Kicking Off the Year With My Newest Stamps

Welcome back to another marvelous Monday post for Simon Says Stamp and Show.  Our last challenge was a two week one to take us through the holidays and it seems like forever since I've made a project for this team.  I really missed the weekly challenge and am so happy to be getting back into the groove again.  This week we want you to show us what you have stamped with your newest stamp.  A perfect challenge for this week 'cause I know lots of you got stamps for holiday gifts - even if you had to gift them to yourself - LOL!!  I have wanted Tim Holtz's Fabulous Flourishes forever and I am so thrilled to finally own it.  But who knew how huge it would be - wooeee, you can really cover some paper with this flourish.  Of course, you don't have to use the entire flourish, but it's nice to have when working on a larger scale project.  

So here's my take on this week's challenge.  I decided to make myself a little vintage calendar and had a blast playing around with all the elements included here.  First I found this charming vintage image on line at French Kissed, next I created the January calendar on Excel and added a Tim Holtz stamp to give it a vintage appearance (stamp is from the Mini Holidays set and was masked and stamped in sections which changed its basic shape).  The background panel that they are mounted on is a piece of white CS with the flourish stamped in Vintage Photo and stamps from the Tim Holtz Mini Classics set (another brand new set) stamped in Stormy Sky.  Antique Linen and Stormy Sky DIs were sponged over the entire panel,  

The frame for the calendar is made from heavy chipboard.  All four sides (inside and out) were covered with designer paper and ink distressed along the edges with VP DI.    Two strips of 10 Seconds Studio metal were cut and embossed with my Cuttlebug and an embossing folder.  The raised portions were sanded to reveal the metal core.  The metal strips were attached with glue but only at the very outer edges.  The January calendar sheet was just slid in from the side.  It can be replaced month-to-month with the current calendar sheet, which I plan to make as we go through the year.  

I put an encouraging quote under the front panel so each month when I change the monthly calendar, I am encouraged to look forward not behind.  

A brace was created with heavy chipboard and treated with the Rusted Enamel technique.  It was glued to the inside of the front and back panels to keep it standing upright.  That made it very strong and sturdy.  On the back is a full year 2011 calendar, again created in Excel.  It was printed on vellum and cut out with fancy edge scissors.  It's held on by four metal corners (10 Seconds Studio Metal cut with a Spellbinders die), again only glued on the outer edges. That makes the calendar panel easy to pop in and out, allowing me to use it again for a 2012 calendar. 

That's it for my fun little project for this week.  Be sure to stop by the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge blog and see what the rest of the designers have made with their newest stamps!  And I hope you will play along with us this week.  Our generous sponsor Simon Says Stamp is awarding a $25 random drawing prize.  Wouldn't that be a great way to start out the new year?  

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  If you have any questions, just leave them in the comments and stop back by to check out my post updates with your information.  Have a great week.

Blessings & hugs,