Coaster Calendars

We've been talking about what we are making for Christmas on the PTI forums. I posted that I make coaster calendars and was asked to post pictures. So here we go.

I have been making these calendars for 4 years and every year I have more requests. The bases for the calendars are coasters like you would get for your drink at a restaurant or bar. We did a group buy of these several years ago at Split Coast Stampers. They measure 4" square. I cover both sides with cardstock and their weight and sturdiness add stability to the calendar and enable it to sit up on its own.

Here's this year's cover.


Next are some of my favorite months from the past several years. I've used supplies from a large variety of sources. If you have a question about a specific month, please leave me a comment and I'll track it down for you.





















Thanks for stopping by!

PTI August Blog Hop

It's been a long, tiring summer. Too much work, not enough play. And my poor neglected blog has gone without a post for a month. I decided I wanted, no, I needed to play along with PTI's August blog hop no matter what. Feels so good to put ink to paper again.

This month was a Brown Bag Challenge. We were to dress up, alter or change an ordinary brown lunch bad into a paper crafting work of art. I just received my latest PTI order from the August release so I had to break out the new Friendship Jar Fall Fillers for my Halloween goodie bag.



Supplies:
Stamps: Friendship Jar Fall Fillers
Card Stock: Kraft, Terracotta Tile, Stampers Select White, True Black
Ink: True Black
Patterned Paper: Halloween Prints
Miscellaneous: paper bag, Vintage Buttons, circle punches, Rustic Twine, Cuttlebug embossing folder, PTI dies, dimensionals, embossing powder.

This is my first time to participate in a Waltzing Mouse Blog Waltz. The theme for this month's challenge is the colors of summer... blue and green (any shades of your choosing). My color choices were inspired by this month's logo and the cover on a Better Homes & Gardens magazine from a few months ago. I also used the Mojo Monday 147 sketch.

Hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse Asian Gardens, Fancy Phrases, Faux Fun Circles, Faux Fun
Card Stock: Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse, Lemon Tart
Ink: Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse
Miscellaneous: Dimensionals, embossing powder, Hero Arts bling.

Birthday Cupcake

Here's the card that sat unfinished on my craft desk for over a week. All the elements were the same ones from that intial creative session - it just took a while to get everything to come together.

This was my first time to use any of the Color Couture downloads. I have to say it was fun to use paper knowing I could print more. And I'm excited to try printing some of the patterns on different color cardstock or even vellum as Nichole showed on her blog today.

Hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Cupcake Collection, Polka Dot Basics II
Card stock: Hibiscus Burst, Stampers Select, Stampin' Up Close to Cocoa
Ink: Fresh Snow, Hibiscus Burst, Deep Chocolate
Patterned Paper: 2009 Bitty Dot Basics, Color Couture
Miscellaneous: EK Success punch, embossing powder, dimensionals.

All About You

I had hoped to have a productive weekend. There were a couple of challenges I wanted to do and I really need to get started on Christmas gifts (yes, Christmas gifts in July - I'm slow).

Instead I finished one card and another sits on my craft table, waiting for divine inspiration to finish it. So only one to share with you today.

Hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: All About You, All About You Additions
Card Stock: Ripe Avocado, Melon Berry, Vintage Cream
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Melon Berry
Patterned Paper: Green Tea Leaves
Miscellaneous: SU Bird Punch, PTI Small Scalloped Border Die, Vintage Buttons, CM Corner Punch, dimensionals.

Favorite Color Combo

I made this card in preparation for the PTI June Blog Hop. Unfortunately, I forgot about the hop and didn't get it posted in time.

I think I like this layout well enough to try it with other colors. Love this Tea for Two Additions set and the die for the teacup. Guess I'm getting lazy - it would be great to have a die for the spoon!

Hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Tea for Two Additions, Vintage Labels
Card Stock: Pure Poppy, True Black, Stampers Select White
Ink: True Black, Pure Poppy
Patterned Paper: Black & White Basics, Bitty Dot Basics
Miscellaneous: Copics, Nestabilities, Tea Cup die, True Black saddle stitched ribbon, dimensionals, embossing powder.

June Pixie Challenge

Karen posted these fat quarters for color inspiration. Other than the color inspiration, there weren't a lot of rules. We could use the colors, pick a pattern from the group or just go with a general sewing theme.



My card today is so far out of my comfort zone. I love Betsy Veldman's style of mixing colors, patterns and multiple layers but it is so different from my typical style. I'm trying, I'm really trying. Oh, and I did ink up 2 sets I've never used before.



Hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Fillable Frames #4, Quilters Sampler
Card Stock: Terra Cotta Tile, Vintage Cream, Lemon Tart
Ink: Terra Cotta Tile, Simply Chartruese
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Material Girl
Miscellaneous: twine, Vintage Buttons, Fillable Frames #4 die, Copics, clear embossing powder, dimensionals.