Calendar Challenge: May and June 2012

I'm late! I'm late! But I have a very good reason ... My laptop fooled me into thinking it was in the throes of death for several hours through the night and this morning.

Unfortunately, my entire brain and memory is on my laptop, and of course I hadn't backed up my files in a long time. (Maybe because my memory is on the laptop, so I can never remember to do it??) I looked up the problem on my husband's computer and tried everything everyone suggested, to no avail.

Thank the Lord, the last thing I tried worked. I've only had this laptop for a little over a year (since April), and I was not a happy camper at the prospect of a fried laptop. But now I'm back up and running, after backing up every file on my laptop that is remotely important to me. I'm just thankful I had the opportunity to do it!

Anyway, it's time for our monthly calendar challenge between my friend and I. Both of us forgot about it last month, and it was a terribly hectic time for both of us anyway. We agreed to post for both months in June to catch up.



Supplies: paper (The Paper Company); stickers (Creative Memories).

I've recently reorganized my craft room, and I came to the realization that I have more stickers than I could possibly use in a lifetime. So when I thought about what to do for the calendars, I immediately thought of the cute Creative Memories stickers I've been hoarding for years. I decided to use them.



Supplies: paper (The Paper Company); stickers (Creative Memories).

You might wonder what these hedge-trimming stickers have to do with the verse from Romans that I've printed on the calendar. Good question! I was trying to think of something manly to put on it (because of June and Father's Day), and this is what I came up with. Again, I'm using Creative Memories stickers that I've had for over ten years. It feels good to actually use them, and I still think they're cute.

Now you'll want to go see what my friend made for her calendars this month. Enjoy!

Homemade Gift: Guest Book #8

Supplies: stamps (Inkadinkadoo Coffee House Alphabet); paper (Making Memories?, The Paper Company); recycled Thomas Kinkade image; composition notebook.

I was pleased to find a few church images in the Kinkade book I was upcycling. They're perfect for pastor's wives!

In case you haven't read about these guest books before, you can read more about my "encouragement project" here.

I'm linking to ... Upcycled Awesome,

Homemade Gift: Patchwork Quilt 8

I finished another quilt for my customer's wedding! This was a combination that I couldn't wait to try - pink and red, with the emphasis on red. I wasn't disappointed.

I don't have a lot of vintage sheets with red in them, but I supplemented with dark pinks and a non-vintage red gingham (I okayed it with the customer first).

I'm in love with this quilt, and I told my husband I'll probably be making another one like it sometime in the future.

I bound this one in white so it wouldn't distract from the strong colors of the quilt.

I'm linking to ... Upcycled Awesome,

Homemade Gift: File Folder Notebooks

As I was cleaning out my craft room for the "big redo" last week, I pulled out several packs of these gorgeous file folders Dollar Tree used to carry. I've been hoarding them since they're so pretty (and no longer available). I also had a pile of spiral notebooks left from last year's back-to-school sales. Since those sales will be coming again shortly, I decided to go ahead and use up my stash of notebooks and make them really, really pretty.

This is probably my favorite use for decorative file folders, but that might have something to do with the fact that I love paper. I have since I was a kid. I always had two or three notebooks going at once, and my kids are following in my footsteps.



Several of the folders had a design on the front and a decorative "filler" design on the back. For those, I replaced both covers and used an entire file folder for each notebook.



Here's another one - same basic print, different colors.



And here's another one, done in roses.



... And another rose one.



Several of them had the same design on both the front and back of the file folder, so I got extra mileage out of those. I only replaced the front covers of these notebooks.



Here's another one with a decorative front and regular backing.

As you might have guessed, I still have some file folders leftover. I'm going to check my school room to see if I have any more spiral notebooks. If not, I'll just cover some as I get them in this year's back-to-school sales.

As I made these, I knew I couldn't use 20+ spiral notebooks myself, no matter how much I love them. So I'm thinking of taking them along to Ministerial next year, as a little gift to each of the minister's wives. I've done that for the past two or three years, and it's always been well-received.

If you're wondering how to replace the covers of a spiral notebook, you can check my post here.

Enjoy!

I'm linking to ...

Homemade Gift: Guest Book #7

Supplies: stamps (Inkadinkadoo Coffee House Alphabet); paper (Making Memories?, The Paper Company); ink (StazOn Jet Black); Thomas Kinkade recycled image.

Here's another installment of the guest books I'm making to send to fellow pastor's wives. Kinkade's lighthouse images are some of my favorites. (My very favorites are the houses, especially the big white ones.)

I had a lot of fun pairing these gorgeous images with coordinating paper. I wish I could paint like that!

Edited to Add: I finally got a Facebook page up and running. Check it out and "Like" it if you're interested in quicker updates about what's going on in the shop. (See the top right sidebar here on the blog.) I'll still be posting things here, but you'll probably hear about it quicker on Facebook.

I also finally designed a blog button for those of you who would like to add my button to your blog. Look for it within the hour! :)

I'm linking to ...

Church Father's Day Gifts 2012

If you remember from previous years, I like to do a little something extra to go with the gift cards that our church gives out for Father's Day. Since guys are notoriously difficult to buy for, let alone make things for, I am always on the lookout for cute ideas. If I find one six months before Father's Day, I make a note of it!

I found this adorable mini toolbox idea (made from an Altoid tin) at Alphamom. Since I didn't have any of those boat things (er, metal eye straps) she used for handles, I had to improvise. In case you haven't guessed, I don't know my way around hardware stores very well. :)

What I did have were sawtooth hangers (my husband's great idea), and they worked just fine. They're not quite as realistic, but everyone loved them anyway.

So, what's inside? A Lowe's gift card with a hammer image on it - what else?

Enjoy!

I'd love to hear what your church gave out for Father's Day. You know, I'm going to need an idea for next year ...

I'm linking to ...

A different take on a memory quilt

Don't forget to enter my fat quarter giveaway!



A fellow pastor's wife heard from a friend that I've been making quilts to sell. She asked if I'd be willing to make a quilt for her husband for Father's Day. I had exactly one week to get it done and to her, and I managed to do it!



This isn't my usual quilt, in case you didn't notice. You see, her father-in-law had passed away awhile ago, but her husband couldn't bear to part with his old sheets. He had them sitting in a garbage bag in the garage. Every now and then, one would get pulled out to use as a drop cloth for painting, but they were really just taking up space.

So she asked if I would use those sheets to make something of a memory quilt for her husband's Father's Day gift. Of course I would! These aren't sheet combinations I would usually choose, but they are special to the recipient. So, while it won't win any design awards, it will mean a LOT to a fellow pastor who's missing his dad.



Stayed tuned tomorrow for my annual "what we gave the fathers at church for Father's Day" post. :) Enjoy!

I'm linking to ...

Homemade Gift: Guest Book #6

Don't forget to enter my new fat quarter giveaway here!

Supplies: stamps (Coffee House Alphabet by Inkadinkadoo); paper (ATD); recycled Karla Dornacher image; composition book.

This is one of my personal favorites of the guest books, probably because of the colors. I have a great appreciation for colors, but pink has a special place in my heart.

The watering can features a Scripture, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ." Around the edges it says, "Many flowers ... One bouquet". I thought it was quite appropriate for a church parsonage guest book. :)

Enjoy!

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