Hello everyone,
Welcome to the "Weihnachten für Dich" (Christmas for You) Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from
Ulla's blog, but you'll find the whole blog hop list at the end of this post for your convenience.
Our goal with this project was, to pay it forward, to say thank you, to show our gratitude to a person that did a good deed for us, helped us, made our lives better in some way this year. Maybe a nurse, a postal clerk, what have you. Basically a random act of kindness. When thinking about who that extra special person is that I'd like to create a gift for, who I am especially grateful for this year, one name stood out. She came into my life at the right moment earlier this year. She says I came into hers at the right moment too. It might be destiny, I don't know. Our paths crossed because of "business", if you can call my health/well-being business, but I feel like we became so much more. She has been helping me deal with issues that block me from being my true self. She has her work cut out for her, that's for sure. But she hasn't given up on me even if I drive her crazy sometimes :D. Sooo I thought I'd surprise her with a little something. I tried to think of something that is not only pretty but serves some purpose too - which she will laugh about, because we just had a discussion about how I consider things useless that are just pretty but have no particular purpose. It's a long story :).
Anyway, I remembered how much I enjoyed creating calendars for friends last year, I thought she could maybe, just maybe, use one hehe!
So without further ado, here's my project!
I had a color scheme on my mind for this project but ended up adding in some other colors too because Alexandra's papers are THAT gorgeous. I had to use them!
All pages are 4.25x5.5". I first cut white card stock to this size, then I glued the same size patterned paper on top, so that the pages are sturdy. Then I started working on the different designs.
I will include a supply list down below, in case you like any of the awesome products I've used!
For January I stamped a snowflake background onto a light pink woodgrain paper. This is a turnabout set from Concord & 9th, if you know these sets, they are super clever - you can use up to 4 colors of ink to stamp backgrounds. Here I used 3 inks and an embossing powder.
For February I created a panel with paper weaving technique. I know there was logic to how I put down the paper strips (as in which arrangement) but once it was woven, there was no rhyme or reason anymore. I've done this many times and I could never figure it out. So, random pattern it is, ha!
For March I used the Botanical Beauty die to create a textured background. I embossed a piece of paper ages ago so I thought I'd finally use it since it was the right color. I die cut the month as well as one of the branches. This never happened to me before but some of the embossing just peeled off the letters, maybe it's to do with the fact that I embossed it a long time ago? I have no idea. I didn't bother redoing them though, embracing imperfections and all.
For April I created a dimensional, floral number - this paper is just out of this world beautiful! I had a hard time cutting into it!
I decided to make a wreath for May - for this I used a part of the Eucalyptus wreath die set and die cut the branch several times from 2 different pink papers.
June - hexagons! Don't you just love hexagons? I only started paper crafting in 2015 but I remember one of my first scrapbook layouts had hexagons on it. I can't get tired of them! I love these dies especially because they also cut an outline shape.
Next up July! I cut a 4.25x5.5" size panel from this gorgeous floral paper, then die cut the letters from it. I die cute the letters from white card stock too, about 4-5 times, then layered them up, glued the patterned paper die cut on top (a bit offset so the white is a bit visible) and placed them back into place. Using some branches from the Just Because stamp set, I added some embossing here and there as well. Some fussy cut flowers on top, done.
For August I fussy cut some tiny bows from one of the patterned papers and glued them on this navy striped paper. I love this paper so much, I had to order it in all sorts of colors haha!
I went old school on the next two pages because I didn't have the right dies :). For September I fussy cut a bunch of simple leaf shapes, added some embossing, layered them up, stitched them down in the middle and bent up the sides for some dimension.
I did pretty much the same with October, only with pumpkins. This was actually the last page I made because all I could think of in relation to October was pumpkins and I don't have a pumpkin die hehe. Not sure why I didn't realise sooner that I can just draw some and cut them out...
I kept November simple because I wanted that pine cone paper to shine, it's so gorgeous! The 12x12 paper actually has "Baby it's cold outside" written on it and I would have loved to use it, but could not fit it on this background somehow.
Another thing I really had to use, one of the cardinals from one of the patterned papers. I love cardinals! I actually have never seen one in real life, only on TV and in photos - but their gorgeous red color always fascinated me. So beautiful!
SUPPLIES:
I also made a bonus project to thank Alexandra for her generosity and overall kindness! I made it simple, I used some of my favorite ideas/designs from the calendar project and turned them into cards.
I also made a box for them, just so they are more suitable as a gift :)
This hexagon card was inspired by one of
Lea Lawson's cards, that was so beautiful, I had to case it!
Same snowflake background as before, different colors. Same leaves as before, different arrangement :).
The dry embossing on the navy circle is a total fail BUT I actually loved the white bits peaking through, I thought it looked interesting, so I just left it as is.
SUPPLIES (as above, plus):
I hope I didn't forget anything - should you have any questions, leave me a comment and I'l get back to you!
That's it! I hope I could inspire you in some small way! Since I'm the last stop in the blog hop, you'll return to
Alexandra's blog.
Thank you for stopping by today! Have a wonderful day!
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BLOG HOP LIST:
