Fabrications Desk Top

Wow.  I didn't realize that it has been a whole week since I posted.  Ugh.  That's awful of me.  Sorry folks.  I wish I could say that I was super busy creating all these fabulous things in my craft room.  And well, that just isn't the case.  I have been busy with life: work, house work, laundry, taking care of my husbands dog, yada  yada yada.  Busy, like the rest of the world.

Anyways.  I did finish another desk top calendar.  This one is totally NOT my style.  It has bright, bold colors, with a minimalist take on the embellishing.  Perfect for a specific girl friend.

January, February, March, April, May, and June

July, August, September, October, November, and December

The girl friend I created this calendar for, loves, and I mean loves bright, bold colors.  So, that is why I chose to work with these papers.  I'm also keeping on track with my new years resolution to 'use what I have'.  The paper line is from Teresa Collins, Fabrications.  I was a bit surprised by that.  Because I generally think of her stuff in more of a girl-y, glamorous, soft color type of product.  Surprise!  I used pattern paper from her collection, but the card stock and embellishments are a mish mosh of what I have in my craft room. Solid card stocks are from Stampin' Up!: crushed curry, rich razzleberry, pool party, and pumpkin pie.  The ribbons are from Paper Trey Ink: black gingham, aqua mist solid satin, and aqua mist polka dot.  All buttons are from Paper Trey Ink.  The bakers twine is retired Stampin' Up! in pool party and the Twinery  in red.  The thin silver cord and 'glass' snowflake are from a big box craft store.  The mini ruler, and butterfly pin are from Maya Road.  The 'glass' star is from Tim Holtz collection.  The blue rolled flower is from Refections.  And the large blue blossom on Feb. is from a floral pick.  That should cover all the supplies.

This is another 'half' calendar.  In this orientation, you will have the first half of the year.  The second have of the year is on the other side.  That way, you get to see both 'covers'. {smile}

I used my Bind-It-All, to put this together.  However, I am still new at this, and I am not totally happy with how the binding came out.  I followed the instructions, but I still don't like how it 'finished'.  Maybe I used too large of O-wire.  Of something.  If anyone has little tips or tricks that they would like to share with me, please do!  

Have a great week.  I am working on publishing a few more tutorials.  This one is on altering wood blocks and another is on altering an alarm clock.  Look for both of those publications by Feb.  My fingers are crossed. {smile}

Stationery Noted Calendar

I created another desk top calendar, using Teresa Collins Stationery Noted pattern papers.  I used the same 4" x 4" base, along with the same calendar page size.

January, February, March, April, May, and June

July, August, September, October, November, and December

For this desk top calendar, I did it a bit different.  I made it two sided, so that when you are done with June, you just flip the calendar around, and use the other side.  So, January thru June uses the text side background piece.  While the July thru December uses the flourish side background piece.

When I first bound the calendar, I used a 1/2" spiral, and it was too small.  It really bunched the pages together, and looked too 'cramped'.  So, I am off to the craft store, to purchase a larger spiral.  I'm looking for 1" and 1 1/4".  Let's see what they have {smile}.

I used a different style pattern paper.  Not my typical paper crafting style.  But, I really need to start using what I have here at home, and not spend so much money on more stuff.  You'd think that I was a pattern paper collector, and not an at home paper crafter.

I'll take a photo of the desk top calendar once it is all bound.  Stay tuned {smile}.

Months in French Country

~ photo heavy post ~

Thank you for stopping back by.  I know this year is starting busy, but I'm happy that you have taken the time to swing by and take a look at what I have created.  I have chosen a few of my favorite month layouts.  Enjoy the eye candy {smile}.

March 2014

I'll start with March.  I love the mix of pattern papers, along with the machine stitching along the top edge of the banner.  This layout is clean and simple.  But, I think that leads to the over-all beauty of it.

April 2014

 Another clean and simple layout.  I didn't add a whole lot to these pages.  But, I really love the look of the sparkle clay cameo with the toile pattern paper.  I added a blossom shape text paper piece behind the cameo.  I wanted an additional pattern, but I felt that another blue pattern paper would get lost.  I wanted to add some sparkle, so I cut a foliage piece out of silver glimmer paper.

Easter, is on April 20th, this year.  So, I stamped the bunny in a circle in pink ink on the calendar page.

August 2014

 I had fun with this one.  August always means 'back-to-school' for us.  So, that was my thought process for this calendar page.  I used a large sun flower pattern paper, along with a trimmed down library card, and a wooden ruler.

September 2014

 I love the look of the small floral print with the stamped banner piece.  The colors, and pattern really do work well together.

December 2014

And last.  December.  I used the same pattern paper for the first month and the last.  I think the rooster image along the right side of the calendar page really adds a french flair.  I was also pleasantly surprised at how the text on the pattern paper works so well with this project.  December, is a month that I make cookies with my grandchildren, so the mini ginger man cookie cutter, seemed like the perfect embellishment.  Christmas, is marked by a circled tree stamped in green ink.

Once again, thanks for stopping by.  I made another calendar today.  I'll post photos later this week.  I used pattern paper from Teresa Collins, creating a whole different look.  Stay tuned.

2014 Desktop Calendar

~ photo heavy post ~

Whew!  I am finished.  There is a great feeling of accomplishment when you finish a craft/project.   I almost stuck this whole project in another bag and pushed the whole thing into a drawer.  But, I printed my resolutions where I can see them each day.  To help motivate me, so to speak.  And, it worked.  I saw these resolutions again this morning, and made the decision to sit down, and finish this lovely project.  I'm glad that I had {smile}.

Here are the finished pages: 

January, February, March, and April

May, June, July, and August

September, October, November, and December

The bound, completed desk-top calendar

bound, and standing

I used a few pieces to complete this project:  Paper Trey Ink small calendar pack, Calendar Basics stamp set, Graphics 45 French Country pattern paper, and (2)  4" x 4" paper coasters.   To ensure that the calendar, as a whole, looks cohesive, I used the same elements, and simple layouts.
I stamped each month in soft suede classic ink, regardless of the colors in the pattern paper.  I did stamp a little symbol on a few American holidays: St. Valentine's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  I will stamp a few Birthdays, our wedding Anniversary, and a few other dates we celebrate: Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Grandparent's Day.
To pull/hold the desk top calendar together, I used my Bind-It-All {smile}.
I can add a whole lot of embellishments on a project.  But, I wanted to keep the pages flat.  That way they would lay flat, and not be too bulky.    However, I couldn't help myself with a few embellishments {smile}.

This week, I will share with you how each month looks.  I'm super happy with how the finished project turned out.  So much so, I'm anxious to start working on my next desk-top calendar.  I do want to use some different pattern papers, to give each calendar an unique look.  So, until then . . .  have a great week, and don't forget to carve out some time for you!

January Calendar Page

I hope your new year has a successful start.  Me, I'm hard at work, working on my resolutions.  I have to admit, they do make me reflect, and stop before I make a few decisions.  Boy, I hope I don't sound pathetic.  

Anyways, one of my resolutions was to 'stay focused' to finish what I start.  I love to paper craft.  And to be honest, I have these great ideas on what I want to craft, buy all the stuff, and then the project, sits in a bag, or a pile in my craft room, and never gets done.  I have become a 'collector' of paper crafting supplies.  I have a whole room filled with these items.

One of the projects that I wanted to create, was/are these flip top calendars for a group of friends.  So, I have set out to actually make them.  What a novel idea, right?  So, here is the first month of the first calendar.  

It's little 3" x 3 1/2".  I purchased the calendar pages from Paper Trey Ink, and stamped the month by hand.  I matted the calendar page, and then added this beautiful Graphics 45 pattern paper for the main page.  Tied some beautiful green gingham pattern ribbon around the first pattern paper page.  Ok, now I need to get into my craft room and finish the months.  I haven't decided yet, how to bind the pages.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  At this point I am thinking of doing a spiral bind.  But I haven't committed to the decision yet.

New Year, New You?

New Year's Resolutions.  Do you make these?  I use to, but found that I don't stick with them, and end up breaking them, before I know it.  Maybe they weren't realistic, or obtainable, or truly in my heart?  I don't know.  I think 'all' of us make the same resolutions:  loose weight, spend less money, and get more organized.  They sound fabulous.  

So, this year, I am trying something different.  I'm going to make my resolutions a priority.  A focus.  Something I truly want to change.  A better 'life'.

1.  eat better.  to be better.  a healthier me.  a practice to, 'you are what you eat'.

2.  stay focused.  to finish a project I set out to start.  regardless if it to clean out a closet, make a craft, try a new dish.  to start and finish what I set out to do.

3.  have a voice.  to speak-up for what I want.  to stand-up for myself, and stop sitting there, watching my own life pass me by.

4.  acknowledge blessings.  i know that I am blessed.  but I don't act blessed.  to start being truly grateful for what I have, cherish friends, find happiness in the little things.

5.  be a better friend.  i know that sounds funny.  but, I need and want to be a better friend.  to spend time with those who do mean the most to me.  to be an active in my friendships.

wow.  this is a tough list.  But, I am here making my vow to work on these resolutions, and to grow from them.  To help me stay on track, I'll post each month how I am doing, what I am doing to maintain these changes and how I have incorporated them into my life, to become part of my life.  Join me.  Let me know what you resolutions are, and who you plan to make them a priority.  Together, we can make a change.  Be the change we want to see {smile}.