Notebook Calendar

Okay, I spotted this in a paper crafting magazine and just had to try it! It took some time, but it ended up being fairly easy! First, I purchased an 80-page notebook that measured about 5 x 7. I taped together each 6 pages until I had 12 sections before I did any stamping or cutting.

Next, I did all the background stamping. I made a point to measure where each of the large stars were on the pages so I could put them in the same place on each sheet. That way, when I flipped the months, for instance, the large star would continue to line up even if it was in a different color. (BTW, I used Breeze, Ocean, Creme Brulee', and Sorbet ink for the background.)

After I stamped all the backgrounds (12 sheets), I cut the sections. On mine, I cut the two left sections at 1 1/2 inches wide and the two right sections at 2 inches wide. I had originally intended for the day and month to be on the left, but when I drew my cutting lines on the back of the pad, I inverted the measurements. (Ooops!)

Finally, I stamped the first section with a 1, a 2, and a 3, and left one other section blank. I tore out the remaining sections and extra pages. In the second section, I stamped 1-0 and tore out the remaining 2 sections and the extra pages. In the third sections, there were no extra sections, but I removed the extra pages and stamped the sections with the month names. In the last section, I stamped the abbreviations of the days and tore out the last 5 sections and extra papers.

I stapled a 1 x 4 inch strip to both covers of the notebook while it was inverted so it wouldn't accidentally flatten out.

Friday Flair

I also bought some bling and made up this pin to wear under or above my badge. I used our Silhouette paper pack along with a dimensional element as the base. These are the circles from the basic shapes set. I covered the inside circle with one paper and the outer circle with another paper. I trimmed the bottom of the circles to align them with my pin and the charm holders on the bottom of it. Then, using Liquid Glass, I attached the letter charms to the front of the basic shapes. I couldn't find 2 identical e's so I fudged a little on that and hung a different e on the last loop. I also added some charms that I had left over from the Connection Club rewards along with a cute scissor/paintbrush one that I found at a local scrap store.

I finished it off with some black and silver beads, hanging in 3 loops.

Just a new way to use those great embellishments! Woohoo!

Midweek Makeover

This week I did something different. I'm spending the end of the week at a women's network conference and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunities afforded there. So I started with an organizer. I'm going to need a book for my notes and pockets to slip in notecards and pamphlets. I also wanted someplace to slip in the business cards that I received.

I got it all in a thin clip board folder and a pack of business card page protectors. The first thing I did was attach the business card protectors together using jump rings through the 3-hole punches. I slipped them under the clip on the board. I decorated my folder using paper from the Life Delights package and made a matching book to go in the slot of the folder.

Finally, to make sure the book stays in the slot, I spread adhesive across the back side of a page and pressed it securely to the inside pocket of the folder slot.

I used Dimensional Element letters on the front and inked most of them with Hollyhock, Chocolate, and Lilac Mist ink. I also used a little paper to cover the "O" in Notes. I love the way that looks, but I had a little trouble with it this time. I've had an experience where I tried to put adhesive on one and instead pulled up the layers of the letter. This time, I stuck the paper down, but as I cut out the letter, the top layer came off as before. It wasn't such a big deal though as it helped me cut out the paper correctly. Then I attached it back on using Liquid Glass.

I was pleased with the results and it has caught the eyes of several convention goers! Yea!

Friday Flair

Okay, I'm a day late. That's what vacations are for! Hope you had a great one, too!

This is the embellishment post and I want to share several different ones with you!

First are the "Just Blooms" paper flowers. I used the white daisies and applied just a little Autumn Terra Cotta to the raised areas to bring out more detail. I also used a little ATC on the edges of the Sunflower blooms to vary them a bit more.

Second are the great ribbon rounds that CTMH offers. This square grossgrain is from the Cocoa package.

To the ribbon, I added a ribbon slide that says love on it. It is a little hard to see in the main picture, but the second pictures shows it all very well. The ribbon rounds are easy to use, and can be altered with chalk. You can also put a darker shade of paper under the word in the center of the slide and it will show up very well.

Finally, I used bigger brads as the centers of the daisies and also in a line around the perimeter of the box. I just love the size of these and find I use them as often as I use the regular ones.

As for the box, it is a cardboard tote covered in the elements of Abundance paper. I simply traced the top sections onto the B&T and cut them out. Now this one has lasted for over a year. I use it all the time, yet it still looks like it did when I first made it.