You know how sometimes you just get a mad urge to make something?
Every time I go near a craft store (or even a dollar store, for that matter), the sheer variety of bits and bobs, papers and stamps and scrapbooking stamps, papers, stickers and other embellishments — it’s almost overwhelming!
My fingers just itch to play with them, to make something new and useful.
Not to mention all the craft supplies I’ve got stashed away, like those papier mache beads from the 1970s, those Mexican milagros, scraps of leather and felt and lace, vintage buttons…
Here’s one project I’ve had my eye on, but didn’t quite get to in time to start off the new year — a new way to upcycle an old metal cookie sheet that’s otherwise just headed for the garbage:
You know that slightly tired looking cookie sheet (baking tin) you’ve got in your kitchen? Well look out! It’s about to start a brand new life as a calendar -– it’s got years of use ahead –- that’s right, more than one — and it’s taking a few other survivors from your household along with it: game pieces, papers, embellishments you’ve been hoarding forever -– can you believe it, they’re all actually useful!
Sue McGettigan of Buzz and Bloom gives the instructions to turn that old cookie sheet into what could well be the world’s funkiest kitchen calendar. January 2012 update: the Buzz and Bloom website is no longer in existence, since this article was written in 2008, but you can still visit Sue McGettigan’s blog and learn more about her calendar here.
The month names and numbers are all mounted on magnets, so you can just swap them around as the year rolls on. Hang it with the inside of the tin to the wall to safely store all the extra bits inside.
Sue suggests trying a calendar in a flowery garden motif — nice!
If that’s not your style, just think of all the possibilities! You could really personalize this calendar with a theme of your favourite places, people, hobbies,or whatever, and use a variety of photographs and small mementoes for the numerals to mark the dates. For example, I could see a whole lot of big-brown-eyes dog faces showing up on my calendar… What about you?
Hi – thanks for writing about my calendar :) Since it’s a perpetual calendar you don’t need to worry about starting before the 1st of the year, start anytime and put all your ‘bits and bobs’ to good use! I’m so into starting (and continuing) the year guilt free.
Brilliant and useful… two things that I love together… I think this would make a great advent calendar, too.
very clever!! i love it! and it looks COOL…not too “country homemade,” of which i tend to steer clear. (no offense to those who like that, tho! hehe!)
i love useful junk!!! thanks for posting this. i think it would make a super cool gift, too. :)
It’ss for great article such as this one that I’ve given you a Roar.
If you already have one just ignore it. Trust me, I was tempted.
Jen – – not. on. your. life. As it is I rarely post more than a mug shot of myself WHEN it’s requested. I’m very….umm….self conscious? Zsa Zsa and her daddy are the lookers in THIS family. I’m just the fun one. And I will take pictures, I promise, of all the little kids getting a sugar high.
Throwing a Tinkerbell Ball for the little princess, you say? Take loads of pictures!! (And get someone else to bring a camera, too, because we all soooo want to see our Claudia dressed up as Peter Pan!)
What a GREAT idea!!! I’m the same way – today I went to AC Moore to get things for my daughter’s birthday. I walked away with a LOT more than is required to pull off a Tinkerbell ball. ;)
There is NOTHING more satisfying than making something with your own hands. I get the same joy from gardening. Tilling, digging, planting…and then eating the rewards!
Mitch, a cookie-sheet travel checkerboard is just a brilliant idea — it’s clear you’re a big fan of games of all kinds! Snakes-and-ladders, anyone?
What an inspiration! Yes, we have loads of dollar-store craft remnants, which are just waiting for the next game design.
Your cookie tin calendar just gave me a great idea: why not make them into checkerboards? That would be great for travel like you mentioned about calendars, really funky!
Of course, now we’ll have to go out and replenish the glue sticks for our dollar-store glue gun, to attach magnets to the little fuzz ball thingies with eyes. Hmmm, furry checkers, anyone?
Cheers,
Mitch