For quite a few years now I’ve been creating a seasonal desktop calendar for my Stamper’s Club and a private stamping group.  Since both groups meet at the beginning of the month that is usually our first class when we start a new year.  This calendar is different from the ones most people make – which is just a stand with rip off calendar for each month of the year.  My Seasonal Calendar has four panels – one for each quarter/season of the year and allows you to view multiple months at a time for planning and scheduling.  My ladies love to have these on their desk at work so I continue to make one each year for them. 

1st quarter

Each panel is built on a square with the calendar strip on the right side and a decorative seasonal element on the left side.  Then all the squares are attached to a base piece and held up on the desk with a little stand.  On Sunday, January 13, 2019 I did a Facebook Live video on my business page – At Monika’s Place – showing exactly how I made this whole project.  It’s much easier to show it than to describe it in words.  I had planned to upload to my Youtube Channel as well but I haven’t quite figured out how to get it there from my FB page. 

Supply List – 1st quarter Jan – Mar

  • Gray Granite card stock – 5-3/4″ x 5-3/4″
  • Tranquil Tide card stock – 5-1/2″ x 3-1/2″
  • Tin Tile Dynamic Embossing Folder
  • Whisper White card stock – 4-1/4″ x 2-3/4″
  • Gray Granite ink
  • Tranquil Tide ink
  • Stamparatus
  • Winter Woods stamp set
  • Part of My Story stamp set (SAB)
  • Whisper White Bakers Twine

On this 1st quarter panel I used the Stamparatus for positioning my stamps.  The little image for the ground under my trees was done using the hinge-step technique.  The small grid paper is also helpful for positioning the card stock on the stamparatus – I marked alignment positions on the paper so everyone could use the stamps as I had them arranged on the stamparatus.

2nd quarter

Supply List – 2nd quarter Apr – Jun

  • Basic Black card stock – 5-3/4″ x 5-3/4″
  • Old Olive card stock – 5-1/2″ x 3-1/2″
  • Layered Leaves Dynamic Embossing Folder
  • Whisper White card stock – 4-1/4″ x 2-3/4″
  • Old Olive ink
  • Memento Black ink
  • Clear Blocks
  • Butterfly Gala stamp set
  • Artisan Textures stamp set
  • Butterfly Duet punch
  • Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper (SAB)
  • Old Olive Linen Thread

For this second quarter panel I used the Butterfly Duet punch to punch out the butterflies from the designer paper.  If you watch the video I’ll show you a handy trick for getting these lined up in your punch. 

3rd quarter

Supply List – 3rd quarter Jul – Sep

  • Soft Suede card stock – 5-3/4″ x 5-3/4″
  • Pool Party card stock – 5-1/2″ x 3-1/2″
  • Ruffled Dynamic Embossing Folder
  • Whisper White card stock – 4-1/4″ x 2-3/4″
  • Ink in these colors: Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry
  • Waterfront stamp set
  • Clear Blocks
  • Pool Party/Silver Bakers Twine

For this third quarter panel I used the Pool Party & Silver Baker’s Twine – which is three strands twisted together – one Pool Party, one Whisper White and one Silver.  I slightly twisted one end to separate them and then pulled out just the Pool Party piece to use on the panel.  You can see how to do this in the video.  You could use the white or the white and the silver twisted piece on the 1st quarter panel. 

4th quarter

Supply List – 4th quarter Oct – Dec

  • Mossy Meadow card stock – 5-3/4″ x 5-3/4″
  • Crumb Cake card stock – 5-1/2″ x 3-1/2″
  • Pinewood Planks Dynamic Embossing Folder
  • Whisper White card stock – 4-1/4″ x 2-3/4″
  • Early Espresso ink
  • Mossy Meadow ink
  • Crumb Cake ink
  • Stampin’ Sponge
  • Stamparatus
  • Rooted in Nature stamp set
  • Linen Thread

On this 4th panel I used a Stampin’ Sponge to ink up the wood slice image to make it a little lighter than a full on inking of it.  And I also used the sponge to add a bit of ink around in the background. 

More on the Calendar strips

On each panel I added the calendar strip.  These were created in the old My Digital Studio program.  I still have it saved on my old laptop.  In the program I exported the calendar images and then printed them on my printer here at home.  I used Whisper White card stock for my printing.  I’ve added the images here.  If you save them to your computer then select them both to print as 5×7 photos on one sheet.  Make sure that the box for Fit Picture to Frame is not selected.  Once you print them I trim them to 5-3/4″ long and 2″ wide.  You may need to adjust the printing on your printer to get them to the right size. 

 

Putting it all together

Once all four panels are made I attach them to the base piece which was 12″ x 6″ Early Espresso card stock.  And the little stand piece is 5-1/2″ x 2-1/8″ and scored at 1-3/4″ & 3-3/4″.  When attaching each panel to the base use Stampin’ Dimensionals on the sides and across the top but don’t place one in the center of the bottom.  That needs to stay open to slide the stand piece in for holding the calendar upright on your desk. 

I hope you enjoy this project.  Be sure to visit my FB page to watch the video and while you are there like/get notifications for my page so you’ll see future videos and post.  I’d love to hear what you think.  You can order the products I used to make this project by clicking the link below.  Thanks so much for visiting!

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At Monikas Place Signature
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