2017 Calendar Folio Series - May

Each month, on (or shorty after) the third Sunday of the month, I will release the tutorials for TWO (2) folios! It is time for the May folios!

The May Folios are a beautiful combination of pink, green, and blue! I have added lots of flowers and other whimsical elements this month, including sweet birds and vintage images. 

We are continuing to use the Graphic 45 Children's Hour Collection for this month. We will use the 12x12, 8x8, and 6x6 pads, plus some of the other items from the collection. This month, we are also going to be using the  Botanical Tea Collection (12x12 and 6x6) papers. This is a retired collection, so you may need to match up the papers with another collection that you have in your stash.

Due to the color scheme of the May Children's Hour papers, we will be using very little of the Place in Time or the Time to Flourish collections.  The color scheme for the Children's Hour May paper and the May papers from Time to Flourish and Place in Time collections do not coordinate. The color scheme for Children's Hour May is brown, pink, and blue, with pops of yellow and green. However, the May Time to Flourish scheme is lavender and coral, where the Place in Time May color scheme is purple and lavender with pops of green. It is up to you to decide which papers work best for your project.  

To ensure that there is enough paper for two folios, I am going to add a few reverse prints from other Children's Hour months, so you may need to by an extra pad of the 12x12 paper, if possible. 

We will also be using a dark brown cardstock base for May, rather than black. See the full supply list below.

The May 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. 

The folios are the same basic construction as the April folios, and we will also use this new design for the upcoming June folios. You may wish to construct all three months of folios at once, while you wait for the samples and tutorials! (Note: For May we are using dark brown cardstock, rather than black.)

Before getting started, I recommend cutting up ONE EACH of the Cut Apart and Collective sheets from the various paper collections. That way you will have all the images needed, as we will also 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, if you can find them. 

May Calendar Folio

The May Folio is side-fold folio, measuring 8 1/4" x 8 1/4" when closed. This theme is perfect for Mother's Day, birthday, or friendship photos and memories. The birds and blooms motifs are perfect for any lady in your life!

The folio opens with areas for photos and journaling. This month we are going to create two pockets, perfect for tags, calendar pages, and more! Let's get started!

Remember, we are using dark brown cardstock this month. Some of the photos below contain black cardstock samples. Don't let that confuse you.

Cut one sheet of dark brown cardstock to 8 1/4" x 8 1/4". Cut a second sheet of dark brown cardstock to 8 1/4" x 8 3/4". Score the second piece on the long 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 to attach the two sheets together, creating a folio that is 8 1/4" tall and 16 1/2" wide. Make sure the fold is on the left-hand side of the folio, so that the folio opens like a book.

Create a pocket for the left inside page. Cut dark brown cardstock to 7" x 7". Score at 1/2" from the left, right, and bottom edges. Fold on the score lines and add double-sided tape to the tabs. With the tabs folded inward, your piece will measure a 6 1/2" tall by 6" wide rectangle. 

With tabs folded, measure in 4" from the upper left corner and make a mark. Measure up 2 3/4" from the bottom right corner and make a mark. Draw a line connecting the two marks. Cut this section from the pocket. With the tabs folded, your piece will look like the photo above. 

This view shows the back of the pocket. The tabs have adhesive attached. 

To help with cutting your decorative paper for the pocket, we will create a template. Place the pocket, with tabs folded, onto a scrap of paper. Use a pencil to trace the shape of the pocket. Cut out the shape. Then, cut a little off each edge of the shape, making it slightly smaller than the pocket. Use this paper template to aid  you in cutting your decorative paper for the pocket. Save this template for the June project.

You will be placing the pocket onto the left page, as shown above.

Cut Children's Hour 12x12 May Calendar (reverse) paper to 8 1/8" x 8 1/8" and attach to the left page of the folio. Attach the pocket to the page as shown.

Create a pocket for the right page. Cut dark brown cardstock 5 1/2" x 9 1/4". Score at 1/2" from the left, right, and bottom edges. Fold on the score lines and add double-sided tape to the tabs. Attach the pocket to the right page.

Now, close the folio, making sure the fold is on the left side. Now, let's decorate! We will start with the front cover.

Cut Foxy (pink)  cardstock to 8 1/8" x 8 1/8" and attach the panel to the front of the folio. Attach the Children's Hour 8x8 May Calendar page to the front of the folio.

Trim the postage strip from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach it to the right side of the calendar. Trim the dragonfly journaling block from Botanical Tea Hello Friend paper and mat it with dark brown cardstock. Attach the journaling block to the top left side of the calendar page, as shown. Use foam tape to attach a postage stamp image, cut from Botanical Tea Hello Friend paper, to the upper left corner of the calendar panel. 

Trim the small, May calendar from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach it to the right side of the journaling block, overlapping the postage strip, as shown. Remove the center of the Children's Hour chipboard frame and set it aside. Glue the frame to the center of the calendar page, overlapping the other elements as shown.

Trim the post card tag from Children's Hour May Collective paper and use foam adhesive to attach it to the chipboard frame.

Trim the "On Your Special Day" sentiment strip from Children's Hour May Collective paper and use foam adhesive to attach it to the post card tag.

Glue a selection of pink and ivory flowers to the front of the folio as shown. Tuck two bluebirds next to the flower clusters. (I found these little birds in the floral section of my local craft store.) 

Tuck the nest chipboard (Children's Hour) under the lower left edge of the post card tag. Use die cuts to trim leaves and vines from spinach and leapfrog green cardstock. Add the leaves to the flower clusters. Use feather dies to cut feather shapes from Botanical Tea 6x6 paper. Add the feathers to the flower clusters. 

Use foam tape to attach a postage stamp image, cut from Botanical Tea Hello Friend paper, to the dragonfly journaling block, as shown. The cover is finished.

Open the folio. We will work on the left page. You should have already attached the background paper and the pocket to this page. (Use Children's Hour 12x12 May Calendar (reverse) paper, cut to to 8 1/8" x 8 1/8" for the background.) 

Using the template we made in the steps above, trim Children's Hour May Montage paper to fit the pocket and attach. Trim the "Tea Party" border strip from Botanical Tea Hello Friend (12x12) paper. Attach the border to the bottom of the pocket, trimming to size.

Use die cuts to cut two circles from Botanical Tea 6x6 green paper. Cut one circle 3" in diameter and the second circle 2 1/2". Mat both with dark brown cardstock, cut slightly larger. Attach the circles to the pocket, as shown.

Trim the May journaling strip from Place in Time May Cut Apart paper and mat with dark brown cardstock. Attach the strip to the upper right side of the page. Glue a chipboard tag (Children's Hour chipboard) to the bottom center of the journaling strip. Glue a loopy bow made from dark brown twine to the chipboard tag. Glue a flag embellishment (Time to Flourish Banners) to the upper left corner of the page. 

Let's make some tags for our pocket!

Use two of the Graphic 45 Large Ivory Tags. (They come six per pack.) For one tag, trim 1" from the bottom edge. Round the bottom corners. For the second tag, trim 1 1/2" from the bottom edge, then round the corners. 

Trim Botanical Tea Signature (reverse) blue stripe paper to 6 7/8" x 3 3/4". Round all four corners and attach the paper to the front of the longer tag. Trim the flower border strip from Children's Hour May Collective paper, cut to size and attach to the bottom of the tag, as shown.

Trim Children's Hour November Collective (reverse) green stripe paper to 6 3/8" x 3 3/4". Round all four corners and attach the paper to the front of the shorter tag. Trim the rest of the flower border strip from Children's Hour May Collective paper to size. Attach the strip to the smaller tag, as shown.

Trim Botanical Tea Fauna paper to 6 7/8" x 3 3/4". Round all four corners and attach the paper to the back of the longer tag. Trim a second piece of Botanical Tea Fauna paper to 6 3/8" x 3 3/4". Round all four corners and attach the paper to the back of the shorter tag. 

Place the tags into the pocket. Let's work on the right page.

Trim Botanical Tea Fields of Flowers brown stripe paper to 3 1/2" x 8 1/8" and attach it above the pocket. 

Trim Botanical Tea Flora pink dots paper to 4 7/8" x 8 1/8" and attach it to the pocket. Trim the border strip from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach it to the top of the pocket. Trim the "May" mini calendar from Place in Time 12x12 Calendar Foundation paper and mat it with dark brown cardstock. Attach the calendar to the center of the pocket. 

Now, let's create a calendar card to place into the pocket. Trim dark brown cardstock to 7 3/4" x 7 3/4". Trim the Place in Time 8x8 Calendar Foundation page to 7 5/8" x 7 5/8" and attach it to the card. 

Trim May border strip from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach it to the upper right corner of the calendar. Trim the May flowers border from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach it to the bottom of the calendar, as shown. 

Use a photo corner die (or punch) to cut four photo corners from Botanical Tea Flora pink dots paper. Attach a photo corner to each corner of the panel. 

Flip the card over.Trim Botanical Tea Just Because (flowers) paper to 7 5/8" x 7 5/8" and attach it to the card. Trim the poem from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach the it to the lower left corner of the card. Make sure to only add adhesive to the outside edges, allowing you to slip photos or other memorabilia under the top right edge.  

Place the card into the pocket. Close the folio and flip to to the back side. 

Cut Children's Hour May Montage paper to 8 1/8" x 8 1/8" and attach it to the back panel. The calendar folio is finished! Add photos and journaling, as desired.

May Scrapbook Folio

This matching May 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 May. We will continue to use the same color scheme and theme as the first folio.

The inside of the folio contains four flaps and a pocket. Everything is decorated in a birds and flowers theme. This is the same design as the April folio. 

We will construct the base for the folio first, and then decorate it. Please note, we are using dark brown cardstock for this folio. The images below show black cardstock. 

Cut one piece of dark brown cardstock to 8" x 8". Cut a second piece of dark brown 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.

Cut a piece of dark brown cardstock to 4 1/8" x 6 5/8". Score 1/2" from the right 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 4 1/8" x 6 1/8". 

Cut dark brown cardstock to 4 1/8" x 4 5/8". Score 1/2" from the left edge. Attach the scored tab to the top left panel of the folio. Place the flap 3" from the top edge. The flap will be 4 1/8" x 4 1/8". 

Cut a piece of dark brown cardstock to 6 1/8" x 4 5/8". Score 1/2" from the right edge. Attach the scored tab to the bottom left panel of the folio. Place the flap 1" below the fold. The flap will be 6 1/8" x 4 1/8". 

Cut a piece of dark brown cardstock to 4 1/8" x 6 5/8". Score 1/2" from the left edge. Attach the scored tab to the bottom right panel of the folio. Place the flap 1 3/4" below the fold. The flap will be 4 1/8" x 6 1/8". 

Here is what your folio should look like so far, with all flaps open. 

Now, we will create a pocket for the upper panel. Cut dark brown cardstock to 3 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 an angled 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 upper panel, just above the fold. 

This is what your folio looks like, with all flaps closed. Now, close the folio. 

Make sure your main fold is at the TOP of the folio! We will now decorate the front cover. Cut Botanical Tea Spring Duet green print paper to 7 7/8" x 7 7/8". Attach the paper to the front of the folio.

Cut Children's Hour May Montage paper to 7 7/8" x 3 7/8". Mat with dark brown cardstock cut to 8" x 4". Attach this panel to the left side of the folio, approximately 1/2" from the left edge.

Use a scallop border punch to punch a strip of ivory cardstock. Trim to 7 7/8" long. Cut Botanical Tea Hello Friend postage border strip to 7 7/8" long. Affix the punched border to the bottom of the postage border strip. Place the border at the top edge of the panel.

Select the May ephemera card from the Children's Hour ephemera pack (or trim the image from Children's Hour May Collective paper). Trim the image to approximately 5 3/4" x 3 3/4". 

Mat the image with ivory, foxy pink, and dark brown cardstock, making each layer slightly larger, as shown. Attach the image to the right side of the folio, approximately 1 1/2" from the top edge and 1/4" from the right edge.

Glue the chipboard element (Children's Hour) to the left side of the image, as shown.

Use foam adhesive to attach the "Celebration Tea Party" sentiment, cut from the Botanical Tea Hello Friend paper, to the left side of the page, as shown. 

Glue pink and ivory flowers in a cluster at the left edge of the image. Tuck a bluebird into the flower cluster, and add a pink spiral as shown. Add a postage image, cut from Children's Hour May Collective paper to the left side of the flower and bird cluster. 

We will work on the inside panels next. 

We will decorate the top, inside panel, the two flaps, and the pocket.

Open both top flaps. We will work on the top base first. Trim Botanical Tea Birds of a Feather paper to 5 1/2" x 7 7/8" and attach it to the top portion of the panel, tucking the bottom edge into the pocket. Trim Botanical Tea Fields of Flowers brown stripe paper to 2 7/8" x 7 7/8" and attach it to the pocket. 

Trim the May title from the Children's Hour 12x12 Calendar Pad to approximately 1 7/8" x 6 3/8" and mat with dark brown cardstock cut slightly larger. Attach the title to the center of the pocket. 

Trim postage images from Botanical Tea Hello Friend paper, and from Children's Hour 8x8 May Collective paper. Cut feather shapes from Botanical Tea 6x6 paper. Add the postage and feathers to the pocket as shown.

Let's decorate the flaps, and then make some items for inside the pocket. 

Start with the left-hand flap. Trim Botanical Tea 6x6 pink dot paper to 4" x 6" and attach it to the panel. Trim the postcard image from Place in Time May Cut Apart paper. Use markers to color the ribbon on the postcard image to match the color scheme. Mat the post card image with Children's Hour 6x6 blue solid paper and attach the image to the panel.

Trim out a postage image from the Botanical Tea Signature paper and use foam tape to attach it to the top right corner of the postcard. 

To decorate the right-hand flap, cut Children's Hour 12x12 May Calendar (reverse) paper to 4" x 4" and attach it to the flap. Attach the poem tag, cut from Children's Hour May Collective paper, to the flap as shown. Glue a small chipboard circle to the top of the tag (Children's Hour).

Now, let's make some goodies for our pocket!

We are going to make a large photo mat, an ephemera card, and a square tag to tuck into our pocket.

Cut dark brown cardstock to 7" x 7". Cut Children's Hour November Montage (reverse) brown print paper to 6 7/8" x 6 7/8" and attach it to the dark brown cardstock.

Cut dark brown cardstock to 6" x 4". Cut the Hello Friend ephemera card from Botanical Tea Love Notes paper to 5 7/8" x 3 7/8" and attach to the dark brown cardstock. 

To create the tag element, use a Graphic 45 ivory celebrate square tag. 

Trim Botanical Tea 6x6 pink stripe paper to 4 1/8" x 4 3/8" and round all four corners. Cut a notch in the top center of the panel. Attach the paper to the front of the tag. Trim the flower border from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach the border to the top of the tag, as shown.

Flip all the pieces over to the back. For the large photo mat, cut Botanical Tea Signature (reverse) blue stripe paper to 6 7/8" x 6 7/8" and attach it to the dark brown cardstock. 

Trim Children's Hour May Calendar (reverse) pink print paper to 5 7/8" x 3 7/8" and attach to the dark brown cardstock. 

Trim Botanical Tea 6x6 brown dot paper to 4 1/8" x 4 3/8" and round all four corners. Cut a notch in the top center of the panel and attach the paper to the back of the tag. Trim the post card image from Children's Hour 8x8 April Collective paper and glue it to the corner of the tag, as shown. 

Place all your items into the pocket. 

Close the right-hand flap. Trim Botanical Tea Fields of Flowers brown strip paper to 1 1/4" x 4" and attach the piece to the top of the flap. Trim Botanical Tea Hello Friend pink stripe paper to 3" x 4" and attach to the bottom of the flap.

Trim the border from Children's Hour May Collective paper to 4" wide and attach to the flap where the two prints overlap. Place the postage element (Children's Hour Sticker Sheet) onto a piece of ivory cardstock and trim. Attach the sticker to the right corner of the panel.

Close the left-hand flap. Attach the Time to Flourish May Ephemera card (reverse) to the flap. Trim the saying from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach it to the top of the ephemera card. Attach the image, cut from Children's Hour May Collective paper, to the lower left corner of the flap. 

Now, let's work on the bottom panel. Open both flaps so you can work on the center panel. Cut Children's Hour 8x8 May Calendar (reverse) paper to 7 7/8" x 7 7/8" and attach the paper to the bottom panel.

Trim the post card tag image from Children's Hour May 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. Attach a small, sticker from Children's Hour Sticker Sheet to the tag as shown.

Trim the nest border from Children's Hour May Collective paper to 7 7/8" wide and attach it to the top of the panel.

Let's decorate the flaps. Trim the Celebration ephemera card from Botanical Tea Love Notes paper to 6" x 4" and attach it to the left-hand flap. 

Trim Botanical Tea 6x6 green print paper to 4" x 6" and attach to the right-hand flap. Trim the May border from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach it to the top of the flap. Trim the bird image from Children's Hour May Collective paper and attach it to the bottom right corner of the flap.

Close the right-hand flap. Trim the brown calendar ephemera card from Children's Hour May Collective paper to 4" x 6". Attach the image to the flap.

Close the left-hand flap. Attach the Children's Hour May ephemera card, reverse side, to the flap. Cut a postage image from Children's Hour 8x8 May Collective paper and use foam adhesive to attach it to the upper left corner of the ephemera card. 

The inside of the folio is finished!

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

Trim Children's Hour 8x8 May Montage paper to 7 7/8" x 7 7/8" and attach to the back panel. Trim the tea party border from Botanical Tea Hello Friend paper to 7 7/8" long and attach it to the top of the panel.

And, you are FINISHED with the May folios!

PS - I am entering my projects into the challenge at Double D Challenges - Flowers Galore. (Closed)


If you are just joining me...

If you missed the January Folios Tutorial, click HERE. 

For the February Folios Tutorial, click HERE. 

For the March Folios Tutorial, click HERE.

For the April Folios Tutorial, click HERE.

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. 

Keep in mind, that during this tutorial series I will be using some product that is retired or hard to find. After so many years of working for Graphic 45, I have built up quite a stash of paper, and I need to use it!

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. You will also need a stack of 12x12 black, dark brown, and ivory (natural) cardstock. I am no longer going to include shopping links for the paper collections. Just "Google" and see what you can find. 

Come back June 18th to view the JUNE FOLIOS!

May Calendar Folio

Cardstock: CutCardStock Basis Brown; WorldWin Papers Natural; Bazzill Foxy, Leapfrog; American Crafts Spinach

Designer paper: Graphic 45 Children's Hour (8x8 May Calendar, 12x12 May Collective, 12x12 May Calendar, 12x12 May Montage, 12x12 November Collective); Botanical Tea (Hello Friend, Signature sheet, Fauna, Flora, Fields of Flowers, Just Because, 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad); Place in Time 12x12 May Cut Apart, 8x8 May Calendar Foundations, 12x12 Calendar Foundations - mini calendars)
Chipboard: Graphic 45 Children's Hour Journaling Tags, Decorative Tags
Banners: G45 Time to Flourish
Stickers: Graphic 45 Children's Hour

Tags: Graphic 45 Large Ivory

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts, Petaloo, Prima
Birds: floral supply (Hobby Lobby)
Twine: Really Reasonable Ribbon brown burlap string

Dies: Cheery Lynn Feathers, Flourish Leaf Strip, Mini Fanciful Flowers; Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and Small; My Favorite Things Stitched Circle Stax; Tim Holtz photo corners

Tools: hot glue gun, scoring board and bone folder

Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape runner, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D foam squares, hot glue, Scor-tape, Ranger Multi Medium

May Scrapbook Folio

Cardstock: CutCardStock Basis Brown; WorldWin Papers Natural; Bazzill Foxy

Designer paper: Graphic 45 Children's Hour (12x12 May Collective, 12x12 May Montage, 12x12 May Calendar, 8x8 May Collective, 8x8 May Calendar, 8x8 May Montage, 12x12 November Montage, 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad) ;Botanical Tea (Spring Duet, Hello Friend, Signature sheet, Birds of a Feather, Fields of Flowers, Love Notes, 6x6 Patterns and Solids Pad); Place in Time 12x12 May Cut Apart)

Ephemera cards: G45 Children's Hour May, Time to Flourish May

Chipboard: Graphic 45 Children's Hour

Stickers: G45 Children's Hour

Tags: Graphic 45 Square Ivory - Celebrate

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts, Petaloo, Prima
Birds: floral supply (Hobby Lobby)

Border punch: Fiskars

Copic markers: B12, B14, B16

Tools: hot glue gun, scoring board and bone folder

Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape runner, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D foam squares, hot glue, Scor-tape, Ranger Multi Medium