2020 Pocket Notebook Calendar

2020 is almost here!

Are you ready? I've made a start by putting together this fun 2020 pocket style calendar to keep up with myself, and that 's no easy task!  I used Eileen Hull's Pocket Notebook to create a monthly calendar that I can easily take with me when we are traveling as it is 6 3/4" x 4" and the spine is about 1 3/4" wide.  I used Graphic 45's beautiful new Fashion Forward Calendar Collection.

Video Flip Through

I recorded a video so you could see all the pages.

The Closure

Rather than the usual elastic band that are used on so many of these style notebooks, I chose to make a velcro closure.  It's simple to make, you just need to plan ahead.

Cover the inside and outside of your notebook cover with your choice of paper.  I often make mine with plain cardstock, then I don't have to worry about paper pattern direction and all that.  Then I cover the cardstock with design papers.  

Cut a 1" wide strip of  Tim Holtz Substrate or chipboard and at least 5 1/2" long.  Then cut cardstock to cover the strip 2 1/4" x 5 1/2".  Score on the long side 5/8" from each edge and cover the substrate or chipboard strip.  Then adhere to the front cover with a really strong adhesive.  A clothespin works great for holding it tight while the glue dries.

Here's a tip from my friend Ginger Ropp for cutting thin strips of cardstock.  Use post-its to hold your paper in place.   Works fabulously and no risk of tearing the paper like when you use tape.

Now you can proceed with your cover and add design paper etc.  

After I put design paper on my cover, I decided to secure the band with a couple of brads so that the band can't be torn off or come loose.

Once you have completed the back cover, you can add velcro.  Just place the velcro (with both pieces attached) onto the cover.  Remove the adhesive backing from the top of the velcro and securely press the band over the velcro, lift the band and one piece of the velcro will be attached to the band,  and the other on the back cover, thereby creating a perfect closure with everything lined up just right.

The Calendar Pages

I created a calendar at www.CalendarHome.com to use with Graphic 45's calender cut-aparts (8 x 8 pad).  The trimmed calendars fit perfectly inside the calendar cut-aparts.  You can download the calendar I used here.  As you can see in the photo, I just cut the individual calendars out, rounded the corners and adhered them over the design paper.

You can download a printable page here for the lined paper that I printed onto 6" x 12" lightweight cardstock to used for the note pages in my calender.  Just cut 12 x 12 paper in half and print.  Or, you could print on regular copy paper.

Supplies

Eileen Hull Designs by Sizzix Pocket Notebook

Sizzix Making Essential - Mat Board, 6" x 13", White, 6 Sheets - Item #656492

Eileen Hull Easy Cut Adhesive Sheets 6” x 12” sheets

Eileen Hull Red Liner Tape 1/4 in x 6 yd

Other Supplies

Graphic 45 Fashion Forward 8 x 8 pad

Graphic 45 Patterns and Solids

Graphic 45 Die Cut Assortment

Black Cardstock

I haven't recorded a tutorial video for this specific journal yet but here are links to some tutorials for traveler's journals by Eileen Hull.  They go together in the same manner as this journal.

Traveler's Junk Journal

Traveler's Notebook

Alchemy Journal

Thanks so much for joining me today!  After the New Year, I will do a complete tutorial for this notebook, til then...Happy Holidays, enjoy the season!

xxoxo Maggi

Die-cuts, fussy cutting, and paper scraps = Beautiful Tag!

The Funkie Junkie Design Team has a special post for our regular Showcase Saturday series.  Sll og us have created a special tag and tutorial for you showcasing some of our favorite Funkie Junkie items.  Stop by The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog to see all the DT tags.

How to Make a Tag with Less Than Perfect Papers!

It's not that the papers aren't perfect, it's that I can't bear to throw a scrap away and this is how I use them.

1. Use a Graphic 45 large ivory tag or recycle a large packaging tag as I did.  Sometimes the edging on the recycled tags looks fine but in this instance, I didn't like the look, so I just painted around the edge.

Assemble the pieces shown in the photo below:

• Trim a cut-apart to about 3 1/8" x 4 3/4". (I used a scalloped die to cut mine).
• Die-cut a frame that is approximately 4 1/2" x 6".
• Fussy cut a bird and roses cluster as shown.
• Use the Graphic 45 large tag die to cut a base for the tag.  Notice that my blue base has a hole in it and the top is missing.  Yep, I utilize EVERY scrap of paper.  The center is going to be covered so who cares if there's a hole in the middle.  And, my paper scrap wasn't long enough to cut the entire tag.  Soooo, no problem, I used the tag die to just cut the top portion and covered my tag with the two pieces.  (see the 2nd photo.)

  2.  Assemble the tag -

• Glue a strip of beads at the bottom of the tag.
• Then cover the base with the blue patterned paper and the separate pink top.
• Pop up the die-cut frame and adhere about 1 1/2" from the bottom. Yes, I know the paper is upside down, but the die-cut at the bottom is a little messed up and that's not a problem because the bottom will be covered.  No one will notice that the paper is upside down after its all finished.

• Pop up the Joeux Noel cut-apart and adhere over the center of the frame.
• Pop up the fussy cut bird and place over the right side of the tag as shown in the photo.  Add some pretty flowers and a bow at the top.  
• Tie a pretty Christmas tree charm to the bow.

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Graphic 45 - 12 Days of Christmas Deluxe Collector's Edition

Silver Tone Christmas Tree Charms - Set of 5Graphic 45 - Large Tag Album - Ivory
Burlap String - 12 Colors

Distress Ink - Victorian Velvet

Distress Oxide Ink - Evergreen Bough

Distress Oxide Ink - Fired Brick

Spellbinders Romantic Rose Spellbinders Romantic Rose (very similar to the frame die I used)

It's the Holidays at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog

I'm hosting the current challenge at The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog, come play along!  Read on for all the details and a tutorial for a flip up tri-fold card.

The Challenge - It's the Holidays

Not only is it the "most wonderful time of the year" , it's also the busiest time of the year, for me anyway!  It's hard to find anytime to pursue our paper passion so I decided on a practical challenge.  Hopefully, this will give you some needed crafting time, while making something that is useful for the holiday season that is upon us! For the challenge, create a vintage or shabby chic card, tag, gift box or bag that you can use over the holidays.  Easy peasy and something you'll probably need this season!

I created a tri-fold card with a flip up panel inside.  This card is flat enough to mail in a regular envelope.  Wow, imagine that, LOL, not something I do with any regularity!

Tutorial 

1. Cut a 12" x 6 1/8" cardbase from cream cardstock.  Score at 3 3/4" and 7 7/8" on the long side.  Be sure to orient your card such that the wider (4 1/8") flap is on the right side.

2. Cut a rectangle piece 4" x 6 1/2".  Score at 1/2" on one short side.

3. Take the small rectangle and fold the flap down.  Put adhesive just on the flap (Scor-Tape works really well for this application) and adhere to the center of the tri-fold just at the top such that the flap opens up as in the photo below.

4. Punch a border strip about 5 1/2" and adhere to the outside of the inside flap on the right side.  Place a small magnet closure on the outside of the inside flap as shown.  Be sure that you have it far enough to the left so that when you fold the left flap over, the magnet is completely covered by the left flap.

5. Place the magnet that is going on the left flap on top of the magnet on the right, remove the adhesive from the magnet and then fold the left flap over and press down where the magnets are located.  Then, when you open the card flap, the magnet will be perfectly placed.

6. Now, time to select your design papers.  I've used Graphic 45's 12 Days of Christmas.  Cut two pieces 3 1/2" x 5 7/8" for the front panel and adhere to the outside and the inside of the first panel. (We'll finish the front as our last step.)

I used two narrower scraps to cover my inner panel .  Then place a cut-apart in the center of the inner front panel.  Place adhesive on just 3 sides and adhere, creating a pocket as shown in the photo below.

7. Then use a Graphic 45 ATC tag, cover with design paper and tie a pretty bow at the top to insert in the pocket.  You could use this pocket for a gift card!

8. For the outside of the right side, I trimmed a cut-apart to 3 7/8" x 5 7/8 and adhered, coving the edge of the border strip and the magnet closure.

9. Cut two pieces 3 3/4" x 5 3/4" for the fold up center flap and adhere to each side.  Decorate the flap however you wish.  I used a die-cut tree and die-cut word as well as some stickers from the 12 Days of Christmas collection.

10. Cut a piece of design paper4" x 5 7/8" for the center panel underneath the flap and adhere.  Adhere a journaling die-cut in the center.  (YOu can see the center underneath the flap in the photo at step 3.

11. Cut a piece 3 7/8" x 5 7/8" for the inside right and adhere.  Add other layers as you wish.

12. Now let's finish the front.  Use a die-cut frame that will fit on your card.  I've used an old Sizzix frame.  Randomly dab embossing ink on the frame but don't cover completely.   Then sprinkle with white embossing powder and heat set.   (Note, this looks really good on dark paper as it creates a snowy effect.)  I either paint the ink on or use bottled with a dabber top ink.

13. Adhere the frame to the front of the card.

14. Trim a cut-apart to fit your frame and pop up with dimensional foam.

15.  The bow on the tag that you've slid inside the card gives a really festive look.

How to Enter the Challenge

Create a vintage or shabby chic project and link it up to The Funkie Junkie Blog Challenge, It's the Holidays.  The Design Team will choose their top four picks, with the winner being invited to be a guest designer in one of our Funkie Junkie Challenges. The other three winners will receive Top 3 badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into a draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Be sure to take a look at the creations of my talented teammates, you can see their creations here, at The Funkie Junkie Blog.

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Graphic 45 -12 Days of Christmas DCE

Graphic 45 ATC tag

Distress Embossing Ink

Ranger Adhesive - White Foam Roll

Scor-Tape 3/8"

Ranger Antiquities Embossing Powder - Weathered White

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Fired Brick

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Old Paper

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink - Iced Spruce

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink - Pine Needles

BasicGrey Magnetic Snaps

Other Supplies

Graphic 45 ATC die

Cardstock - cream or ivory

Red Seam Binding

Tim Holtz by Sizzix Vintage Tidings