This post is part of a paid campaign with American Crafts, but all opinions are my own.
I am a list maker – If I don’t write something down I usually forget. One thing I am really bad at is remembering birthdays. The only birthdays I have memorized are my kids, parents and siblings. I am forgetful of the birth dates of my nieces, nephews, friends and cousins. I like to wish a Happy Birthday to my friends and family and hate it when I forget. So I thought making a Birthday Calendar Mini book would help me – plus it is super cute!
I have been planning on making this for awhile now and when I was introduced to Project Life I knew that was exactly what I wanted to use for this project. I chose the Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic Project Life Core Kit because I just love the colors, phrases and overall look of the paper line. 5th and Frolic Core Kit features an array of light blues, pinks, greens, yellows and airy neutrals. The fun icons include birds, trees, foxes, houses, keys and clipboards – plus it has a distressed fell (which I love).
Isn’t it lovely! I knew this would be perfect for my Birthday Calendar!
First let me tell you a bit about Project Life. The reason I love Project Life is because it is super simple to use. You really don’t need all the extra scrapbook tools – no special scissors, glue etc. When I want to get some pages done fast I usually only need my paper cutter (if I want to cut some pictures down to size).
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all of the pictures I need to scrapbook – and Yes I do still love to spend hours on a scrapbook page for that perfect picture. But there are times I have a ton of pictures of one event (you know the 100 pictures you may have from a trip to the zoo) and I want to get them all into the book – and spending hours on pages just seems so overwhelming.
Project Life is PERFECT for this!!! I love this back-to-basics approach that I can use – plus I love how it looks!
Okay now let me show you how I made my Birthday Calendar!
Supplies Needed:
Please note I have linked some of the below products to Amazon if you are looking where to find the product. The links are affiliate links.
- Project Life Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic Core Kit
- Chipboard (you could use some cardboard or even some thick cardstock if you don’t have chipboard)
- Black Ink pad (optional)
- White Paint/Paint Brush
- Adhesive – I like to use Tacky Tape
- Letters (stickers, rubon letters, stamps, etc.)
- Ribbon
- Metal Ring
- Hole punch – my favorite hole punch is the cropodile
I already had some chipboard left over from another project. These pieces of chipboard are 4″ tall and a little under 3 1/2 ” wide. You will need 13 of these. Punch a hole in the upper left corner of each chipboard piece. Make sure the hole is in the same spot on each piece so they line up nicely. Paint the edges white and let dry.
Now from your Project Life kit pick out 26 of the small papers – they measure 4″ x 3″. This size is perfect so you won’t need to do any cutting.
I like to ink the edges of my painted chipboard and papers because I like the distress fell this gives (this is optional)
Now tape your first paper on the first chipboard piece. Before you tape the second paper on the back be sure to use the hole punch to punch a hole in the paper. Now put your back piece on and punch your hole. Repeat until all of the papers are on your chipboard.
At this point I like to put all of the pages on my metal ring so I can be sure they don’t get out of the order I wanted. Then using my letters (I used stickers and rubons) add your title and months to the pages. Once that is done add some ribbon to the ring. Here are all of my pages:
Isn’t this cute??!! I think this would make a great gift or you can keep for yourself. Now all you need to do is write in the birth dates for each month!
If you are wondering where you can get some Project Life core kits, albums and page protectors? Michael’s carries one of the largest selections of Project Life – including two exclusive core kits and several exclusive albums. I just love the Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic Kit that I used for my Birthday Calendar. I also want to get the Vintage Travel Core Kit for all the pics I have of my boys, our camping trips, etc. This kit has deep blues, reds, browns and a variety of darker neutrals. The icons in this kit includes trains, airplanes and maps.
Tara says
Such a cute project! I love the Core Kit!
Summer Scraps says
Thanks so much Tara – it is such a fun kit!
Summer Scraps recently posted…No Churn Turtle Ice Cream
Kenzie @ Chasing Happy says
Oh my gosh, that’s adorable! You. are. brilliant.
Kami says
Absolutely adorable! I LOVE this. I think this would be a great Christmas present. Great idea.
A Proverbs 31 Wife says
I love it! What a fun way to keep track of birthdays. 🙂
Stephanie says
Oh my goodness. This is sooo adorable. I need to check out Project Life!
kaylynnczy says
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
Courtney says
Very cute idea!!
Angela Peters says
Such a fun & adorable idea!!
Morgan - Modern Mommyhood says
I love this idea and that all the cards/pretty designs are premade! I’m going to have to check Project Life out!
Jennifer says
Such a fun and easy way to keep track of birthdays… which I kind of suck at… I’m good at remembering the date, really bad at remembering how old people are! Last year I sent my brother a happy 16th card… he turned 18. Worst sister ever! LOL
Summer Rumsey says
Thanks Jennifer 🙂 I am not that great at remembering ages either. I am sure your brother still appreciated the thought 🙂
Karina Wetzel says
What a fun idea :)!! I love that it comes as a kit for you to just put it together! Easy and simple! looks adorable too!
Summer Rumsey says
Thanks for all of the nice comments everyone!
Mel@Mellywood's Mansion says
That is really pretty and so handy I’m hopeless at remembering things, pinned it!
Helen says
This is so pretty! I’m so bad at remembering birthdays so this is such a great idea!
Amy Desrosiers says
This is such a pretty DIY-I could certainly use something like this!
Merissa says
What a cute thing! It would be perfect for non-scrapbookers like me.
Jenny says
oh the cuteness of it. i love it!! must make one 😀
FluffyMe says
Oh My!! This is such a FABULOUS idea! I love the soft colors of the 5th & Frolic kit I really need to open and use mine now!
Joanne says
I really like your birthday calendar! It came out awesome!
Carmen Uballe says
I saw this post on pinterest.. and I fell in love.. I am actually working on my own version of this now.. I love this so much…
Malia says
I like that a lot, very nice!
Ave T says
I would like to try out this kit! Love how your calendar came out!
Alecia ChickenScratchNY says
This is an amazing idea! I love that it hold so much info while still being really compact. I’m awful with dates so I really need something like this
Melanie says
Ohh what a fun project and being a scrapbooker I totally can appreciate this… LOVE the cards, thanks for sharing
Julie says
So cute, this would be a great gift if it doesn’t turn out so cute I can’t bear to part with it!
Summer Scraps says
I made several – one fo me and a then some for gifts.
Summer Scraps recently posted…No Churn Turtle Ice Cream
Gina says
Very cute idea! So crafty… and functional! Thanks for sharing on the #ShareTheWealthSunday link up!
Akaleistar says
That’s such a cute calendar!
Akaleistar recently posted…Sweet Links
Joanita Theron says
Hi
This is just awesome! Such a neat idea and it’s so pretty too! Thank you so much for sharing at Snickerdoodle Sunday 🙂
Joanita Theron recently posted…My Crochet Dollhouse Playbook CAL Introduction
Create With Joy says
What a delightful project – thanks for sharing your creativity at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy!
Look forward to seeing what you’ve created this week! 🙂
Create With Joy recently posted…Tattered And Mended – The Art Of Healing The Wounded Soul
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says
Super cute! Love the layout and the multi-colored polka-dots. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we love partying with you! Hope to see you next Friday. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai recently posted…Kids, Summer, YIKES!
angela @ Setting My Intention says
I love this – it is so cute. You are one creative lady! #2usestuesday
angela @ Setting My Intention recently posted…Organizing Under the Bathroom Sink