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Arts & Entertainment

Take On a Calendar Reconstruction Project

A little craftiness will spruce up your family calendar.

In this column we pick household everyday items and use them in new ways.  Saving time and money in a creative way is the name of the game.

This week: Dress Up Your Calendar

If you haven't completely slipped down the technology rabbit hole with your Blackberry, then there is still a family calendar hanging around your house. It's probably relying on a nail in the wall to keep all the flotsam and jetsam of your daily lives together. With papers and notes all over its pages, your calendar must be a sight. And it is probably displayed on a wall where the whole world can see it in its trashy glory.

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Why not clean things up?

With a small expenditure at the local art store, you calendar can become a tidy and attractive space that also doubles as a message center. Use a simple wood poster frame and foam core board as the foundation on which to hang your calendar and post-its.

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What You'll Need

  • A hanging calendar that display your interests (our family picks a new artist every year to study)
  • A 20 x 30 inch wooden poster frame (if space is a problem, use an 18 x 24 inch frame)
  • A piece of 20 x 30 inch colored or white foam core board
  • The usual picture-hanging hardware
  • Optional: decorative art paper or wrapping paper and Spray Mount adhesive

How to pull it all together?

  • Unwrap the wood frame and set its sheet glass aside. 
  • Cut the foam core to fit the size of the frame. You can use the frame's glass as a cutting template. Otherwise, store the glass because you won't need it for this project.
  • If you are using colored or white foam core board, place it in the frame, finished side facing out. If you decide to dress up your foam core, use Spray Mount adhesive to afix a piece of art paper or wrapping paper that compliments your calendar theme. Spray Mount comes in a spray can and easily sprays an even mist of rubber cement onto your board.  Watch for air pockets when laying down the paper.
  • Push the metal frame tabs down on the foam core board to hold it in place.
  • Attach the frame hanging hardware on the back of the frame.
  • Hang the frame or foam core base on your wall.
  • Align your calendar on the foam core so it's evenly spaced on the sides.
  • Mark where the calendar hanging hole is going to be on the foam core.
  • Using the mark as a guide, hammer a brass nail (about one to one-and-a-half inches long) at an angle through the foam core and into your wall.  It's great if you can find a wall stud to nail into for sturdier support. 

Hang you calendar and start planning your life!

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