Christmas Calendar and goodie bags !!! DT

Hi All -

Joanne here to show you my finished projects with the beautiful new Tim Holtz idea-ology range called Merriment.  Honestly when I opened the papers I couldn't believe the stunning designs / pages and while some was very Christmassy - some were designs that you could use all year around - clever idea I thought ! Which gave me the inspiration to create a 12 x 12 Calendar for 2014. Our calendar is like 'gold dust' in our house - if its not up on the calendar - its not happening !  I have been making them for the past few years - using 'blank' ones - so I loved the idea of starting one from scratch !

So I first of all pulled the paper pad apart and using my 'bind it all' - I was able to insert a 'Spiral Ring' to hold it all together.  If you don't have a binder - simply punch holes along the top and use small metal rings to hold it together.

 

Next I printed out 12 'blank' calendar pages on A4 sheets of white paper - as I wanted to fill in the dates myself and put the name of the month above it.  I used up all my old lettering - but you could of course print them out too.

On the top half of the calendar I did a layout using photos I had taken during 2013.  Here are a few samples:

 

 I even added in some embellishments to the corner of some for the 'date' pages - like here;

And finally this is what the calendar looks like hanging up !  I love the idea of making something that not only is beautiful but which has a very practical use !  Looking forward to 2014 already !!!!

Materials used :

Tim Holtz idea-ology 12 x 12 paper pad - Merriment (2013)
Tim Holtz idea-ology trimmings - Merriment (2013)
Tim Holtz Collection - Layering Stencil - Holly bough;
Selection of Prima Flowers and Leaves;
Ranger Archival Black Ink;
Prima wooden flowers;  Studio Calico - wooden embellishments;
Ranger Distress inks - Black and Worn Lipstick;
Prima white chalk;
Lettering - mainly  the 'thickers' range - and lettering that dates back to 2007 !
Bind it All - and spiral ring binder 5/8";
And pages I tore out of an old book !

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Goodie bags !!!  I think everyone loves a gift that is thoughtfully wrapped and presented - no matter how small the present - its often the thought that counts !  And this is where these bags come in.  I simple stamped some clear plastic bags I had lying around using Tim Holtz Christmas Stamps with Archival Black ink - let it dry - popped a few treated into it - tied it off with trimmings from the new Tim Holtz idea-ology range - attached some  Prima Flowers and leaves and honestly they looked so expensive - I made 10 of them and in minutes !!!!  Makes a nice change from the selection boxes !!!

 

And I even made one using a paper sandwich bag !

 

Hope you enjoyed the projects I have made and that they might inspire you to get creating over the Christmas hols !!!  Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and the very best for 2014 !!! 

Joanne x
Design Team