How to make your own calendars PLUS free 2012 calendar templates

This female mallard duck had a brood of ducklings she was proud to show off - this calendar features some of their pictures. One thing that always delights me in my photography, is the changing light on water, this calendar is part of a series of photos entitled Birds on Bright Water.

2012 Calendar: Mallard Duck and Ducklings by annmackiemiller
create a calendar with Zazzle

Open as new file.
Select whole image.
Click on ENHANCE
Select ADJUST COLOUR
Select REPLACE COLOUR
In the top box select the colour you want to change.
In the bottom box where it says REPLACEMENT click on the colour box and pick your colour.
Click on OK and the programme will change the colour for you.

Print-on-demand sites like this take the strain of producing and shipping your artwork on calendars. For me that means having worldwide access to potential customers.

Making a wall calendar with RedBubble is so easy - even I can do it.

In your account click on MY BUBBLE
Select CALENDARS - click on ADD A NEW CALENDAR
It is all on one page, starting with title, description, tags and so on. Then it will have automatically added images that you have already uploaded. To pick and change, click on the drop-down butter beside each picture to show ALL your artwork and the select the ones you want to include.
You will see all your artwork displayed and all you need do is click to add it to the appropriate month. You can go back and edit as often as your like even after it has gone live.

To make this mousepad calendar I used one of my own wildlife photos with a template from my Photobucket album superimposed on it. This template was kindly linked to me by SandySpider and I converted the letters and numbers to white in Photoshop Elements so they would show up on a dark background.

In Adobe Photoshop Elements -
Open FILE
Click on OPEN
When the window to MY PICTURES opens - choose your image and press OPEN
CROP image to 10 in by 8 in, 300 RESOLUTION
Open FILE
When window to MY PICTURES opens - choose TEMPLATE 1
Click on photo image in BIN ACTIONS
Drag TEMPLATE I in BIN ACTIONS over your photo
SELECT the calendar template
SELECT the MOVE tool on the top left-hand corner of the side tool bar.
From the top menu tool bar, click on VIEW, select GRID to display a grid over the image.
Use the arrows on the selected box to increase the size of the calendar fit over the photo. It is important to remember you need to leave a gap around the edge for production otherwise you lose the detail of anything within the cut-off zone. Use the grid lines to guide you.
Click on LAYERS, select MERGE VISIBLE
Click on FILE, select SAVE AS to save as a JPEG to a file on your computer.

2012 Calendar: British Song Birds by annmackiemiller
More Birds Calendars

There are many more experienced Zazzle masters on Squidoo but while I feel inadequate to the task, I thought I would just include this little module.

Log on to your account in Zazzle
Click on CREATE
Select calendars from the menu (it is under FOR THE HOME)
You will be given a choice of styles to choose from. To view that style the curser over the name of the style. Click to select and tick or untick the box at the bottom that asks whether to show USA and Canada holidays
Click MAKE IT NOW

You will then be asked to SELECT AN IMAGE for the cover. You can upload images from your computer or from your Zazzle images. It is faster to upload all the images you want to use before you start because you can only upload one at time, one for each page, when making a calendar.

To add text - click on ADD TEXT, write your text in the box that appears, Click OK and a text box will appear on the calendar, first box will be at the bottom of the calendar. To change font, colour and size, use the icons that appear. To add more text click on ADD TEXT again, this time the textbox will be at the top of the page. You can, however, use the MOVE ability to put the text exactly where you want it.

Click on the next MONTH to continue and so on.

When you have added all images to all the pages, double check they and any text you have added are within the gridlines showing where the image will be cropped in production.

To edit this you can choose the CUSTOMISE button at any time.

You are now ready to POST IT FOR SALE

To choose the colour and size of the colour click on 2 CHOOSE YOUR STYLE, SIZE AND COLOR - this gives you the chance to see the calendar in all possible versions.

2012 Calendar: The Cat by annmackiemiller
Browse Cats Calendars

"I was lucky enough to be able to sit and photograph this amazing female mallard duck who was sheltering her little ones from a rain storm. The result was a wonderful selection of duckling pictures. You can see more on the photo journal HERE"

2012 Calendar: Mama Mallard and Ducklings by annmackiemiller
See other Mallard Calendars

I prefer to make my mousemat calendars in Photoshop Elements but you can also create them directly on Zazzle.

Click on CREATE
Select MOUSEPADS under FOR THE OFFICE
Click on CREATE A MOUSEPAD
Add your background image
Add your calendar template appropriate to be seen over the background and place it where you want it. You can alter the placement and size a bit but it isn't as versatile as doing so in Photoshop
Add text if any
and you are ready to POST IT FOR SALE

Christmas Bells Calendar Mousepad by ElleDeeEsse
Buy a cheap mousepad at zazzle.com

This sweet little gosling features in a photo journal that you would enjoy reading. THORN

2012 Calendar: Thorn the Gosling by annmackiemiller
More 2012 Calendars