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!

You are...

This week's challenge over at Sketches! {by tamara} is a Journaling Challenge from Karen - to "journal about an interesting characteristic or trait of someone you love"

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Here is the layout that I created - can you tell that I just LOVE this new Topstitch paper and Togetherness stamp! I liked the layout on page 8 of the new Spring Idea Book from CTMH, so I used that for my inspiration for this page.

This tag pulls out to reveal my hidden journaling...

And here is a close-up of the journaling...on the front I made a list of some of her traits...

...and on the back I added a little more detail about some of them - especially the more unique traits...

Here is a close-up of the Suede Pinwheels and Stickease that I clustered together.

Products Used (all CTMH): Topstitch paper and Stickease, Soft Suede Pinwheels, Togetherness stamp set, Cocktail Alphabet stamp set, 3-D Foam Squares, Vineyard Berry stamp pad, Chocolate stamp pad

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Thanks for looking! Don't forget to check out what the rest of the Design Team has created for this week's challenge!

9 Months Old

This week's challenge over at Sketches! {by tamara} is a Recipe Challenge from Marcia - use the following on your cards or layouts.
*Staples

*Stitching (faux or real)

*Stamping

I decided to use these items on another one of Trysten's calendar pages - I'm hoping to get caught up on that soon! I used a sketch from the December 2009 PageMaps, I just rotated the sketch once to fit my vertical picture.

I had so much fun with this layout, but don't I always! I did lots of faux stitching using stamps, so I killed two birds with one stone! Plus there are stitches on the patterned paper as well so it all worked nicely together.

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Products Used (all CTMH): Stardust paper pack and Stickease, Solo 9 stamp set, Circle Around stamp set, Togetherness stamp set, Friendship Alphabet stamp set, blue and green staples (retired), Topiary, Moonstruck, and Heavenly Blue stamp pads.

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Here is a close-up of some of the stamping, stitches, and staples.

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the Design Team created for this week's challenge! Thanks for looking!

Piece of Cake!

Welcome to our CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We are featuring the February SOTM, which is called Piece of Cake.

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If you get lost along the way or find links that aren't working, click here to find a complete list of participants.

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When you're done here, the next stop is Helen's Blog, so don't forget to keep hopping and check out all the inspirational artwork!

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My computer is on the fritz, but I was able to use the laptop to get at least one new project posted. Here is a fun 2-page layout that I did from Brailee's 2nd Birthday. I used the Let's Get Together paper pack, Cocktail Alphabet stamp set, Togetherness stamp set (I LOVE that stitch stamp and have used it a ton already - stay tuned during the month of February to see more!). I used a layout from the January 2010 PageMaps.

Here is a close-up of the left page. Sorry for the glare on the photos. Isn't Brailee such a cutie!

I used some Flip Flaps to add more pictures to the right page - I also have some hidden journaling and extra pictures but I forgot to take pictures of that.

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Here are some cards I've already posted using this stamp set. On the following card, I used one of the cupcake stamps and masked off the stand to stamp just the row of cupcakes on this coordinating envelope.

Here I stamped one of the cakes and dotted with Liquid Glass. I then masked off the cake to stamp just the candles on the matching envelope. I also masked the sentiment to get it in a straight line instead of stacked.

Thanks for looking - happy hopping!