What to do with old calendars? Make a sketchbook!
(as you can see, I hoard old calendars. 2004? Ha!)
Rip out the picture you want to use.
Trim off anything unwanted, making the main piece around 10" deep.
Turn it over, and fold up about 2.5" or 3". this will become inside pockets.
At this point, I trim it down horizontally to about 10.75" so I can fit it into an 8.5x11" laminating sheet.
Laminate & trim off excess. If you don't have a laminator, clear contact paper would work too! (Oh and don't worry, you will be laminating right over the pocket so it's sealed shut. We'll fix that later.)
Sew around the perimeter.
Be sure to use a nice bright color so it looks extra cute!
Time to select the paper for inside your sketchbook. You can use recycled paper, scrap paper, or whatever you'd like. I'm just using regular printer paper without lines. Only use around 10 sheets so you can sew through. Trim it down so that it fits neatly inside the edges of the cover.
First fold the papers in half...
Then separately fold and crease the cover in half.
Line up the folds and sew down the crease!
Next, take an exact-o knife, and lightly score the pocket line. Be careful not to cut the whole way through. You just want to cut the laminate so the pocket can open.
See?