Thursday, September 27, 2012

FLIP CALENDAR

I've had this idea swirling around in my  head for some time now and it has finally made it's way to paper.  Be prepared for a l-o-n-g post this time.  If you get bored you can always just look at the pictures.  I'll start with the end result first, which I am so happy with.


I had been looking for a flip stand to use for this project and my friend Cheri came to the rescue when she found this stand at Michael's. 


Each page flips over and when you get to June you simply turn the entire stand around and start with July.   I used six pieces of chipboard with a month on each side.  I was careful to use a certain rotation of months so when the stand is turned the months are in order.  With this much work involved I decided that I would make the calendar last 2 years.  (2013 & 2014)  I used the TH corners to hold the calendars in so that when one is done you can slide it out and the next year is behind it. I thought about going for 3 years but thought that may be a little crazy.


Step one was to cut all the chipboard.  I used 9.50" X 8" for each page.   The pages that came on the stand are flexible and of course chipboard is not.  I had to cut a half circle in the center so the pages would flip.


Because chipboard is so thick I used a row of Tim Holtz Tissue tape at the top of each page so it would all fit in the space allowed on the stand.  I then used lots of Distress Ink and colored each page according to the month.  I used Smead File Folders and cut them to fit my pages.  I then added the pages to the chipboard so they were ready to decorate. 




I layed out all the designs and then went back and added the lettering for the months.  You will see that I have one pictured above with a Chocolate Bunny
that turned out so great.  Imagine my disappointment when I realized that in 2013 Easter falls in March and in 2014 Easter falls in April.  Scratch that and go to Plan B - The Umbrella Man.

Here is a look at each page - 


                    Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a BIG Tim Holtz fan so you will see that his products are everywhere in this project.  I also have a wonderful machine made by Xyon called  Wishblade and I used it to cut all the words.

On the January page I used the Winter Wonder Die, the Snowflake - On The Edge, Snowflake embossing folder and Stickles for the Icecicles.


When I first started papercrafting I did lots of stamping and still do so had to add some stamping and heat embossing on this one.  I also used the Love Struck Die and the Heart Movers and Shapers.
 
 
On the March page I cut a slit in the paper before adding it to the chipboard and slipped the embossing folder in the slit to have the embossing in the center of the page.  I used Elegant Flourishes, the bird from the Caged Bird Die and the Harlequin Boarder Strip Die.


                     As I said earlier, The Umbrella Man is standing in for the
Easter Bunny along with the Butterflies which is an On The Edge Die



So many shades of lavender and purple.  I used the Bird Branch Die, the Retro Circles Embossing Folder and some flowers from the craft store.
 
 
I went with a guy theme on this one since June has Father's Day.  I used the Gadget Gears Die to make a mask, inked the background and then added more on the top.  The Old Jalopy Die is perfect for guys, I made it into a truck and then I added more gears with the On The Edge Die and then some other stuff for fun.


July is a no brainer,  I used the TH Rosette Die and some Movers & Shapers
for the stars.


For most months it is pretty easy to come up with a theme, a holiday or color scheme.  August is a totally different story so I had to give this one lots of thought before coming up with some cool air for a hot month.


In most parts of the country September has falling leaves but here in Arizona we have to use our imagination.  The leaves are falling and then piling up in one corner, anyone have a rake?  I used the leaves from the Movers & Shapers Line and added a few things from the Autumn Gatherings Strip Die.


October is always fun with a Halloween theme.  I couldn't resist this adorable sticker from Jolee's.  I added a fence with the On The Edge Die and a few other things from my stash.


Pumpkins go with the November theme so here you go!  The large pumpkin is the Happy Jack Die and the small ones are Movers & Shapers with some embellishments from the Autumn Gatherings Strip Die.



At last we are at the end.  I used some shinny paper here so sorry about the reflection.  I used the Carved Ornaments Die with the "Peace" Movers & Shapers.  The embossing folder is the Tall Trees.

Thanks for sticking with me on this one, I know it was long but just couldn't help it.  It was like 12 projects in one.


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

JOY!

Today I'm going to a baby shower, something I haven't done in awhile.  I already had a gift but when I found out the baby came a couple weeks early and is a girl I got busy and created this additional gift. 

I dug around in my stash and found this frame that I got at one of our local craft stores.  I had some Graphic 45 "Little Darlings Paper" so was ready to go.

The baby's name is JOY and the young parents are so excited that I thought a play on words would be fun.  Oh JOY, she is here!


This was a fast and easy project, only a couple hours to put together.  I simply glued the paper to the frame, edged all around with Spun Sugar Distress Ink and added flowers and words cut with my Sizzix Dies. 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

September TH Tag




Tim used the Mini Typewriter on his tag but I didn't want to copy his idea so I went with the Mini Fan, a Mover and Shaper die from his line.  What comes to mind when you see a vintage fan? Cool air, right?  Here in Arizona we are always wishing for "COOL"

It just so happens that this tag is doing double duty this month.  Linda over at Studio L3 has posted her challenge from Tim's book Compindium of Curiosities Vol. 2.  This one fits the bill for this challenge. Wish me luck as there is a $25 gift certificate up for grabs from the generous Linda, the Funkie Junkie.




I started out with a tag of course and covered it with foil tape. I pressed it down as well as possible but in the end it will be OK since it will be run through the embossing folder. Some of the flaws will disappear and some will be covered up.  I used the TH Riveted Embossing Folder.  Tim used black paint on his but I used brown only because I had brown. I'm happy with the result as it looks like rust.  I simply covered the entire surface with paint and then wiped off the excess with a baby wipe. 

Next I tore a page from an old book and used a strip to go across the tag.  Using the Color Blender I used both Vintage Photo and Aged Mahogany Distress Ink for the edges.


I cut the fan out of Grungeboard and then colored the black parts with a  Sharpie.  I then added the center using the "S" from the TH Type Charms.


I used the Wordplay Die to cut out the word COOL from black chipboard.

I then started to assemble all the parts.  When I added the fan and COOL I used some foam tape strips to lift it up.  Punching a hole through the foil tape at the top I added a black ribbon from my stash and then added a Trinket Pin and a Philosohy Tag.  I decided to use the #9 because September is the 9th month.
With the top of the tag done I finished the bottom portion off with a Word Band and a File Tab that says "wishes",  wishing you a cool day.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

My Vintage (or not) Finds

We a have just returned yesterday from our trip so I have been busy taking care of the stuff that always needs doing when you come home.

With two months on the road there was time to collect lots of goodies.  We like to go to antique shops, craft fairs, flea markets and brew pubs.  Here are few goodies that I picked up along the way.


















Some are for the home but most are for projects that will sooner or later end up right here on the blog.  Lots of it is Vintage but most is just stuff I found  for fun. As you can see, there are a couple flying pigs, vintage glass and brass knobs and handles, a wooden tape measure and a crusty-rusty old apple corer that just called my name.

I've been working on some cards using the new Pop N Cut dies from
 Karen Burniston and Sizzix.   Hope to post some soon.

S@ndy