Sunday 15 January 2012

Don't Panic Mr. Mainwaring!


I always like to have a desk calendar at work and have made myself one in the past, but last year I bought one and intended to do the same this year. Unfortunately I never saw one I liked, so a couple of days ago I (somewhat belatedly) decided to make myself one.

I suddenly had a brainwave for a calendar theme (based on recently bought stash) that I thought would not only be funky, fashionable and very suitable for office life, but would also be particularly apt for this year of celebrating various British events such as the London Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee. I even imagined making calendars as li'l belated new year gifts for my team mates in the office ... I was really enthusiastic about the whole thing!

There was a problem though ... all my local stockists seemed to have run out of small calendar tabs, and all the online suppliers were also either out of stock or charging thrice for postage what the actual calendars cost (Anita's - £1 for a pack of ten!).  In desperation I sent out an online call to some bloggy buds to see if anyone had any leftovers (just for me, not all my workmates, I hasten to add!) , and the lovely Helen stepped straight up to the mark and offered to post me one ... thanks so much hun!!

If Helen is reading this now she is probably quite confused as there is no way her li'l calendar could have arrived with me yet ... well it's like this. I went for a little jaunt yesterday afternoon (Saturday) to a craft shop a few miles away ... and lo and behold they had a few individual calendar tabs hiding near the till! They're not actually as nice as the Anita's ones so I am waiting patiently for my promised one to arrive to use on my own calendar, but I was able to buy enough to make up six calendars for my work teamies ... they all look something like these!!


Although I say so myself  I'm quite chuffed with these. The idea came from seeing a card of Squirrel's earlier in the week which alerted me to the existence of the "Keep Calm And ..." set of sentiments from Personal Impressions (I just HAD to have them immediately!) ; and I soon made the mental connection with the "Portobello Road" paper pad I had bought last week in case of Olympic / Jubilee challenges. I had been wondering what to do with the funky Union Jack papers though ... well suddenly it was obvious to me! I really like this kinda retro look and Second World War sayings (with a bit of artistic licence lol!)  :-)


Most of my workmates are big tea drinkers, so 4 out of the 6 calendars follow that theme. The other 2 non-tea drinkers are getting "Drink Wine" calendars ... I really hope they a e going to like them!


Stamps: Personal Impressions "Keep Calm And" set;
Papers: Papermania "Portobello Road";
Tools: Martha Stewart "Iron Gate" punch.

Challenges:
Allsorts #137 - Celebration of Nations
Stamp With Fun #143 - Calendar 
Pollycraft Monday #122 - Anything But A Card
Hotshot Crafts #2 - Easel Card
Divas By Design #18 - New Beginnings
Ooh-La-La #96 - New Beginnings
Sparkles #28 - New Crafty Goodies
The Stamp Man - Use Red
CES #68 - Vintage
Incy Wincy #128 - Vintage
Crafty Cardmakers #59 - No Floral Embellishments

So with that I guess I'll just Keep Calm and Carry on ... enjoy the rest of your weekend!
 

23 comments:

jem (jane elizabeth middleton) said...

great cards ,way I'm feeling it's the wine needed and I've had a glass of red already.janex

shaz earl said...

Fabulous card

Thank you for joining us at SMC for our * New Crafty Goodies * Challenge.

Hope you will join us again soon, good luck xx

Anonymous said...

Fabulous Pauline LOVE your sentiment too! LOVE it! Thanks for joining us on the Incy Wincy Challenge this time! hugs me xx

PS you could add this to Top Tip Tuesday too! x

Dazie said...

Love this idea, the union jack is a fab idea too!

Thanks for joining the sparkles girls this month
Dazie
x

Anonymous said...

Fantastic design Pauline and, as you say, so very appropriate this year!
xx

Jane said...

That is such a great idea...I assume it's an ordinary easel card..? Thanks for sharing, I shall keep that in mind for a little gift idea for next year!
Jane x

Dolly Daydreams said...

Hello from a fellow scouser !!! Love your idea for a calender and those papers are magnificent I just love them. Great stamps and such a perfect gift. Thank you for joining us at Crafty Cardmakers and good luck.

Marie

Nicola said...

Fantastic calenders Pauline, what great sentiments! Such perfect gifts
Thanks for entering my Celebration of Nations challenge over at Allsorts this week and good luck!
Hugs Nicola xxx

Squirrel x said...

Brilliant hun, I see you are putting those sentiments to good use, lol! Must admit, I am using them for allsorts at the moment. Gorgeous papers and what fabulous gift ideas. Hugs Sxx

Claire said...

I love it! Very apt for this year indeed. Hugs, Claire x

Pat said...

Great idea for a calendar, thanks for sharing with us at OLLCB this week. Good luck in the draw.

Pat xx

catherine said...

Fantastic calenders and very patriotic. well done
x catherine

Jo said...

These are fab! love them all :)

Anita said...

Fabulous calendars! Thank you for joining the Divas challenge.

craftymum said...

your calender easel card is gorgeous. So glad you entered it into Hotshot Crafts challenge

Hugs Sarah

p.s. I have blog candy for old and new followers on my blog

Unknown said...

Gorgeous calendar!!!

Thanks for sharing with us over at Divas By Design and good luck with the challenge.

Hugs Jo xxx

Helen said...

Love these too...think I'd have to have the wine one! ;0)
Helen x

Sally said...

A great easel calendar card & I love the papers & sentiment. Thanx for joining us at Crafty Cardmakers this week.

Unknown said...

I think these calendars are just totally fab Pauline! I love the 'world war II/British' theme! :)
Thanks for sharing with us at Ooh La La :)
Lizy DT x

Fleur said...

I love this Pauline, great idea and I love these "Keep Calm" sayings
Thank you so much for entering our challenge at ALLSORTS this week, good luck & hope you’ll join us again!
Hugz Fleur xXx

Neil said...

Plenty of Red going on here! Loads of lovely details too. Thank you entering The Stamp Man challenge this week.

Anne said...

What a fab idea for your calenders, looks great! Thanks for joining our no floral embellishments challenge at Crafty Cardmakers this week.
Anne
x

Julie said...

This is gorgeous Pauline!! So loving these Portabello papers!! Thanks for playing along with us at CES Challenges this week, Juliexx