Calendars are more than just tools for keeping track of dates—they can be personalized, motivational, and even functional pieces of decor.
A tear-away calendar offers a daily dose of inspiration, organization, or fun, with each page providing a fresh start.
Create Your Own Tear-Away Calendar
Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a custom calendar, along with a free template you can use from our extensive template library.
Start the process of creating your monthly planner by downloading the free PDF file below that will serve as a template for your creation:
Step 1: Plan Your Calendar
Before you start any customization, you need to think about your calendar design and how it will affect the finished product.
Decide on the Size and Format
- Size: Common sizes for desk calendars are 4x6 inches or 5x7 inches, but you can choose any size that fits your needs.
- Format: Determine how many pages you want (one for each day, week, or month) and whether you want to include specific features like quotes, to-do lists, or images that are typical of a wall calendar.
Choose Your Design Elements
- Theme: Decide on a theme that resonates with you or your intended audience, such as motivational quotes, nature photography, or personal milestones either in the workplace or in your personal life.
- Layout: Think about how you want each page to look (they can also each be different from one another). Will it include a calendar grid, special dates, daily goals, or inspirational messages? This is all up to you to decide.
Step 2: Create the Calendar
Use digital resources designed to edit PDFs in order to create a printable calendar for use in your home or office space.
Design Your Pages
- Software: Use graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator, Canva, or PDF Reader Pro to create your calendar pages professionally.
- Layout: Arrange your content on each page of your custom wall calendar. For a daily tear-away calendar, each page should have space for the date, any daily notes, and your chosen design elements.
Include Essential Elements
- Date: Clearly display the date (not just the month in question) on each page of your simple calendar template.
- Content: Add any additional content, such as quotes, stock images/personal family photographs, or generic reminders of birthdays or other special days.
- Design: Incorporate your theme’s colors, fonts, and graphics to make the calendar visually appealing. This can be unique to your business or simply be personalized according to your taste.
Print Your Calendar
- Paper: Choose a durable paper, like cardstock or high-quality printer paper, that can withstand tearing but can also be bound easily with whatever glue you will be using. A professional printing service will be able to recognize each paper type and assist you in this regard.
- Printing: Print your monthly calendar pages using a high-resolution setting to ensure clarity and quality of the finished product. These settings may need to be changed on the printer itself.
Step 3: Assemble Your Calendar
Once you have a finished calendar, you can begin to put the pages in order and make sure that any extra touches are added before you bind it and potentially gift it to others.
Arrange the Pages
- Order: Place the calendar pages in chronological order according to each of the twelve months of the year. Ensure that each page is aligned and ready to be torn off easily, especially if it's for commercial use.
- Binding: Use a binding method that allows for easy tearing, such as a perforated edge or a spiral binding. You can have this done professionally at a print shop or use a DIY approach with a perforating tool and binding clips.
Add Finishing Touches
- Cover: Design a cover page for your calendar layout that includes the calendar’s title and any introductory information.
- Decoration: Add any additional decorative elements to enhance the calendar’s look.
Creating your own simple calendar is a fun and rewarding creative project that allows you to personalize your daily routine, motivate yourself, or create a unique gift for friends and family.
By following these steps and using our free template, you can design a personalized calendar that suits your style and needs.
