Monday, November 24, 2008

Desk Calendar Tutorial

I'm so excited to share this tutorial with you today! My good friend, Nancy Littrell, introduced me to this project and I'm SO glad she did!! She has a great photo of all 4 sides of her calendar HERE in her SCS gallery. My calendar has Winter & Spring on the outside, Summer and Fall on the inside. When you're ready, you just untie the ribbon, flip the inside to the outside, re-tie the ribbon and you're set for the next 6 months! This is a surprizingly easy project ... one that we made at my workshop this month. All supplies are SU with the exception of a Sakura clear glaze pen & Spica clear glitter pen that I used to accent the image pieces and the calendar, which was printed on the computer. I used the Tree For All Seasons set to represent each season. It's currently on the dormant list, so you won't find it in your catalog, but it IS available and you can see it online right HERE. Before moving on to the tutorial, I want to show you all 4 sides of my calendar and a close-up of the image pieces that represent each season.

Winter (Riding Hood Red with Holiday Treasures DP)~Spring (Pink Pirouette with Pink Pirouette Patterns DSP) ~Summer (Old Olive with HolidayTreasures DP) ~

Fall (Pumpkin Pie with Pumpkin Pie Patterns DSP) ~ Okay, are you ready to make one of your own? Here's how :)

Supplies
Cutting/Scoring tool
Basic Black & Whisper White cardstock
4 Colors of card stock with coordinating DP
Tree for all Seasons Stamp set
Black Stazon Ink
SU Markers & Sakura clear Glaze pen
1 3/8" Circle Punch & Scallop Circle Punch
Cropadile
Black Gingham Ribbon
Roll-on adhesive & Dimensionals

Step 1: Print a Yearly Calendar...go to:
http://www.printfree.com/Calendar_files/Yearly/2009printable.htm
Right click on the calendar & Select All
Right Click on the calendar & select Print Preview
Go to the “Shrink Down” drop down menu, select 80%
Print onto Whisper White Cardstock

Step 2: Cut, Punch & Score the following pieces:
Cut Black Cardstock 5 ½ x 8 ½” and Score at 4 ¼ “ ( just like you would for a cardbase)

Cut Black Cardstock (4) 5 x 1 5/8”

Punch (4) Black Scallops

Cut 4 pieces of *Cardstock & coordinating Designer Paper:
Cardstock: 5 ¼ x 4”
Designer Paper: 5 x 2 ½”

Cut Calendar strips (finished size should be 4 7/8 x 1 ½” each)

For each “season” complete the following steps:
Adhere DP onto the coordinating colored cardstock.
Adhere the black matting to the white calendar strip.
Adhere the matted calendar strip to the colored cardstock (the bottom edge of the black mat should be approx 3/8” from the bottom of the colored cardstock..to allow room for holes that will be punched).
Adhere Black Scallop above calendar strip.
Stamp & color image. Punch out with 1 3/8” circle punch.
Place (2) dimensionals behind the image circle & adhere to the black scallop

Next, you'll want to think about which 2 seasons you want on the outside and on the inside of your calendar then adhere each onto the black calendar base. For instance, you could put Spring & Summer on the outside, Fall & Winter on the inside. Just make sure your seasons go in sequence. If your layers are heavy, you may want to consider using sticky strip or whatever strong adhesive you prefer. For my calendar, my standard monohesive worked just great! I made this one about a month ago and it's still in perfect shape...no signs of lifting.

Use your Cropadile to punch two 1/8” holes (for the ribbon) on the bottom edge of both sides of the calendar (approx 3/8” up from the bottom edge). Thread gingham ribbon through and tie in a loose knot or bow.

Wasn't that easy? This is basically just a standard black card base with layers on all 4 sides and it fits inside a standard SU Medium or Translucent Envelope! You can customize this SO many ways for gifts. Just look through your stamps and papers & I bet you'll find something that would work for each season. Add Scriptures, Quotes, family Photos...the possibilities are endless! If you have any questions about the project, just email me (youcanstamp@hotmail.com).

I'm headed out of town for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving to my US friends and a Wonderful week to my friends abroad! HUGS to all :) !!!

26 comments:

Angel said...

OOOOOHHHH!! I can not wait to make some of these for Christmas gifts. Thanks, nancy!!!
Safe travels my friend!

Clare said...

Hi Nancy,

Thank you for your quick reply to my tag, I really hope you have a truly special thanksgiving. Love, Clare x

Pauline said...

This is really good. I might give it a try :o)

Michelle Tech said...

Great project! This would be a good January Club project I think!

Tonya said...

Nancy, thank you for posting this. I am going to make these for sure!!! LOVE THEM!

Have a great Thanksgiving and safe driving! =)

Anonymous said...

Nancy, you are the Best at tutorials :-) I love your version of my desk calendar. You will find out soon that everyone will want another calendar in 2010 too! You have just started a tradition. TFS your awesome tutorial and calendar. BTW, we are having a great time with the kids in Seattle. Happy Thanksgiving my friend :-)

Judy Rozema said...

Nancy, this is the awesomest EVER!! I really hope I have time to make one of these (actually 3!) for a gift for Christmas. What an awesome tutorial too! Really neat designs!

Memories of Time said...

You are DA BOMB Miss Nancy Morgan! Thanks so much for sharing this! :)

SusanR said...

This is the perfect gift to give my hostess club ladies for Christmas. I think I'll start them tonight! Thanks for a great tutorial :)

Lori Barnett said...

Nancy...this is awesome! I love every little inch of it :) How are things up there OR? I was just talking to my dad today...and it make me think of you. Remember...he is in OR too!

Anonymous said...

Great tutorial! Love the desk calendar. Thank you for sharing such excellent directions, esp. printing out the calendar!!!

eLLen

Anonymous said...

Nancy-thanks for the great tutorial. Your instructions were very thorough. I made 3 this weekend and will do more next weekend. What a great idea for the gals at work! Enjoy your blog. Thanks again. Barb N

nancy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Priscilla said...

Oh my gosh I love this! I saw this on Cambria's blog and just can't wait to try this out. Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial!! :o)

Allison Rankin said...

Nancy..,thanks so much for the tut! I did this tonight when I should have been cleaning, working, etc., etc. You are quite the enabler!

BTW, yours was just beautiful...I only wish I had the same DP. But I did use some SU that I liked (if a little pastel-y!).

Joani McDonald said...

Thank you so much for the tutorial! These are great gifts! I was looking for something different from the same old post it note holders! Thank You again!
Hugs,
Joani

Deb M. said...

Thanks so much for sharing this awesome tutorial. I was looking for some quick & easy gifts to send with my Christmas cards. The calendar is perfect.

Thanks again for taking the time to share all the info.

Merry Christmas...

Brooke - in Oregon said...

This is totally FABULOUS!! And just in time for a Ladies Nite Party I will be attending. Thanks for the great detail in your directions. :)

I found you from Deb's Doodles N Things

*Sally* said...

This is Wonderful!

NormaJ said...

What a great idea. I can send
New Years Greetings with family photos that weren't ready for
Christmas. Thanks for the idea.

Carolyn Mustopa said...

Nancy, thanks so much for the inspiration! As soon as I saw this I knew I had to make it. It took me almost a month to get to it, but you can see it on my blog.

Thanks again!

Sherri said...

Awesome project! I love it - and finally got around to trying to make one - I've put a link to you on my blog - thanks for the great tutorial!!

Discount Cards said...

There are so many calender are available here. The colors are used very effectively. Hopefully you will be add some more ones.

Zafran ali said...

Thanks so much for sharing this awesome tutorial. I was looking for some quick & easy gifts to send with my Christmas cards.The calendar is perfect. Thank,s for so helpful post.
Plastic Card.

Lori said...

I was looking for something to make for my desk at my new job, and I'm definitely going to follow your tutorial and make this! Thank you! Also, I want to let you know that on my own blog I linked up to your tutorial using your photo. Thank you for this really classy calendar! ~Lori

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