Friday, November 16, 2012

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop 2012

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!!
Calling all crafters! We’ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all of the thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could create for the holidays, all in one place, during our second annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!

If you are following along the 2012 Handmade Holiday Hop, you should have come from Jennifer Priest. If you want to start from the beginning, begin at Clearsnap
The Details:
To sweeten the Hop, we’re offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you’ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors! Authentique is giving away four 6x6 pads of their latest collections: Festive, Peaceful, Original and Lovely!
Visit the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov 27, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Each day we will be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from!

The Blog List:
Donna Salazar Designs – http://donnasalazar.typepad.com
Eileen Hull for Sizzix - http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/
Kristin Wilson – Graphic 45 - http://www.kristinwilsonhandmade.com
Jennie Garcia - Tombow - http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com
Gini Williams Cagle - Hampton Art - http://ginicagle.blogspot.com
Sabrina Alery – Clearsnap – http://Sabrinaalery.blogspot.com
DeeDee Catron - Globecraft Memories - http://umwowstudio.blogspot.com
Michelle Grant – Donna Salazar Designs - http://michellejbg.blogspot.com
Emily Lanham – Authentique Paper - http://www.createserendipity.net
Emma Jeffery – Fiskateers - http://hellobeautifulblog.blogspot.com
Natalie Clause – The Twinery - http://www.southernbellescharm.com
Alberto L Juarez – Graphic 45 http://vintageodyssey.blogspot.com
Jennifer Priest – Clearsnap – http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com
You are HERE ---->Heather Conklin – Authentique Paper - http://goldiecar.blogspot.com

The Project:

For this year's Handmade Holidays Blog Hop, I made a "Year in Authentique". Every year I make scrapbook calendars for my mother, mother-in-law and both grandmas. I normally make them out of whatever random papers I have in my stash. This year I decided to make an Authentique specific calendar using a different line for each month. For each of the twelve months, I chose a collection that would make sense for the entire month. I loved revisiting older lines and playing with them again, as well as breaking into the newest line (Lovely) for the first time.
Here is each month in chronological order. After the calendar, I will give you some tips and tricks on making your own calendar, as well as show you my process.
January- "Peaceful"
February- "Lovely"
March- "Carefee"
April- "Delightful"
May- "Splendid"
 
June- "Celebrate"
July- "Glory"
August- "Lively"
September- "Curiosity"
October- "Gathering"
November- "Thankful"
December- "Festive

While it looks daunting, 12 layouts is actually quite easy when you use a collection of papers as nice as those from Authentique. Everything coordinates, so putting each layout together is a breeze. There are a few things that I have realized from my many incarnations of calendar making (I think this is year 4 or 5).

1. Use sketches. Find a good sketch artist and modify their sketches to suit what you may use for pictures. For each of these, I used sketches from ScrapbookSteal's Mid-Week Mojo's, all created by Kristy Lee, the former Mojo Mama. She's pretty fantastic.
2. Don't have photos in mind. It's backwards, I know. But if you are making mulitiple calendars, it just goes quicker. 
3. Make mats for each photo. Since I didn't put photos onto each layout yet, the photo mats create a sense of where photos will go, and will display them nicely.
4. Create interest with die-cuts. I love my Silhouette and used it extensively throughout the process. But paper punches such as those from Fiskars will work just as well! (Or better yet, cardstock stickers like those from Authentique!) Shaped paper also works well in this case.

5. Minimize dimension. Thicker layouts are great, but when there are twelve of them, and you have to write on the backs, it just doesn't work. I did use some dimensional adhesive in places, but used it sparingly. 
6. Add flat interest with inking (I used Imagine Crafts' Memento inks, Distress Ink and Clearsnap's Colorbox Chalk Inks throughout this project), pens (Signo white gel) and fabric tape or washi (Love My Tapes).
7. Get a pre-made calendar base, or create your own using quality cardstock. I used the Kraft Core Nostalgic collection by Core'dinations. This way, I was able to use a color for the month page, and the kraft backing to write on. I chose all of my colors to match collections, and then ordered them by month.
8. If you want to bind your work, you don't have to have a binding system. I make a ton of mini albums, so having a Bind-it-All makes sense for me. If you don't want to invest in a binding system, take your cardstock to a store like Office Depot. For just a few dollars, they can bind your project for you. I suggest doing this BEFORE you create your pages so that the cardstock will lie flat.
9. Use the manufacturer's information part of the cardstock to bind. When you want to put your layouts into your scrapbook, you won't have holes in the layout. Make sure that the paper isn't perforated though. That never goes well.  
   
I hope that this inspires you to make your own presents this year. Especially those that will last all year. Cheers to creating gifts from the heart this holiday season! Since you are at the last stop on the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop, I will wish you a happy season. Make sure that you check out Clearsnap's blog tomorrow for more fun!

Happy Hopping!
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97 comments:

  1. wow what an amazing gift - it is certainy worth the time spent when you get such a stunning result.

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  2. Very cool gift idea--love all the layouts and man, that is alot of work!! WAY TO GO!!! LOVE IT!

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  3. What a great gift! Love the layouts and great tips too!

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  4. An awesome gift!! Amazing pages!!

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  5. Great gift! What a fabulous way to showcase your favorite papers! You had some great ideas!! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. This is a fabulous gift idea. Thank you so much for the inspiration.

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  7. Beautifully done, love sketches and Authentique paper. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. I love your projects and the Authentique line. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. heather, brave girl doing a big project year in review on separate pages. i at best squeeze a year onto a double layout.....lololo
    ava g

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  10. Authentique paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yipeeeee!!!!!!!!!

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  11. I love this book! and thanks for sharing all those amazing tips for completing it quickly and still having it look beautiful!

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  12. Absolutely gorgeous calendar! And love that you used MWM sketches! :>)

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  13. Gorgeous, gorgeous calendar. Your family must love getting these every year. Thanks for giving your ideas as you detailed your work. The inspiration is wonderful for a calendar.

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  14. Love this calendar ! Great tips to make one also !

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  15. Wow...these pages are great. I love that you used a different collection for each... Wonderful job.

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  16. Heather...this rocks! What an awesome gift you are giving!

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  17. Always looking for good calendar ideas. thanks.

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  18. Awesome layouts and thanks for all your tips!

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  19. Lovely album!! I LOVE this idea!!
    TFS!! Take Care!!
    Jennie @ http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com/

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  20. I love all of the layouts, and I really appreciate you sharing your tips. Thank you!!

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  21. I love this idea. These layouts are beautiful.

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  22. Great idea! These layouts are awesome.

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  23. Fabulous year ogf pages!! October was my favorite :)

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  24. I had never thought of this idea for a gift but what a great idea!! especially since you can give it and let the recipent add the pictures throughout the year! i love this idea! thanks for all the inspiration!

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  25. Cute idea! I've always done my calandars through shutterfly, but maybe this will give me the guts to try to do one myself!
    Thanks for the ideas
    Love the HOP!

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  26. Love the idea of making calendars for family members out of colorful scrapbook paper. I did ask for a binding machine on my Christmas list...

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  27. Love these pages, and they do coordinate so well. Love the paper line.

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  28. Your calendar is awesome! Each page is so unique and beautiful. Such a wonderful gift, I want to be on YOUR list! Thanks for sharing.

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  29. love the calendar layouts, and the tip/step list is super helpful to me to start on my own, maybe as a last minuet Christmas gift project. thank you for the inspiration.

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  30. I don't have a binding tool and never thought of going to an office supply store to do it. Thanks for the tip. Love the butterfly page too.

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  31. Very cool! You did lots of work and I love all the Authentique you've used!

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  32. Great calendar layouts. Mom and MIL gifts that the could use their own photos of the grand kids

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  33. Incredibly beautiful. I always make calendars using Shutterfly but this is way better! I am ready to scraplift this...

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  34. so many layouts and nice inspirations.

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  35. What an incredible gift -- so thoughtful. Wonderful calendar. TFS!

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  36. Love this idea. Fantastic gift!

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  37. A gift that keeps on giving, especially to parents and grandparents is one that is treasured for a lifetime. Faulbous job and great tutorial and tips for making the calendar. Love the tip about leaving manufacturer's name to be used for binding. Great job.

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  38. A Wonderful gift and way to 'chart' memories!! Each page filled with Love from you!! Merry Christmas!!

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  39. What a wonderful gift - each and every one of them would be treasured!!!
    Thank You for the handy hints - they sound very practical and would make this huge project so much easier to complete :)

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  40. Невероятно много блогов , на которые надо зайти , посмотреть проект дизайнера и оставить комментарий :) Думаю , это не по силам нормальному человеку !
    Я начала с конца списка :)
    Что-то увижу , а что-то придётся рассматривать ещё долгое время , думаю до самых праздников !
    Ваш календарь и идея мне понравились . Сама думаю сделать что-то похожее , и спасибо за идею - теперь я понимаю , что хочу !!!

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  41. What a lovely idea! Great use of papers.

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  42. Very cool. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  43. ...she is gonna luv this... I want to try one now.. its so clever!!!

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  44. whew! that's a lot of work! but it looks amazing! :) TFS :)

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  45. Wow those are great!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  46. Great idea and great instructions, too! Awesome!!

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  47. Wonderful gift idea and so pretty too. Thanks for sharing.

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  48. Oh wow, these layouts are fabulous!! I love the gorgeous designs!! Thanks so much for the inspiration :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  49. I've never had the ambition to finish a calendar. Thanks for making it look easier!

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  50. Cool layouts! Thank you for sharing.

    Fiskateer Jean#8889 AKA giveawayjean

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  51. Fantastic calendar! A great gift idea.

    Jen

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  52. I love your idea of using a different collection for each month. Really gives the calendar pizzazz!! Your layouts are awesome too, I'm just sad I'm not getting one of your fun calendars for myself!

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  53. Amazing-and so many helpful tips and hints.Thank you so much for sharing the calendar and the great tutorial.

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  54. Fabulous layouts! I like the idea of creating a calender with the layouts.

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  55. This is such a cool idea. You can always add to it if you need/want to.

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  56. Amazing scrapping - thanks so much for sharing it!
    Alison x

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  57. beautiful layouts! thanks for the chance to win!

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  58. Great gift idea! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  59. Wonderful LO's for a great gift idea. Thanks for sharing!

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  60. Love calendars as a christmas present. yours is just gorgeous.

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  61. Love your style, so much creativity!

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  62. Too lovely for words!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  63. Thanks for sharing. On my to do list.

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  64. I'm still a beginner scrapper, so I am in awe of your pages! Thanks for the tips! I keep notes! :)

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  65. Wow, what a super variety of scrapbook layouts. Lovin' all the paper selection and the projects you have prepared for this!

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  66. oh my word this is a lot of work - you are such a talented scrapper. thanks for sharing!

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  67. Beautiful project! Thanks for the inspiring ideas!

    Carol B
    ciaoitalia2007(at)gmail(dot)com

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  68. I like authentic papers, you made wonderful layered layouts with it.

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  69. Love it! So pretty, thanks for sharing. Now I need to go make one for myself.

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  70. Beautiful calendar! I've been wanting to do this for a while and give one to my mom for Christmas! Thanks for the link for the sketches!

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  71. This is a wonderful idea Heather and I love the layouts you did! Authentique certainly has the perfect papers for any project - I love all of their collections! How fun to see so many different collections showcased! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  72. Thanks for sharing your lovely ideas! Hugs, Susie.

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  73. Lovely layouts and tips for making calendars. Thank you for sharing.

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  74. thanks for the lovely projects and the tips for making the calendar, so much inspiration
    upnurse at aol dot com

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  75. I am so impressed that you make so many calendars a year & that you've done it for so many years. I bet your recipients depend on them now! This one is so nice!

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