It is almost time to throw out that 2010 wall calendar! But wait… Why not get creative with them first?
Last year for Valentine’s Day I made envelopes out of free calendars that I didn’t want. (Yes, I’ve been saving up this post idea since February!) To get started, all you need is a wall calendar, scissors or paper cutter and tape.
Start out by selecting your calendar page, removing it from the calendar and trimming it down to an approximate square size.
Then flip over the picture so the image you want to be the outside of the envelope is against the table. Grab two corners and fold them so they meet in the middle of the page.
Grab a third corner and fold that one so it meets the other two in the middle of your page. Secure the folded flaps with tape. Gift wrapping tape would be great since it doesn’t show up as much as regular tape. I just used what I had. Besides… it is an envelope…. not a piece of wall art! 
Now to create the final flap of the envelope, fold the fourth corner so that it is near the bottom of the envelope and easily overlaps the other flaps.
Once your envelope is filled, simply secure it with tape or a sticker. If you plan to mail your envelope, I would highly recommend writing the address on a small square of plain white paper (not pictured) and taping or glueing that to the envelope so it is easier for the Post Office to process your mail.
I have also made cards (to go INSIDE my envelopes 
) out of calendar images. Simply cut the calendar page down to the desired size, fold it in half and line the inside with regular paper to cover up the dates!
This is the time of year when free promotional calendars make their way into your home whether you want them to or not. Instead of instantly tossing them out, consider giving them a second life this year!
Do you have any calendar recycling ideas?
Thanks for the great idea. I make my own envelopes also but I use scrapbook paper that I paid for. I love the idea of using calendars. I will save my expensive scrapbook paper for scrapbooking and use my calendars for the envelopes. : )
Kathy, scrapbooking paper really can be pricey! I’m glad you’ll save some $ with this idea.
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I make my own envelopes out of magazine pages. There are some random images/advertisements out there that make some funny envelopes!
Kindall, I’ve never used magazines before! What a great idea!!
Great idea! When I first read the post I was disappointed because I threw out our 2010 calendars two weeks ago. Great idea to use the promotional ones! I know we will be getting a couple from our realtor and school district. One of my new years resolutions is to write people actual mail instead of email since it is so fun to get something besides bills in the mail. This will be fun!
and January is letter writing month, so you are timing it just right!
Shari, oh of course I totally planned it that way!
That is SO neat! =) Getting beautiful envelopes and a letter/card is like getting a gift with an awesome package. Thanks!
I use some calendar pictures as wall art for my kids rooms/ whatever room and frame them and I also recycle the month parts for chore charts for my kids too!
Jodi, great ideas! Three cheers to never throwing out a calendar again!
Magazine pages work well too. Food images are really interesting to use as envelopes. Also, if you have blank address labels, those are easy to stick on the front to write the address.
Dawn, I love the idea of using images of food! Also, those blank address labels sure would be easier than what I was using!
Thank you so much for sharing this!!! I have already started making some from my last years Lighthouse calendar so that I can send my best friend a card who also loves lighthouses!!!
Kim, what a great idea to personalize the envelope with images that mean something to the recipient!
What a clever idea! I already have 2 calendars that I don’t want, but I hate to throw them away. Thanks for taking the time to post this.
Kim, I have such a hard time throwing away things that could be used for something else or by someone else. One man’s trash truly is another man’s treasure. Enjoy your envelopes!
Cute idea! In college I remember people framing nice calendar pages. It usually didn’t look as great as a regular print, but for a college apartment it was a nice idea!
I’m curious as to the price of postage…if this method would require more postage or if the postal service will even accept it.
Amanda, I have sent and received several envelopes like this using the standard amount of postage and I’ve never had a problem. You should definitely use something like white paper & tape or a blank address label to help the address stand out, but other than that there shouldn’t be an issue.
My kids and I make our own envelopes out of whatever paper is in our recycling bin for them to decorate when they send their own homemade thank you cards, and we’ve never paid any more than for a regular envelope. Postage is charged based on the thickness and/or weight of the package, not on the material used.
Amy, I love the idea of having your kids decorate the envelopes for homemade thank you cards! I’m going to remember that one!!
make sure it’s not square when it’s done – they charge more postage for square envelopes – I suspect because they are harder to sort automatically.
Fun! Thanks for posting this. I’ve already received a few promotional calendars, and I get lots of free magazines, so I’ll have plenty of images to choose from. I can’t wait to send my first card – I already know who will get it!
Great idea!!! Thanks for posting…..I will definitely keep this in mind the next time I have a few promotional calendars!!
I love this idea, and actually dug a calendar out of the trash that I threw away just last night! I made one and it turned out beautifully, but folks should know that if the envelope is square, or exceeds certain dimensions that it will require extra postage.
Tina, I love that you dug in the trash to do this project! haha! And you are right that square envelopes do take extra postage. I always fold my final flap down far enough that it makes it more of a normal envelope shape & then I don’t have to worry about the postage.
“Letters are subject to a $0.20 surcharge if they are square, rigid or have certain nonmachinable characteristics.”
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/postage.htm
(hope this helps!)
oops, didn’t grab the whole description for first class mail, letters, and cards.
“For heavier weights, or unusually shaped letters see First-Class Mail Large Envelopes.”
Great idea to repurpose and good to recognize weight variables depending on the calendar so the recipient doesn’t owe $$. I’ve received purchases of sewing patterns in envelopes made from wallpaper ~ cheerfully lovely!
Joyce, sewing patterns & wallpaper!??! How cute!!!
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I have done this too….so always save those calendars. There are a lot of things you can do w/those pretty calendar pages including making your own beautiful bows too. I have an old Vera Bradley catalog that might work for post cards too. You will need to use white labels for the front for addresses on darker or really busy pattern pages.
Shar, I just got into making my own bows. I’ll have to give it a try with calendar pages.
I usually give the kids my old calander to cut up and make collages, but not this year… I’ll be making envelopes! Thanks for the great idea!
Susan, that is hilarious! Poor kids! haha!
What an awesome idea! Thank you!!!
maps make great envelopes too. All these ideas can be used for wrapping paper too!
OM gosh, I was getting ready to throw out all those old labels from years gone by, that you can’t even size in a computer, to print. Great idea!!! I’ll save them now.
I LOVE this idea. I just made 12 envelopes from last years puppy calendar! I have one I don’t need for this year with food & recipes on it so I’ll use that one too. Thinking of randomly sending friends recipes (like a swap but not asking for anything in return) with those.
I also wanted to tell you that I’m Environmental Committee Chair at our elementary school so I’m taking these to the club meeting today to share with the students!
I cut mine 12×12, 11×11 & 10×10. Used an 11″ to mail my brother a 5×7 photo today & it didn’t require extra postage.
THANKS again for the wonderful ‘green’ idea
Melinda, I hope the students like it!
I absolutely LOVE your idea and used it today as my Thrifty Thursday Tip! LOVE IT!
http://savemoremom.com/?p=694
Wow! what fun ideas … all the ones listed and all the ideas I thought of while reading others’! *LOL* Mahalos … one and all for the great inspiration!
Aloha!
Betty in Hawai’i – Big Island
Betty DeMers recently posted..In the Month of November
Betty, how fun to meet a reader from Hawaii!! Aloha to you too!
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I used some calendar pages of really pretty greenery and gardens to put around some glass candles and other containers for decoration. I also attached them to small containers. They turned out really nice!
What great ideas, Charisa!
My niece showed me this idea about 15 years ago, using magazine covers, calendars, and any iother paper she could recycle. I did it a lot for awhile. Time to return to doing it.
Elizabeth, isn’t it funny how you can “forget” about awesome crafts or activities that you used to do all the time? I’m glad I was able to re-inspire you!
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