Notebooks

You know when you create something that you really have fun with?! I am a notebook person. I have them all over my house, in several bags, and I really have a soft spot in my heart for them. I had a hard time deciding just what ones to share...so I picked several...I hope you don't get board looking at them! I had a lot of fun making them! I think I had something like 22 for the Christmas Market last week. They were also well received and a lot of them sold. So, here are several of the notebooks that have found new homes..yea!!

These spiral bound notebooks have a speical place in my heart! I {heart} them! They started as a piece of chipboard--saved from the designer series paper packs from SU. I ran the chipbord/cardboard through my Big Shot with-what other than the Top Note! Another thing I love about this project, is that running the chipboard and then the patterned paper through the Big Shot makes a perfect marriage when you attach your paper to the chipboard...perfection! Love it! So, I ran some of my beautiful SEI paper through my Big Shot as well, and then attached the paper to the chipboard for the covers. When I placed my paper/chipboard on the top note die, I just scooted it over to the right of the die a little, so I could get a straight left hand side...and not the bracket on that side--so that it was flat to put in the BIA for binding.

Ok, so I had the covers and then needed the inside pages. I have a ream of paper that is just a little thicker than typical paper for my printer-don't you love having just the right things!! I was so happy about that! I ran a bunch of them through the Big Shot, I think I was able to cut about 4 pieces of that paper at one time. Each of these little books ended up with I think 25 pages inside. After getting all the paper cut I pulled out my BIA! I cut the holes in all the papers/covers, and slipped the binding in and then just as easy as that they were finished!

To embelish the covers, I used my Big Shot and the Birds and Blooms flowers...they are so cute! I used some hardware--Mary, aren't you proud of me!? I know it's just a silver brad...but I used some of my beautiful hardware! I attached the flowers with dimensionals. On the few that have a little "remember" on them, that came from the define you life stamp set. I stamped it in chocolate chip ink, punched it out with the wide oval punch and then layered that on top of a scallop oval-punched out with the pink size marvy uchida scallop oval punch. Didn't they turn out fun!?

For this next grouping, they are like the notebooks from yesterday's post. I just used a half sheet of cardstock for the covers, added a couple of layers of cardstock/patterned paper and this great Super Hero from LAD! My son was really excited about these. And yes, so were the other boys that saw them! The papers are turquoise and real red, with some retired SU paper. The other is a Not quite Navy, Ruby red and an AC striped paper. I colored my little super hero with my SU markers. No, there is not glitter to be found here, but the boots and belt did get embossed with clear embossing powder (i love the versamarker...i use it all the time!) and heat set so they look like shiny vinyl...fun, fun, fun.

These santa notebooks went as well. The paper, Real Red, Old Olive, and that never ending stash of Dots and Dashes paper! I stamped the santa from the deer friends stamp set. I used the 1 1/4, 1 3/8, and scallop circle punches for the man in the red hat. His hat has had a run in with red stickles glitter, and it didn't get into the photo...(last minute touch up!) but I also added a tiny little white "pom-pom" to the end of his hat.

Can you make it through just one more set? This last set were also some of my favorites...I love this paper! Hawaii Papya! Beautiful colors! Oh, the "notes" were done using the contempo alphabet...isn't it a great clean font!? Ok, colors here, chocolate chip, kiwi kiss, and tangerine tango. I did use the scallop edge punch on a few...but not all.

You made it! Thanks so much for getting to the bottom of this post! I just didn't know how to choose...you know!? It was a notebook post...right?!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you all make your day Merry!! Remember this December!!

So, I've been busy...

I have been working my little fingers to the bone..getting ready for an upcoming "Christmas Market" at the International School next Saturday!! I've got a lot of things that I'll get to sharing...all sorts of fun things:). I love calendars. I've been making calendars that fit inside a 3.5x5 acrylic frame for several friends for several years...and yes, I'll still get them their refill for the 2009 year, but I wanted to try these too! My wonderful friend Jeanelle totally hooked me up with the calendar template of the 3.5x5 calendars. I printed several of them, but then used it to create another template for these coaster calendars. The calendars are 3.5x3.5". The font is called CK Becky and it can be downloaded FREE from her blog here.
So, for some detail. I printed them on papertrey white cardstock. You all know my love affair with whisper white cardstock, but for this project, I wanted the paper a bit thicker...so I chose to go with the papertrey cardstock. After printing (I only needed 2 sheets of paper per calendar...yea for that!) and cutting, I added strips of designer paper. I used Urban Garden on the first calendar and then Sweet Always on the next two photos. The strips of paper are 3/8" wide. I attached the designer paper to each of the months, then pulled out my new bind-it-all!:) It is a super fun machine! I can't wait to get more time to play with it!
The BIA(from now on let's just call it that!) is super. It's easy to use, I just slipped about 6 sheets of the calendar in the machine, pulled the handle and beautiful holes! I slipped the other 6 sheets in and got perfectly lined up holes punched...yea! I took my 4x4 coasters and covered them with a piece of designer paper on one side and coordinating cardstock on the other side. I used my ATG gun to attach the paper to the coasters. I trimed the corners of the paper, and then sanded each side of the coaser with a sanding block, to round the edges perfectly and make the paper look lovely! Then came the BIA again, punching perfect holes again. I took my little "o-ring" as they are know in the binding world, put it in the awaiting slots, and then used my BIA to close the rings...SO easy!

I've got a few of these done...they go really quick, only took about 10 minutes from start to finish for each calendar. Fun gift for a teacher huh?! Or anyone that likes to have a calendar by their computer...so many options!

Thanks for hanging in to the end of this post! I know it was a little bit longer than usual!:) If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me an email!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great one!