Make a Standing Stacked Desk Calendar for Any Year

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE STACKED DESK CALENDAR DESIGNS

First, download my Stacked Desk Calendar files from my free library – look for Design #793. Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.

In the PNG folder, you’ll find 12 images that can be used to make your calendar – one for each month of the year. I made these designs with the help of AI art generation and adjusted them with image editing software.

In the SVG folder, you’ll find a “dates” design file that you can use to create calendar cards for any year. You’ll also find a “2026” design file with the calendar dates for the year 2026 already arranged for you. There are “score” and “no-score” versions of the desk stand included, as well.

There is also a DXF folder with cut files for other machines, and a PDF folder with versions you can print and cut by hand.

I’ll demonstrate how to create a desk calendar for any year using the PNG and SVG files, and teach you how to make the “noscore” version of the stand as well.

TIP: If you’re not sure how to upload, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how to unzip and upload files.

STEP 2: PREPARE AND CUT YOUR STACKED DESK CALENDAR DESIGN

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. In Cricut Design Space, open a blank Canvas.
   NOTE: If you’re new to using Cricut Design Space, go to cricutkickoff.com for my introductory tutorial on Design Space basics.
2. Some of our images will load with white backgrounds and no outline, which can be hard to see on a white Canvas. So click the “Blank Canvas” icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel, then click the box under “Color” and choose a different color for your Canvas.
   
   
3. To add the calendar cards to your Canvas, click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”
4. Click “Browse.”
5. Select the “card1” PNG.
6. Click “Open,” and then “Continue.”
7. On the “Background Remover” screen, you don’t need to do anything so click “Apply & Continue.”
8. On the “Convert Upload To” page, select “Flat Graphic” and click “Continue.”
   
   
9. Click “Upload” to add the image to your Canvas.
   NOTE: The image will load in too large for Print Then Cut, and you’ll see a red warning icon in the Layers Panel. We will fix this later.
   
   
10. Repeat Steps 3-9 to add the remaining card PNGs (“card2” through “card12”) to your Canvas.
    TIP: If Design Space lags when working with all the card files simultaneously, you can load and prepare a few cards at a time instead.
11. Click “Save” and give your project a name.
12. Since the cards are too big for Print Then Cut, select all of the images, then click on “Align,” and “Center” to stack them.
    
    
13. With all the layers selected and the “Lock” icon closed, enter “4” in the “Width (W)” field on the “Size” menu. Then press “Enter/Return” on your keyboard. The “Height (H)” field will adjust automatically. The red warning icons should also disappear from the Layers Panel.
    
    
14. Spread the cards in a single row so none of them overlap.
    TIP: Click the “Minus (-)” icon in the lower left corner to zoom out so everything is visible on your canvas.
15. Select all of the cards and click “Align” and “Align Top.”
    
    
16. To add the calendar details, click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”
17. Click “Browse.”
18. Select the dates SVG file of your choice.
    NOTE: I’ll demonstrate with the “dates” version of the “stacked-desk-calendar” file.
19. Click “Open,” and then “Continue.”
20. Click “Upload” to add the design to your Canvas.
21. Drag the design to an open space.
    
    
22. Repeat Steps 16-21 to add the “stand” SVG of your choice.
    NOTE: I’ll choose the “noscore” version of the stand.
    
    
23. In the Layers Panel, drag the “Dates” layer to the top of the list, then click the “Ungroup” icon to ungroup it.
    TIP: You can spread out the month labels and date grids to make them easier to see.
    
    
24. On your Canvas, drag the month labels onto the cards just below the decorative element.
    NOTE: The month labels can go in any order, or on any card.
25. To add the dates to a card, select the appropriate date grid, click the “Duplicate” icon, and move the copy close to the bottom of the card.
    TIP: Use a calendar app on your phone or computer to select the right date grid for your month and year.
    
    
26. Click the date grid on a card and use the “Up” and “Down” arrow keys on your keyboard to position it vertically.
    NOTE: I recommend starting with a grid that has six rows of dates to make sure all the details fit.
27. On the same card, use the arrow keys to position the month vertically.
28. Hold down the “Shift” key and select all of the date grids on your cards. Then click “Align” and “Align Top” so the lines separating the weekdays and dates are in the same position on each card.
    
    
29. Then hold down the “Shift” key and select all of the month labels on your cards. Click “Align” and “Align Bottom” so the months are in the same position on each card.
    
    
30. Drag a Bounding Box around the card, its month label, and its grid, then click “Align” and “Center Horizontally” to center the details between the left and right sides of the card. Repeat for the 11 remaining cards and details.
    
    
31. When you’re satisfied with your cards’ designs, select the first card, its month label, and its date grid, then click “Flatten” to combine them into a single Print Then Cut layer. Repeat for the 11 remaining cards.
    
    
32. Delete any leftover month labels and date grids.
33. If you’re cutting the “noscore” version of the stand, your project is ready to cut! If you’re cutting the “score” version, follow the steps from my scoring tool tutorial to adjust your file.
    
    

PRINTING AND CUTTING

IMPORTANT: If you haven’t calibrated your Cricut in a while, or if your Print Then Cut projects aren’t cutting precisely, follow these steps to calibrate your machine.

1. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right.
2. Click “Make.”
3. On the Prepare screen, make sure the correct Material Size is selected for your mats.
   NOTE: I’ll use “8.5 in x 11 in” for all my mats.
4. When you’re satisfied with your mat layouts, click on Mat 1 so it loads first on the next page, then click “Continue.”
5. We’ll print and then cut each card one at a time. On the Make Screen, click “Send to Printer” to print your first card.
   
   
6. In the “Print Setup” window, select the correct printer, then toggle “Add Bleed” off, and “Use System Dialog” on.
   
   
7. Click “Print.”
   NOTE: Your System Dialog window might be behind the Cricut Design Space window, so minimize it if you don’t see the settings.
8. In the System Dialog window, make sure the correct printer is selected, change the Media Type to “Photo Matte Paper” and the Quality to “Best,” or whichever settings are closest.
   
   NOTE: Not all printer settings will be the same, but you can use my choices as guidelines.
9. Load the photo paper into your printer according to the directions on the package.
   NOTE: Make sure your paper is facing the correct way in the tray as the ink will appear washed out if printed on the wrong side.
10. Click “Print” to send the first Print Then Cut card to your printer.
11. Let the print dry before handling it to avoid smudges.
12. Back on Cricut Design Space’s Make Screen, set the Base Material for your first card mat. I’ll use the “Medium Cardstock - 80 lb (216 gsm)” setting with “More” Pressure.
    
    TIP: Changing the Pressure to “More” results in a cleaner cut.
    TIP: Check the box next to “Remember material settings” to save time between mats of the same type.
13. Place your printed card face up on a green StandardGrip machine mat.
14. Place a clean sheet of copy paper on top of the print and use a brayer to make sure the print is fully adhered. Remove the copy paper.
    
    
15. Check that your Premium Fine-Point Blade is clean and in the clamp.
16. Press the flashing “Load/Unload” button to load the prepared mat into your Cricut.
17. Press the flashing middle button to begin cutting.
18. When it has finished cutting, don’t unload the mat right away. Gently lift a corner of the material with a spatula to make sure the cuts went all the way through the photo paper. If not, press the middle button again to make a second pass of cuts in the same spots.
    TIP: If you have any issues with your cuts, go to jennifermaker.com/cleaner-cuts.
    
    
19. When the cuts are complete, unload the mat, flip it over onto your work surface, and roll it back to release the photo paper.
    
    
20. Repeat Steps 5-19 to Print Then Cut your remaining card mats.
21. When you get to your stand mat, set the base material to “Heavy Cardstock - 100 lb (270 gsm)” and the Pressure to “More.”
    
    
22. Place your cardstock face up on a green StandardGrip machine mat, and use a Brayer to adhere it well.
    
    
23. Then repeat Steps 15-19 to cut your stand.
24. Lay out all of your cut pieces face up.
    
    

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE YOUR STAND AND STACKED DESK CALENDAR

1. Take your cut stand piece and fold along the crease lines in the same direction to create three panels.
   
   
2. Apply craft glue along the outside of the smallest folded panel’s tab.
   
   
3. Fold the stand into a triangular tube and attach the glued edge to the inside of the last folded panel.
   
   
   
4. Keeping the edge as flush as possible, hold until the glue sets.
5. Stack the cut calendar cards in month order.
6. Place the stack on the stand for display!
   
   

STEP 4: SHOW IT OFF

You now have an awesome stacked desk calendar to mark the days in the coming year!

Display your calendar in your office, on the kitchen counter, or anywhere you need a handy reminder of important dates.