Hi all! Are you ready to make a difference? :) That is what I am hoping to accomplish with today's post! A Muse is offering it's 3rd annual charity calendar NOW! You might remember that last year, 100% of the proceeds from the calendar went to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Wonderful stampers (YOU) were responsible for donating about $5,500 toward the cause. That was four times the amount donated the previous year and I hope that number multiplies once again.
My charity is done in small doses, as that is all my small wallet can handle. LOL My charity usually comes in the form of good deeds or small donations, so when the opportunity to help promote the new charity calendar presented itself, I knew it was something I needed to do!
There are 4 formats of the A Muse calendar available (A1, A2, square and full size). Each calendar contains 16 months (Sept 09-Dec 10) and a perpetual calendar which is great for keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries! There are 3 donation levels and $4 is the minimum donation per calendar format. They are all download-able products. Just save them to your computer and print them out unlimited times. Not only is this a useful product, but 100% of the proceeds benefit a charity.
This year, the proceeds from the sale of the A Muse 2010 Calendar will go to Water 1st. Water 1st’s mission is to serve families in the poorest communities in the world as they implement community-managed projects that integrate water supply, sanitation, and health education.
We are so lucky to have clean drinking water by simply turning on the tap in our kitchen. In areas where there is no clean drinking water, the job of getting water is typically left up to the women and girls in the community. This means that girls cannot go to school, and women cannot work. When a well is installed it instantly and dramatically CHANGES lives. Water 1st community-based program has been very successful and all of the wells they have helped to install are still in operation today. Please visit www.water1st.org to learn more about this organization.
In addition to donating funds, A Muse will send an employee over to Ethiopia to work on a water project in 2010. This will give us a first-hand look at how the funds we raise will be used.
Ready to donate and make a difference?
I want to donate and receive the full size format, 16 month calendar and perpetual calendar!
I used an EK punch to decorate the bottom edge of each panel, which was then matted on a piece of black card stock. I stitched each panel on 3 sides and added some decorative brads, crystals and ribbon.
I happened upon something that strongly inspired my creation. Have you been to Bath & Body Works lately? Have you seen the new, limited edition scent, Butterfly Flowers? YUM YUM! I actually walked in the store planning to use my "free thing with no purchase" coupon and got sucked in to buying the new line. It is seriously SO yummy smelling! Not only that, but the bottle and packaging are beautiful too! When I removed my perfume from the box, I proclaimed to my hubby that I was going to use it as an inspiration piece for a stamped creation. Want to see it?
Isn't it SO pretty? I invite YOU to use it as your inspiration for something stamped! :) If you do, link back here and post your creation so I can see it. :)
For my project, I used the A2 calendar format. I printed out the calendar in black & white (instead of having the month names in color) on white card stock. Then, I cut the 4 sheets of card stock into quarters (cut at 5 1/2 and 4 1/4). On each of the 16 panels, I stamped a butterfly in Versamark ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. I sponged Tangerine ink all over the panel. I wanted to mimic the look of the raised white butterflies on the rich orange packaging of the perfume.
I used an EK punch to decorate the bottom edge of each panel, which was then matted on a piece of black card stock. I stitched each panel on 3 sides and added some decorative brads, crystals and ribbon.
I started with a 12 X 12 piece of heavy-weight chipboard for the background. I covered it with a piece of Whisper White card stock. I added a 1/2" black border around the edge using card stock. I made a 9 1/2" quilted layer using Basic Grey patterned paper. That layer is popped up using red line dimensional dots. The calendar is held in place by 2 clips, which are secured to the quilted layer using brads. The calendar panel can be switched out each month and would even work for future years or other uses!
I added a few small details, such as silver brads and Swarovski crystals to give it a little bit of oomph! :)
I hope my calendar inspires you to make one of your own! I plan to work with the other formats as well and will be posting those as I complete them! I can't wait to get a full-sized one done to keep in front of me on my computer desk. I am currently using an ugly one and this desk needs some FLAIR! :)
Stamps: Art Institute Glitter Butterfly Stamp
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Versamark
Paper: Whisper White, black, Basic Grey Ambrosia, PTI white
Accessories: Swarovski crystals, silver brads, SU silver brads, silver clips, A Muse black stitched ribbon, red line dimensional dots, Janome sew mini, clear EP, 12 X 12 heavy-weight chipboard
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Need some more calendar inspiration? Check out my calendar creations from last year's charity event!
Wildflower Calendar (this one uses the same paper/color scheme I used today) :)
I was HOPING you were going to be making Amuse Calendar Samples again this year! I just LOVE this. Beautiful - fantastic details!
ReplyDeleteI'm so going to download these and make a few holiday gifts....
Beautiful Jody!!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, Jody. Love the vibrant butterfly and your inspiration piece. Beautiful execution. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteJody!!! Wow! Your calendar project is AMAZING! Love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping us with the A Muse Calendar project again this year. You are so very talented.
So pretty! I absolutely love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely stunning!!
ReplyDeletePerfection.
ReplyDeleteThis is GORGEOUS!!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous Jody, love the DP you used!! Fabulous inspiration piece!! You are just so creative!! I will be getting the calendars again this year and I hope to actually use them....lol!!
ReplyDeleteYou are an artist! Very, very pretty in every way.
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS, Jody! Love that inspiration piece! GREAT design!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on that new product too! Luckily we finally had a store open here in Edmonton!!
Love it Jody! I am going to get the square one, so many uses I can think of!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. It's a great thing to be able to make something and help someone at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWe have so much and take it all for granted.
wow.......GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job jody!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Jody!! That butterfly looks just like the inspiration piece! I'm glad to know that the new calendars are available -- thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous, Jody! I just purchased/downloaded the calendars this week and your project is a great inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful Jody but I can't make the links you left work and I'd like to get the calendars to make them myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking to see if I can see what's different on your comment section from mine.
ReplyDeleteEverytime I went to B&B and saw that display, I wanted to create something. I never did...I am so glad you did. You did such a great job!
ReplyDelete