art calendar 2011 365 challenge

Kate Crane started art calendar 365 challenge last year after seeing Jill Taylor's calendar journal and they're both throwing down the gauntlet again this year.  I'm really not a diary keeper so wasn't sure how far I'd get; last year I made it to the end of January, which is amazing for me, so this year I aim to carry on longer than that!

Rather than work in a book, which is wasted if I don't finish the year (last year I made one especially for the challenge), I decided to decorate a file folder and include individual pieces of card for each month.  I've been dying to decorate a file folder for months!!!

I used my new Martha Stewart punch on the right hand corner of the file folder, then stencilled white paint through some sequin waste.

After stamping some circular patterns from a Stampendous stamp, I free machined over the top of them before adding layers of torn paper, lace and beads in the corner, along with some punched MS hydrangea flowers.

I also decorated the inside of the file folder, on the back page.  I've started adding a bit more to this, including some snowflakes and punched hydrangea flowers.  It is still a work in progress.

I just LoVe the effect these oversized numbers give to the page.  They are stamped in grey so my writing will still be visible.  My file folder feels great in my hands so here's hoping I can manage to get a few months in there!!!