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If you have questions
about the
Shabby Shoppe calendars...more than likely - you will find
the answer(s) here!
For the most
part, the
Shabby Shoppe calendars are printable
projects...although you may certainly opt to keep them in a
digital format as well :o) But, for the purposes of
this page...we are going to assume they are being printed
and assembled. If you are looking for information on
how to complete the digital portion of your calendar, please
refer to our piece-a-cake album tutorials found
here.
Even though
these tutorials were created for our piece-a-cake albums,
the concepts are the very same as the calendars...and they
should give you a great understanding of the process.
The tutorials are available for Adobe Photoshop and
Photoshop Elements...in both screen-shot and video formats
:o) Many customers purchase and create the calendars
for themselves...and many print lots of them to share with
family and friends! They do make wonderful
gifts...especially for the grandparents! So, below...we will share tips and information for
finishing your calendars after the digital portion is
complete. We hope this helps and answers any questions
you may have! But, as with all creative
projects...these are merely suggestions...and we hope you
will feel free to try out your own ideas as well...to make
your calendars perfect for YOU :o)
Versatility! We are always trying our
very best to make our calendar products as versatile as
possible. In our effort to do this, all of our date
overlays and wordart are included as separate PNG files.
This allows you to switch out months if you like - it allows
you to update your calendars each year - it allows you to
create your own wordart if you prefer and so on! Also,
we know that not everyone celebrates the same holidays...and
not everyone has snow in January, lol - so for any 'themed'
pages/months - we always try to include alternates for
those. This will always be noted on the product page
and in the previews/gallery :o)
At the Shabby
Shoppe, we have quite a few options when it comes to our
calendar products! We offer a
ONE page calendar
(can be assembled as a desk calendar or a wall calendar), a
TWO page wall
calendar,
POSTER calendars,
and a
CD CASE calendar. In addition to
these...we also have adorable piece-a-cake templates for
pocket calendar inserts...which allow you
to create your own customized covers. When shoppe-ing
for calendars with us...you will notice that we have several
volumes of each calendar. Basically...we release a new
collection of calendars each year...but the great news is
that our previously released calendars are updated each year with
the new year's date overlays...giving you more calendar
versions to choose from (we even offer some
date overlays as a stand-alone product). So, a Vol. 1 calendar is
always the 'oldest' version of the respective
calendar (and may be retired)...while Vol. 5 (for example) would be the most
recently released option. But again...when we release
the NEW calendars...the OLD calendars are always updated
with current dates :o) Also, be sure that when you are
browsing through our calendar selection at the Shabby
Shoppe...you click the link to view each individual calendar
page (the link is located on the calendar's product page)! So - here is a quick look at
the five different calendars offered at the
Shabby Shoppe.
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Our
two page
wall calendar was first introduced in 2007 and quickly
became the most popular version we offer! For
each month...there are TWO 11"x8.5" pages so that the
'photo' area is on the top page...and the date grid is on
the bottom page - giving you a large area for both! It
really ends up giving you the feel of a 'store-bought'
calendar when complete. |
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Our
one page
wall calendar happens to be my favorite version...mostly
because I really prefer a 'desk' calendar...and this
calendar is perfect for that (just bind on the left side
instead of at the top). Of course, it also makes a
great wall calendar as well! Each page is
8.5"x11"...and each month is entirely on one page with the photo
portion taking up the top half of the page...and the date
grid on the bottom. |
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hmmmm...am I allowed to have two favorites? LOL!
Honestly...the
CD case calendars are super cute, super
sleek and SUPER simple :o) You can really put this
calendar together in no time...and with very little
expense! Basically...the calendar pages are sized to fit
into a CD jewel case (slim or standard). When inverted,
the CD case becomes a perfect frame to hold the calendar
pages. They are wonderful gifts...I know that I give
them every year and am given no option on not giving
them after that - LOL! So - if you are looking for
something small, quick, and easy...this one is for you!
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| Our
poster calendars are the newest addition to our
family of calendars! One 11"x 14" page gives you space
for your favorite photos AND a full year calendar! So,
if you are looking for a quick "year at a glance"
calendar option that lets you showcase your most
treasured photos with some of Shabby Princess' most
popular collections - then this is the calendar for you!
Our Poster Calendars are like works of art that you'll
be proud to display on your wall! |
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When it comes to stocking stuffers...these
pocket
calendar cover inserts are the BEST! What grandmother
would not LOVE one (or two) of these in her bag - he he! These
inserts are sized to fit the inexpensive pocket
planner/calendars you can find just about anywhere. All
you have to do is replace the cover that was included in
your planner...with the new, custom version! It could
not be any easier...or any cuter! We have a great
webpage that gives comprehensive instructions and tips
on working with out pocket calendar inserts! |
| How FUN and ADORABLE are these
calendar doodles? I
just love them...and they work GREAT with our ONE and
TWO page calendars! They are perfect for marking and
remembering important dates and events each year! You
can easily re-color them, make them smaller, or even
'paint' them in :o) We tried to think of everything from
holidays to movie night, chores, sports, birthdays, dr.
and vet appointments and more! One of my favorite ideas
is to create a one page calendar each month with that
month's schedule (soccer games, birthdays, dance
lessons, appointments, etc.)...and then email it out to
the family so that everyone is always on the same 'page'
:o) Of course, these also make fun little elements
for your layouts and cards! |
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The question I am asked most about our calendars: WHAT
TYPE OF PAPER SHOULD I PRINT ON?! So - that's why PAPER
has its own section - he he! And the answer...in a
nutshell...WHATEVER YOU PREFER :o)! Seriously...there are a
couple of things to consider when making your paper selection. I
know that for me...when I print the ONE page wall calendar (as a
desk calendar)...I like to go with a heavyweight matte paper so
that I can write on it with any type of pen, etc. Whereas, if
you print on glossy or lustre photo paper...you will really need
to write with a permanent marker (a fine tip sharpie works
great) :o) Another thing to keep in mind is the weight of the
paper. Particularly, with the two pages calendar as there are
quite a few pages...and depending on which binding method you
choose...you'll want to keep in mind how heavy the final
calendar will be. Finally, sometimes, I mount my calendar pages
on cardstock as I like the 'finished' look that it gives...and
that will add weight and structure as well. I know some
customers have even printed their calendar pages directly on to
cardstock. So, in the end - it is strictly your preference as
most papers will work just fine. Many online printing labs are
now offering 'stock' or 'press' paper for printing...and that is
a great option as well!
Much like the paper selection, printing is also based on
preference :o) Printing at home...OR...sending your calendar
pages to a professional photo printer - both are great options.
Personally - I do both! For my CD calendars, I almost always
print those at home as they are small and simple and they take
no time. For the two page calendars - I send those pages to a
lab as there are quite a few...and that just works better for
me. The good news about our calendars is that most do not
require a large format printer (all are sized at 8.5"x11" or
smaller with the exception of our POSTER calendars)...making it
possible and easy to print at home if that is what you prefer.
When it comes to sending out for prints...there are TONS of
options. Personally - I have my photos/layouts/etc. printed at
WHCC, most of the time. I have also worked with MPIX , and have
been pleased with their quality and product options! I know many
customers have theirs printed at Costco and they are thrilled
with the quality and service. If you plan to have your calendars
professionally bound...then print shops (i.e. Kinko's) can do
the printing AND binding for you! Of course, there are many
other online options as well...so do your research and choose
the one that works best for you :o)
Forgive me for being repetitive...LOL...but, how you choose to
assemble your calendars is a matter of preference, too - he he!
It really comes down to what you like...what works for your
schedule...and your budget! As you will be able to see from the
photos below...I really do not have a favorite! I have had mine
professionally bound...I have bound them myself with ribbons
and/or binder rings...I have even left the pages 'loose' so that
each individual month could just be placed on the refrigerator
or bulletin board with magnets :o) Another FUN option for our
ONE page calendars is to keep the pages loose...and clip them on
to a fun and embellished clipboard! Best of all - no matter how
I put them together...they always turn out great! My other
favorite option is to punch holes through all of the
pages...thread ribbons through...and tie in knots! It really
adds a lot of fun and color to the calendar! If I decide not to
bind all of the pages together...and instead, keep them separate
and loose...my favorite idea is to sew the calendar pages onto a
piece of cardstock :o) Then, I stack all of the pages and tie
with a piece of shabby ribbon! It's a perfect gift and allows
you to hang just one month (page) instead of many :o) I have
also had my TWO PAGE calendar printed and bound at MPIX...it
turned out super cute and i'm quite sure that I saved money in
the end :o) As you can see, there are lots of options...so
I hope you will explore these and your own...and share your
ideas with us at the Shabby Shoppe!
May I purchase new date overlays for the calendar(s) I bought
last year? Well, yes AND no, lol :o) I am happy to
say that we are now offering replacement
date overlays for many
of our calendar versions and volumes. If a date overlay is
available - you will be able to find it in our
calendar section,
or
HERE! Please understand that we simply cannot update every calendar we have ever offered, especially as we
begin to 'retire' older volumes :o) We do not receive lots
of requests for these as most of our customers wish to send out
a new and fresh calendar to friends and family each year (or
create one for themselves). But, it is a
courtesy/convenience that we wanted to offer you guys :o)
Of course, when shopping for our DATE OVERLAYS...be sure to read
the description thoroughly so you purchase the correct product
for your calendar.
I am working with your CD CASE CALENDAR and my print will not
fit in the case...it 'sticks out' of the top! We have been
asked this question a few times, so I thought it might be
helpful to add it here! Our CD calendar pages are sized to fit
standard and slim jewel cases. Fortunately, these are generally
a standardized product without much variation in size. I have
personally worked with at least 8 different brands in the past
four years, and have yet to have an issue with sizing :o) So, if
you are assembling your CD calendar and find that the page is
'sticking out' the top a little bit...this is probably because
the page has not been pushed down all the way. There is
generally a 'ridge' that goes across the bottom of the clear
portion of the case (typically would be on the side...but once
we flip our cases, it will be at the bottom of the frame area).
You will want to be sure and push your page past this ridge and
all the way to the bottom. It can be a little tricky keeping the
page under the tabs AND over the ridge (he he, I know)...but I
promise it will work :o)
My POCKET CALENDAR insert is too large (or too small) for my
planner/calendar - what do I do? Although we try to create
our pocket calendar insert templates at a 'standard'
size...there is quite a bit of variation in the marketplace. I
have purchased different brands each year...and find they are
all a little different. And, unfortunately, with these products
- I cannot recommend a specific brand...as there really isn't a
'brand' that can be found everywhere. These tend to be very
'generic' items. So, what I can do is offer you a couple of
suggestions, and let you know how I make mine work each year!
Before I begin, I wanted to let you know that you can find more
detailed (and illustrated) assembly instructions and sizing tips
for our pocket calendars
HERE! So, let's see...assuming the cover print is too
LARGE...you can always just trim some of the excess away. That
is what I did this year. The planners that I purchased were
quite a bit smaller (same width...just not as tall) than those I
have worked with in the past. As a result, I had to do quite a
bit of trimming...but fortunately, it worked out and looked just
fine. I suggest that you trim more off the back when possible so
that the front still looks perfect. Another option is to resize
your cover in your graphics program. If the proportions are the
same...then that should work great! Finally...something I LOVE
to do...is adhere the cover to a solid piece of cardstock (that
has been trimmed to perfectly fit the planner/calendar). This
gives the calendar a very finished and polished look...and
creates a nice frame. This is also my favorite suggestion if
your print is smaller than your planner! Of course, you could
also size it up a little if necessary...without losing quality
(I would not recommend enlarging too much because at a point,
you will see some loss...but if increasing just a little...there
is generally no noticeable loss). I do
not want to print and bind my two page calendar at home, do you
have any suggestions for printing companies? Most of you
guys know by now that I am a huge fan of
WHCC for printing my
layouts and photos. However, they do not offer a calendar
option...so I found myself asking this same question! So, I have
worked with MPIX
for my TWO page calendar printing and have been quite pleased. You can find out more about
their calendars
HERE! Keep in mind that you must download their
press products software...but I found the process to be very
simple. And, the pricing was very competitive and reasonable in
my opinion...especially considering how expensive ink is...and
how much you will go through in printing all twenty five
pages...not to mention having it bound at the same time
(CONVENIENCE lol). A couple of things to keep in mind...when
printing on STOCK/PRESS paper...your layouts/prints/photos will
not be
as vibrant and 'sharp' as when printing on photo paper (but it
is also way less expensive). For me,
this is an acceptable trade-off for the ability to write on my
calendar pages easily...and to have the calendar a little less
bulky and weighty. Finally, the MPIX software can be a little
confusing as their 'bottom' pages/grids are not editable.
However, there is a work-around...and that is to simply place
your bottom page on TOP of the MPIX bottom pages. I have had
several printed...and all turned out perfectly.
You can read this
THREAD for more info on this matter...and
printing in general (it's a LONG read - he he). Of course, you
may also contact customer service at MPIX for help with your
order. I highly suggest this if you have ANY questions, concerns
or problems with creating your calendar with their software (be
sure to ask BEFORE submitting your order to avoid any
disappointment or delay). I hope you understand that I cannot
answer emails about their order process...all I can do is let
you know that I worked with them and everything was
WONDERFUL :o) I had to email several times with questions and
they were always very prompt with their replies! Of course,
there are many other printing options...including local print
and graphic shops...and other online printing companies. So, do
a little research and see which option works best for YOU!
Can you tell me the names of the fonts you worked with on a
calendar? GOOD NEWS :o) We always include this
information in your download as a resource! We know that
many of you like to coordinate fonts, so we share that
information with you! In our more recent calendar volumes,
there will be a .txt file named FONT INFORMATION - in this file,
we also share with you the name of the kit we worked with for
each calendar month/page. In older calendar volumes, the
font names might be in a .jpg file or in the terms of use file
:o)
-------------------------------------- ~*~below, you will find
photos of our various calendars ~ we hope these inspire you~*~
This
being our fifth year to release calendars, I've heard lots of great
ideas from customers and friends...and have come up with a few of my
own as well - and thought it would be fun to share some of those
with everyone!
--One of my favorites
ideas for the ONE PAGE calendars is to NOT create the entire year in
advance (or well, do both...create the full calendar for gifts and
for the office, etc.)...and instead, create each page when it is
current. This allows you to keep it completely up-to-date.
Because, while we know birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc. in
advance...of course we cannot always predict doctor appointments,
vet appointments, baby due dates, etc. a full year ahead of time.
So, create your monthly calendar page just in time for the first of
the month...adding in all applicable appointments and events
including doc appointments, sports practice, music and dance
lessons, movie night, etc. Then, either email or print (or
both) the page and give it to your family members so that everyone
knows the schedule ahead of time :o) A great way to keep your
busy family organized! And, our
CALENDAR DOODLES would be PERFECT if you choose to do this as it
will help you illustrate all of your events (especially great for
the younger kids)
--I've had customers
tell me about this fun idea with our CD calendars. They love
to GIFT the cd calendars to friends and family, but instead of
including all of the months at once...they gift the cd case along
with the cover and January page. Then, each month, they mail
(or hand deliver) the next page out along with 'fresh' photos and an
update on the family/children/etc. It's a great way to stay in
touch with close family and friends...and to give a gift that keeps
on giving lolol!
--binding! I am
asked about binding quite a bit, especially when a customer is
having a difficult time locating a local print shop that can do the
binding. Well, I LOVE binding my calendars (and mini albums,
too!) with metal binder/book rings and ribbons! The calendar
remains functional...and super pretty to boot! You can also
use twine or string to create a binding...just use your imagination
and have fun with it.
--cardstock! I
love mounting/adhering my calendar pages to solid cardstock.
For me - it just provides a very polished and finished look.
This is especially true with the cd and pocket calendars. When
I decide to mount my CD pages on cardstock - I first decrease their
size (about 1/4 - 1/8" on each side) in my graphics program before
printing...as they are already sized to fit a cd case perfectly.
This way, when you cut your cardstock to fit the cd case, you will
have a little bit of an edge around the edge of your calendar
page...allowing the cardstock to create a border/frame.
--A lot of our
customers purchase our TWO PAGE calendars just for the 'tops' so
that they can create hard bound coffee table books with the 11x8.5"
pages. The tops of our TWO PAGE calendars have no reference to
dates, calendars, etc. You have the option of adding the
'month wordart' that we provide as separate .png files - but that is
only an option. So, the top pages can definitely be used as
piece-a-cake pages for creating 11x8.5" albums and books!
--Why not frame your
POSTER CALENDAR(S)? Since they are sized at 11x14", you can
easily find frames to showcase them! They are truly
works-of-art, especially once you add your precious photos...so why
not treat them as such?
--Many customers find
that our POCKET CALENDARS will also fit their checkbook covers!
Of course, this will not always work, but it might be worth
measuring to see if yours will! And, see the FAQ above about
adjusting your POCKET CALENDAR covers to make them fit...even when
it appears they won't work :o)
HAVE FUN IDEAS FOR OUR
CALENDAR? SHARE THEM WITH US...SO WE CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS :o)
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