Start by creating a new document and selecting Calendars under the template menu. Then select Other Calendars and scroll down until you see the Calendar Wizard (any year) template. Select this template. The wizard will start by giving you the option of three different styles: Banner, Boxes or Jazzy. At first I selected Jazzy, but after fiddling with it decided to change it and chose Banner. As you go through the wizard you can choose portrait or landscape, whether you want a picture or not, and last, choose start and end dates for your calendar. This is a good option as it allows you to do a school year calendar or multiple years in one calendar.

For this article, I decided that my calendar would be a family calendar and every family member’s birthday as well as the holidays that we celebrate will be included. For January there is of course New Year’s Day as well as Martin Luther King Day. January is also my brother Mike’s birthday.

Starting with January, I first deleted the image that was included so that I could use my photographs on the calendar. The photo I chose was inserted into the text block replacing the one that was there. I was having difficulty centering my photo in the middle and discovered that by deleting the text block behind it, I could then position my photo where I wanted it.

Next, I decided to add color to the background on the days of the week. There are two options for this. Clicking on this part activates both the Text Box Tools Format tab and Table Tools Design tab. I chose the Colorful Shading - Accent 5 option under Table Styles. You can use one of the Text Box Styles or choose a different color for each day of the calendar by clicking on each day and selecting a color for that day.

Changing the text and background behind the month and year colors is done using the Paragraph options found under the Home tab. Here of course, you can also change the font(s) used for the calendar.

Next, for the holidays I selected to insert clipart, which opens the Clip Art window. First I searched for New Year’s Day and after choosing several pictures of fireworks, decided on the champagne glasses as they filled the space height-wise and also the background was transparent allowing the color of the calendar background to show through. Then I searched for Martin Luther King and chose an image for that day. I dragged the image to the day I wanted it on and then deleted the number. For Mike’s birthday, I highlighted the 16 and then typed Mike’s Day into the space. Then by highlighting those words I just typed, I reduced the font size from 32pt to 16pt so that it fit within the space.

Last, I decided to list the three days of interest at the top above the photograph. This required me to reposition the photo to the bottom so I would have enough room at the top. Added a separator line and credit for the photograph and I was done with January!

Once I am done making the calendar, changing each month by adding holidays, birthdays and a new photograph, I will print these on a heavy bright white paper and have them spiral bound. Then possibly add a ribbon through the spiral binding, making it long enough so that the calendar can be hung. Hmm, now I am thinking, as I look at a calendar hanging on my wall, that maybe I’ll change the format and remove the image from the side and have it on a separate page, making the calendar days wider so notes could be added for appointments, etc.

A family calendar is one idea. What about school year calendar or a religious holiday one? Or maybe ... there are just so many choices and ideas going through my head. I have got to go!