Yeah Vikki, 'tis a lot of work. To be honest, I wouldn't commit to a deadline if price is an issue. $24+ for one calendar is pricey and that's what it's gonna be. (After all the shipping baloney.)
By committing to a dealine you don't let yourself wait for the next sale... Make sure you get on Ophoto's e-mail list.
Ophoto.com (where I got mine) is the only flexible calendar vendor. The others that I looked at, like Shutterfly.com was ONE picture on a WHITE background. (You can Photoshop a collage to get around the "one picture problem", but that is more work for you.)