DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: AUGUST 2026 ROLLING WAVES

Welcome back to DIY Calendars! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. The Rolling Waves bundle includes beach umbrella and seashell dies, and I chose those for August. Who doesn’t love a beach day?

I made a very similar card for a Colour INKspiration challenge, and when I finished I realized the same elements would make a great August calendar. The dies cut out nesting umbrella sections, and I alternated the colors for that classic beach umbrella stripe.

A few seashells, although they’re ridiculously out of scale, add to the beachy feeling. I think it’s time for a little Vitamin Sea!

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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SILLY OLD BEAR AND THE WORLD OF POOH

Deb Smeak runs a mystery stamping event on Facebook, and she offered this concept in February. I just discovered it, and I knew it would be perfect for the Silly Old Bear.

I created a second project because I wanted to put the book title on the spine. It turned out very “Winnie-the-Pooh”-like, a bit wobbly. I used an old alphabet set and I’ve sadly lost the name.

I changed the inside, too. Not sure which one I like best – let’s vote! Leave a comment as to which one you like best.

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: JULY 2026 CUTEST CREW

Welcome to DIY Calendars! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. I’m back with one of my very most favorite current stamp sets: Cutest Crew!

I love these birdies 💕 The Cutest Crew dies include individual dies for each bird, so I cut out a little flock. In the process I discovered that the dies cut out their wings!! The bodies are colored in the light tone of Stampin’ Blends, and the wings are in the dark tones.

As much as I love our new Glimmer Pens, I am still a huge Wink of Stella fan. I used it on the Rolling Wave sea foam die cut and used a Blending Brush to add a little color underneath. I also spattered a little Cloud Cover tinted water for texture. There’s a little bit of Lemon Lolly brushed across the top as well. I find the secret to good Blending Brushing is patience. Take your time and don’t rush it.

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Don’t miss the July Product of the Month! Begonia Belle is available with a qualifying order while supplies last. Shop early!!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: JUNE 2026 – FERN & FLORA

Welcome back to DIY Calendars! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. This month, I’m using a bundle from the May-August 2026 catalog called Fern & Flora. It has tender sentiments and beautiful line drawn botanical images, making it a very versatile bundle.

  • Stamps: Fern & Flora
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Hybrid Black, Daffodil Delight, Mossy Meadow, Highland Heather, Fresh Freesia
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Fern & Flora dies, Stampin’ Blends, Blender pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The panel of lines in the back has been stamped off to create a softer look. The calendar is mounted on a Highland Heather panel. It’s a color I don’t use very often, but I’m very happy with the way it combines with Mossy Meadow and Daffodil Delight. I’m debating on working my way through the entire Stampin’ Up! color collection – what do you think? There are a few colors that will definitely provide a challenge for me!

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own 2026 DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

The 2027 Calendar will be available in September. I know some of you are already counting the days! For now, it’s only 2026 that’s available.

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: MAY 2026 – SILLY OLD BEAR

Welcome to DIY Calendars for May! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. My choice for May is a new suite debuting with the 2026 May Online Exclusives that brings back very fond childhood memories: Silly Old Bear.

  • Stamps: Sweet Old Friends, Sweet Words and Labels (coming May 5th)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Azure Afternoon, Granny Apple Green, Golden Glow, Barely Blush, Bubble Bath, Strawberry Slush, Hybrid Black
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I grew up with the Silly Old Bear, and these images and phrases are very sweet and dear to my heart. I’m from the pre-Disney era, and my memories are of the line drawings from the original book. Fortunately, those are the images in Sweet Old Friend.

One caveat: due to licensing restrictions, this suite is only available in the USA.

I’ve colored Piglet and Pooh with Stampin’ Blends and added a wash of color to the calendar page with the Blending Brushes. I’m looking forward to seeing this on my desktop through the month of May!

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: APRIL 2026 – CUTEST CREW

Welcome back to DIY Calendars for another month of hand-made desk top calendars. The crew has some beautiful spring designs for your pleasure and inspiration. My choice this month is the delightful Cutest Crew bundle.

  • Stamps: Cutest Crew
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Peach Pie, Smoky Slate, Granny Apple Green, Lost Lagoon
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Stamp Cut and Emboss Machine , Cutest Crew dies, Stampin’ Blends, Blending Brushes, Wink of Stella, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I gave the kittens a bit of a wash so they had a nice place to roll, and I added a little Wink of Stella because, well, Wink of Stella. I made the butterflies the same colors as the wash (Granny Apple Green and Lost Lagoon) so it would look properly planned.

5 kittens were a little long for the calendar page, so I trimmed off the leading feline and popped it under the month. I couldn’t leave it off altogether now, could I?

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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WASHI TRANSFORMED: AN EXHIBIT AT THE SCHAEFER GALLERY, Maui

For my recent birthday, Mr. Maui Stamper took me to breakfast and then to an exhibit at the Schaefer Gallery at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. It’s one of our favorite places to visit. The exhibitions are always extremely well curated, and the gallery is just the right size to explore without being overwhelmed. WASHI TRANSFORMED: NEW EXPRESSIONS IN JAPANESE PAPER took our breath away.

Yuko Nishimura, Line Transformation

This work is folded paper, and when you see it in person, it is absolutely magical. It is luminous and enchanting, and I kept examining it to see how it was made. The artist pleats and folds the paper to create these stunning architectural shapes.

Yuko Nishimura, Line Transformation

In places, there is a soft application of a translucent color to the paper. There are 3 of these works and they are overwhelmingly beautiful.

Kakuko Ishii, Japanese Paper Strings Musubu W+B

There are also 3 of these works, somewhat basket shaped. They are made of the white cord often used in gift-giving. Each shape is unique, but their structure is similar. I was mesmerized as I followed the individual cords composing each work.

Eriko Horiki, Group of Ishi (Stone) Light Object

These 3 sculptures are illuminated from within, and create a composition that evokes the rocks in a stone garden. The light is very soft, and the shapes are organic and very pleasing together. This is a peaceful composition, gentle and calm.

Hina Aoyama, Les Papillons

You absolutely need to see this to believe the level of detail in this beautiful composition. These images are cut from paper, with exquisite perfection and attention to detail. Some of the cut lines are the width of a hair. We were both captivated by the intricacies and beauty of this work.

Kyoko Ibe, Morning Glory #2

It’s impossible to convey the size of this work – I should have taken a photograph with a person to convey the scale. I estimate it to be 8 feet tall, and each of the 6 panels to be 3 or 4 feet wide. The paper has been soaked and softened, with color added using inks and mica. Old documents are collaged onto the surface (the guide said they were things like tax and marriage documents). This set of screens has a sweeping, mysterious quality. The sheer scale of it is breathtaking.

There are 9 artists represented in this show: Hina Aoyama, Eriko Horiki, Kyoko Ibe, Yoshio Ikezaki, Kakuko Ishii, Yuko Kimura, Yuko Nishimura, Takaaki Tanaka, and Ayomi Yoshida. They reside in Japan, France and the United States, and this exhibition is the final stop of the tour. There are many other works I have not pictured – my photographs are entirely inadequate, as well as incomplete. If you live on Maui, I urge you to visit the Schaefer to see these works for yourself. The exhibition runs through May 15th. Don’t miss it!

DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: MARCH 2026 ROLLING WAVES

Hi there DIY Calendar fans! We’re glad you’ve come back this month to see our projects. For March, I’m sharing something from the about-to-be-released March 2026 Online Exclusives – Rolling Waves.

  • Stamps: Rolling Waves
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Crumb Cake, Cloud Cover, Lost Lagoon
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Stamp Cut and Emboss Machine, Rolling Waves dies

Rolling Waves was at the top of my list with this new release. I love the options for creating beach scenes, but I have some other visions for those waves floating around in my head. Stay tuned!

I’m playing with another idea. The DIY Calendar team has a calendar Pinterest Board, and I’ve been wondering if all of you might like a place to share your calendars. What do you think? Shall I create a public board for DIY Calendars on Pinterest? Comment on this post to share your thoughts.

Come back on Tuesday, and THIS LINK will take you to the Online Exclusives page. (It takes you there now, but the new release won’t show up until March 3rd.) There are some gorgeous new products coming in March!

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. Thanks for stopping by!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: FEBRUARY 2026

Hello there Calendar makers and enjoyers! We’re glad you’re here and hope you’ll enjoy our February calendars. This month, I’m using a number of stamp sets to create my calendar – and a brand new, not -yet-released tool! Tell me what you think:

I started with the line of hearts from Along These Lines, then decided they weren’t enough. Before I knew it, More Was More. Hearts. Flowers. Little Pink Dits. Doesn’t that say Valentines’ Day to you?? 😆

Those hearts are aligned with our brand new Stampin’ Positioner, available February 3rd. But wait, there’s more!

Join Stampin’ Up! and get your Positioner for free with your kit! Crafting is even more fun with community, and when you join my team you’ll enjoy all the perks that come with that, like a 20–25% product discount, early access to the latest products and catalogs, and so much more – plus a free Stampin’ Positioner. There are absolutely no strings attached. Message me and we can chat about whether or not this is right for you.

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: JANUARY 2026 – A ROUND OF HELLOS

Happy New Year, friends! We’re especially happy to share with you today as we begin a fresh New Year. I LOVE a new beginning – and this year I’m beginning it ahead of schedule as we’re in the South Pacific to meet our new grandson. 💕 Life is good.

  • Stamps: A Round of Hellos, available January 6th
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Balmy Blue
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Balmy Blue Gingham Ribbon (January 6th)

I don’t know if I’ve ever used ribbon on a DIY calendar, but it summed up how I feel about a New Year. Put a bow on it! And the sentiment is admittedly a bit of self-encouragement 😉

What sentiment would you choose for your January calendar? Take a look through your stash and find one that gives you a lift. Then take a moment to click below and see what the DIY Squad has for you this New Years morning.

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon, Cheryl and Malia have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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