendar pages and then hold them together with a cord, ribbon or clip screw. This allows you to customise the calendar and change the pages as you like.
5. Staple binding: Staple binding is another option to hold the pages of your calendar together. The pages are punched at the top edge and joined with a metal clip. The holder is well suited for smaller formats and offers easy handling.

The choice of calendar holder depends on your personal preferences, the style you want and the format of your calendar. Each option has its own advantages.

In addition to the formats and holders, you can also choose from different types of paper that are suitable for different purposes.

Photo paper is ideal if you want to use photos in your calendar. It offers a glossy or matte finish that brings out the colours and details of the images. The paper is particularly suitable for creating high-quality photo calendars. There is also coated art paper, which has a smooth surface and high colour brilliance. It is ideal for printing illustrations, drawings or other artistic elements in your calendar. Design paper is another type of paper that comes in many different colours, patterns and textures. You can use it to add an individual and creative touch to your calendar. You can use it for background designs, scrapbooking elements or collages. If you want to take a sustainable approach, recycled paper is the right choice. It is made from recycled materials, environmentally friendly and suitable for different purposes depending on the quality and thickness of the paper. Tracing paper is also semi-transparent and is good for creating overlays or shading in your calendar. It can be used to create special effects or to accentuate images and text.

Choose your preferred paper type according to your design preferences and the desired effect. It is also possible to combine different types of paper to give your calendar a varied and interesting look.

Giving calendars as gifts - which type is suitable for which occasion?

Calendars are versatile gifts that are suitable for different occasions. At Christmas/just before the turn of the year, they are of course ideal as a gift. You can design it with festive motifs, quotes and photos of the family or beautiful Christmas memories. An Advent calendar with small surprises for each day is also a nice idea. Alternatively, you can give it as a New Year's gift. This has the advantage that you send good wishes and inspiration for the coming year. Design it with motivational quotes, goals and plans to give the recipient a positive start to the year.

A personalised calendar is also a perfect birthday gift. You can include photos of shared experiences, funny sayings or personal notes to keep the birthday person happy for a whole year. Your partner will also be incredibly happy if you give them a calendar with romantic pictures, love messages and special memories. You can mark important dates like the day you met, the day you got engaged or other significant milestones.

If a loved one is starting a new chapter in their life or moving to a new city, a calendar with memories of shared experiences can also be a heartfelt parting gift. Include photos, loving messages and important dates to create a lasting memory.

It is important to consider the occasion and the preferences of the person receiving the gift to choose the right calendar. By customising the calendar and matching it to the occasion, you show your appreciation and ensure a personal and meaningful gift.

The photo calendar: how to surprise your loved ones

There are various ways to create your own calendars. In the following, we would like to explain how you can create one with photos and what hidden surprises you can enjoy.

On the one hand, it is possible to choose a special photo for each month, which either represents an event of the month or simply a nice memory. You can use photos from trips together, family celebrations or other significant moments. On the other hand, there is the option to include collages of several photos on one calendar page. These can be thematic, such as a collage of friends, pets or landscapes, or you can create a collage for each month to highlight different experiences. Mark important dates in your calendar such as birthdays, anniversaries or other special events. Add small photos next to the dates to make them stand out. You can also use emojis, such as a cake that represents a birthday celebration. Add inspirational quotes, funny sayings or motivational messages to the calendar. Either place them on special slips of paper or stick them directly into the calendar pages. This gives you the opportunity to put a smile on the recipient's face when they read the quote.

Besides these, it is also an excellent idea to hide small vouchers or coupons in certain calendar months. These can be for a dinner together, a massage or a trip to the cinema, for example. Be creative and design the vouchers to match the interests of the person receiving the gift. Last but not least, you can decorate your calendar with self-made elements such as origami figures, bookmarks or small folding cards. These can be hidden in the pages of the calendar or added as additional surprises.

Great printed products from Infowerk as gifts

Designing your own calendar allows you to express your creativity while creating a unique and personal gift. By choosing the format, paper types and integrating photos and small surprises, you can create a calendar that reflects your personality. Not only will it be beautiful to look at, but it will also accompany the recipient throughout the year and remind them of special moments and experiences with you. So let your creativity flow and design your own calendar that will bring joy and inspiration!

At Infowerk, we're happy to help. With us, you can easily design your own photo calendar online, upload images, edit them and then print them with a click. We will send your products to your home within a short time and in high quality. Get started now!