Make It Monday: Photo Frame Calendar

Today, I'm going to share with you how to make this really cute, really inexpensive craft project: Photo Frame Calendar. I, originally seen this on Martha Stewart. As usual, I added my own little twist to it and this is is what  you get. 

For this project, you will need: A wooden frame 8x10 (You can get one  at Walmart for 2.00), cardstock ( to print out your calendar),  2 screw hooks, a ruler, possibly a drill and small bit, and your favorite photo.

The frame I used for this project is one that I've already had and it's near and dear to me. My hubby gave it to me on my first Mother's Day.  The picture I chose for it was the first ever picture taken of my son William and I, just hours after I gave birth to him.

 Well, that baby is six now and a sports maniac.  While, pretending he was the next Larry Bird, his lay up hit my favorite picture frame and broke the back off as well as some other damage, but I just couldn't bear to throw it out.   Luckily, I remembered this project (Thanks, Martha!)

Measure an inch and a half in from the end of your frame.

Mark a little spot.  From that mark, measure 1/2 an inch from the long edge of the frame.

Mark that spot.  That will be where you make your hole for your hook screw ( bought these at the Dollar Store).

 The wood on my frame was very soft, so I was able to carefully screw the hook in with my fingers.  Do this slowly so that you keep your hook going in straight.  If the wood on your frame is not that soft, you may have to drill a hole in using a small drill bit, then screw your hook in place.

Repeat on the other side, so that each side has a hook.  Check to make sure they are even before you start to screw in your second hook.

Print out a calendar for 2011. 

Here are several sites that have some great caldendar templates.

http://www.freeprintablecalendar.net/2011/Calendar.aspx

http://www.printable2011calendar.com/

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/calendars/a/2011calendars.htm

http://www.keepandshare.com/htm/calendars/2011_calendars/free_2011_calendar.php

I printed out a full calendar with all twelve months on one sheet, but I think I am going to go back and print out monthly calendar pages.  After looking at the pictures,  I just don't care for the full calendar that much.  You decide which you like best.

Lay your frame flat and I just kind of eye balled it to make the holes on my calendar by laying it under the hooks and putting a little mark.

Using a hole punch or even a small nail, punch a hole on the mark you made on top of your calendar.

Assemble your frame back together with your favorite photo or clipart.

Now hang your frame, like you would any picture frame, anywhere you need a calendar.

Slip your calendar onto the hooks.

And you're done.  These are not only awesome and fun, but functional. Changing your photo is super easy and all in all, it should cost about $4.00 to make. That's including the cardstock and a bit for the ink to print the calendar.  They make great gifts for family, friends, and teachers.  Also, a fantastic way to showcase your budding artist's creation.

Make it Monday: Make a Coupon Organizer for a dollar

As promised in Saturday's  Saturdays Saving post, today I am going to show you how to make a coupon organizer for a dollar. What you need:

1 mini photo album (you can get them at your local Dollar Store for $1.00.  Sometimes Walmart has them for the same price)
Scrap card stock
Double stick tape or tacky glue
white stickers sheets or plain white paper or card stock

If you get the kind of album where the first page has inserts instead of a solid cover, you can slide them out and add your own picture, like I did on mine.  I would much prefer to look at my two beautiful babies on the front cover than some flowers.  This is a great place to keep your shopping list and cash. 

Next make your tabs.  Feel free to print out and use the tab template I provided or make your own.

Trace tab template on the back of the card stock and cut out.

Tape or glue to the tab to the top of first plastic photo page. 

The go on to the next page, spacing it so that you can see the next tab (think a recipe card divider pattern). 

Repeat with the next page.

 Once your tab is as far down on the pages as you can go, on your next page, start back at the top. Repeat the pattern through out the book.


Now, it's time to make your categories. Here the ones I use:

Coupons For Today, Pet Foods, Canned Foods, Sauces, Condiments, Detergent/Cleaning, Frozen Foods,
Dairy, Cookies/ Dry Snacks, Medicine, Baby Food, Toiletries, Housekeeping, Meat, Cosmetics, Desserts
Beverages, Pasta/Rice, Pet Food, Deli, Pasta Rice, Cooking Supplies.  Print or hand write them ( make sure you write small enough to fit your category label on your tab) on your sticker sheet or plain white cardstock or paper.

Cut them out and stick or glue them to the front of your tabs. 

Now organize your coupons and just slide them into your pages through the opening. 

Before I go shopping I check my list against my coupons and the ones I am going to use I will slip into my Coupons for Today page, so that they all ready to go when I get to the checkout.  I hope this helps you down your frugal path....and that you had fun making your Coupon Organizer for $1.00.  Happy Crafting! 

Make It Monday! Magnetic Post It Holder

My life depends on post it notes...literally.  You have to understand I have the attention span of a knat.  If I don't write things down as soon as I think of them...swoosh...it's gone.  Post it notes, help me keep it all going.  I have them stuck every where, the kitchen, bed room,  by the puter.  I've even been known to have one or two attached to the bathroom mirror.  I've made a bunch of these little post it holders for myself, family, friends.  They're handy and pretty darn cute.  So, here you go...

Supplies:

4x4 chipboard square coaster blank ( or you can use a 4x4 square of heavy cardboard)
1 piece of patterned scrapbook paper
double stick tape
1 clip
1 post it pad
tacky glue
magnet

Lay your chipboard blank on to the plain side of your patterned paper.  Trace around and cut out.  Cover your chipboard with double stick tape. 

Carefully line up your patterened paper piece as evenly as you can and press so that your pattern paper covers your chipboard.

To cover your clip, cut out a piece of pattern paper 1 inch x 1 1/2 inches. 

Cover all 3 sides of your clip with double stick tape.  Carefully, line one edge of your paper to the bottom edge of your clip. Press firmly.  Keep pressing firmly fitting the paper around the top of the clip snuggly.  Lastly, wrap the final side of the clip and press.  Trim if necessary.

Flip your chipboard over to the plain side and glue a magnet.  Wait until glue dries completely before using. 

Place your clip at the top, center of your board, open and slip a post it pad underneath.  Now, you are prepared if you suddenly develop swiss cheese brain syndrome; a condition I've suffered from for years. Don't worry, it's not fatal...just sad.  Happy Crafting!

Make it Monday! Paper Spring Flower Garland

I've got Spring fever soooo bad this year.  Usually, I love the cold weather, but this year winter has been rough.  I'll be happy to see it go.  I'm looking forward to blue skies, bird singing, getting out in the garden, and planting my flowers.  For now though, with winter hanging around for a few more weeks, at least, I decided to bring a bit of spring indoors with paper flowers.  Not as good as the real thing, but a close second.

For this project you will need:

3 coordinating sheets of patterned cardstock
punches: 2 inch scallop, 1 1/2 circle and 1 inch circle (Or draw your own scallop shape and find something to trace that is 1 1/2 and a 1 inch circle)
glue or double stick tape
ribbon, string or yarn that matches your paper
small hole, hole punch

First step is to determine how long your garland needs to be.  If you're using a 2 inch punch, and you want a garland that is 2 feet long (24 inches), then you will need to punch 12 scallop shapes, 12 -  1 1/2 circles, and 12 - 1 inch circles.  Cut a few from each sheet, so that you have a nice pattern variety.

Lay out your "flowers" and put a 1 1/2 inch circle on top of it in the middle. Then a 1 inch circle on top of that.  The result is a three layer flower. Continue down the line and vary your pattens so that you get a nice mix, each flower should have a different patterned scallop, 1 1/2 circle and 1 inch circle.

Once you have them like you want them, use the glue or double stick tape to stick the 1 1/2 inch circle to the scallop and then the 1 inch circle to the 1 1/2 inch circle.

If using glue, allow to dry before continuing with the next step.

Take each flower and punch a hole on one side, then across from it on the other side.  Repeat with all the flowers.

Cut your ribbon, string or yarn ( I used some white chenille yarn that I had laying around).  Cut into 2 1/2 inch lengths.  Cut a little longer if you plan on connecting the flowers with bows instead of knots.

Slip one end through the second hole on your first flower, and through the first hole on your second flower.  Tie slowly until you get the distance between the two that you want (mine were almost touching), then tie your knot or bow.  Continue with the rest until they are all tied together in a row.

Cut two pieces of ribbon, string or yarn, about 6 inches long. Take one piece and match your cut ends.  Slip both through the first hole on your first flower about half way through. 

Slip the open ends back through the loop that the string made and pull. 

Knot the ends together.  Repeat with the last hole of your garland.

Now the hardest part...trying to figure out where to hang it.  These look so cute hung from mantles, strung along a curtain rod or along a head board.  You can change the theme of these to fit any season.  Use black, orange and purple for halloween; Green, red and white for Christmas; Red, white and blue for 4th of July or even pastel colors for a baby shower.