Hello and welcome to another edition of my 2020 desktop calendars. Each month, I try to design one of these calendar pages for the following year, so by the time Christmas rolls around I have eight sets to give away as gifts to friends and family. The completed calendar pages measure 4″ x 6′ and fit in a standard frame.
Typically, I keep these pages fairly simple, since I need to make multiples. I also try not to stress too much about designing, so if I see a great idea, I go ahead and CASE (copy and share everything.) For the August 2020 calendars, I based them on a beautiful card designed by Artisan Designer Emma Goddard. I saw her bright, cheery card on Instagram at @coastalcrafter on July 21.
I love the Seaside Notions stamp set and thought it would be perfect for the August pages. However, I really wanted to avoid having to cut out eight seahorses!!! Those little curly tails are a bit of a challenge to cut. Therefore, I decided to use a masking technique.
I forgot to take photos while I was actually creating these, so pretend the sand dollar, starfish, and banner aren’t there, as well as the background designer series paper.
First, I stamped the seahorse with Night of Navy ink directly onto the Whisper White calendar page. (See below for printing instructions.) Then, I created the mask by stamping the seahorse on scratch paper and cutting it out. You can see that I only needed to mask out the bottom portion of the seahorse, so I didn’t even bother cutting out the top. With the seahorse mask in place, as well as a horizontal mask to protect the calendar section, I stamped the coral and dots with Melon Mambo ink.
After removing the mask, the coral appears to be behind the seahorse.
Next, I watercolored the seahorse with Night of Navy and Pacific Point ink and the coral with Melon Mambo ink. Typically, I don’t advise watercoloring on Whisper White Cardstock because it pills easily and does not blend well. However, neither Shimmery White Cardstock or Watercolor Paper looked good with the Come Sail Away Designer Series Paper I selected for the background , so I stuck with Whisper White.
Tips for watercoloring on Whisper White Cardstock: I use an Aqua Painter and ink pooled in the lids of my ink pads. Use minimal water and minimal brush strokes. Most of the time, I painted with one swipe, two max.
To finish the page, I stamped the sand dollar with Calypso Coral ink and watercolored with the same color. Then, I used the retired Date It stamp set to stamp the month with White Craft ink and emboss in white. I cut out the month with a label from the Smooth Sailing Dies and added a Whisper White starfish cut with an Under The Sea Die.
I created the calendar pages using My Memories Suite software. You can download a printable JPEG HERE. Print the August calendar on Whisper White Cardstock with the smallest margins possible for your printer. The print is colored Night of Navy. I designed the pages to go all the way to the edges of a standard 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheet of cardstock. Trim as follows:
New August Tutorials!
My demonstrator friends and I just finished the August Exclusive Project Tutorials! This month, the PDF includes 13 step-by-step projects using current projects. Oh my gosh, I’m so proud of this document!!! It’s just full of inspiration.
Would you like to receive this document for FREE? It’s easy! Here’s how to qualify: For anyone who makes a purchase at my online store using the monthly Host Code of FDJQHMNT, I will email you the current month’s tutorial. If you place an order between $50.00 and $149.99, I will send you the monthly tutorials for the next year!! If you place an order of $150 or more, don’t use the host code, because you can be your own host and receive at least $15 in free merchandise. However, I will still email you the monthly tutorials for the next year!!! In addition, all Stamp Club members and members of my team automatically qualify.
Have a wonderful and creative day!
I would love to have you join my team! Stampin’ Up! is offering an amazing deal for Starter Kits through August 31st. Ask me for details.
Remember to redeem your Bonus Days coupons during the month of August! Add merchandise to your order at my online store, enter your coupon code in the coupon code box including the dash, and click Apply. (Repeat if you have multiple codes.)
Supplies used on my calendar page:
