Free October Calendar and Desktop

OCTOBER?!!! 

Yikes!

Yes, I know it's only the 29th of September, and I know that I am a procrastinator, but here is your October calendar for your iWhatever, complete with sort-of-Halloween-ish colors! 

I did some digi experimenting to get to this one. (See--I was playing--that's why it's ready early!) In the last few months I have accumulated a decent collection of old books, including dictionaries, bibles, hymnals, and other sheet music, and I wanted to include some pages in a calendar. So I took pictures of some of the pages, cropped them so nothing showed behind the paper, and saved them to my photo albums. Then when I went to Coolibah to make the calendar, I was able to pull up those pages just like any other picture. 

I also wanted to jump on the chalkboard bandwagon, so I used a black background and a font called Marcelle Script, which has a kind of chalky look to it.

When I finished the calendar I sent it to the desktop computer which has a much bigger screen. That was when I realized that the two papers at the top left truly belong there. One is the music for "As Time Goes By" and the other is a dictionary page with "four o'clock" as the first entry! 

Very appropriate for a calendar, don't you think? 

If you need help saving your calendar to your lockscreen or homescreen read this.

Here is the desktop version, with more open space for your desktop icons:

I know Halloween colors are traditionally black and orange, but I DON'T DO ORANGE! So this is as close as it's gonna get. I wore orange polyester from head to toe for five months and that was enough orange to last a lifetime. No, I wasn't in prison. I worked behind the bakery counter at Venture. The job was ok, but the uniform was...well...it obviously left me scarred. Luckily, I was able to transfer to cashier and wear normal clothes again after a few months! 

I guess that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by!

See you next time!

New Supplies Challenge, Part 3

Way back in February I issued to myself a "New Supplies Challenge." (Part One and Part Two) It's been a while since I made anything from those new items, and to be perfectly honest, I have added to my stockpile supplies. Repeatedly. I know how shocked you must be, and I'm sure that I am the only one among us who has ever done anything like that. Mmm-hmmm....

Chalkboards are as trendy right now as chevrons. (I just don't get all the fuss about chevrons!) My chalkboard-ish stamp is from Stampin' Up! Chalk Talk. The phrase on the oval, "I'm so grateful there's you in the world," ties right in to the World Map background stamp and a Tim Holtz embossing folder called Airmail. My main goal tonight was to play with the new SU! Thinlits Label Card die. 

I started with kraft cardstock, a bit of natural parchment, a scrap of black cardstock, the stamps, embossing folder, dies, and ink. The picture shows white craft ink (to look like chalk on the black paper) and black ink, but I switched out the black for Crumb Cake, which is about the color of my kraft paper.   

 Let's begin now. Ooooh! In my head I sounded like the voice on the old 45's that came with Disney story books. You know the ones: "This is the story of Lady and the Tramp. You can read along with me in your book. You will know it is time to turn the page, when Tinkerbell rings her little bell. *brrrriiiing* Let's begin now...." Have I mentioned I'm sleep-deprived? That's when my nearly-ADD kicks into high gear.

So, the first thing I did was run a piece of 6x6 kraft paper (for the card base) and a piece of 6x6 parchment (for stamping and embossing) through the BigShot with the Label Card Thinlits die. It cuts part of the label shape from the center of the card and scores the fold lines. The fold lines do not go across the label, so do not fold the label. The left score line on the card base will be a mountain fold and the right score line will be a valley fold. When folded properly the card base will measure 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.

Now for the parchment. Trim 1/8 inch off each side of the piece you will stamp and/or emboss. Next, cut along the score lines. You won't need the long strip from the middle or the two pieces of the label. The two pieces you have left are the perfect size to adhere to your card base. AFTER you play with them a little!

I embossed the smaller piece and stamped the larger piece...

then I used Crumb Cake to ink around the edges of both pieces with my fingertip, and slid my ink pad across the embossing to bring it out.

The label die is one of eight smaller dies included with the Label Card die set. I stamped the oval in white craft ink on black cardstock and ran it through the BigShot with the label die. I cut one more black label for inside the card. Then with a paper towel over my finger I smeared just a little white craft ink. (Craft ink is stickier and messier than dye ink.) Go easy on the ink--you can always add more. See how that makes it look chalkboard-ish?

Now it's time to put it all together! When it's laid out flat, you will see both pieces that you decorated and the back side of the label, which I left blank. When I give this to someone I will sign on the blank label with a white gel pen. I had mine all put together when I decided it needed something, so I had to use some Un-Du to remove both black labels. I tied a piece of red seam binding around the kraft paper label, then replaced the black pieces on top of the ribbon so only the bow shows.

If I wanted to add another sentiment I could run it along the strip in the center or, since I used such a light ink for the background stamp, I could stamp on top of it in black.

Here is another look at the front of the finished card....

There you go! It seems like a lot of work, but it's really not. I just wanted my directions to be very clear, since it's a new die that few people are familiar with. 

So, let's see.... 

one new embossing folder (Airmail)

one new background stamp (World Map)

one new stamp set (Chalk Talk)

one new die ( Label Card)

Cool! I used four things from my New Supplies stash! I hope I've inspired you to use some of your stash! Please let me know if I did. I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by! See you next time!

Free September Calendar and Desktop

*Edited Sunday September 8th*

I spent a week with the calendar and I'm just not happy with it. So I went back to Coolibah and switched out the background paper. Two taps on the screen and that's it! This one feels much better.

Ok. Now I'm going out to relax at the pool for a bit, then try to come up with something new. Hope to be back this evening!

*The Original Post--Sunday September 1*

Another month gone! We've had hardly any summer at all, now it's time for fall! Sorry I haven't been around much this month. I'm sure you have managed to keep yourself busy without me! heehee!

You know the drill. If you are new to my posts and don't know the drill, WELCOME! You can learn the drill if you follow this link for instructions to load this pretty calendar to the lockscreen of your phone or iWhatever. Or if you would like to make your own calendar, go to this page to learn how to do just that using Coolibah (my favorite iPad app!) 

Here is a desktop version for your laptop or home computer. It doesn't have as much going on so it's easier to see your icons. 

And, last but not least, here is the days and dates part of September, to use if you want to make your own.

That's all I've got for now, but I'll try to get back later in the week or at least next weekend. Until then....

Thanks for stopping by! See you next time!