23 October 2008

A Homemade Christmas at SimplyVintagegirl.com

Welcome to the first A Homemade Christmas! This is week One of Ten (you don’t have to enter in each one). I hope you’ll join us in sharing about homemade gifts that you have received or made — past, present, and future!
You can click here for the Introductory post.

This calendar will last a very long time, which makes it a great gift. Since it is perpetual, it just keeps going. There are lots of things you can do with the idea, and it’s pretty easy to make.

It has a bit of a vintage look to it. Each date is the tin lid of a fruit concentrate can. I used scrapbooking paper for the background of each date. The numbers I printed out on card stock and then cut out with an exacto knife. The background is a wood board that was primed, spray painted, then distressed (sanded and stained).

Each date is put together with decoupage glue (we use Mod Podge) with the scrapbook paper in the background, and the numbers stuck down on top of that.

To make the holes, I took a piece of vellum and cut it out the same size and the background paper. I used vellum so that I could see where to put the hole. Near the edge (about 1/4 inch from the edge), I punched a hole in the vellum. This was used as the hole template.

I laid the vellum template on top of each finished date, and marked (with a permanent) the spot where the hole was to be. In this way all of the holes were located in the same place on each one.

My wonderful daddy put holes in the tin lids, and cut out the months.

The months are actually cut-outs from the sides of large tin cans (you can slightly see the ripples in the middle). After Daddy cut the tin out, I decoupaged them with scrapbook paper. Four large nails were added to the top to hold the months.

An addition for the calendar (which I haven’t made yet) would be making dates for holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.

It does take quite a while to make, so if you’re thinking about making one, you better get to work saving all those juice can lids!

Have you made or received any homemade gifts? If you’d like to make a post about your homemade gifts, you can sign Mr. Linky below. You can add one of my Homemade Christmas icons to your blog by clicking here. Each Thursday (until the end of December) there will be A Homemade Christmas post! Hope you’ll join in the fun as we learn, inspire, and encourage one another!

A Homemade Christmas Participants
 

1. BreezyTulip
2. Robin@ Robin’s Egg Blue
3. Emily
4. SchoolinRHome
5. Tina
6. lilie
7. Jess @ the JOB
8. Buttercup




  1. 41 Responses to “A Homemade Christmas – #1 – Practical Perpetual Calendar”

  2. BreezyTulip on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    Emily, this is such a sweet idea! I hope you have a good turn out – no one is going to want to miss this one!

    God Bless,
    -Breezy


  3. Robin on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    I think your calendar is just lovely. It is so artsy and easy to use. It really adds a lot of character to our kitchen. Thanks for sharing it.
    I really enjoyed this meme, I am already looking forward to putting together more posts and thinking up more ideas. Thanks for putting this all together.
    Love, Mom


  4. emily on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    Hey that is a wonderful calender. I posted about a sugar crystal snowflakes.
    have a blessed day
    miss emilly


  5. Tina on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    I love the calendar!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a fantastic project. I will be tucking this project away for later.


  6. Lady Rachel on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    This is so cute Emily! That is a wonderful idea for a Christmas gift. You won’t have to buy another calendar for awhile, now would you! very neat. :)

    Love,
    Rachel
    http://dixonhomestead.com/rachel


  7. MariaRose on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    Wow, that calendar is gorgeous!


  8. emily on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    Hi that is a really cool calender. I fixed my picture so you should be able to see them now.
    Have blessed day
    Miss Emily


  9. Rebecca on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    Hello Miss Emily! Your mother posted a quick note at the Homeschool Lounge directing us to your Homemade Christmas and I thought I ought to check it out.

    I leave this comment though, because I wanted to share with you how utterly impressed I am with you! I am not sure how old you are-but you are an incredible young woman- one of those girls that I just PRAY my girls turns out like.

    I am 26 years old and have been married for 6 years, two young ones and a third nearly in my arms instead of belly, and I must say how horribly ill-prepared I was for marriage. Really, it is laughable! Much of that had to do with my upbringing, I didn’t have a very good role model. My life from that point onward was a constant quest to teach MYSELF how to act, how to cook, how to parent, and how to be a godly woman and wife.

    You are incredibly blessed to have parents who love you enough to teach you what is good and right, and to help prepare you for the wonderful chapters of your life that are yet to be read! I am thankful, too, that you are wise enough to see the beauty in your life and your duties as a Christian woman, and to value them.

    The idea of a Homemade Christmas is delightful, and being a lover of all things handmade myself am particularly excited about it. I am finishing up the responsibilities of unpacking and moving into a new home and our little “Bunkin” is due in just a few short weeks, so I am not sure if I’ll be able to participate this year (though I shall try!) but I do know that I will enjoy it through everyone else’s participation! :-)

    Oh yeah-and that calendar is pretty snazzy! ;-)


  10. Sarah H. on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    Great idea! I LOVE the vintage style. So creative!


  11. Wendi on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    I found your site through your comment on The Homespun Heart. I love this idea! Practical and there is so much you could do to personalize it. Cute!


  12. Miss Jocelyn on Oct 23, 2008 said:

    Too absolutely adorable! You did such a wonderful job, and such a clever idea! :)

    If you’re not busy and want to do another GGM article this month, lmk. Brielle is too busy and I am not a seamstress! :((

    (((HUGS)))


  13. Valerie on Oct 24, 2008 said:

    I have been saving juice can lids to make ornaments. Simply punch a hole as you did on top, and take a pattern (like a tree or such) and a hammer and nail, and tap holes through lid, outlining your pattern. You will want to leave a space between holes, as you are just trying to get an outline of your pattern.


  14. Oksana on Oct 25, 2008 said:

    Hi Emily! I found your blog by accident, through a series of links on several different blogs. Anyways, I think this calendar is just stunning! I’m a huge fan of vintage, whimsical crafts like this; I’m going to show this to my mom and see if I can try something like it myself. :) Thanks for sharing!


  15. Chrisi on Oct 25, 2008 said:

    That is so incredibly creative. I have someone in mind that would love this, I can’t wait to get started!


  16. Kira on Oct 28, 2008 said:

    Hi Emily!

    How neat! It looks wonderful!

    Sorry I haven’t commented in a very long time!! School and babysitting have been keeping me busy, and at times, when I try to visit your blog, it says it is blocked by Parental Controls. The Parental Controls on this computer is very picky, and it has even blocked up my blog before!

    Again, the calendar is so neat! You are very creative.

    Have a great day!

    In Christ,
    Kira


  17. Kira on Oct 28, 2008 said:

    Oh, and I don’t think I have commented on your new blog look, yet. It really looks WONDERFUL! I love it!


  18. Stephanie on Oct 29, 2008 said:

    Wow, what a great idea! Your calendar turned out lovely! I came here from GGM, and I’ll definitely be visiting again.
    ~Stephanie


  19. Buttercup on Oct 30, 2008 said:

    Hey, I just signed up!! I might not be able to post about the ones I am making for my family because they are always looking at my blog! Thank you for doing this, I think it is a great idea!

    -Your friend Buttercup :)


  20. Sherilyn on Nov 20, 2008 said:

    Fantastic blog! Thank you so much for sharing with all the rest of us!


  21. Tempest on Feb 9, 2009 said:

    Its so pretty and I’m thinking about making one
    But your dates are mixed up.
    Your “19” came before your “18”
    ;)


  22. Peggy on Aug 27, 2009 said:

    I love this idea!! My mother-in-law saw one recently at a craft fair where they used old canning lids for the numbers. I’ve been going through you site little by little and see many Christmas and birthday presents!

    You have been such a blessing and I thank God for the wonderful parents you have!! It is such a blessing to encounter young ladies who desire to follow the Lord’s lead in their lives!! It is also nice to see things that are truly feminine. (I live in a house of all males, ages 10 to 15 plus my darling hubby!!)

    Once again thank you so very much!


  23. Elisabeth LaMouria on Oct 2, 2009 said:

    Wow, this is too cute! I can’t wait to make mine! All the relatives are going to get this one for Christmas this year from our family.
    Your whole family is amazing! I read a little about you and your sister and I am so inspired by you two. I love art and photography and just about anything creative. Did you develop your own website? How did you learn to do all of this? It fascinates me that you and your sister are so accomplished at such a young age! If you ever want to chat, I would love to get to know you all – my e-mail and blog are here. :)
    Take care, thank you for who you are in Christ and for the image bearer you are being.
    In His Care,
    Elisabeth


  24. Nancy King on Jun 14, 2010 said:

    I would love to know the size of the finished calendar, if you wouldn’t mind emailing me. I’ve been looking at making this since you first posted it, two years ago! I do love it and OH, Congratulations on finishing your formal education, now you have the lifelong education to move on with.

    Nancy


  25. Nikki on Jun 21, 2010 said:

    Fabulous idea! I’m going to have to start buying cans of anything so I can save the lids! So excited to replicate this project!


  26. Mod Podge Amy on Oct 17, 2010 said:

    This is awesome. I love it!


  27. melissa on Oct 18, 2010 said:

    ummm…i just stumbled upon your blog and i LOVE this post! i’m going to give it a try!
    thanks so much for sharing


  28. Elaine Akers on Oct 18, 2010 said:

    Fun project. Thanks for sharing.


  29. Chari on Nov 17, 2010 said:

    Emily,

    I, too, have been eyeing this project for quite some time. I’m considering making it for a Christmas gift. I was wondering if you could email the measurements to me. I’m sure, with some time, I could figure out what size to make it, but thought I’d see if could save myself a bit of time by “cheating”! I have so much appreciated you and your sister’s blogs….especially as a young mother of three girls (so far). I wish my sister could connect with you gals! She’s attending a private Christian college over in Indiana. Thanks again for sharing/posting such wonderful ideas!


  30. Emily Rose on Nov 18, 2010 said:

    Chari, thank you! The completed width of the board is 24″ and the height is 21″ and the depth of the board is 3/4″. If you end up making it, I would enjoy seeing pictures of the finished product!


  31. Joellen Armstrong on Dec 30, 2010 said:

    I think this would be so neat! I’m a bit busy these days, so maybe I’ll just work on saving lids and scrapbook paper at this point ;) Maybe by next year I can have it all done!! Thanks for sharing!


  32. Erin on Dec 31, 2010 said:

    Hello! I’d viewed this fabulous craft of yours back when you first created it and not long ago I thought ‘hey! I want to make one of those calendars,’ so I began collecting tin lids. :) My collection of lids is quite meek still, but I’m working on it! I’m glad you “reposted” it again. What an awesome craft that will become such a neat treasure! :) Thanks! ~ Erin


  33. Sophie on Jan 27, 2011 said:

    That is the CUTEST calendar!!!!!!! I probably will be making one soon!!!!!!

    ~Sophie ;)


  34. Ladi Adra on Mar 22, 2011 said:

    Em,”if I may?” This is simply beautiful. I adore perpetual calenders, and never once considered using such simplistic materials. It does my heart a world of good to hear that you are “serving OUR Saviour and family.” May his countenance forever smile on you, and your endeavors. I came upon your blog through several other links, but I firmly believe that nothing happens just by chance.


  35. ashley scherer on May 18, 2011 said:

    youre 18 and 19 are switched ha. i kept looking and was like why does the 8 look like that 9?… until i realized its because you have them on the wrong hooks


  36. Mary Cate on Jul 15, 2011 said:

    Very creative and beautifully crafted. Since I am ADHD, I am going to paint “vintage’ red x’s on the back so I can flip them as I go and know at a glance what day it is.


  37. Katie Hozan on Oct 10, 2011 said:

    This looks like a cute and easy calendar! I can’t wait to make one for my dorm room. I love how you can personalize the calendar, and use it throughout the year.


  38. Kaylee Day on Nov 17, 2011 said:

    Hi, I absolutely love your calendar! I have been hard at work collecting the materials and drinking juice. :) One problem I have encountered is that my hole punch can’t punch through juice lids. Do you have any tips? I would very much appreciate it if you could email me with some suggestions. Thank you!


  39. Emily Rose on Nov 17, 2011 said:

    Kaylee, thank you! We used an electric drill bit to drill the holes in the metal lids. I hope that is helpful!


  40. Amanda on Jan 21, 2012 said:

    Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for this fun project. I made it for my mother-in-law for Christmas this year. It is not totally finished, though. I still am in search of juice can lids and have only made it to 15. I wasn’t too thrilled about giving an unfinished gift, but I guess we don’t drink that much juice. Thanks again for the great idea, it was a lot of fun to make and I hope to finish it soon. Love the idea about making special dates for birthdays, holidays, etc.
    Amanda


  41. alison on Aug 9, 2012 said:

    hey there! i love your juice lid calendar. i’m planning to make one for my classroom in the next week or so. it looks like you drilled the hole AFTER you decoupaged them… is that true? please write back. i’m curious to know how that went… or if you would have done it differently now that you’re finished.

    thanks!!


  42. michelle on Mar 17, 2014 said:

    This is genius! I save lids just because it seems a waste to throw away and I run a daycare so Im always saving things for preschool. Im always looking for something to do with them. This is the best idea yet. Thanks for sharing.




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