Free August iWhatever Calendar and Desktop

***Saturday August 2nd***
I'm back. I wasn't happy with a couple of things, and it was bugging me so much that I had to go back and fix them. Then I couldn't have you all still walking around with inferior calendars, so I had to share the fixed ones with you here!
 So...now the iWhatever calendar has a piece of kraft paper behind "August" to help it show up a little better and the background paper and the frame on the desktop are a little different. I feel much better now. I know--I'm weird that way. I guess it's my own little form of OCD.
I don't want anyone to feel like you have to delete the previous versions and replace them with these new-and-improved versions, but if you don't...well....
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Does everybody know what time it is?! Yep, it's time to freshen up that stale old desktop screen or homescreen on your phone or iWhatever with a new calendar! I think by now you know the routine, so here you go! This one is for your small-ish screens...

...and here is one for your desktop or laptop...

I would love to stay around and share some fascinating story about my amazingly interesting life, but I AM POOPED! So, sadly, I must sign off and head to dreamland.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stand-Up Mini Album

Ok. I said I'd be back with a project, didn't I? It took longer than I expected to get fully inspired, but this is a sneak peek at the finished album. It's 5x7, so it will fit in an envelope for mailing (with a couple extra stamps. Mine turned out quite thick.) If you want to see the whole thing, you'll just have to stick around and read the rest of my post. ;)

I started with a plan and even took a picture of my supplies to share with you here. Then I shifted gears just a bit, so instead of the pic, I'll just give you the list of what I actually used:

• Two sheets 12x12 heavy pink cardstock for the body of the album
• Three sheets 12x12 heavy white cardstock for the frames
• Glitter cardstock (a girl has to have her glitter, right?)
• Punches for embellishments--I used flowers, a flourish, and a paisley
• Ribbon and jewels or brads
• An assortment of dies for cutting frames--I started with circles and squares but decided rectangles and ovals were a better fit. 

From one piece of pink I cut a 7x10 strip and scored it down the middle, so I basically had a 5x7 card. From the other piece of pink I cut a 7x12 strip and scored it at 5 inches and 10 inches, so I had a 5x7 card with a little 2 inch flap. That flap will connect the two pieces later. 

But first....

I folded both pieces and ran them through the Cuttlebug in a paisley pattern embossing folder. I used paper with a white core, so I sanded the embossing a little to make it pop. 

Next I adhered the two pieces together using that two inch flap, so I had a four page accordion album. 

Don't worry about the flap--we will cover it up later. 

Now for the frames. Using a variety of rectangular and oval Nesties, I cut frames for each of the four inside pages and the cover, as well as a solid piece of white (not in the picture) to serve as the back of each frame. I used a Dotted Swiss embossing folder on one of the two matching frames and the thinner oval, and I layered the two ovals together to make one frame. 

I adhered a strip of ribbon across the front--long enough to wrap around and tie a pretty bow. Then I placed all the frames. 

Remember that extra two inch flap on the back? I cut two 5x7 pieces from my strips of leftover cs and

adhered them to the back. Then I added a piece of lined paper, die cut to match the frames, for journaling. 

Now for the embellishments! I cut a 'J' for the front because this is going to a new baby whose name starts with 'J.' Then I punched several flowers, flourishes, and paisleys from the glitter paper and some of the scrap pieces of white. I scattered those among the frames, and this is what I ended up with:

I know it's basically just an accordion album, but with the extra layer on the back, it's stable enough to stand up and use as a table top frame. Now I think I'll try one in landscape orientation. Hmmmmm....

    No, I didn't make a horizontal version already. I was so focused on making this stand up that I didn't even consider hanging it on the wall! How cute is that?!

Ok. That's it for now. Time for me to go work outside. 

Thanks for stopping by! See you in a few days with the August calendar!

Free July Calendar and Desktop

Whew! What a month! I do believe June 2014 was one of the most hectic months of my life! I hate to wish away any of our warm weather months, but I am honestly relieved to see the end of that one. 

Now, to help us move on to a new month, here is July's calendar....

Save it to your iWhatever for a handy dandy lock-screen calendar. 

And to keep everything nicely coordinated, use this one (which has lots of open space for icons) for you desktop background:

Sometimes a phone or tablet (I'm not naming names, but this particular one starts with an i and ends with Pad or Phone) enlarges the picture too much to see the whole calendar, then it won't allow you to shrink it. If your device does this, you might try the desktop version instead, and just zoom in on the calendar part when you get the "move and scale" option. 

If you'd like to make your own calendar, here is a copy of just the days and dates:

Have a great Independence Day! I'll be back in a week or so with something fun. I'm not yet sure what it will be, but it will definitely be fun!!!

Thanks for stopping by!