The new year is just about here, so it's time to
start thinking about getting a calendar next year. If you are tired of
the calendars offered in stores, you can make your own if you have
access to a wire binding machine. This allows you to put images that you
like in the calendar and you can even make some to give away to family,
co-workers, and clients. Here's some information on how to make your
own calenders.
The new year is just about here, so it's time
to start thinking about getting a calendar next year. If you're tired
of the calendars offered in stores, you can make your own if you have
access to a wire binding machine. This allows you to put images that you
like in the calendar and you can even make some to give away to family,
co-workers, and clients. Here's some information on how to make your
own calenders.
First, design and print out your document. Feel
free to personalize it as much as possible. You could put family
pictures in the document, vacation photos, images of tour kids and so
on. Flowers are always a good choice especially if you're a photographer
and have your own images you want to show off. (Landscapes and animals -
pets in particular - are also great subjects.) You could also use
artwork or cartoons if that's more your style. Just have fun with it and
let your creativity flow.
Once the pages
have been printed, make sure you get access to a thumb cut punching
device. The punch will create a half-moon shape so you'll be able to
hang the calendar on the wall when you're done. Punch the document on
the side, right in the middle.
Now you can
begin the binding process. Punch holes in your document to prepare it
for binding. If the device has disengageable dies take advantage of
them. If you don't, you could end up with holes that run off the edge of
the page which never looks good. (Especially if you're going to be
giving the calendar away as a gift.)
Since
the document has always been punched, you can now now start thinking
about binding elements. Make sure the wire spine that you're using is
the right length for your document. If your document is printed on
letter-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), a standard spine will do the trick.
(However, if your document is larger or smaller than letter-size, you'll
probably have to special order your supplies.) You should think about
using a calendar hanger to finishing things up. The hanger will give
your document more strength.(It will also make the thing easier to hang
which is a plus.) Make sure the curved part of the hanger lines up with
the half-moon shaped that's already been punched and that the straight
sections are inside the wire spine.
Now you
can binding the document. Just use the machine to close the wire spine,
making sure the hanger doesn't get bent. You're now done and have your
very own customized calendar. Be proud of yourself!
Making a calendar isn't very difficult but you may still have
some trouble when you try it for the first time. If you do, just stay at
it and keeping trying you get the results you want. If you do you'll
end up with a calendar that you can enjoy throughout the upcoming year.
Good luck and have a happy new year!
Jeff McRitchie is the Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related
to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More
than 2,500 of his articles have been published in thousands of
locations on the Internet. If you're looking for information about wire binding machines his articles are a great place to start.
