There’s one thing you’ll find in nearly every home, business or office – across the world – and that’s a calendar. No matter what language, no matter if the calendar is magnetic and small or large with wild animal images, we all need a calendar and we need a new one each and every year. It’s endless! Wouldn’t you love a calendar that can be used year after year? And wouldn’t it also be nice to have a calendar that doesn’t require you to tack or tape it up somewhere on a wall? You can make such a calendar with little trouble or expense when you start with Styrofoam cubes. All you’ll need is four of the cubes and you can easily make a cute calendar that never has to be thrown away; use it year after year for many years to come.
You’ll find Styrofoam cubes at any craft store. They are available in several different sizes so you can choose the set that’s right for you. You’ll need four cubes which are all the same size. Styrofoam is generally available in two different types. One type is green and is meant to be used for floral crafts and projects. The other type is white and is the right type for the calendar project. The green foam is nearly impossible to paint and otherwise embellish. After choosing four Styrofoam cubes you can then proceed to making the calendar.
You have so many choices when it comes to making the perpetual calendar. Start by painting the cubes or just leave them white. Paint them all the same colors or paint each cube a different shade. Cut pieces of paper to make a background for the calendar words and numbers or just paint them on as well. Use things you have around the house to make the calendar or purchase a few cheap craft supplies. With so many choices no two calendars need to be exactly alike.
If you’re using paper as a background cut six squares for each cube. The papers can be all the same color or each one can be different. Cut the papers so that they’re slightly smaller than each side of the cube. Whether you’ve painted the cube or left it white you’ll glue these papers onto each side of the cubes. Now decide what you’ll use to make the months and numbers. You can paint them onto the papers, or if you didn’t use paper, you can paint them directly onto the painted or unpainted cube. You can use different colors of papers and stencil the numbers on. Or, just use stickers from a craft store.
On the first cube, put a month on each side, doing months January thru June. Abbreviate the longer months, if needed. On the second cube, put a month on each side, doing months July thru December. On the third cube write the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, putting one number on each side of the cube. For the last cube, make the numbers 0,1,2,6,7 and 8. The six, when turned upside-down will become the 9. Keep this in mind when choosing patterns and such. You don’t want a pattern that will look upside-down when you make the 6 a 9.
After all the months and numbers are listed simply set the finished calendar on a desk or shelf. Turn the cubes, as needed, to display each date. If you want, you can set the cubes in a base that holds them altogether. A wooden tray, long picture frame or even a decorated box lid can serve as the base. You don’t necessarily have to display the cubes in a horizontal manner. Stack them to create a different design.
If you don’t have any Styrofoam cubes you can use other block-shaped objects instead. Some good examples include wooden cubes, children’s “A-B-C” blocks or even small cardboard boxes. A partial list of the things you can use to decorate the blocks include paper, felt, cloth, paint markers, ink pen, appliques, fake jewels, sequin, roping, or numbers and words cut from magazines. Give the set of blocks a particular theme by cutting other pictures out of magazines or other sources. For example, cut up an old calendar that shows lighthouses and ocean, then use these pieces for a beach theme calendar.
The perpetual calendar is a fun and easy project that’s useful to anyone. Use mere cardboard boxes and markers to make a simplistic version or spend a little more time and effort to make something much more impressive. Set it on your desk at work or just place it on a mantle at home. Unlike traditional calendars the perpetual calendar is a great gift to give anytime of the year.
Reference:
- Purchase Styrofoam cubes here: www.michaels.com
