Tag Archives: diy calendar

Apr1

Always a reason to Celebrate

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I love celebrating. And I love flowers. So, I knew this Celebrate With Flowers stamp set needed to be part of my collection.

I mean, just look how happy it is! I was attracted to the simple line art and the quirkiness of it when I saw it, and I just love the variety of ways you can make it work. I also love that it lends itself to a unique style of card (think slim-line) as well. The inclusion of the vertical Happy Birthday is also what attracted me to this set–different than the norm, and unexpected! (I will include a pic of the images below).

So, for April, I hope you can find something to celebrate! And, while doing so, make some pretty flowers to go along with the celebration!

Go check out what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!

PS: This stamp set is currently available, but it will NOT be available for much longer! It’s being retired at the end of this month (but, will only be around while supplies last!) So, if you want to own one, you better snatch it up FAST! If you message me, I can help you do that!

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Mar1

Sharing Sunshine

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HAPPY MARCH! This month is brought to you by Stampin’ Up’s Sharing Sunshine stamp set. And, this is the PERFECT name for this cheery little smile that will just brighten your day!

I used daffodil delight paper for the mat and the sun punch out, and then used bumble bee for the rays and face. A little of blush blossom makes the rosy cheeks! The best part of this month is very hard to see in photos… but I did a little spritz with the champagne mist and alcohol in one of our spritzers. Gives a perfect shimmer to this sunshine!

Here in Hawaii, we don’t have the marked changes of seasons that others around the globe may enjoy– but, there are subtle signs… The day is lasting a little longer and longer… I’m seeing the warmer glows of the sun as it slowly moves higher and higher into the sky… Summer is just around the corner…

Go check out what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!

Jan1

Lessons for the New Year

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It’s time again to turn the page for a new year! 2022 had been much anticipated with the ever elusive dream of returning to normal. Perhaps with that page turn, it’s time to consider a new dream:

We can look to the beautiful bamboo plant for some lessons– or more appropriately– use it as a guide for how we approach this new year.

In Asian cultures, bamboo is symbolic of good luck, longevity, strength, health… all the things we would wish for in the new year. I felt it fitting to be the January for 2022.

One of the prominent characteristics of bamboo is that it is strongly rooted, yet flexible. This allows it to bend in the wind without breaking. I think this is good advice… Though we are all weary of the last couple of years, it’s difficult to think about approaching this coming year with this type of advice. However, if we’ve learned anything is how resilient we can be. If we can approach this new year as one with the wishes of luck and long life, however with the understanding that winds come and things change… however those things mold us and shape us into who we are meant to be. We can bend without breaking because we are rooted in the foundation of our faith, family, and friends.

For this calendar, I used Soft Suede as the backing and the bamboo stalks. I stamped off so that it would be a little lighter to see over the numbers of the calendar. I made a stencil with a scrap card stock and punched out a circle. I lined it up with my calendar and used the blender brushes to create the sun (so saffron, mango melody). Super easy but creates a nice sunset.

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2022. Also wishing that you are able to remain rooted and established when the trials do come.

Anne and Cheryl have also created 2022 calendars to help ring in the New Year!!

Dec1

Joy to the World!

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Christmas brings such JOY to me! I love this stamp set with the bold declaration of “JOY”!

All the images come from the stamp set Peace and Joy. And, they’re great for mixing and matching–and adding the large script with a small block print. It works perfectly here and would be great on a Christmas card too! I used real red and old olive for the images. Expresso is used for the block text. Super simple, super easy, but a striking declaration of the season!

I can’t believe we are at the end of the year! It has come so quickly! I pray that you can know the Joy that has been declared to the world through the birth of our Savior! We celebrate Him this season!

If you happen to be on Maui, stop by our street! Come shop local makers and small businesses to finish up your Christmas lists! As an added treat, the Maui High School Choir will be caroling through the streets! Hope to see you!

Have a wonderful Christmas! And head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have in store for you today!

With love and aloha!!– Crystal

Oct1

Happy Little Pumpkin

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Happy October! It’s here! Officially fall and sweater weather (well, I can dream, right??) I currently am diffusing a harvest blend so that I can pretend I’m enjoying fall while I am sweating away in my office…

SU released a set called Harvest Hello (now retired) and it had a coordinating ‘apple’ punch to go with it. But, you could use that apple to also make pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns! I love using punches that coordinate with stamps… Makes it super easy to create cute projects. This little pumpkin would be a cute bag topper. It would even be cute just dimmensionaled (like how I turned the SU product into a verb??) to one of the snack size candy bars! And, because it’s so easy to make, you can make DOZENS in no time at all!

With the page turn to October, it makes my mind start thinking about the upcoming holiday crafting. And, then the panic that always comes with the ‘…I haven’t started my holiday crafting’ realization. So, if you need me, that is what I will be doing this month… 🙂 Namely starting on the 2022 easel calendar! See you next month!!

Check out what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!

Jul1

Buzzing Through Summer

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I write while I am basking in the glory days of summer. The days are lazy and glorious, but we are SPEEDING through the weeks. And, I know that I will be returning to school in a few short weeks….. sigh.

Anyway, That’s what this bee means to me. Now, I know that bees are stereotypically busy… But, the serenity in these images and the feeling that I get to stop and actually notice the bees… That is what the glory days of summer are to me.

ANYAY…. I digress. This stamp set, (now retired) Is Honey Bee. It had a fantastic set of coordinating dies. The simplicity in the images and designs make for a fantastic calendar (and card). They are the epitome of simple stamping. Which is perfect for summer so that there is still time left over to sit and enjoy the world around you…and truly celebrate every moment.

The yellow I selected for this month is Bumble Bee (obviously) and it makes a simple monochromatic layout and image.

Hope you are able to slow down and enjoy summer. Head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!

Jun1

Prickly Little Bloom

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I used to kill all plants that came into my life. Total BLACK THUMB. If anyone gave me a plant, I would enjoy it for a couple days, and would quickly pass it along to someone I knew that could sustain it’s life much longer than me… Until we went on a small trip and my bff surprised me by redoing a large pot we had by our front porch (full of dead plant remains). She filled it with happy little succulents. And, left strict instructions to not touch it–she would care for it. So, I got to have a front row seat in Plant Care 101. And, what I learned is that succulents thrive on neglect. Which, I CAN DO! I can NEGLECT plants!! Fast forward a couple years and now we have our own succulent JUNGLE! So, when I saw this happy little succulent, I KNEW it had to be on one of my calendar months!

This simple little cactus came from ‘The Gang’s All Meer’ stamp set (sorry, now retired…) was the perfect stamp to use for me to celebrate the beginning of summer. This is ‘simple stamping’ at its finest… just ink and a little swipes with some blends and you’re all finished! This could easily be turned into a simple note card to send to someone to let them know you’re thinking of them…

It’s unbelievable that it is June already–but turning the page to June is the most glorious feeling—its turning the page to freedom and that comes with summertime! I hope you get to spend some time this summer doing something you enjoy with people you love!

Head on over to see how Anne and Cheryl decided to celebrate the start of summer!!

Apr1

Welcome Easter

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Well, I would like to blame my tardiness for this post on April Fools, but I really cannot. Just didn’t get to make it happen until now! But, I’m still on April 1st so you can enjoy this super cute little lamb for the WHOLE MONTH!

This is the Welcome Easter set (now retired). Super cute spring images that can be used for Easter, baby, or anything spring that you need!

Happy little lamb. I used the pear pizzazz greens to be the base color and the blends helped color this little lamb so beautifully..

I hope you can enjoy this Easter Season with your friends and loved ones. And know that the Lamb of God lives to give us hope for our future!

Jump on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!

Jan1

Oh 2021. So happy to see you

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I’m not sure that there has ever been a new year that we’ve looked forward with as much anticipation as we have this new year.

So I’m happy to have a fresh new calendar to welcome 2021 with! For January, I did step out of my comfort zone and used an actual snowman image. It always seems weird to me to do much with snowmen or other winter scenes as…well, our idea of winter is about 76 degrees and partly cloudy…

This happy guy is from Snowman Season and he’s happy to be celebrating 2021 as well. Just a few swipes with the pool party blend and that adds just enough color to make him come alive.

I too am looking forward to 2021, but I keep remind myself to not put unreasonable expectations on the idea that just because 2020 is over we will be free from challenges. 2020 was a rough year for us, personally and collectively (as it was for everyone). And as I think back through the year I am so thankful for the constants I had in my life. My faith and my family sustained me through some dark times. And as I see this collective burst of anticipation for 2021, I just want to make sure that my focus is not on the year or the newness or any of the things that can change but that it remains on the constant that never changes: That my faith is my constant support and my family will be there for me no matter what the days on this new calendar brings. My wish is that we hold on these lessons from 2020 and they become the solid foundation for us in 2021.

I wish you the best of New Years and I’m hoping you can celebrate with those you love most (even if it is on FaceTime).

Head on over to see what Anne and Cheryl have for you for this new year!

Also! I have a handful of these completed calendars left. You will get a new image each month to brighten up your space. If your interested in one, contact me and we can work out the details!

Dec1

Christmas is HERE

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Normally, I am a decorate after Thanksgiving kind of person. I like to make sure EACH holiday (especially Thanksgiving) has it’s proper place and time. However, I have to say, I gave in to the kid’s requests to usher in Christmas a little early this year. So, we decorated a little early… You know. 2020. No rules right now…

I love Christmas time. I love the sights, smells, sounds. And, after the madness of this year, I enjoyed setting up the tree and decorating. And, for you, as you turn the calendar to Dec 1, you can use this little wreath to bring some Christmas to your space.

Do you remember this image? Painted Harvest. It makes fall flowers. BUT, it can also make a Christmas Wreath! Love the versatility. I used Mossy Meadow ink and stamped off to get the lighter image and did the straight ink for the darker. The stamparatus makes this task EASY AND FAST.

I hope you can truly take a moment to enjoy this season. The one thing that all this slow down has made me do was to take time and just BE with my family. Lets not lose that when we head into the Christmas season.

Also, as we look to 2021, I have the calendars available to you if you are interested! For $5, you will receive a PDF with cutting instructions and can make as many as you would like to make. But, please, refer others back here for the PDF as well. Your support helps me keep my business afloat. Just contact me and I can get back with you on how to get it.

Merry Christmas and go check out what Anne and Cheryl have for you today!