On today’s “Take Five & Company” segment, I demonstrated how to transform pocket-sized notebooks, CD cases and recycled business cards into simple calendars for the home or office. You can use ready-made calendar templates from the web, or write out your own for a personalized effect.

(You can find 2010 CD calendar templates here and the business card size here. I wrote out my own notebook calendar.)

To make the CD calendar, remove the paper cover and detach the plastic lid from the part that holds the disk. Flip the part that holds the disk over and reconnect to the base so the lid will stay upright. Print your calendar templates on card stock paper for all 12 months. Use the paper cover art to cut the templates down to the right size. Embellish the calendar pages with photos, doodles, stamps or other art and slip into the lid of the CD to display.

To make the notebook variety, simply cover the pages with scrapbook paper, newsprint, magazine pages or other decorative paper. Then glue the calendar pages to every other page, leaving the room for photos or favorite quotes.

To make the recycled business card calendar, simply cover the front of 12 cards with decorative paper and glue a monthly calendar template (Microsoft Word file) to the front of each one. Tie a ribbon around a whole year’s worth to give it to a friend. These cards can be easily displayed in business card holders.

If you’d rather buy a lovely calendar by someone else, check out these inexpensive calendar downloads that were featured on Decor8.

Here’s the clip from TV: