Retired Modern Homemaker patterned paper, along with Memory Box Grill Masters die.
Magnets...my youngest started middle school and that means she gets a locker.
Doodlebug Happy Harvest papers and doo-dads, and Card Shoppe Gumdrop, Candy Bar and Circus Peanuts papers used, along with metal bottle caps crimped in die cut machine. Sizzix blooming rosette die.
She gave one of these to her science teacher Ms. Klink. 
She's using the other two to hold photos on the inside of her locker.
Strong, neodymium magnets were adhered to each hand-dyed (Rit Apple Green) clothespin back using E-6000. Hope you have a great weekend!
This tutorial details how I create covered notepads - these sell well at my local artisan market to customers wanting them for gifts, and for themselves! There are many, many ways to cover notepads; this is my method.
Design highlight: the lined notepad is easily removable and can be replaced with a new pad quickly.
Notebooks are designed to fit Papertrey's lined notepads that measure 2.5 x 8 inches, 25 sheets each.
Papers and embellishments - I'm using Doodlebug's Happy Harvest line today.
Tools and materials. The exquisite pincushion was made by my very dear friend Karen.
Cut two pieces of sturdy cardboard (or chipboard) - each piece measures 2.75 x 8.25 inches. Cover cardboard with patterned paper - each piece measures 3.75 x 9.25 inches. Notch corners.
Apply adhesive to edges and fold patterned paper over cardboard.
Adhere two strips of 1/2 inch red-line tape about one inch from the top and bottom.
Cut two, 5-inch lengths of elastic ribbon, adhere one end to middle of tape and wrap around covered cardboard piece - meeting ends in the middle neatly as shown. Set aside.
Score a 6 x 8 piece of patterned paper at 2.75 and 3.25 inches.
Add two lengths of 2.5 inch wide Scor-Tape from edge to edge.
Adhere to covered cardboard piece one at a time - easiest to do as shown in photo above, for lining everything up.
If you flip the unit over at this point this is what you see.
Adhere other covered cardboard piece, flip over and this is what you have.
Slip a notepad behind the elastic ribbon loops - how nice!
Ready to doodle!...okay let's do the front.
Adhere a 2.5 x 4.5 inch piece of coordinating patterned paper to notebook front (this is optional) as a design element (see finished notebook at top of post for a better visual). Affix one Basic Grey magnet to notebook front about half-way down, near the edge as shown.
Score a piece of 8-5/8 x 1-1/8 inch patterned paper at the following inch marks: 2.75, 3.25, 6, 6.5, 7-5/8.
Taper end for a professional look, fold under and adhere just the tapered section under. It simply creates a finished edge.
You will eventually adhere the magnet mate directly beneath this finished end. I recommend completing the next steps below first, then positioning (not adhering yet) the second magnet on top of the first using a scrap piece of cardstock to separate the magnets. Apply Glossy Accents to second magnet. Press finished end of strip into the Glossy Accents and press firmly. Use scrap cardstock to carefully lift (and separate the magnets) the finished end of the strip up and away, continuing to press second magnet into the strip until adhesive has dried.
My 'scrap-cardstock-piece-method' of adhering the magnets prevents the second magnet from getting accidentally glued to the notebook front.
Apply a strip of one-inch wide Scor-Tape to the cardstock strip on the side away from the tapered end, leaving the finished end and next, small section free of adhesive. Adhere strip starting at the notebook front, covering the magnet already in place, working around to the back, lining it all up.
Unless you don't mind 'naked buttons' dress them up with a length of burlap string or waxed cord - I recommend avoiding knots - this allows the button to lay flat. Use a Craft Glue Dot to hold the string ends versus a knot.
(photo is looking at notebook back) Apply a drop of hot glue to finished strip end...
...and adhere (the non-naked - lol) button. The second magnet should now be adhered to the strip directly under the button as mentioned above.
Sign your work so they can email you for custom jobs.
Add a focal point to the front upper portion of the notebook. This is a Happy Hedghog doodlepop from the Happy Harvest line.
I usually take a random leftover strip of patterned paper - 7 inches in length is preferred - wrap around two additional lined notepads and adhere strip to itself - these replacement pads accompany the covered notebook.
More cuties. Oh these are too much fun to make. Above use bottle caps crimped in my die cut machine and the Happy Harvest Doodads.
Another cutey. The concept of being able to replace the notepad is very appealing to folks in my area - hope you like it as well! Any questions please email me and thanks for reading!
My youngest had a birthday party - invites used October Afternoon Cakewalk papers and embellishments, Memory Box Sugar Plum cardstock, Papertrey scallop die, ivory burlap string. Finished card size - 5.5 x 4.25 inches. Quick and simple.
Big party favor bags measure 10x13 inches - October Afternoon Cherry Hill (still in love with this line) and alpha stickers, scallop die is a spellbinders grand nestie, Zva crystal flourish, English doily.
The alpha stickers were machine-stitched to a small red tag, and a Martha pinked circle punch was used on white glitter cardstock. The adorable cherry brad is from Doodlebug.
Inside the favor bags were personalized notebooks - lined 4x6 notepads from Staples - covered in Doodlebug Fruit Stand - I used the 6x6 pad, flower doodle pops and bling from this collection. Square bling from Kaisercraft, alpha stickers from October Afternoon, spellbinders labels one from white cardstock.
I included a sticker sheet from the Fruit Stand collection with the notebook - just for fun. Decorated bags and notebooks done in about 15 minutes.
Found these to enclose with the notebooks, hence the huge bags.
Fun times ahead - coming up next I will have a tutorial as requested - how I create my covered notebooks that are so popular at the artisan market. Best wishes for a great week!
Going for a modern look - mirrored bird is Heidi Swapp product from the stash. Memory Box Jasper Leaves die in Bazzill Card Shoppe Juicy Pear and Easter Grass. Finished card size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches.
Flower bling is from Hero Arts.
How to safely mail a dimensional card such as this one: corrugate cardstock in a coordinating color and adhere a layer of 3/16 inch bubble wrap to one side - this serves as the protective layer between the card front and the inside of the envelope.
A side note: the Fiskars crimper will not corrugate Bazzill Card Shoppe cardstock well; cardstock is too thick for the hand-held tool to handle.
Memory Box cardstock is ideal for crimping and better suited for this purpose. Above is retired Gourd. For a complete listing of current Memory Box cardstocks one can view their online catalog (page 79).
One of the commissioned jobs this past week: you are looking at thirty-five 4x6 notebooks (with an interior pocket) for baby shower party favors...
...and the decorative flat bags to house them in. Patterned paper is Doodlebug Flower Box. Thanks for stopping by!
My kids helped me assemble these quick gifts for teachers and staff at school. Clear two-inch square cubes are from clearbags.com, and the kraft shred is from nashvillewraps.com. Cadbury eggs, some circle printing in MS word and a biggie pearl brad.
October Afternoon Farm Girl papers, Papertrey Ink kraft cardstock bases. Finished card sizes: each 5.5 x 4.25 inches. A 5mm silver pearl embellishes each butterfly - Memory Box Finn and Delia butterfly dies used.
October Afternoon Cakewalk gift ensemble - youngest daughter's friend Kayla (hence the initial k) is turning eleven - notebook and earrings pic...
Some of the flowers that come with the Basic Grey Serenade Colossal kit are canvas and others are paper. I assembled and layered them here, then created today's boxed gift card medley with some of them - finished card sizes are 4.25 x 5.5 inches - Memory Box Eggshell card bases and envelopes.
This medley is what one of my customers calls the 'Cindy Special' - one sympathy, one birthday, one thank you and one blank.
Clear-lidded box is from nashvillewraps.com. Large Serenade flower on clear box top was further embellished with two doilies - the bottom doily was sprayed with Icebox Sprinklers and the wool felt (Papertrey Ink) leaves were machine-stitched to mimic veining. An additional doily was adhered to the lid underside to disguise the adhesive. Happy Monday - off to the gym!
I put together only two colossal Basic Grey Serenade kits - in each of these kits there is a package of paper flowers and canvas flowers.
Card base uses Spellbinders grand scallop circles and the flags and banners from the kit. Finished size is five inches in diameter.
Card interior - Papertrey Ink stamps and banner die.
The photo above shows the entire package of Serenade flowers used - one on the notebook, five others at the top left (created most these based on the product packaging photo), and two machine-stitched card fronts using up the little extras.
Notebook uses a Zva vine, 7gypsies tissue paper, butterfly pins and crochet/velvet ribbon.
Flower center is from Jolee's.
Notebook interior - another flower used on the interior pocket, as well as two Memory Box dies (Pocket Gift Tag and Perfect Gift Card) - makes a nifty pocket for post-it notes once the recipient has removed the gift card. Finished notebook measures 5 x 8 inches when closed.
I'll detail the other cards made with the Serenade flowers in Monday's post - next week I hope to detail my latest love - how I make custom envelopes, as well as bubble-lined envelopes. Best wishes for a great weekend and Happy Birthday Bevie!
I am not one of those artists.
Blog posts are created here randomly, when the mood strikes, using my preferred products and tools.
Life doesn't come with instructions and if it did, I wouldn't follow them anyway.
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