2017 Calendar Folio Series - January

Let's start this new series! Each month, around the 15th of the month, I will release the tutorials for TWO (2) folios! Today, I am releasing the folios for January! 

Let's do a bit of "housekeeping" before we get started. First, I am doing these tutorials as a challenge for myself and not as a design team project. However, you may see a few things that have pulled double-duty as a DT project. 

Second, this series is not in conjunction with Graphic 45, but I am using mostly G45 papers! During my time on their team, G45 was beyond generous, so I have quite a stash of product hoarded!

Third, I will be using some product that is retired or hard to find. If you cannot find the product I am using, try to find something similar, or just substitute something from your own hoard of supplies. You may be able to find some of the retired items on Amazon or Ebay, but be prepared to pay a premium. 

I am using the Graphic 45 collections Place in Time (both the original collection and the new Deluxe Collector's Edition), Time to Flourish, and Children's Hour. I am using the 12x12, 8x8, and 6x6 pads, plus some of the other items from each collection. Everything else is product from my vast hoard of supplies. 

The January folios consist of one calendar folio (8 1/4" x 8 1/4") and one scrapbook folio (8" x 8"). These folios hold AT LEAST twelve (12) photos. You can customize them for fewer or more photos, or for journaling, or to use as a planner. 

Before getting started, I recommend cutting up ONE EACH of the Cut Apart and Collective sheets. That way you will have all the images needed, as we will use the prints on the reverse sides of most papers. (Note: I have used more than 2 sheets of some of the paper, but if you cannot do that, substitute something from your stash that coordinates.) I also recommend the Ephemera card packs for Time to Flourish and Children's Hour, if you can find them. 

January Calendar Folio

You may have seen the original tutorial for this page layout project on the blog a few weeks ago. I am re-posting the original tutorial, along with the directions for making the page layout into a folio. (The cover of this folio was created for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts. Feel free to add or subtract chipboard elements as you desire.)

The 8 1/4" x 8 1/4" folio opens to allow for photos and journaling. 

There is space on the back for more photos.

Let's decorate the cover first. 

Cut a piece of black cardstock to 8 1/4" x 8 1/4". Attach the Children's Hour 8x8 January Calendar page to the cardstock.

Select the chipboard elements you wish to use. I chose GSLCuts chipboard: Decorative Chipboard Tags Large, Small Tag Set, mittens from the Winter Shape Set. snowflakes from the Winter Shape Set, a clock from Skeleton Clocks, the circle from Scribbled Frames and Lines Set, the circles and arrow from the Mixed Media Fragments 3 Set, and a phrase from Words and Phrases 1.

Paint the edges of the chipboard tags and mittens with white acrylic paint. Set aside to dry.

Paint the remaining shapes with white acrylic paint. While the paint is wet, add glitter, embossing powder, and embossing enamel to the shapes as desired. 

Begin to assemble the layers. Cut one banner 1 3/4" x 6" from Place in Time January Cut Apart paper (dot print), and a second banner to 1 3/8" x 4 1/2" from the snowflake print. Attach both banners to the top of the page, 2 1/2" from the top edge, as shown. 

Cover the chipboard tag (6 1/4" x 2 1/2") with Children's Hour January Montage paper and sponge the edges with white paint. Attach the tag to the layout as shown.

Begin to add the other chipboard shapes as desired. Use foam adhesive to pop some of the shapes off the page. (Please note that I prepared more shapes than I actually used on the final layout.)

I placed the chipboard in this order: skeleton clock, scribble frame, mixed media arrow, sentiment, and snowflakes.

Cover the mitten shapes with Place in Time January Cut Apart (reverse) paper and sponge the edges with white paint.

Glue a small chipboard tag to the back of the post card tag image, cut from Children's Hour January Collective paper. Attach the image to the layout. 

Tuck the "resolutions" tag, cut from the Place in Time January Cut Apart paper under the top of the post card tag. Glue the postage images around the edges of the tag. Cut the postage from the Place in Time paper and Time to Flourish January Cut Apart paper.

Add the mittens to the lower left of the post card image, Use foam tape to add a sentiment cut from Children's Hour January Collective paper. Add the chipboard snowflakes to the mittens as shown.

The "A Moment in Time" sentiment is covered is glitter! If you don't want your project to "drip glitter" everywhere, you can paint the chipboard and forgo the glitter.

Add some metal elements for more sparkle! I used silver buttons to keep with the winter theme.

Now, let's turn this layout into a folio.

Cut black cardstock to 8 1/4" x 8 3/4". Score the left side at 1/2" to make a second 8 1/4" x 8 1/4" panel. Fold and burnish the score line. Add strong adhesive to the 1/2" tab.

Attach the tab to the back of the January cover to create a folio that is 8 1/4" tall and 16 1/2" wide. 

Cut Children's Hour January Collective (reverse) paper to 8 1/8" x 8 1/8" and attach the panel to the left side of the folio. Cut Place in Time January Cut Apart (reverse) paper to 8 1/8" x 8 1/8" and attach the panel to the right side of the folio. 

Create a photo mat for the left-hand page. Use 6" x 6" red paper from Time to Flourish 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad, matted with black cardstock cut to 6 1/8" x 6 1/8". Attach the panel to the center of the page.

Trim a Children's Hour pocket in half. Attach the half containing the image of children to the lower left of the photo mat. Glue the pocket only by the bottom edge. Tuck a mini calendar into the pocket. (The mini calendar is from the Place in Time 8x8 Pad. Save the other half of the pocket for the Scrapbook Folio project.)

Cut black cardstock to 6 1/8" x 4 1/8" and round all four corners. Mat Children's Hour January Ephemera card with the black cardstock. Attach the panel to the right side of the page. Attach a postage sticker from the Place in Time sticker sheet to a scrap of cardstock. Use foam tape to attach the postage to the upper right corner of the post card image. Place the "winter" sticker at the bottom of the post card image.

Cut two circles from Children's Hour 6x6 Patterns and Solids paper (winter print). Cut one circle 2 1/2" in diameter and cut the second circle to 2". Mat both circles with black cardstock. Attach the circles to the left side of the page, as shown.

Cut the "Let it Snow" tag from the Place in Time January Cut Apart paper. Tie a length of ivory twine through the hole in the tag. Attach the tag to the bottom left corner of the page.

Place the folder face up with the cover to the right as shown. Cut Children's Hour January Montage paper to 8 1/8" x 8 1/8" and attach to the back panel of the folio.

The calendar folio is finished! Add photos and journaling, as desired.

January Scrapbook Folio

The matching January Scrapbook Folio measures 8" x 8" and is a top-folding folio, decorated inside and out. It is perfect for journaling, ephemera, and photos. Like the calendar folio, this project can be displayed on your desk or shelf during the month of January. 

The inside of the folio contains two flaps and a pocket. Everything is decorated in a winter theme of blue, white, and red. 

We will construct the base for the folio first, and then decorate it.

Cut one piece of black cardstock to 8" x 8". Cut a second piece of black cardstock to 8 1/2" x 8" and score 1/2" from the top edge. Fold and burnish on the score line. Add double-sided tape to the tab. 

Attach the tab to the top of the 8" x 8" piece of cardstock, creating a top-fold folio, 8" x 8". Open the folio. It is 16" tall and 8" wide. We will work on the top panel first.  

Cut a piece of black cardstock to 6 1/4" x 4 1/2". Score at 4" from the left edge. Attach the scored tab to the top left panel of the folio. Place the flap 1" from the top edge. The flap will be 6 1/4" x 4".

Cut a piece of black cardstock to 4 1/4" x 6 1/2". Score in from the left at 1/2". Place the tab onto the right side of the panel, 3/4" from the top edge. The flap will be 4 1/4" x 6". 

Now, we will create a pocket for the lower panel. Cut black cardstock to 4 1/2" x 9". Score at 1/2" from the right, left, and bottom edges. Add double-sided adhesive to the tabs. (Note: I cut a bit off the ends of the tabs where they meet to decrease the bulk at the bottom edge of the pocket.)  

Attach the pocket to the bottom edge of the panel.

Close the folio. We will now decorate the front cover. 

Cut Children's Hour January Calendar (reverse) paper to 7 7/8" x 7 7/8". (This is the 12" x 12" paper pad.) Attach the paper to the front of the folio.

Cut Time to Flourish January Flourish paper to 7 3/4" x 3 5/8". Mat with black cardstock cut to 7 7/8" x 3 3/4". Attach this panel to the left side of the folio, approximately 1/2" from the left edge.

Use an icicle border punch to punch a strip of ivory cardstock. Trim to 7 7/8" long. Cut Place in Time border to 7 7/8" long. Affix the icicle border to the bottom of the border strip. Place the border at the top edge of the panel. 

Select the January ephemera card from the Children's Hour pack, or trim the image from Children's Hour January Collective paper to 5 7/8" x 3 7/8". Matt the image with dark blue cardstock, cut to 6" x 4". Mat the image panel with ivory cardstock cut to 6 1/8" x 4 1/8". Use foam tape to attach the image to the right side of the folio, approximately 1 1/2" from the top edge and 3/4" from the right edge. 

Attach the "Let it Snow" sticker from the Children's Hour Sticker Sheet to a scrap of ivory cardstock. Use foam tape to attach the sticker phrase to the left side of the image, 5 1/4" from the top edge of the folio. 

Tie a loopy bow from white taffeta ribbon and glue it to the left side of the folio, as shown. (Note: If you are struggling to tie bows, I suggest investing in a bow making gizmo tool. I use the older version of Bow-It- All to help tie my bows.)

Glue a metal snowflake charm to the top of the white bow. Tie a loopy bow from metallic string and glue to the snowflake charm. Thread more twine through a vintage button and glue the button to the top of the bows.

The cover is finished! 

Open your folio. We will decorate the top, inside panel and the two flaps next.

Cut Children's Hour January Montage (reverse) paper to 7 7/8" x 7 7/8" and attach the paper to the top panel.

Trim the January border from Place in Time January Cut Apart paper and attach to the top center of the panel. 

Trim the post card tag image from Children's Hour January Collective paper and attach it to the lower right edge of the panel. Make sure to only add adhesive to the right and bottom edges, to form a little pocket. Use a 3/4" circle punch to punch a scrap of paper. Add the little decoration to the tag as shown. (Note: We have already used this tag for the Calendar Folio. If you do not have a second image, choose one of the other tags from your paper collections.)

Open the right-hand flap. Trim the image from Children's Hour January Collective paper to 4" x 5 3/4" and mat with dark blue cardstock cut to  4 1/8" x 5 7/8". Attach the image to the right flap, as shown.

Close the right-hand flap. Trim ivory cardstock to 4 1/8" x 5 7/8" and attach to the flap. Trim Place in Time January Cut Apart (snowflake) paper to 3 7/8" x 5 5/8" and mat with dark blue cardstock cut to 4" x 5 3/4". Attach the printed panel to the flap. 

Trim the post card image from Place in Time January Cut Apart paper to 3 1/4" x 5" and mat with dark blue cardstock cut to 3 1/8" x 4 7/8". Attach the post card image to the center of the panel. Trim a postage image from Place in Time January Cut Apart paper and attach it to the upper right corner of the post card image.

Open the left-hand flap. Cut winter print paper from the Children's Hour 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad to 6" x 3 3/4" and mat with dark blue cardstock cut to 6 1/8" x 3 7/8". Attach the panel to the flap.

Trim out a postage image from the Children's Hour January Collective paper and use foam tape to attach it to the top left corner of the flap. Trim the "January" border from January Collective paper in the Children's Hour 8x8 Pad. Attach the border to the bottom center of the flap. 

Close the flap. Trim the image from the Time to Flourish January Cut Apart paper to 6 1/8" x 3 7/8". Attach the panel to the flap. Trim red dot paper from the Children's Hour 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad to 1 3/4" x 3 7/8" and attach to the bottom of the panel to form a pocket. 

Use an icicle border punch to punch a strip of ivory cardstock. Trim to 3 7/8" long. Trim Children's Hour Collective border to 3 7/8" long. Affix the icicle border to the bottom of the border strip. Place the border at the top edge of the pocket. 

Trim tags from Time to Flourish January Cut Apart paper and Children's Hour January Collective paper and tuck them into the pocket. Trim the January calendar from Children's Hour January Collective paper and tuck it into the pocket. 

Now, let's work on the large pocket on the bottom panel.

Trim Time to Flourish January Flourish paper to 4 1/2" x 7 7/8" and attach it to the top portion of the panel, tucking the bottom edge into the pocket. Trim the red "Let it Snow" border strip from the Time to Flourish January Cut Apart paper and attach it to the top of the panel.

Trim Children's Hour January Montage (reverse) paper to 3 7/8" x 7 7/8" and attach it to the pocket. Trim the January title from the Children's Hour 12x12 Calendar Pad to 1 3/4" x 6" and mat with dark blue cardstock cut to 1 7/8" x 6 1/8". Attach the title to the center of the pocket. 

Cut a piece of black cardstock to 6" x 7 7/8". Trim January Cut Apart (reverse) paper from the Place in Time 8x8 Pad to 5 7/8" x 7 3/4". Attach the paper to the card.

Flip the card over and attach Time to Flourish January Flourish paper, cut to 5 7/8" x 7 3/4". 

Tuck the card into the pocket. You may use the card for extra photos or journaling. You may also tuck ephemera or photos into the pocket. 

Close the folio and flip it over so that back is facing up with the fold at the top.

Trim Children's Hour January Collective (reverse) paper to 7 7/8" x 7 7/8" and attach to the panel. Trim  Children's Hour January Collective floral border to 7 7/8" long and attach it to the top of the panel. 

Locate the other half of the Children's Hour pocket used in the Calendar Folio project. Place adhesive around the right and bottom edges of the pocket and attach it to the lower right corner of the panel. 

Tuck the January Time to Flourish Ephemera Card into the pocket. (You may also trim this image from the Time to Flourish Cut Apart paper.)

And, you are FINISHED! 

Please leave a comment to tell me how you liked this project tutorial. I do plan to turn these tutorials into printable project sheets, but it may take me a few months to get that organized. Please be patient. As soon as I have the printable versions, I will post the links.

If you wish to make the 9" x 9" x 9" storage box to hold all your monthly folios, click HERE to see that tutorial. The paper collection used for the box and lid is G45 Raining Cats and Dogs, which is retired. You may use anything that matches your decor or color scheme. 

Come back February 15th to view the FEBRUARY FOLIOS!

January Calendar Folio
Chipboard: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts (Decorative Chipboard Tags Large, Small Tag Set, Winter Shape Set, Skeleton Clocks, Scribbled Frames and Lines Set, Mixed Media Fragments 3 Set, Words and Phrases 1)
Decorative paper: Graphic 45 (Place in Time DCE, Place in Time 8x8 Calendar Pad (retired), Children's Hour 8x8 Calendar Pad, Children's Hour 12x12 Pad (January Montage, January Collective), Children's Hour 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad, Children's Hour 8x8 Pad, Time to Flourish 12x12 Pad (January Cut Apart), Time to Flourish 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad)
Pocket: Graphic 45 Children's Hour Cardstock Tags and Pockets
Stickers: Place in Time Stickers (retired)
Ephemera cards: Graphic 45 Children's Hour Ephemera Cards 
Cardstock: black, ivory
Paint: Plaid Folkart Wicker White acrylic, Ranger Distress Salty Ocean
Embossing enamel: Stampendous Shabby Blue
Embossing powder: Close to My Heart White, Hampton Art glitter white, Ranger Sticky, Art Glitter Dusty Blue
Glitter: Elizabeth Craft Designs Warm Diamonds
Pigment ink: Colorbox Sweet Tooth
Buttons: stash
Twine: Really Reasonable Ribbon ivory burlap string
Adhesive: tape runner, foam tape, white glue

January Scrapbook Folio
Decorative paper: Graphic 45 (Place in Time DCE, Place in Time 8x8 pad (retired), Children's Hour 12x12 Pad (January Collective, January Montage), Children's Hour 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad, Children's Hour 12x12 Calendar Pad, Children's Hour 8x8 Pad, Time to Flourish 12x12 Pad (January Cut Apart, January Flourish), Time to Flourish 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad) 
Pocket: Graphic 45 Children's Hour Tags and Pockets
Ephemera Cards: Graphic 45 Children's Hour Ephemera Cards, Time to Flourish Ephemera Cards
Stickers: Children's Hour Sticker Sheet
Cardstock: black, ivory, dark blue
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon white taffeta ribbon, white iridescent string (out of stock)
Border punch: Martha Stewart icicles
Snowflake charm: Funkie Junkie Boutique
Button: vintage, from my hoard
Adhesive: tape runner, foam tape, white glue, hot glue

Storage Box

Designer paper: Graphic 45 (8x8 and 12x12) Place in Time, Time to Flourish, Children's Hour; 12x12 Raining Cats and Dogs 
Decorative chipboard: Graphic 45 Children's Hour
Metal clock key: Graphic 45 Shabby Chic Metal Clock Keys

Twine: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Cardstock: black

Chipboard: WorldWin Papers heavy weight
Kraft-tex: C and T Publishing
Decorative brads: hoarded item
Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape runner, foam tape, wet glue, hot glue