Mini Desk Calendar Tutorial

I'm working on thank you gifts for my customers who recently placed on-line orders and used my Hostess Codes.  These gals will be receiving a Stampin' Up! Simply Shammy as a reward from me for using the code.  I'm also tucking in a Mini Desk Calendar and Post It Note holder in their thank you packages to show my appreciation.  

The calendar and Post-it Note covers are both made with the Berry Delightful Designer Series Paper featured in the Sale-A-Bration flyer. Isn't it beautiful?  I really like the colour and design on this paper and the coordinating stamp set called Berry Blessings.  

Berry Blessings is a Two-Step Stampin' set and comes with 13 photopolymer stamps.  The coordinating Berry Delightful Designer Series Paper is 12" x 12" and comes with 2 each of 6 double-sided designs. The paper coordinates with the following product colours: Balmy Blue, Blackberry Bliss, Calypso Coral, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Night of Navy, Pacific Point, Poppy Parade, Rich Razzleberry, and Shaded Spruce. This coordinated bundle is free with a qualifying purchase of at least $120.00 before tax and shipping charges and is only available until the end of February 2021 or while supplies last.

Here's an inside view of the mini easel calendar.  So pretty and only a few steps needed to create this great project.  The Post It Note Holder is also a simple project and really goes compliments the calendar when giving it as a gift.    

The thank you card also features the Berry Delightful DSP.  This card design is called a Circle Card, and showcases both sides of this paper. 

This has to be my most "used" sentiment in this age of COVID-19.  It's been the star attraction on so many of my cards and gift boxes.  The sentiment is from the So Sentimental  stamp set and is stamped in Rich Razzleberry.  I used the  Stitched So Sweetly Dies to cut out both labels.  

So Sentimental Stamp Set

Stitched So Sweetly Dies  that coordinate with the So Sentimental Stamp Set.

Here's Some Other Calendar and Note Pad Samples:

I usually make these mini desk calendars for Christmas stocking stuffers and last minute hostess gifts.  Because the calendar pads are sometimes hard to find and are gone as soon as they hit the shelves I generally buy mine in the early Fall.  They come ten to a pack and the price is very reasonable.  They can be ordered directly from the manufacturer Taylored Expressions, or at local craft stores.  

Here are some pictures of the calendars I've been working on. The Dog and Sunflower calendars were both made using the directions for the Small Easel Stand Desk Calendar (tutorial below).  The Blackberry Bliss sample is actually a combination Desk Calendar and Post It Note Holder and I've provided a link for this one. 

This is the cover of my Pampered Pets Calendar.  I've had a lot of fun designing both dog and cat calendars and Post-it Note covers using the Pampered Pets Designer Series Paper.  

The 2021 calendar pads are from Taylored Expressions.  They measure 2 3/4 x 3" and are the perfect size for these holders. 

When the calendar pad is open the top flap rests against the calendar pad so it stands upright.  

Small Easel Stand Desk Calendar

I don't know who created the first template for this calendar but I really thank them for providing a simple way to dress up a mini desk calendar. Here are the simple instructions.

Base:    Cut one 8 1/2" x 3 1/4" piece of cardstock for the base. Score this piece at 2 1/8" and 4 1/4" burnish the score lines 2 1/8" score line is a mountain fold and the 4 1/4" score line is a valley.  When you work with this piece these two folds need to be pushed back.  Adhesive goes on the front piece and then the front layer from the next step is attached to the base  like this.  

Calendar Front:  Cut a 4 14" x 3 1/4" piece to match base card stock.  Cut a 3 x 4" piece in a coordinating colour to the DSP for the 1st layer and adhere.  Cut a 2 3/4" x 3 3/4" piece of DSP for the final layer and adhere.   

Inside Base:  Cut a 3 x 4" piece of coordinating card stock for first layer followed by a 2 3/4" x 3 3/4" piece of DSP.  Adhere both layers.   Attach 2 1/4" x 3" calendar pad. 

Just add embellishments to the cover of the Easel Calendar and you're all done. 

Calendar, Post It Note and Pen:

If you want to create a larger easel card calendar holder there are many templates out there, but here's one I made that measures 4 14" x 5 1/2".  It has a calendar on the front a pen holder and covered post it note pad. on the base.

I followed this tutorial by Tracy Elsom to make my calender set.  I used paper from my Love It Chop It paper stash to make this sample.  I used Perfect Plumb (retired) and Blackberry Bliss cardstock along with Whisper White for the layers and base.   

This is the Post It Note cover in the contrasting paper 

  

This view shows the Post It Note cover lifted. What a great and simple way of dressing up the Post It Note pad. 

I hope you've enjoyed these projects and samples.  They make great gifts.   

Happy Stamping!

Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Penny Hanuszak, Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

FEBRUARY HOSTESS CODE:

Berry Blessings and Berry Delightful DSP available during Sale-a-bration 
Click here for details. 

Christmas Hostess Gifts - Day Five Wine Bottle Toppers

Wine Bottle Toppers:

Whenever I visit friends and take wine I like to bring it in a wine bag or box, but on occasion I've been caught short without either.  The easiest solution is to make a Wine Bottle Topper or Tag.  These are so easy to make and you can keep a supply on hand to quickly decorate for the occasion.  

Here's My Wine Topper:

Supplies For Cherry Cobbler Wine Topper:
Card Stock:
Cherry Cobbler
Early Espresso
Whisper White 

Ink:
Gumball Green
Coastal Cabana
Early Espresso 

Accessories:
1 3/8" Circle Punch
Apothecary Framelits
Oval Framelits
Basic Rhinestones
Dazzling Diamonds
Dimensionals
2-way Glue Pen
Big Shot
Trimmer 

Assembly:

1.  Cut Cherry Cobbler card stock to 2 7/8”x 8”.

2.  Score at 2 ¼" and use bone folder to crease at score line. 

3.  Cut a piece of Season of Style DSP to 2” x 5” and adhere to middle of Cherry Cobbler piece.

4.  Punch 1 3/8” circle out of top portion of Cherry Cobbler card stock.

5.  Using the large die from the Apothecary Framelit set cut a 3 x 5" piece of Early Espresso cardstock.  Then place the rectangular framelit in the center of this piece and run through the big shot. 

Apothecary Framelits Item #127003

6.  Stamp a scene using the images from the Warmth and Wonder 7 piece hostess stamp on a 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 piece of Whisper White Card stock.  Lay the rectangular die over the stamped image to make sure the image will be visible through the window frame you created in step 5.  Finish details on picture and then adhere behind the Early Espresso frame.  Mount finished frame to center of dsp piece. 

This cute little stamp set features 7 stamps.  It has a 2-step stamp (dots) that stamps on the tree to create ornaments.  It also coordinates with the Extra Large Oval Stamp (bird image).  This stamp set is part of the Hostess set of stamps in the Holiday Mini and is only available until January 3rd, 2014 when it will be retired.  

The tree is stamped in Gumball Green, the stars are in Coastal Cabana and the deer is in Early Espesso inks.  I used the 2-way glue pen to add lines around the base of the tree and between the deers legs and then sprinkled on Dazzling Diamonds, so it looks like snow glistening on the ground.  You can't see that in this picture, but if you look closely at the finished tag you will see it.  I also added another star and placed small basic rhinestones in each one. 

7.  Stamp the sentiment "Wishing you......" onto a piece of Whisper white cardstock and cut it out with the smallest oval from the Oval Framelits die cuts.  Using the next size of framelit cut out a piece from Cherry Cobbler and mount the sentiment on this piece with dimensionals and then add the finished sentiment to the tag with dimensionals.

Place the wine bottle topper over your bottle of wine and you are done!  How easy was that?

Another Sample:

I made another wine bottle topper that includes a Christmas Ornament.  The base of the wine bottle topper is cut from Brushed Silver cardstock.  I made the ornament with the Festive Flurry Stamp Set and matching Framelit die cuts, and stamped it in Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo and Night of Navy inks.  Two layers of snowflakes were cut out of Silver Glimmer paper.  I put a Silver 1/8" Ribbon on for the ornament tie and added a Frosted Finishes Embellisment for the center piece in the ornament.  

I used dimensionals between all the layers on the ornament, however because dimensionals won't stick to the glimmer paper when I added a large glue dot on top of the dimensional. Works like a charm.  I attached the ribbon to the back of the ornament with tape and then used an additional large snowflake to cover this. 

The ornament was added to the wine topper with repositionable glue so it can be removed and used as an ornament on the tree.  

 Here's a final look at the two wine bottle toppers I made. 

Note:  The following products used to make these tags will be retiring on January 3rd and no longer available.

Festive Flurries Stamp Set and Framelits - can be purchased as a bundle.
Warmth and Wondeer Stamp Set
Frosted Finish Embellisments 
Silver 1/8" Ribbon