WEEK #7 of our Inspired Christmas Creations: Coaster Calendar Tutorial (Birthday SATURDAY GIVEAWAYS ANNOUNCED!)

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Tonight I am sharing one of the most inexpensive and beloved gifts I give each year:  The Coaster Calendar.   I made this one for myself, as I make the same New Year's Resolution each year 1. To love the LORD my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength 2) To love others more fully.   So I make one of these for myself to keep on my desk to remind me of this dedication I have to those two pursuits! I also put the His Little Ones: Boy Praying on the front to remind me to pray without ceasing throughout the day.  Winter is my favorite season so mine is decked out with a winter theme, but you can make these to suit any person you like.   These make great gifts for men, too, and a photo can replace or be added to the inside spot across from the calendar.

Here are the supplies I started with:

There are 4 solid blue card stock pieces at 4" each, 4 3.75" pieces of the BoBunny paper with their corners rounded, I used different ribbon and that hole punch wasn't strong enough so I got out my crop-o-dile to punch the holes.  So lets get you started so you can make one!

First, You need coasters.  Mine are 4" blank coasters I got from a friend about 4 years ago and I believe she googled where to purchase them.  I love the restaurant coasters, because they work the same and your waitress may give you a stack free if you ask (Chilis in the US is great for this).  I glued the blue card stock to the coasters with gel medium, but your tape runner or plain old glue would work too:

Next I file the edges with a CTMH file (sandpaper will work too, but these are easier).  This makes it look like the paper just blends into the edges.  Now add your 3.75" patterned paper to the center (I use a tape runner for adhesive from now on):

Ok, now you'll want to print off a calendar for 2012.  Here's the link I used for the one I printed off: HERE
I trimmed it and using my Tim Holz mini stapler I stapled them together:

I then used red line tape which is the strongest tape I know to attach this to the burgendy paper, then my adhesive tape runner to attach that to the blue mat you'll see in the photo below this one:

I stamped the bear head from the Inspired Stamps called BEARS ALL THINGS and left a piece of paper underneath his chin that I marked and colored yellow so you'd notice it here in the photo.  Those adorable mitten buttons are from Christmas Button Bags at Hobby Lobby.

I used the Inspired Stamp set LABELMAKER ALPHABET to stamp the word love, then I flip over the carrier sheet like above to see which double lined box stamp will work best with the size of that word.  Then I stamp it and cut it out:

I centered it between the bear's mittens so it looks like he is holding it and added the other elements:

Here they are from front to back and how I assembled them:

 Above is the outside front cover, below is the back side of the top coaster:

 This is the inside right side and below is the back of the coaster you see above:

I heat embossed the Inspired Stamps stamp set MADE BY...on the back.  To head emboss you just stamp with a pigment based ink, put embossing powder on it, and heat it until it's shiny.

Here's how I put these 2 coasters together to make the Coaster Calendar:

 I punched two holes with the crop-o-dile.  Then I put the coasters together and marked onto the coaster I wanted to punch holes in so the holes would be the same spot in both coasters:

Choose your ribbon and thread it through the closed coaster calendar:

Tie the ribbons to secure your coaster calendar: 

outside (above)

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 inside of coaster calendar above and closeups below:

Don't forget!  Leave a Comment to this post and/or our Facebook page... you have 6 chances to win!!
I'll be back to announce the winners on Monday.  Our Guest Designer week starts Sunday with one of our very talented followers, Patti!!  Be sure to tune in each day to see what these ladies have to inspired you with!
Until then,
Be the Blessing!
~Antoinette
www.inspiredstamps.com   We ship most orders the same day they are placed! Click on the link to see all our stamps and the specials!!