Organized Life

This article appeared in the January Premier Issue of GingerScrapsStreet Magazine

Organized Life by Julie Ann Shahin

Time, intangible time. Whether you want to operate in 2011 all in good time, ahead of time, by gaining time, keeping time, losing no time, making time, having time off, or passing the time of day - you'll need a way to track and organize your days. A key to organization is finding time-saving solutions: that is where hybrid calendar designs come in handy to start your 2011 off right. 

Calendars are essential to keeping me on track when it comes to appointments, dates, parties, and lunches. Often it is so hard to find a calendar that fits my personality and decor. Sometimes you want to give that gift that comes with extra handmade loving extras. Hybrid scrapbooking allows you to papercraft a calendar quick and easy, adding your own photos, digital date brushes, digital frames, digital templates, perhaps a digital calendar topper - with finishing touches such as ribbon, flowers, glitter, buttons, ink, etcetera. Results can be absolutely stunning. Keeping time becomes a joy with your customized design and hopefully reminds you to de-stress every time you look at it.

A handmade calendar makes a great keepsake that future generations can get a glimpse of life as it is now. From perpetual calendars to traditional planners to pregnancy calendars and beyond, we are showcasing the best ideas from my favorite hybrid scrapbookers.

Blue Bird Perpetual Calendar by Amy Baldwin 

Supplies: Paper: Teresa Collins Designs, Ty’s, Prima Marketing Inc., October Afternoon, Rub Ons: Jenni Bowlin Studio, Close To My Heart , Hambly, Tags: Close To My Heart, Transparency: Creative Imaginations, Stickers: Jolee’s , S.R.M. Press, Making Memories, EK Success, Jenni Bowlin Studio, Karen Foster Designs, Buttons: Jenni Bowlin Studio, Charms: Tokens Number Pendant, Markers: Sharpie, Floss: DMC, Magnets: Hobby Lobby, Creating Keepsakes, Board: Three By Three Magnetic Bulletin Board, Label: Dymo, Adhesive: E600, Sticky Doos, Other:  mini bottle caps, bingo markers, key, patch, tiles, dominoes, ruler.  Tools:  Punches: Paper Shapers, Stamps: Fancy Pants Designs, Other:  button maker. 

Digital Supplies: Kit: Joy Page Kit by Michelle Underwood (Two Peas in a Bucket). 

Design Notes: This is a totally interactive magnetized calendar to be used month after month, year after year…includes 31 days of the month & 12 acrylic month slides. Design includes paper rolling (to mimic feathers on the wing) as well as fussy cutting of intricate digital imagery. 

2011 Planner by Marie Lottermoser 

Supplies: Library Pocket: 7 Gypsies, Other: vintage label. Digital Supplies: Brushes: Gypsy Element Kit by Rhonna Farrer (Two Peas in a Bucket), Brushes: Glam Brush Kit by Rhonna Farrer (Two Peas in a Bucket), Brushes: Magical Brush Kit by Rhonna Farrer (House of 3), Paper: Travel Journal Tool Kit by Rhonna Farrer (Two Peas in a Bucket), Software: Adboe Photoshop CS5, Fonts: Dampfplatz Shadow, Outlaw, SmithyXT, Telegraphem, Old Newspaper Types (all from dafont). 

Design Notes: Hybrid Day-Planner with a tri-fold design. I love Marie's use of Rhonna Farrer's brushes along the edges. 

Pregnancy Calendar/Journal Gift by Julie Ann Shahin 

Supplies: Paper, Alphabet, Flowers, Die Cuts, Tags: Making Memories, Chipboard: Momenta, Ribbon: Offray, Markers: Marvy Uchida, Ink: Staz-On (Tsukineko), Ranger Industries. Tools: Punches: We R Memory Keepers, Border Punches: Martha Stewart Crafts, Stamps: Autumn Leaves, The Paper Studio. Digital Supplies: Office Tabs : Tab Shapes Template Freebie Commercial Use by Marisa Lerin (pixeledmemories), Paper: The Headlines by Gina Cabrera (Digital Design Essentials), Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7, Fonts: Cutie Pop. 

Design Notes: When I decided to make this gift for my sister, I asked my online friends to help me come up with journaling prompts. I used a Making Memories Page Kit which makes co-ordination a cinch! Martha Stewart border punches add a wonderful decorative touch. I created my own hybrid office tabs with the freebie template by Marisa Lerin, making them foldable by duplicating the layer and flipping it upside down, and attaching it at the top. I hope my sister loves this gift and I'm so excited to become an Aunt again.

Journaling:  Month Four Journaling Prompts: The first time I felt you move, I was... I thought it felt like... Friends of mine who are pregnant, too, are... Famous women who are pregnant right now are... The first day I wore maternity clothes, I felt... because... 

Templates are blank designs that you put your photos, papers, and embellishments into the layers using your photo-editing system. They can be a scrapbooker's best friend in saving time, and a key to having more fun with this hobby. These ladies each used templates in various creative ways to make hybrid projects that are fabulous.
From re-printed calendars to make a layout, to quick pages for mini calendar gifts, to a wonderful fridge planner - these inspiring ideas are sure to get your mojo flowing in 2011!

Year of You by Cathy Pascual 

Supplies: Paper: Crate Paper, Alphabet Stickers: Making Memories, Die Cuts: Making Memories, BasicGrey, Stickers: Crate Paper, Gems, Brads: Making Memories, Photo Paper: Epson, Other: foam adhesive. Digital Supplies: Template: 2011 DIY Calendar Kit by Paislee Press (Oscraps), Software: Photoshop CS2, Fonts: RM Typewriter. 

Design Notes: For this hybrid page, I decided to print smaller versions of a 5 x7 hybrid calendar I made. I thought this would work well with the calendar background paper. To fit all the photos on one page, I printed out some smaller than others. I loved seeing a year's worth of photo on one page! 

Journaling: Twelve months of you. I love seeing how you have changed (and not changed) within a year. Same beautiful face, but doing so much more than photos could ever show: walking, talking, understanding more, exploring, developing your own personality. These photos are part of the calendar I made for 2011. I'm looking forward to capturing a whole new year of you! 

Hybrid Mini Calendar for 2010 by Jan Barlow 

Supplies: Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View, Other: various buttons, trim, stickers. Digital Supplies: Kit: No. 01 Mini Calendar by Michelle Filo featuring designs by Michelle Coleman (Little Dreamer Designs), Kit: Elemental Extras - 2010 Calendar, Stamps: Classic by Miss Mint (peppermintcreative.com), Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0. 

Design Notes: I created my own triangle stand from cardstock based on a design shown in Michelle Filo's download package. The fun of the project was just using whatever I had sitting around. Jan made several of these to give as gifts! What a delightful little calendar! 

Weekly planner for your fridge by Sara Lively 

Supplies: Other: laminator pout,  self-adhesive magnets. Digital Supplies: Kit: All About The Wordplay by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe Designs), Kit: 365 Remembered v.2 [February] by Lauren Reid, Kit: Doodle Me by Lauren Grier (Sweet Shoppe Designs), Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6, Fonts: DJB Kristie,  DJB Tweenybopper by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe Designs), Scrap Kids, 1942. 

Design Notes: Templates are not just for LO's! I used a template by Lauren Reid to make this weekly planner, which after digitally decorating and printing, I laminated so I could use a dry erase pen on it. That way, I can use the same planner week after week – very environmentally friendly! I also popped magnets on the reverse so I could stick it to my fridge, to make it easy to find too. Remember to add as many important numbers (like the doctors) as possible before printing. 

Journaling: Simply the days of the week, and journal spot titles, like ‘Shopping List’.

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