A Muse Benefit for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

 

Last year, Linda Carnell of A Muse Artstamps, designed a calendar to raise funds for Scleroderma Research, an illness her mother suffers from. The project was so successful, that she was determined to expand the variety of calendars, and find another great cause to support!

In honor of Victoria Nelson, an avid fan of A Muse who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's Disease, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this year's calendar will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This year's calendar features 16 months, and includes September 2008 through December 2009. It also includes a perpetual calendar, which is great for keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries. As well, the calendar has been designed in several different sizes.

There are THREE donation levels per calendar. The minimum donation is $4 per calendar, BUT there is also an option to donate $10 or $20 for each version.

We hope people will enjoy stamping and creating these calendars as fun projects and gifts for friends and family, while contributing to a great organization at the same time!

So please head on over to A Muse Artstamps right now and place your order for your calendar and make your donation for this important cause.

CREATING THE CALENDAR

I am so honored to have been asked to participate in this special "event". To be able to use my creativity for something positive is something I hold dear. I hope that you are inspired to create some calendars as gifts this year!

 

In thinking about how I would use this calendar, so many different ideas ran through my head. I thought about doing a bunch of different things for different months, but I just like consistency waaaay too much - LOL! Therefore the calendars I have created all share the same concept.

When I realized that there was a Perpetual Calendar included in the package I decided I really wanted to showcase an idea that would put the regular calendar together with the perpetual one. This is an item I can see placing in a prominent position on my desktop, being I most definitely need a reminder other than my everyday pop-up calendar, to give me forewarning of the upcoming birthdays I need to plan for. Rather than binding them together in some method I opted for creating 12 individual little "stand-alone" calendars.

I began by printing off the file and cutting the calendars down to size. This particular calendar measures 4"x4" in size, with the perpetual calendar being 3 1/2"x3 1/2" square .

Next I selected twelve different stamps, trying to find ones that would be appropriate for each particular month and fit within the space I had visualized. I used a mix of A Muse Artstamps together with Lockhart Rubber Stamps to complete the 12 months in 2009.

Using an old technique called "Spotlighting" I stamped the images in Black Memento Ink on the calendar face, trying to position each one so that the "spotlight" portion would be in approximately the same place on each month. I then stamped a second image on an extra piece of white cardstock.

Figuring out the precise location of the individual elements was a bit tricky until I figured out how to get these pieces in a similar position. By positioning my little yellow Inchie Finder from the Inchie Paper Pack over the exact position I wanted to spotlight I could see what portion of the image I wanted to punch out. Then using my 1" punch I was able to select the same portion of the image as was showing through the yellow inchie finder. Voila, no more problems!

By using the same mix of Copic markers throughout this project it helped me keep a cohesive look to all the images I colored. These little colored beauties were then affixed to Black Inchie Squares being I wanted that little hint of a black outline to help the spotlight pop off the page. 

Next I selected notecards that would coordinate with the color of the month name. Again I used a mix of A Muse Notecards together with Memory Box Notecards. I cut the Memory Box ones down to the 4 1/4" square size by trimming off one end.

 

As you can see I affixed the 3 1/2" square perpetual calendar to a 4" square piece of black cardstock before attaching it to the inside of my notecard.

I love how these can be changed out on my desk with each month, knowing that I finally have a place that I can look to regularly for upcoming birthdays and anniversaries!

 

 

 

 

I believe that you can read more about this worthy cause at the A Muse Artstamps blog, as well as find links to the other amazing creations a very talented group of women have shared. Thank you so much for stopping by today - I hope I have inspired you to help make a difference!

ETA: I used the Square Format to create this version of the calendar. I hope this helps you pick the one that is right for you.

Comments

[Karen F.]

I've already purchased 2 types, they are just so cute and am glad they go to a great cause.

[Kathyc on SCS]

What a fabulous project Ellen. I just love how it turned out!

[Maya]

fantastic!

[Victoria]

I love how you incorporated the inchies into the calendar and consistently used them throughout the year. Your work is fabulous! Thank you for participating in the calendar project!

[Julie]

SHUT UP!!! Ellen! ELLEN!!! Leave it to you to find a way to bring the fabulous Inchies into this project! WOW! {{{{{{{Ellen}}}}}}}} Thank you, my friend--you are so generous with your time and talent. I love you! *smooches* Jules

[bronih]

Oh my gosh, Ellen! These inchie calendar pages are just wonderful!!

[Debbie Olson]

Ellen, these calendar pages are so lovely--home run!!

[jenn]

Ellen, these are just adorable - I love how you've spotlighted using your Inchies. Fabulous, my friend!

[Geeta / CraftyEngineer]

WOW! These are awesome! I've been eyeing all of your inchie projects and now, well, you've pushed me over the edge by using them with A Muse stamps! Thanks so much for playing along with us!

[Jennie M]

Wow, these are amazing! I love how you did the spotlighting technique, it looks just wonderful on these calendars! Thanks so much for the inspiration! :)

[Beate]

Oh Ellen! I love your calendar. I love that you used inchies and I love that you added the birthday list behind the calendar month!
You rock!
Big cyber hugs and smiles

[-mary]

Ellen, I really love this idea. Surely, you must have at least 3 clones to accomplish all that you do!

Hugs,
-mary

[Stefanie Staniak]

Ellen, these are fabulous! I'm so glad you were picked too because I love your design. :)

[Novell]

Ellen, I love your spotlighting by use of the Inchies! What a fabulous idea! And of course, who doesn't love looking at Karen Lockhart images! Thank you so much for participating in this project!!! This cause is very near and dear to my heart.

[Lori Barnett]

Love your calendar ideas! How awesome that you get to be part of this awesome project to help raise money!

[Elena]

I love this idea of a separate card for each month. The highlighted areas of each image is terrific!

[Sharon Harnist]

Wonderful cause, fabulous project & design, Ellen -- love your spotlighting theme!

[Michelle Clark]

Super cute!!

[Anna Wight (SweetMissDaisy)]

LOVE these, Ellen!! You clever clever girl!! =)

[Jody Morrow]

Very pretty!

[Cheryl Sims]

Is this the 4-bar calendar? I have a hard time figuring out which is which size. Love what you did, Ellen!!!!
Cheryl Sims