Event Calendar Workshop

My latest Event Calendar - it's finally done!  These are some of my favorite projects to create (I've made at least 3 different styles in the last 6 years).  This one I started well over a year ago, but it sadly kept getting pushed to the back burner or was forgotten.  I started this as a gift for my sister-in-law's birthday.  Then we moved and I packed it all up.  Then I didn't get my scraproom unpacked as soon as I had hoped.  I actually gave her the blank Event Calendar for her birthday last fall and told her I would eventually finish the month toppers.  Well I finally pulled it out again, and thanks to my Crop 'Til You Drop event last week, I finished it - woohoo!  It really didn't take long to do if you added up the time spent on it, and it is such a fun project, I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to complete it all!

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If you are interested in making one (or more - they make great gifts), I am planning a Workshop next month to make these - I will have all of the pieces pre-cut and I will walk you through the whole creation process including some fun, easy stamping techniques (but of course you are welcome to do your own thing as well).  I promise you it won't take as long as it took me ;-)  Cost is $10 per calendar and includes all supplies (Event Calendar and all pre-cut pieces and accessories) - I just ask that you bring your own adhesive.  I will be giving away a door prize to everyone who orders a workshop kit!

***For those of you unfamiliar with what these calendars are - these are calendars that are not specific to any year.  You fill in each month with Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc, and you can use it year after year!  There is a blank square at the top of each month - that is where these will go!

Most of these use retired stamps and papers, but I will link the items that are currently available.

JANUARY

*Uses white textured cardstock (you can't see it in the picture, but I tore layers to create the look of snow), paper piecing technique with Aspen papers for the hat, Sparkles for the buttons, and Liquid Applique for the snowballs, along with the retired stamp set called Snow Friends.

FEBRUARY

*Uses some more textured cardstock, along with retired Sweetheart papers, Black Waxy Flax for the stitching, Togetherness stamp set and Stitched Together stamp set.  Wishes: Middle Ground pattern.

MARCH

*Uses Wings Creative Basics paper, hemp, So Lucky stamp set with stamp rolling, Wishes: Layered Look pattern

APRIL

*Uses Sophia papers, Stardust Glitz Gel, retired Easter Eggs stamp set, Wishes: A Cut Above pattern

MAY

*Uses Mayberry papers, watercolor pencils, Garden Green brads on the bike wheels, Pair-a-Phrase stamp set (which you can get FREE this month with a qualifying order) Originals: Background Blocks pattern

JUNE

*Uses retired Twitterpated paper, Chocolate Flower Buttons, Treetops stamp set, Originals: Side Accent pattern

JULY

*Uses Fanfare papers, brads created using retired Sunny Yellow embossing powder, retired Star Struck stamp set, Originals: Center Focus pattern

AUGUST

*Uses retired Zipidee paper, You're Sweet stamp set, red buttons for the cherries, Originals: Matted Square pattern

SEPTEMBER

*Uses retired Animal Cookies paper, paper piecing technique using the retired You're a Hoot stamp set, red brads for the eyes, Wishes: Mini Combination pattern

OCTOBER

*Uses retired Hooligans paper, stamp rolling technique using the retired Frightenin' Fun stamp set, Liquid Glass to make the face shine, and some curly green waxy flax for the vine, Originals: Fun Flap pattern

NOVEMBER

*Uses retired Olivia papers, retired Autumn Splendor stamp set with more stamp rolling, Opaques Gems, Originals: Triple Triple pattern

DECEMBER

*Uses retired Evensong papers, retired Holiday Trinkets with Olive heat embossing for the trees, Sparkles for the tops, Originals: Side Focus pattern

If you're looking for more ideas for Event Calendar toppers, here are some others that I have created:

Click HERE to view a perpetual calendar that I created last year - you could use these ideas for an Event Calendar as well.  You just wouldn't need the month name on each square as that is already printed on the calendar.

Thanks for looking!

Passages Card Set

Using the Greetings Card Workshop template found in the Wishes Book, I created the following cards using just half a sheet of Colonial White Cardstock, along with two patterned papers from the retired Passages paper pack, plus my card bases.  By  changing the orientation of the card, using the opposite side of the paper, and changing the stamp sets, I really like the different looks I came up with for each set.

Card 1

Using the You're Sweet stamp set and stamp rolling technique on the apple.

Using the retired Whoo Loves You stamp set for the mushroom and one of my favorite techniques to create faux brads.  Use a hole punch to create small circles (I usually use my Crop-a-dile) then adhere them to the card, then cover with Liquid Glass and voila - faux brads in any color, shape, and size you want!

I also added a little bit of dimension using Foam Tape

Card 2

Using the Trees & Things stamp set, and real brads this time ;-)

Using the You Rock stamp set and more faux brads.

Card 3

Using the Family Ties stamp set and retired June Word Puzzle stamp set, color pencils, and a 'reverse' faux brad.  This time I punched 3 holes in my paper with the image so the mat paper shows through to create a different look.

Using the Treasure Life stamp set and real brads.

Card 4

Using the Hot Diggity stamp set and more Foam Tape

Using the retired November Word Puzzle

 Card 5

Using the retired Butterfly Wings stamp set, along with A Little Everything stamp set stamped in Colonial White ink, and I also created more faux brads.

I added some dimension to the butterfly's wings as well.

Using the Treasures stamp set - this one is my least favorite card - I added some subtle dandelion stamps on the card base (which I don't think you can even see in this picture) but it just seems so plain, like it's missing something - maybe it's because I didn't include any accessories.  Any suggestions?

Card 6

Using the Howdy stamp set and a bit of paper piecing, inking up my stamp with markers to achieve the different colors, and some more Foam Tape, and of course faux brads!

This card uses the Friendship stamp set, which was February's Stamp of the Month, and this time I ended up cutting my focal piece into a frame.  Using second generation stamping and Garden Green ink, I stamped the image directly onto the card base, then adhered the frame over it and then stamped the sentiment in Cocoa ink - I really like how this one turned out.  Once again, faux brads.

Card 7

Using the retired Whooo Loves You stamp set, and the stamp rolling technique, along with some bigger faux brads.

Using the So Lucky stamp set and some Foam Tape and more faux brads.

Card 8

Using the Find Your Style stamp set, which was January's Stamp of the Month - more Foam Tape, faux brads, and stamp rolling going on here!

This was the only card that I stamped on the inside as well.

This was the very last card that I created in the set - usually the last one I make is my least favorite, but not this time!  I used the retired Butterflies stamp set and did a bit of paper piecing with the butterfly and added real brads to the wings, popped up with some Foam Tape.

The sentiment came from the retired Treasures of the Heart stamp set.  I pleated a strip of paper for a fun look.

Whew, quite a long post - if you've stuck with me this long, thanks for looking!

Woohoo!

My word of the week ;-) inspired by this card that I recently created:

I love clear cards but it's been a couple years since I've created one - this one was fun to get back into it.  I used the You're a Hoot stamp set and the Attention Getter pattern from Wishes.  I found some old brads that I had colored with Buttercup embossing powder a couple of years ago, but once I pushed the brads into the card, the powder cracked and broke off - I've never had that problem before, I think the powder must get old after a while.  I still think it looks cute with Silver brads instead of the Buttercup.  Here is the card open so you can see the different layers - the message can be written on the pink square.

Woohoo, it's Spring Break and it's actually feeling pretty good outside, I even broke out my capris this week!  The wind blew in some colder weather last night, but it's not too bad so far.  I saw our first rainbow of the year this week:

Woohoo - the kids have been able to play outside, most of the mud has dried up so they can go out without getting stuck.  It's been nice to be able to stay home and spend some fun time together!  We've been playing our new Wii games - Wheel of Fortune and Just Dance, some fun card games - Scum and Garbage (great names, right?) and basically just hanging out.  On a normal day we make 2 or 3 trips into town every day to drop kids off at school, go to preschool or story time, and head back for evening activities, etc, but I've barely done that all week, what a nice change of pace.  I've been able to get so much accomplished without so much running around.  I have a lot of fun activities planned for Spring Break and we've barely done a fraction of them - luckily they don't have to go back until Tuesday, hopefully we can get more done!

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The only downside this week has been sick kids.  I got a call from the school nurse just 45 minutes before they got out on an early release day on Friday, Brianna had a fever :-(  Then Brailee got a fever on Monday but was doing much better by yesterday.  Brianna still wasn't back to her normal self yesterday, but she was finally able to eat a good dinner last night and woke up with a bit more energy this morning.  We ALMOST made it two weeks with everyone healthy - we have never had so much sickness go around our house before.  I don't know if it's from the move or just one of those years, but I'm over everyone being sick.  With the nice warm spring weather I've had the windows open - it's been nice to get some fresh air and hopefully flush some of those lingering germs OUT!

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Woohoo - my dad and his wife came for a quick visit this last weekend - it was quick but good to see them again and finally do Christmas with them ;-)  They had fun playing this air hockey game and they taught us how to play Scum.

Another big Woohoo - Trysten is doing so well potty training.  He did especially well last week and was telling me when he needed to go, but after a weekend of playing with visiting family he suddenly decided he was too busy to let me know.  So we're still working on it, and he'll go when I tell him, but I'm still so impressed with how well he's been doing, especially when we're at preschool or story time or even church, he likes to go in public places for some odd reason!

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Woohoo - David and I updated our ancient cell phones and got some new ones yesterday - I've had some pics on my old phone for a couple years now and I've never been able to get them off, until now!  Here's a fun flashback with some old pics:

This was one of our bike rides - I just love how Brailee fell asleep on Trysten but he didn't mind a bit!

Brailee watching her sisters play softball

Face painting at story time a couple years ago

Woohoo - we FINALLY moved Kaylee into her new room at the end of last month - it's been so nice to free up Brailee's room just a little bit.  After 7 months of 3 girls sharing one room, it's been a nice change.  It's amazing how much easier it is to keep the rooms clean now - I used to cringe every time I would walk by Brailee's room, but it's SO much better now!  Here are some pics of Kaylee's room - we still need to add the finishing touches like wall art and curtains, but here it is for now:

We still need to finish her desk as well - it has a hutch with a corkboard but the box was missing a piece, so we're waiting for that to get shipped to us.

It was so nice to be able to move Kaylee's clothes out of Trysten's closet and into her own walk-in closet.  She LOVES her new room!

Woohoo - Brianna's room is getting closer - all of the drywall is up, we just need to mud, texture, and then we'll be ready for paint and flooring.  I am trying to find a large teal/turquoise rug so I can match the paint -  we discovered with Kaylee's room it's harder to match the rug once you've already painted, so we're trying to find the run first.  So if anyone finds one, please let me know!

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Another fun Woohoo - I've had lots of paper play time lately!  I have my temporary craft room set up - it's not pretty, but at least it's functional!  I still have a lot boxed up but every once in a while I will go looking for some more goodies that I know are hiding somewhere.  I got SO excited at the end of last week when I finally unpacked my Versamat and my Coluzzle - two products that I have missed terribly, especially when it came to cutting out circles.  Before I found my coluzzle I was trying to find cups or bowls that were just the right size for some of my projects which proved to be a pain.  I have already put both newly unpacked products to good use.  I finished an entire set of 16 cards - I will be back to share those soon, along with some pages I've been working on, and a bunch of cards, but for now, here is one card just because it's St. Patrick's Day and because I just feel So Lucky!  Have a great day!

Woohoo!