2016 Desk Calendar

The idea for this project is not my own, I came across the idea whilst searching the internet and by watching many videos on You Tube, I have put this blog post together for those of you who prefer easy to follow photo tutorials .

Items Needed:

Empty CD case
Piece of cardboard - minimum 6.5 inches square
2 pieces of Designer Paper - minimum 8 inches square
Piece of coordinating card stock - minimum 6.5 inches square
2016 Calendar - there lots of free ones available to download/print out on the internet. Due to copyright laws I am not able to share the file for the calendar I used, but check out the following amazing blog:  https://scrappystickyinkymess.wordpress.com
Paper Trimmer, Scissors or craft knife
Adhesive
2 nesting dies of your choice - if you don't have dies then you can cut your apertures by hand

Instructions :

          Carefully disassemble your CD case, taking great care not to break the hinge tabs or the inside                                               tabs . Discard the part that the CD clips onto.

Using the case as a guide, cut a piece of card that is half an inch bigger than your CD case

Measure a border 3/4 inch wide around the edge of your card and then cut away the centre section  

                Decide which of your two coordinating papers you want to cover the frame with

Attach the frame to the centre of your paper, leaving a border of approx 5/8th inch all the way round

Mitre your corners, making sure you don't cut too close to the edges of your card 

(if you cut too close a bare cardboard edge will show on the finished calendar)

Mark a border inside the frame approx 5/8 inch and cut out the centre square.

Cut into the corners as shown by the dotted  lines in the photo below

Gently fold the edges of your paper around  the frame 

Glue or tape the folded edges around your frame  

Cut two squares from each of your coordinating paper and card stock,

 approx 1/8th inch smaller than your frame

Using the larger of your nesting dies, die-cut your chosen shape from the centre of your paper

Using the smaller of your nesting dies, die-cut your chosen shape from the centre of your card

Stick the two pieces together and attached them to your frame 

Trim each month of your chosen calendar to fit centrally behind the tabs in the CD case 

Slot the calendar into the CD case, (the tabs should hold it nicely in place) 

Reassemble your CD case so that the cover slants as shown below 

Attach your frame to the cover of the CD case, 

making sure that your calendar is displayed centrally in the aperture 

These calendars can be decorated as much or as little as you would like.

Here are the two I made, I would have made more but I have run out of CD cases so am on the hunt for some more - please feel free to message me if you have any questions about this project 

Happy Crafting