Happy February Rudoloh Day. What will you be inspired to do today? February’s focus is on crafts so perhaps you will tidy up your tear files and make some lists about materials you need to make certain porjects.

Or maybe you will spend the evening watching a Christmas movie like, Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure.

Or listen to Christmas music at work just to drive your co workers crazy?

 Whatever you choose to do: Happy Rudolph Day!!

 Can’t believe it is February 1st already! This is crafty kits month. Time to organize those craft materials so you can actually make something with them. Although this is primarily about setting up craft kits I am also going to use the month to make a list of what I can realistically make this year. I always seem to think WAY bigger than I can actually accomplish.

Last year I made labels for 12 crafts and stored them in manila envelops. There are a variety of ways to organize your projects and only you can pick the one that works best for you. Plastic tubs, ziploc bags, lunch boxes.

Great Pumpkin Day gets it’s name from Charlie Brown. It has developed into a year round Halloween prep day with fun movies and crafts on the last day of each month.  Each month has a different focus and for January the focus is the Halloween Notebook.

If you do not have a Halloween Notebook set up, please check out my post over at Cranberry and Company.  The post there shows each of the sections I include in mine.

 In addition to the notebook set up I’m also jotting down ideas for each of the upcoming Great Pumpkin Days. there’s always fun to be had while preparing for a SPOOKTACULAR Halloween.

 

This year for Rudolph Day, I will be sharing what I do each month on that Rudolph Day.  By posting about my actual “day” I hope to get a bit more accomplished and also give you some simple ideas of things you might want to try on Rudolph Day. Some months the Rudolph Day topic will be related to the monthly topic (for example January is Notebook Month) and some months I will go off in a different direction.

  Here’s my January List:

  Host a There’s Snowflake Like You dinner party for some friends. I’ll share pictures this coming Theme Thursday at Rudolph Ramblings.

             Clean out my notebook. (Honestly this was mostly done but I did at least flip through it and add fresh pages).

If you would like to see all of the sections of my notebook please check out the Rudolph Day post over at Rudolph Ramblings.

I invite you to join me each Rudolph Day and share what you do. You can post a comment letting us know and feel free to add a link to your blog if you post about Rudolph day there!

January is Notebook Month! 

This year I want to tweak our monthly goals and plans a little, perhaps even simplifying them a bit!  January is a good month for cleaning out your Christmas Notebook, updating addresses off of Christmas cards and reflecting on what worked and what didn’t work. Our months are set up so you have all of January to do this.

January Rudolph Day

Rudolph Day can be used as a special reminder date to accomplish the monthly task (this month update your notebook) or it can be viewed as a totally different Christmas prep/fun focus. This year I want to share with you what I actually do on Rudolph Day each month. I’m hoping it will keep me a bit more accountable, as well as, give you some ideas.  So I will sometimes go with the monthly theme and sometimes throw in a completely different focus.

Some of us will be creating Halloween art journals during October. You are invited to join in. You might make a Halloween one or instead opt for a seasonal Fall art journal. You can read about art journals over at the Creative Spirit.  Use materials you already have on hand. This doesn’t need to be an expensive project. I find I mostly collage but if you like to sketch or paint, those work equally well….or a combination!

Art journals are NOT about great art…they are about the process of creative expression and can be great stress relievers. You can find a prompt list over at the Facebook group for Creative Spirit.  We would love to have you join our Facebook group. It is a closed group to limit spam and other problems that often crop up on facebook but all you need to do is ask to join the group and I will add you!  As a member of the group you will be able to see the prompt list and look at posts and pictures from members. It’s a great way to gather ideas for your art journal. Even if you aren’t going to jump into a journal this year, it’s great fun to follow along and see everyone’s progress!

The PRE-OCTOBER task was to select a book to use and create your cover….you can also make your cover at the end but I wanted to get start….so…..

It’s a board book I bought for a dollar and altered!  The cover is a FREE printable. You can find it at: Frog Prince Paperie

I added the Halloween 2012 by printing it and layering it on with modge podge.  NEXT I’m working on the spine and back cover!   You can read how to use a flea market board book and prep it for your art journal over at The Creative Spirit. You can also follow along at the Facebook group or on the Magical Boards of Magical Holiday Home…..in The Creative Spirit forum.

I hope you will decide to join in….it’s GREAT fun!

This one’s made with a shoe organizer and there are free printables for the number circles!  Find it at eighteen25

Are these FREE printable versions from LivingLocurto. Using scrapbook paper, free printable numbers and a list of activities and treats create a personalized calendar for your family.

This one from Tip Junkie…is a simple paper chain version. You can even print the chain links for a quick stylish chain!

No matter what manner of Advent calendar or Countdown calendar you choose….it will add to the holiday excitement for your family!