Artsy Calendar

 Hello everyone! 

It’s Emilie here today to show you my Artsy Calendar 2021.. I thought it would be a great idea to make a calendar for this coming new year 2021 as we are already in December!

It is a desk calendar that I made portable in a box. It really is a fun project to make and a great opportunity to use your stamps. It is also a great way to relax and forget all the world issues...

At least it works for me 😉.

12 Month cards

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For the month pages, I cut 12 (4x6 inches) pieces of Hot Press watercolor paper.

I first stamped the “Patreon Exclusive stamp of January 2020” on the bottom of each cards. I also made a mask so that I can use it to decorate each page. At the very end, I rounded all the corners of my cards with a 1/4" edged punch.

Patreon Exclusive stamp of January 2020

I’m showing you how I decorated few pages using only some watercolors and color pencils. 

Stamping with watercolors using ArtFoamies stamps

Simple stamping with Moonlight Duo Ink pads. I used the black and white parts to get grey tone.

For most pages I used the masking technique where I masked my images to create a layout. 

Stamping on the background and cut out images to build my layout

Stamping using masking technique with Moonlight Duo Ink pads.

I also cut out the images, colored them and glued them down. For two backgrounds, I used the embossing technique using white embossing powder.

Embossing technique with white embossing powder.

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The most technical part is the box. Let's me show you how I made it!

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List of supplies I used to make the box.

Box cover - Chipboard 

(you can also used recycled materials like cereal box)

Cut 2 pieces at 4 1/4” x 6 1/4”

Cut 1 piece at 4 1/4” x 1/2”

Cardstock wrap for outside cover 

(I used white 110lb cardstock)

Cut 2 pieces 5 1/4” x7” 

Inside cover 

(I used textured cardstock by preference)

Cut 2 pieces at 4”x6” 

Inside pocket

(I used white 110lb cardstock)

Cut 1 piece at 4 1/4” x 6 1/8” 

Outside cover Spine

(I used some duke tape)

Cut 1 piece at 5” x 2” 

Inside Spine

(I used white 110lb cardstock)

Cut 1 piece at 4” x 1 1/2” 

Corners 

Cut 2 circles of 1 1/2” diameter (1 circle makes 2 corners)

Decorative Ribbon (optional)

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Directions to make the box:

Step 1:  I joined together my chipboard pieces with the duck tape as shown in photo below. I left a 3/16” gap between the spine and the side pieces. It’s very important in order to allow an easy fold. You can also use some cardstock for joining the spine but using some duke tape (or Tyvek) will make the cover more durable at the folds of the spine over time.

Joining the chipboard pieces

Step 2: I stamped the two outside cover pieces using the “Space Oddity” (mini) ArtFoamies stamp with some grey Archival ink.

Then I glued down these two pieces on my chipboard leaving 1/8” space at the fold of the spine.

Stamping with "Space Oddity Mini" ArtFoamies stamp

Step 3: I applied some double sided tape all along the chipboard edges. I trained the cardstock to fold over the edges. I cut the corners leaving 1/8” space from the tip of the chipboard. First, I  wrapped the cardstock tightly along the long edges. I pushed the 1/8” excess left at the corners inward to tuck the excess then I wrapped the cardstock tightly along the shortest edges. I burnished well all the edges with a bone folder.

Step 4: I attached the inside spine (4” x 1 1/2”) that I also decorated using the “Space Oddity” (mini) ArtFoamies stamp with some grey Archival ink. I burnished well between the folds of the spine.

Step 5: I decorated the inside pocket cardstock piece the same way. I scored at 1/2”, 1”, 5 1/8”, and 5 5/8” along the 6 1/8” side. Then I scored 1/2”, 3 1/4” and 3 3/4” along the 4 1/4” side. I cut out the excesses to form the pocket as shown in photo.

Inside pocket

Step 6: I wrapped the top flap of the pocket over the inside to reinforce the top edge of the pocket. I applied some double sided tape to the outer flaps of the pocket on both in and out sides.

Step 7: I attached one of the inside cover pieces to the pocket. I started with one side, then the bottom, then the other side. It’s very important to attach the piece slightly away from the score line (about 1/16").

Step 8: I made 4 corners to attach to the second inside cover piece to be able to insert the month card. You make 2 corners with one circle. I used some 100 lb textured black cardstock by preference.

Step 9: I attached the four black corners as shown in photo. It’s important to leave a 1/16” gap along the edges to be able to insert easily the month card.

Step 10: I attached the two inside cover pieces previously made with double sided tape. You can also use wet glue, of course.

Inside cover

My calendar box is done! The front cover looks like this.

Outside cover

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Here are more pictures of my calendar 2021.

desk calendar

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Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. This can be used to make the cover of handmade albums and art journals as well. That's how I proceed when I want a sturdy and durable cover. 

Have a great week! 

I wish you a wonderful holiday season!

Emilie

You can find me on Instagram and Facebook

Please feel free to share your creations using #rubbermoon #100proofpress #artfoamies #100moonscollab on your social media. We will be so happy to see what you make with Rubbermoon,  100 Proof Press, and  Artfoamies products.

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Below the list of stamps I used

Rubbermoon Stamps

Next Door Neighbors (KP5503G)

Spark Joy (KP7604C)

Folksy Frame (JH7645H)

A Little Love… (JH7662E)

Heart Fly (DB4117B)

Love Letter (SC7046I)

Party on Wheels (BR1I)

Let’s Go! (BR4B)

Mary’s Cherrie, Light (ME7673F)

Adventure! (MM7096D)

Camp Moonlight (MM7093G)

Cat Cup (SC7042G)

Good Spirits (KP5144D)

Sent with Love (NK7803C)

You’re got mail (NK7804C)

My #1 Priority (NK7802E)

100 Proof Press Stamps 

Tiny Dark Snowflake (2110)

Small Ohio Buckeye Leaf (3781)

Season’s Greetings (6411)

Rectangular Shaped Pressent (1728)

Candy Cane (3422)

Large Outline Snowflake (1036)

Handwritten Letter 1788 (5642)

Overhead Lobster Image (4605)

Camera 35mm (5305)

Simple Post Card (478)

Paris Cancellation (6681)

Pumpkin Tower (6744)

Blank Wooden Sign (1227)

Basic Compass (1390)

Blue Crab (4606)

Screen Texture (6489)

Plain Rectangle Postage Blank (1368)

ArtFoamies Stamps

Midtown by Nathalie Kalbach

Space Oddity Mini by Nathalie Kalbach