Perpetual Calendar Blocks

Hi there, Rebecca (ReboScraps) here to share a fun project I’ve had on my to-do list for a while. Here and there around digi-land, I’ve seen some printables or digi templates to make perpetual calendars. When I found some wood blocks at a thrift store, I snapped them up to make a similar project.

Here’s my supply list for this project:

Picket Fences Kit by Wishing Well Creations
Mod Podge
Foam brush
Trimmer or Scissors
Wood cubes
Fonts: most of the text is in the font “Love Ya Like a Sister”, and the the Live – Laugh – Love block also uses “itsadzoke” and “Curlz MT”

First, I created a simple template for the sides of the blocks by drawing 30 squares on canvas sized for letter paper. My blocks are 1-1/4 inches, so I drew squares about 1-1/8 inches. I picked assorted papers from the kit and clipped those in place and then I used the text tool in Photoshop to add the numbers and months. In the image below, you can see my digital design for the blocks.

Some important design notes:

Each row in the design is one block. In order to make the calendar work, you need the digits 0, 1 and 2 on each block. There is only one spot for the 6 and 9 to share, so you’ll want to pick a font for which the 6 or 9 works upside-down.
You only need two blocks for all the months, placing 6 months on each block. I opted to spread the months on to three blocks and placed elements and sayings in the remaining places.

Next is cutting out all the pieces. I cut out one row at a time and kept the pieces in little piles so I would be able to keep track of what pieces went with which block.

Then, my favorite part – the Mod Podge! Using a foam brush, I layered a generous amount of Mod Podge onto the block, then carefully placed a paper piece. It slides around a bit, so you can move it to get it centered on the block.

Sometimes the corners didn’t stick very well, so I used the handle of the brush to press down each corner. Since I planned to put a finish layer of Mod Podge over the surface, I did not have to worry about getting Mod Podge on the top of the numbers and letters.

For each block, I placed 3 sides, then allowed it to dry. To make sure I kept my pieces together, I wrote a number on each block, and the same number on the backs of the corresponding paper pieces.

Once the first three sides were partially dry, I went through and did the remaining three sides. After that, it was just waiting for it to dry and adding an extra top coat layer to make sure everything was sealed together.

Done! Arrange the blocks however you like to show today’s date. The three arrangements below show off each of the 6 element/quote designs, and the various colors for the months and days!

Perpetual Calendar Blocks

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