A calendar doesn't have to be just dates on a page. When you design your own, it becomes a visual archive with 12 months of memories, milestones, and people you want to keep close.
Custom calendars stand apart from the mass-produced kind because they're made with intention. Every photo, design choice, and detail reflects your story—whether it's a year in review for your family, a keepsake gift, or a planner that feels personal.
Here are 11 DIY calendar ideas to help you create something functional and meaningful, with tips to make each one stand out.
1. Photo calendars
Filling your DIY calendar with cherished personal photos is one of the most heartwarming ways to make it special. The most popular approaches fall into one of the following themes.
- Family and friends: Candid shots of family gatherings, birthday celebrations, or fun outings with friends make for a joyful experience every time you check the date.
- Travel memories: From stunning cityscapes to serene beach sunsets, incorporating your travel photos allows you to revisit those incredible moments.
- Landscape and wildlife photography: Showcase breathtaking landscapes, vibrant flora, or captivating wildlife shots, transforming each month into a gallery of your photographic talents.
2. Artwork calendars
Personalizing a calendar with artwork is also a wonderful way to showcase your or your loved ones' creative talents. Your calendar will be bursting with color and artistic vision, all crafted by hands you adore.
- Kids' art: A simple scan or photograph of your children's adorable drawings and paintings can help you create a truly heartwarming calendar, perfect to gift to family members.
- Artist portfolio calendars: For artists seeking a distinctive way to showcase their work, a custom calendar is a thoughtful choice. Each page can feature high-quality images of your paintings, sculptures, or digital art, transforming a functional item into a stunning visual portfolio.
- Collaborative art calendar: Every month, have a different family member create a piece of art to add to the calendar. This way, the whole family can showcase their artistic side and participate in the fun.
“Scan or photograph kids’ artwork and arrange them by color or theme to make the calendar visually cohesive. Encourage family members to contribute, so each month feels collaborative.”
— Leslie Albertson, Director of Brand Marketing at Mixbook
3. Themed calendars
Calendars really shine when you commit to a theme and make your year-at-a-glance a cohesive visual story.
Some trending themes for custom calendars include:
- "Cottagecore" and nature-inspired aesthetics: This charming trend celebrates rustic simplicity, the beauty of the outdoors, and a return to nature. Photos and design accents can include whimsical illustrations of wildflowers, cozy woodland creatures, freshly baked goods, or serene garden scenes.
- Retro vibes (especially ‘70s and ‘90s nostalgia): Celebrate the past with a calendar featuring groovy patterns, bold typography, and iconic imagery from the ‘70s, or the playful, quirky aesthetics of the ‘90s. This theme is perfect for adding a fun, energetic flair to your daily planning.
- Minimalist maximalism: This intriguing trend balances clean, simple design with bursts of intricate detail or bold elements. It features ample white space and clean lines punctuated with a single, highly detailed illustration, a pop of metallic color, or a rich texture.
4. Pet calendars
Dedicating a calendar to your animal companions is a wonderful way to celebrate the joy they bring to your life. Imagine starting each month with the adorable face of your furry (or scaly, or feathered) friend.
Consider the following pet calendar ideas:
- Seasonal costumes: Dress up your pet in fun, festive outfits to match each month. Try a tiny Santa hat for December, a floral wreath for spring, or a miniature superhero cape.
- Milestone moments: Capture your pet's special milestones throughout the year.
- Funny expressions and poses: Dedicate months to those silly moments—a goofy yawn, an awkward sleeping position, or a quizzical head tilt.
“Capture pets in action or playful poses, then use stickers or frames to highlight their personalities. Editing for consistency across months makes your pet calendar feel professional.”
— Leslie Albertson, Director of Brand Marketing at Mixbook
5. Homeschool calendars
Custom calendars help homeschooling parents stay organized while also creating a visually engaging tool for learning. Here are some ways to make the most of a homeschool calendar:
- Organize daily lessons: Customize spaces for daily objectives, reminders, and notes so homeschooling feels manageable.
- Mark important dates: Keep track of birthdays, field trips, or learning milestones.
- Showcase student work: Highlight your children’s creativity and progress throughout the year by featuring previous projects and artwork.
“When designing your homeschool calendar, use color-coding for subjects or activity types. It makes it easier to scan at a glance and helps your child visually connect each day with its purpose.”
— Raffi Apelian, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Mixbook
6. Monthly milestone calendars
By dedicating each month to a specific accomplishment or milestone, you can turn everyday dates into a meaningful record of life’s special events. Here’s how you can use them:
- Baby's first year: Celebrate your little one’s incredible first year with a page for each month.
- Relationship memories: Feature photos from your first date, significant anniversaries, or favorite trips to keep memories alive throughout the year.
- Annual personal growth moments: You can create a calendar to track your own personal achievements and growth throughout the year. Dedicate each month to a goal you accomplished, a new skill learned, or a life event.
Want more tips about how to make a calendar? Read our guide: How to create a custom personalized calendar
7. Fitness and workout calendars
Custom-designed workout calendars can help motivate you, track your progress, and keep you accountable in your health and wellness journey.
- Set fitness goals and track progress: A DIY fitness calendar is your ultimate accountability partner. You can dedicate sections of each day or week to log your workouts, track personal bests, or record daily goals.
- Schedule rest days: Rest and recovery are just as crucial as the workout itself. Use your calendar to strategically schedule those much-needed rest days, ensuring you give your body the time it needs to recover and grow stronger.
- Visualize your workouts: Sketch out or detail your specific workouts directly on the calendar pages. This could mean outlining your weightlifting splits, illustrating yoga sequences with small diagrams, or mapping out your running plans for the week or month.
“Create dedicated sections for workout logs and progress tracking. Add icons or highlight goals visually so you can quickly see achievements at a glance.”
— Raffi Apelian, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Mixbook
8. Motivational and mindfulness calendars
A calendar can be more than a way to track fitness days—it can serve as a daily source of inspiration and reflection.
With thoughtful layout and essential design choices, you can turn your DIY calendar into a tool that encourages mindfulness, positivity, and intentional living. Here’s how to pump up your DIY calendar routine:
- Inspire with quotes and affirmations: Design your calendar to feature a new inspiring quote, a powerful affirmation, or a thought-provoking prompt each day or week.
- Encourage gratitude and reflection: Dedicate small spaces on your calendar for daily gratitude notes or reflection prompts.
- Plan and categorize your focus: Build themes into your calendar that align with your fitness routine—like leg day, arm day, or cardio day.
“Use color-coding to separate different types of prompts, workouts, or themes. This simple design trick makes your calendar easier to scan and keeps key elements immediately visible.”
— Leslie Albertson, Director of Brand Marketing at Mixbook
9. Vision board calendars
By focusing on intentions and tracking progress, you can make your calendar functional and inspiring. Leverage these tips for the most impactful vision boards:
- Each month has a focus: Dedicate months to specific goals—January for career, February for wellness, March for relationships. Breaking big goals into smaller chunks keeps your year achievable and on track.
- Visualize your success: Add images that represent your goals, from dream offices to travel destinations. Pair them with motivational quotes or mantras to reinforce your vision daily.
- Illustrate your untold story: Arrange pictures with text and icons so each page tells a tale at first glance. Highlight priorities to make the underlying story easy to see.
10. Hand-drawn or reusable calendars
Calendars designed to be written on and reused let you interact with your schedule in a tactile way. Here are a few DIY approaches:
- Whiteboard calendar: Use colorful markers to differentiate family members, projects, or priorities, and easily erase and update events as plans change.
- Chalkboard calendar: Highlight important dates, appointments, or inspiring quotes with different colored chalks for a creative, ever-changing display.
- Add personal visuals and notes: Draw visuals that match notes for visual reminders of the next steps and reinforce your goals.
“Choose images and quotes that represent monthly goals. Pair visuals with notes for actionable steps to turn aspirations into measurable achievements.”
— Leslie Albertson, Director of Brand Marketing at Mixbook
11. Countdown and Advent calendars
Some calendars are meant to spark excitement. Countdown and advent calendars turn anticipation into part of the fun, making the wait for holidays, big events, or life milestones even more memorable.
Here’s how to make them special:
- Advent calendars: Traditionally used to count down to Christmas, but you can adapt the concept for any event. Each day can reveal a small treat, like a chocolate, a mini toy, or a personalized message.
- Countdown calendars: Highlight the days leading up to a major event (birthdays, vacations, or project launches) so each day builds anticipation.
“Assign small daily tasks, treats, or messages to each day. Encourage adding photos or mini notes to make the countdown interactive and memorable.”
— Raffi Apelian, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Mixbook
Make a DIY Calendar with custom photos on Mixbook
Whether you’re commemorating memories, tracking goals, or building anticipation for the year ahead, a DIY calendar lets you combine creativity with functionality.
From photo and artwork calendars to fitness, mindfulness, and countdown designs, each approach offers a unique way to tell your story and keep life organized.
Customizing your calendar with Mixbook makes it easy to add personal touches so every page reflects your style, intentions, and milestones. The result is a one-of-a-kind planner that’s practical and meaningful.
Start crafting your perfect personalized photo calendar today and transform your ideas, memories, and goals into a beautiful, personalized tool you’ll enjoy every day.
