Silhouette Studio Tutorial: How to make a Tear-Off Calendar

Happy New Year! 

Here's a new tutorial to kick off 2012.

I am using Windows 7 and the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition (v2.2.0d) with the Silhouette Cameo. However, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that you can use the free Silhouette Studio program with this tutorial since I did not use any SVGs to make this calendar. 

In addition, since I did not use any 12" by 12" papers, you can also make this project with your Silhouette SD.

Graphics used are by Lettering Delights:

- Cowabunga Calendar

- Cowabunga Alphabet

- Cowabunga Graphic Set

- Cut Its Basic Tiles

Papers needed: 
3 sheets 8.5" x 11" printer paper, 1 sheet cardstock

Here is the video tutorial. For the written instructions, just keep scrolling down. :-)

PART 1: How to add your own patterns (textures) to the Fill Patterns window.

There are two methods (that I know of). I will show you the quick method today:

1. Go to File, My Library, My Patterns

2. From your computer,  locate the pattern that you would like to add to the program. I chose the LD Basic Tiles.

3. Drag and drop the pattern into Silhouette Studio.

PART 2: How to make the calendar in Silhouette Studio

1. If you are using the Cameo, set page size to Letter.

2. Using the Rectangle Tool, draw a 3.0" x 2.5" rectangle.

3. On your computer, open the folder that contains the Cowabunga Cowlendar graphics. Bring the January cow into Silhouette Studio by dragging and dropping the image onto the virtual mat.

4. Lock the Aspect Ratio and reduce the width of the cow to 2.35". The height will adjust automatically.

5. Use the Line tool and draw a line inside the rectangle and just above the cow.

6. Open the Line style and change it into a dashed line.

7. Holding down the SHIFT button, select both the dashed line and the rectangle. Release the SHIFT, right-click and Group.

8. Select the rectangle, open the Fill Pattern window and click on a design to fill it with.

9. Mouse-over the rectangle, right-click and Send to Back.

10. Set the page to show Registration Marks. Select all and reposition entire image to the top left corner.

11. Use Duplicate or apply Copy and Paste (Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V) to fill up the page with 6 January cows.

12. From your computer, open the folder that holds the Cowabunga Cowlendar graphics. Drag the February cow over a January cow. It will replace the January cow and resize itself. Continue with the other months until you have the January-June cows on the page.

13. Open a new page and repeat steps 2-12 to make the pages for July-December. (Hint: or just save the Jan-June page as a .studio file, then replace the months with July-Dec and save that as a different .studio file)

14. To make a cover page for the calendar, select and Delete all but one of the pages. Delete the cow on remaining page.

15. Drag and drop the Alphabet (see footnote below) and Cow onto the virtual mat. Lock Aspect Ratio and resize the width of the Alphabet to 2" and the width of the cow to 1". Position the images as you wish.

16. Duplicate the cover as many times as you want (up to 6 on a letter-size page).

17. To make the backing page, use the Rectangle Tool to draw a 3.8"x 2.5" rectangle. Make sure to change your Line Style back to solid if you are still in the "dashed line mode". Copy and Paste to make as many backing as you like.

18. Use TEXT WEIGHT paper (printer paper) to print and cut the calender pages and COVER WEIGHT cardstock for the backing. Before cutting, please remember to set the blade accordingly.

Part 3: Assembling the calendar

1. Staple the inside pages together.

2. Align the backing cover just above the perforation and adhere with strong double-sided tape.

3. Place twine or ribbon on the "spine".

4. Align the bottom of the backing with the bottom of the calendar and adhere with tape. 

Note: I had deliberately made the backing slightly longer so that it has some allowance for the ribbon/twine. If you find that unnecessary, just trim any excess length.

5. Embellish as you please.

FOOTNOTE: How to download an Alphabet string (or a word) from Lettering Delights.

1. Log in to your Lettering Delights account.

2. Click on My Library.

3. Locate your Cowabunga Alphabet (under My Lettering) and click on the Try Me Now button.

4. Type "2012" in the Type text box, Change the resolution to High Res.

5. Click Save to download that string of alphabets (in this case, "2012") to your computer.

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