The 2015 Calendar

Once again it's that time of year when people start emailing me about "The Calendar".  For those of you who might be new to the blog, the original calendar was made back in 2009 (I think) by Deb and myself when we worked for another company.  It was used as a make and take at CHA - then each year Deb would update the calendar and one of us would do an tutorial here on the blog.  Even though Deb does not blog anymore, she still updates the calendar each year and sends it too me to post.  Thank you Deb! The links to the 2015 calendar can be found at the bottom of the post along with links to each of the past tutorials.

This year I decided to use a piece of thin wood I picked up at Michaels.  The size is 6 5/8 x 4 5/8".  I believe it was about $1.99.   I also chose of piece of paper from the Collage Mini Stash to cover the front of the board.

 

I adhered the paper with Multi Medium, sanded the edges with the Sanding Grip and then inked with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

I decided to use a Ring Binder to hold the calendar pages.  I colored the silver metal with gold Mixative Alcohol Ink (rememeber to shake it before use).

After the gold was dry I pounced a little Mushroom Alcohol Ink over the surface to give it more depth and a little more shine.

I needed holes to attach the Ring Binder so I used an awl (or maybe it's an ice pick) that I picked up in a junk store.  I had been looking for one every time I was out and I found the perfect one in Prescott on a trip there last year.  Anyway, I used the awl and the hammer to easily punch a hole through the thin wood and paper.

 Turn the Ring Binder over and add two thicknesses of Ranger Adhesive Foam to the bottom channel.

Add the Ring Binder to the surface.
The foam tape will secure it to the board but you can't just have holes on each end.
I cut piece of ribbon and a small piece of wire, which I folded in half to make a needle.

The wire works perfectly to pull the ribbon through the small hole in the wood.

I tied a knot and trimmed the ends.
Just a note here - the calendar pages will hang here, but they will not flip all the way around since the Ring Binder is mounted on one side of the board.

Because the calendar pages are small, they have to be mounted onto another piece of paper.  I decided to do something different and mount them on plastic.  I am using binding covers that I had on hand.  I purchased these at Office Depot.

 I cut each sheet into 4 pieces - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2".

I punched each page with the Binder Punch which is made to match the Ring Binder. 

I found you could easily punch 3 sheets at a time.

I printed my calendar onto manila colored cardstock but you can choose whatever color suits you.   I cut out each month and inked the edges with Frayed Burlap.

 I also added Remnant Rubs from the Life Quotes pack to each page.

 Then used the Tiny Attacher to add the months to the plastic.

Once you have the first one in the correct position, you can use it as a guide for the other months.  Just lay the new plastic over the first and line up the calendar.  Easy.

Some of the months that are shorter (like February) so there was plenty of room to add larger rubs.  I think I'm going to go back and color in special days with Distress Markers too.

 I decided to add a large Remnant Rub to the Ring Binder.

 Now just add the pages.

I am using a small easel I picked up at Joanns for $2.99 as a stand.  Works great.

Calendar tutorials from previous years

Recycled Calendar

Key Desk Calendar

Dragonfly Wood Calendar

Clipboard Calendar

2015 calendar pages can be found by clicking on the links below.  

Each page has 4 months and should be printed on 8 1/2 x 11" cardstock.

Calendar page 1

Calendar page 2

Calendar page 3

I'm off to Texas today to teach at The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie.  I hear there are some new shops in Waxahachie (you know I'm not going to miss Dove's nest!)  You can follow me to Texas via Facebook and Instagram - Just click on the links on the sidebar to find me.

now carry on,

paula

InLinkz.com