Thanks and CONGRATS to our first calendar challenge finalist, Lori Slawinski! She submitted this playful, colorful 2009 calendar, and we think it is absolutely fabulous! Thanks very much for your submission, Lori, we love your work!

Here is the information Lori shared with us about the supplies and techniques she used to create this calendar:

2009 Calendar Supplies:

• Clear Album: ­ Clear Scraps Calendar Kit;
• Paper ­ American Crafts Everyday What's New, Word, Greetings, What's Up, Allo, Long Time No See, Bonjour, What's Shakin';
• Paint by ­ Making Memories in the following colors: Evergreen,
• Bazzill Cardstock: ­ Java, Berry Blush,Kraft;
• Die Cuts and Year: ­Quickutz
• Punches: ­ Fiskars Threading Water, EK Success small flower punch
• Kaiser Rhinestone;
• Ribbons: Bazzill;
• Stamps: ­ October Afternoon;
• Other: ­ Dymo label maker and label tape;
• Font: ­ 2Peas Rocky Shore

Techniques:

Using a large Xyron, I ran the front cover patterned paper through with the patterned side down to cover it with permanent adhesive. After I removed the paper from the Xyron and keeping the slick backing from the Xyron in tact, I used a bone folder to burnish the patterned paper. This provided for even coverage of the adhesive over the entire piece of patterned paper. I then removed the slick backing and laid the clear acrylic cover on top of the adhesive side of the patterned paper. The finished look was a clear finish just as I would have gotten if I had adhered it with Zip Dry Paper Glue. Only this process is less messy.

When painting the chipboard tabs, I only had to paint the outer edges because the insides were covered with the calendar on front and a patterned paper on the back.

With my Quickutz, I cut small birthday candles, stars and hearts to use on the calendar pages to highlight special days of the month ­ for example, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

I trimmed small strips of patterned paper and coordinating cardstock to add to the tops of the pre-printed calendar sheets. The months were printed on Kraft cardstock and then trimmed out and adhered across the top.

You Can Enter The Clear Album Calendar Challenge Too!

You can click here for more information about the Clear Album Calendar Challenge. We are going to be awarding some fantastic prizes by Clear Scraps, American Crafts, and other manufacturers that we think you will love. If you'd like to play along with us and design your own clear calendar, you still have plenty of time to get your entry in. We'd love to see what you come up with!