For the first MOPS meeting after our winter break I wanted to provide a craft for the ladies that would be useful in the New Year. I came up with these "Birthday Calendar Wall Plaques". They are a cute alternative to a regular calendar as you can just focus on birthdays and not appointments or other activities that can clutter a calendar. The hanging month tags are left blank for you to write in the birthday and the name of your loved ones on their corresponding month tags. When it's time to change the month, simply lift up all the tags and move the old one to the back, leaving the new month in the front. It's a different way to keep track of all those special dates, keeping them front and center instead of hiding on your phone! ;)
Since our allotted crafting time at MOPS is short, I did about 90% of the prep work for these plaques ahead of time. I provided the wood blocks with the "Oh, Happy Day" graphic already applied and the hanger attached on the back. This left the rest of the calendar plaque pretty simple to assemble. Each mom received a full sheet of "month squares" to cut out themselves and a gold hook to screw into the front of the wood plaque. They could then fill out the month squares themselves during the meeting or complete the project at home.
I think the way these turned out are so cute and fun. They make a great addition to your home or a nice, thoughtful gift to pass along!
For the complete instructions on how to make your own Birthday Calendar, follow my tutorial below:
SUPPLIES:
- (1) 1/2" thick block of wood (I used a 3.5" x 4.75" piece)
- Printed napkin or print your own graphic on tissue paper to achieve the same effect. *The "Oh Happy Day" graphic can also be found to download online through an image search.
- Sawtooth hanger with (2) 1/8" nails
- 1/2" work length brass cup hook
- Push pin
- Hammer
- Matte Mod Podge
- Paint brush
- Months tag printable page
- Exacto knife
- 1/8" hole punch
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Prepare the wood surface with a thin layer of Mod Podge. Place the top napkin layer* (or printed tissue) on top of the Mod Podge and gently smooth down with the palm of your hand. *To learn how to Mod Podge with napkins, follow my previous tutorial here.
2. Trim the excess graphic around the edges with scissors or an exacto knife.
3. Add another thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the image and allow to dry.
4. Turn the plaque over and hammer on the hanger to the wood. I used a regular push pin to help get those small nail holes started.
5. Turn the plaque back over to the printed side and make a small hole with the push pin to prepare the area for the hook. I just eyeballed where I wanted to place the hook.
6. Push in the hook and with some effort, twist in the hook until it reaches it's stopper.
7. Cut out the month squares and punch holes in the middle top of each tag with a 1/8" hole punch.
8. Write the birthday and the name of your loved one on their corresponding month tag. I always like to use the "Le Pen" pens because have a nice fine marker-like tip and write quite nicely!
To download the full sheet of month tags, click here.
Brilliant!!!
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