Written communication is becoming more and more digital. With email, Facebook, texting and more, I find it wonderful to receive a card or note in the “snail” mail for special occasions. I just recently had a birthday, and while I loved all the messages I received on Facebook, texting, phone calls, etc. I have to say the couple of cards I got to take out of the mailbox were extra special this year. A few were homemade and a few were store bought, but they all made me feel special, because someone took the time to write my name and address down and put the envelope in the mailbox.
I have wanted to create a perpetual calendar for years. I wanted something that was pretty, but also flexible and useful. The idea for this Rolodex Perpetual Calendar actually started while I was creating a class for the Alaska Cruise. We created a Rolodex Photo Album and as I designed and worked with that, I realized that I had the perfect perpetual calendar option in front me.
As I have thought about a perpetual calendar over the years, I wanted something with the name, address, phone number, birthdate, anniversary, etc in one place. An address book didn’t work, because I didn’t want to put them in alphabetically. I wanted them put in by the month of the event. I also realized that some people would have more than one event per year, i.e. birthday and anniversary. This seemed to be the perfect solution.
Here are a few more ideas:
1. Create a box to hold cards that matches your calendar, then everything is together. The Card Holder and Organizer here is just one idea.
2. At the beginning of each month, write out all the cards and stamp them. You could even mail them all out at this time.
3. Use this as a gift for a grandparent or an elderly person that is hard to buy for, but that still sends handwritten cards. Include the Card Holder and Organizer pre-filled with cards. Note: They don’t have to all be homemade, but it is nice to include a few for really special occasions.
4. Buy a book of stamps and put it right inside the calendar or card holder so you don’t have to search for them when it is time to mail out the card.
You will notice that there are a number of different cutting files. The Rolodex Perpetual Calendar file is the actual tabbed cards. You will notice there are two styles in the same file. The one that has a slightly curved top is for those people that want to just use the information cards that came with the rolodex. If you want to personalize each information card, then you can use either set of tabbed files. Although the labels are also in this file, you can use the other “label” files to make it quicker to create.
The Rolodex Embellishment file is just a start of a few items to help decorate. NOTE: in the embellishments, there are two additional information cards that have been customized for birthdays and anniversaries if you prefer to use them. But don’t limit yourself there, the Pazzles Craft Room Library is filled with wonderful files to add to this project to make it your own.
I separated out the labels onto their own files to help make it easier and quicker for you. The Rolodex Calendar Labels PNC is if you would like to print and cut your labels and/or information cards. It is laid out in an 8 1/2″ x 11″ format for those that don’t have the larger format printers. If you are planning on using your Pen Tool, then use the Rolodex Calendar Labels. NOTE: If you have a large format printer, you could also use the Rolodex Calendar Labels file, because it is already set up for the 12″ x 12″ size.
For my perpetual calendar I used the Basic Grey Pyrus line. I inked the edges with Cat’s Eye Fluid Chalk.
Click here for the PDF instructions for the Roldex Calendar
Click here for the Rolodex Calendar cutting files in WPC and PVG
Click here for the Rolodex Calendar cutting files in AI and SVG
Very nice Klo. It is a good solution. I like the idea of your important dates sitting on the desk, easily accessible. I think quite visually, so having one month at a time is a good suggestion. This would be a very nice gift!
P.S. This would be handy for organizing family & kid activities too!! (A new one each year, but same idea.)