My calendar saga and covers please!

[maryinaz]

So, I posted in a few threads that I was using overnightprints.com for my calendars. They have the option to do both tops and bottoms and were 40% off. I knew from things I had printed there before that the quality was excellent. Too good to be true? Yes. :thumbdown:

I uploaded everything on 12/6 and they gave me a delivery date of 12/21 - which was cutting it really close to send to my mom for Christmas, but they are usually earlier than they say. I checked my order status everyday and it remained "in production." On Wednesday I emailed them and they still said 12/21. But the status didn't change, so yesterday I finally called them. I'm not getting them on the 21st. Even with overnight shipping, I wouldn't get them until 12/24 - too late to ship to my mom. They said this was a new process for them/my order got missed, etc. I about cried! :crying: I finally just canceled my order and now I'm having to go do a quick print at Staples or somewhere for double the price, just for my mom's calendar. My sisters wanted them also, but I'm going to deal with that after Christmas and find someplace cheaper.

So. I had hurriedly made a cover, which I hated. Now I am going to take some more time to fix it, but I would love to see anyone else's calendar covers, backs etc. for inspiration! Pretty please! :)

[SeattleSheri]

I am sorry, that stinks! They should have at least offered your some coupons or something toward a future purchase! {hugs}

[Joana1n]

Aw, Mary! That really stinks! :( I'm sorry.

[nun69]

that sucks...so sorry~

[Shawna Clingerman]

Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry that happened! :( I ordered early this year for the first time because I hate that frantic waiting for it to come feeling, soooo been there!

Here is the cover I used for mine this year, I just took a layout I made with a Janet temp that I loved. I merged everything but the background papers and then dragged onto a piece of kraft papper and resized it down. It was easy and I am really happy with it:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/slclingerman/cover.jpg

I ordered from vista print this year, the paper is not near as thick as the costco prints, but they did full bleeds and the printing is a great quality - so there is an option for you.

HUGS!

[sprauncey1]

My cover is pretty blah. I just did 4 rows of square photos (that I didn't get to use in the calendar) and the title over the top in glitter ("Bubba, Boo, The Bean and (premiering) Buddy" Then below it: "Calendar 2011")

I was in a hurry because I was printing and sending mine out before we leave and figured that they don't look at the cover for more than a minute since they will just start using it in January. But it did give me a way to use other cute photos.

[shupe]

Here is mine:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a197/shupies5/caltitle2011450x600.jpg

I used a heart template and it went pretty quickly.

[newfiemountiewife]

That stinks Mary! I did mine with My Pic Tales, but I did them in early October. I've been caught too late the past two years, so this time I finally did them early enough.

I used a calendar template, I didn't scrap the pages myself, so I can't show you what I did, because, well, I didn't actually *do* anything haha!

[lovely1m]

I usually just put my son's name and the year on the cover cause it never really shows for longer then them looking at it when its first open.

[g8rbeckie]

I took a year off of calendars, and MAN, it feels great :)

But I'm so sorry about your situation, Mary. Last year I worked hard on them, had them printed at artscow, and cried when they showed up because they looked soooooo crappy! (some people have great experience with artscow, but I've also seen others like me who have had horrible quality).

anyhow, good luck getting them finished up! I don't have anything to share because I didn't DO ANY! :thumbup:

[Jengerbread88]

Last year I worked hard on them, had them printed at artscow, and cried when they showed up because they looked soooooo crappy! (some people have great experience with artscow, but I've also seen others like me who have had horrible quality).

Semi-off topic, but Artscow is a very hit or miss site. For me, it depends on what I'm ordering. If I have free book credits, I don't get bothered too much when the books aren't perfect, and I've learned how to scrap so what I print doesn't get cut off or anything. Their books are only decent, not perfect, but when they're free with just paying shipping, it's kind of worth it to me, because it's cheaper than anyone else and still decent.
However, I've found on OTHER items, the quality is excellent. I used their ornaments as well as their playing cards, and they turned out amazingly.
Sometimes, their orders are slow or late, so I have learned to order several months before I want it to arrive, just in case. I don't order any Christmas gifts from Artscow after October...

[maryinaz]

Thanks everyone for the sympathy. ;) And I LOVE the covers posted! Love the idea of all those photos. I ended up picking my favorite month topper and stripping off the photos and frames and putting in a big 2011.

I went to Staples and Fedex-Kinkos this morning and neither could do what I wanted. Which was borderless prints. Staples printed a b/w set of my images and the borders weren't even all the way around. After all the work it took me to do this (gathering photos from all my siblings of their children was no small feat), I just didn't want it to look like a bunch of copies.

So, here I sit, printing it myself. Because I can do borderless and using the Staples double-sided matte paper is making them come out gorgeous. They aren't glossy like I wanted, but I had to deal with it. I guess I should have just printed it myself in the first place. :glare: Right now I'm only printing one, then I'll take it to Staples to have it spiral-bound. I'll deal with printing more later or after Christmas.

[adrianka]

Just curious - why was it so important to ship it on time for your Mum? I think with adults it's not that important as it is with kiddos. With my friends we tend to be behind all the time and nobody feels bad about it. My personal record was when I gave someone their Xmas present on 24th of June, and a friend of mine still owes me my birthday present (my birthday was in March). :-)

[lovely1m]

I went to Staples and Fedex-Kinkos this morning and neither could do what I wanted. Which was borderless prints.

I get a lot of my hybrid stuff printed at Kinkos, I can't believe they don't have a borderless printer there yet. Just seems kind of obvious that they should.

[maryinaz]

Just curious - why was it so important to ship it on time for your Mum? I think with adults it's not that important as it is with kiddos. With my friends we tend to be behind all the time and nobody feels bad about it. My personal record was when I gave someone their Xmas present on 24th of June, and a friend of mine still owes me my birthday present (my birthday was in March). :-)

My family back there all gathers on Christmas day to open gifts from each other and us - it just would not be the same getting a gift a few days later and opening it alone. Besides, my mom is 89 and very generous with us and our gifts (which are always on time) so I would not even consider being late with her Christmas gift. On the other hand, I've been known to be a day or so late with her birthday gift. ;)

[adrianka]

My family back there all gathers on Christmas day to open gifts from each other and us - it just would not be the same getting a gift a few days later and opening it alone. Besides, my mom is 89 and very generous with us and our gifts (which are always on time) so I would not even consider being late with her Christmas gift. On the other hand, I've been known to be a day or so late with her birthday gift. ;)

I still think she might understand if you explained the situation, but hey! You've solved the problem, so there's no need to worry anymore. Cool for you. :-)