You've Got This, March 2018 Paper Pumpkin Alternative Card, Birthday Card

Today I had some time to play with my March 2018 Paper Pumpkin kit.  I was just going to put the kit together as it was, I do like the kit, but....

I had a flower left from the "You've Got This" set. When I made my card yesterday, I had stamped and colored 2 flowers.  My thinking was to make two cards, one a Mother's Day card and one a Birthday card.  But I only made the one card and that was it.  

So, when I opened up my Paper Pumpkin kit and saw the colors, I looked to my left and there on my messy worktable was the flower I had colored in.  Well, the gears started turning and this is what I came up with.

The base of my card is a folded half-sheet of Crumb Cake (not included in the kit).  On top of that is a Rich Razzleberry piece of card stock that I trimmed 1/4" off the side so it measures 3-1/2" x 4-3/4", plus I cut the piece in half.  It's folded for a note card.  I have mixed feelings about doing that.  I go from a kit that has 8 or 10 or 12 cards in it to 25 or 30!!! Exaggerating here but it seems that in doing this I double the amount of stamping and card making I need to do and still don't have the time for.  But after seeing this, I now wished I would have stamped more of this flower.  But I guess that gives me more room for those gears to get going again and come up with something more, right?  LOL  I say good luck with that!!! LOL

Okay, after the Rich Razzleberry piece, I took one of the four pieces with the roses stamped on it and cut 1/4" off the side of that too, it now measures 3" x 4-1/4". I taped it to the Rich Razzleberry piece.  I added the half doily (not included in the kit" and I cut a 3" piece of the ribbon that came with the kit. I added snail tape to the back and placed it over the edge of the doily.  I wound up some gold thread (not included in the kit) around my fingers and stuck the loops to a glue dot and stuck it to the card front.  I added Dimensionals to the flower and set it in place, moving it over just enough to cover the edge of the doily.

The words are from the kit and were stamped using Rich Razzleberry ink (not included in the kit).  The label the words are stamped on was in the kit. I sponged the edges with Rich Razzleberry ink and set them in place on top of the card front as you see in the photo. I had used Dimensionals to set the label piece in place.  And that was it. Pretty simple (especially since the flower was already cut and colored!!!).

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Mixed Bouquet Altered Notebook Weekend Project

 Isn't it funny that anything you cover with whatever material is now called an altered item?  You slap a ribbon on a jar and it's an altered jar!!!  It just made me laugh when I read the word "altered" as I typed it.  Anyway, I bought a notebook at Michael's when they had them on sale.  I wan't all that fond of the cover (and I should have taken a before photo for you but I forgot) so I just figured I would cover it with some pretty papers so I could stand to look at the thing!  LOL

I used the Crisp Cantaloupe decorative paper to cover the outside.  Then I too the Mixed Bouquet stamp set and punch and stamped a flower using the Crisp Cantaloupe ink.  I punched out two more flowers out of scrap card stock.  I glued all three together with white glue and I set them aside to dry.  I did set something heavy on them so they would dry flat.  I used three flowers because I wanted that flower to be firm.  I knew I would be grabbing it to open up the top flap of the book.  I wanted to make sure I had something there that wouldn't rip.  Using white glue (when dry) makes the piece feel more like cardboard than card stock.  It has a nice firm feel to it.  The flap has a magnetic closure.  You can see the round piece on the cover in the second photo.  That's the magnet.  I just used my craft knife to cut around it after I glued the decorative paper to the outside.

Once they were dry I glued the flower in place in the center of the flap.  I added some pearls to the center of the flower and that was it.  

Now I'm happy with the notebook and I don't have any issues looking at it!!! LOL   And now I think it's too cute to use!!!  UGH!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Betsy's Blossoms Note Box Weekend Project

No, this is not the project I was talking about the other day.  That one is still in progress.  Not that it’s a difficult project, it’s just that I don’t have a lot of time to work on it.  I take a few minutes here and there to work on my projects.  I have a list of unfinished projects that I am trying to work through.  I’d LOVE to be at the end of my list before the new year starts! That is a wonderful goal but I'm not sure how achievable it is!!!  But I'm up for the challenge and the task!!  So you may be seeing a few more projects mingled among the cards here!  Which is always good for holiday handmade gift giving.

I had gotten these note boxes at Target's Dollar Spot.  I removed the paper from inside and used it. I use a lot of note paper and I ended up with quite a stack of empty boxes, and that's really a good thing!  I always took their ugly paper out anyway and added some cut copier paper that looked a lot nicer.  And their paper usually matched the front of the box.  These boxes had Monster's Inc. images on them and so did the paper that was inside.  It's cute but will not go with the new altered look.  

I used the Comfort Cafe decorative paper here (I used the downloaded one for this project.  I am going to make about 6 of these and I knew I'd run out of paper if I used it from the 12" x 12" pack so I bought the download and printed out my own.  

The front of the box is decorated using the Betsy's Blossoms set. The bird is stamped using the new Midnight Muse ink pad and it turned out SO dark, it almost looks black.  In person you can see it's a dark blue and not black.  I added a tiny pearl to the birds eye and one to the center of the flower on the belly band.  

 I did add a belly band around the box to hold it shut.  I use to tie them shut with ribbon but when shoppers would open them to look at the paper inside the ribbon was very difficult to tie back up and look nice.  So the belly band works the best. You just slip it off,they look at the inside and set it back down and all you have to do is slide the band back on.  I did stamp on the first sheet of the stack of loose papers in the box. 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

Best of Everything Notebook Weekend Project

Well, these were extremely fun to make!  They are altered notebooks.  They open like a matchbook.  Click here to see another one I made a while back.  There is a photo there of one open.  

I just printed out my background paper from the Floral District download.  I'm hoping I got the size of the paper right.  I should order a package of the paper and compare it.  That way I will know in the future if what I'm doing in the program I'm using is correct!  I wish the paper would load up on the My Digital Studio to the exact size.  But it doesn't so it has to be played with until it's close.  Dragging it across the screen and trying to keep it even on both edges is difficult to do.  

Anyway, I like the paper here and I thought it would be SO pretty on these matchbook notebooks.  Click on the photo for a closer view.

I had used some retired 1/4" grosgrain ribbon because I didn't have any current ribbon.  I have a ton of ribbon to use up and I'm sure you demonstrators will just find something that is current to substitute with if you are planning on making something like these. 

I got my notebooks at The Dollar Tree.  They have lots of fun notebooks and booklets to alter.  I try to stay away from that section of the store when I go in there.  

The set I used here is "Best of Everything."  I have had a lot of fun with this set and would like to use every image in it before it retires!

I am going to wrap these up in clear cellophane wrap, price them and box them up for the fall craft fair.  If you plan on selling the things you make using Stampin' Up! products be sure to use the copyright stamp on the back of your work.  It's their policy.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Blooming with Kindness Book Weekend Project

You know me and notebooks.  I just LOVE them. I love to buy them, make them and alter them!  What better way to alter a notebook than to do it with decorative papers and stamps?

Here I actually altered the notebook, though I have made notebooks like this in the past.  It is easy enough to do too.  You sort of follow the directions I did for the Post-it holder.  When you cut your cardboard for the front and back you will need to make a 3/4" strip and add the toothpick between the cardboards before you tape or glue the decorative paper in place.  You need to decide what size you want the inside papers to be and go from there.  Make sure you cut the cardboard 1/4" longer and 1/4" wider on the front and back.  This is the left side strip where the notebook will fold open.  Without it your notebook will open funny and the fold will probably be crooked.  

I glued the decorative paper in place using a glue stick.  I bent the fold right away before the glue set 100%.  I wrapped and glued the paper around the back side of the cardboard.  I trimmed the corners before folding them in.  

You will need to punch your holes in the front, back and on the pages for the inside so they all line up together.  I tied my pages to the covers using white Baker's Twine.  I also glued the front and back page of my papers to the inside cover.  It made it look more like a book doing that.

Then I decorated the front using the Blooming with Kindness stamp set.  The "notes" came from a personal stamp I had made for me a number of years ago.  I sure do get a LOT of use out of that stamp!  Probably because I make a LOT of notebooks!  LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sprinkled Expressions Notebook

Here is a notebook I made a few weeks back and forgot that I had it!!  I put it in a tote so I wouldn't lose it and I forgot about it.  UGH!!  Which is worse, losing stuff or forgetting stuff?  I guess they are about the same.  Forgetting stuff ranks up there with losing your mind so they must be the same!!! LOL

I had fun making this and I must say it was SO simple to do too.  I just took a notebook I had gotten at Michael's and wrapped some of the Spice Cake decorative paper around it.  I marked it and trimmed it to fit the notebook.  Then I taped it on top of the notebook.  

I stamped the flower from the Sparkled Expressions set and added the word "notes".  I had a custom stamp made for that.  I layered the image on top of a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock and then taped that in place on the notebook.

I tied a piece of ribbon around the front of the notebook and it was done! See, I told you it was SO simple and it was quick to make too.  I think I'm going to do up a few of these for the fall craft fair!  And hopefully make some quick sales too!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Decorating a Plain Notebook

 Isn't it fun when you can turn a plain ordinary notebook into a work of art?  Ok, not a true work of art but it's not plain and ordinary anymore!!!

I still had the pack of the "Everyday Enchantment" decorative paper out and I was looking for something and ran across this notebook.  And somehow the two got together and this is what i came up with!!

I did cover both the front and the back of the notebook.  I didn't want the front to be decorated and have the back being purple. That would look a bit tacky.

I taped the decorative paper in place and then stamped the image.  It is from the "Fresh Vintage" set.  Soon to retire too!  I may hang on to that set for a while though, it is very pretty and fun to make notebooks with!

The word "notes" was done on my computer and I found the RGB code for the Real Red color so it would match.  The "notes" was punched out and then layered on top of a scalloped circle.  I set it in place on the notebook using Dimensionals.  I made it for a friend, I thought it would cheer her up. 

And on the front bottom part I did add 3 of the larger pearls.  It was exactly what that bottom corner needed!!  And last but not least I used the ribbon punch and placed the piece on top of where the original binding and the decorative paper met.  There was a bit of a gap at the bottom and the purple was showing.  I had to cover it and this worked perfectly.  I guess the binding piece was not on even so it didn't match up.  But it was easy enough to hide and it added a bit more color to that side.

I like how it turned out and I'm sure my friend will like it too.

These are fun to make and you can often get a good deal on them at Walgreens.  They have coupon sales on them several times a year.  I have a few of them and I plan on making more notebooks for the fall craft fair and for stocking stuffers.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

You're My Type Notebook Weekend Project

Tuesday night when I was at Terri's FABULOUS Technique class there were LOTS of samples of cards and projects to see and take photos of.  There was a notebook that she had gotten in a swap that had this typewriter on it.  This is from the "You're My Type" set.  I didn't buy this set, my sister did and left it here with me when she came to pick up her part of the order.  This set and the whole "theme/era" of it is SO out of my element.  That is probably why I didn't buy it.  I have seen LOTS of cute cards made using it but it didn't tempt me enough to buy it.  I was glad my sister ordered it and even happier when she left it here with me to play with.  Now this has been several weeks that I have had this here and had not had time to play with it.  Seeing the little notebook on Tuesday night inspired me to play with her set.

I had taken a photo of the notebook and decided I was going to deviate a way from that one and try something a little different.  I added some background paper to my notebook.  I stamped the typewriter on white card stock and cut it out. It wasn't that bad to do since there wasn't a lot of coloring or anything special you had to do to the image.  Stamp and cut, not a big deal!!!  

Next I stamped the words on the paper in the typewriter and it was ready to tape to the front of the notebook.  I took the decorative paper and used a glue stick and stuck it to the front of my notebook.  I tied on a ribbon and ran the coil through the punched holes and it was done.  I am going to give it to my sister when I see her next week.  We are going to be going to Terri's Stamp a Stack.  My sister has never been to one of them and I know she is going to LOVE it!!  It's part of her birthday present.  I do have a feeling I'm going to have to take her there again sometime!!  But that's ok, Terri has fabulous cards to make and I love spending time with my sister.

A note on the punch here.  I use the RubiCoil punch machine to make my notebooks.  You can find a notebook that is big enough for the image, remove the coil, cover the front, punch holes individually (matching the holes in the cover) and putting the coil back on.  Altered notebooks are always fun and make great gifts.  I find that my little notebooks sell well at craft fairs!  They are priced low enough and sell out fast.  People LOVE to find little bargains to use for stocking stuffers!  Who doesn't?

And that's it, there you have it.  My little notebook for my sister.  I am going to make a couple of cards with that set and then get it back to her next week when I see her.  Well, probably a few more cards because I will have to make extra ones for her too!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

It's a Wrap!

I just LOVE the "It's a Wrap Occasions" and "It's a Wrap Holidays" sets.  This image came from the "It's a Wrap Occasions" set.  The center of the bandage read "get well soon but I taped that part off so I could add the "ouch" I made on the computer. 

This was a fun little project and useful too.  This really is a small first aid kit but once the original wrapper was taken off it all you were left with was a white plastic box.  It needed to be labeled but I didn't want to write on it with a marker so I thought I would make a fun belly band that could be slid back on when you were done getting what you needed out of it!!  

It's just a fun way to dress up something that needed labeling!  OK, back to working on that fun project!  I have a few minutes tonight to play with it.  I'm hoping that within the next 2 days it will be ready (finally) to share with you!!!  I'm excited because it is really starting to take shape now and I'm liking what I'm seeing!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Altered Note Holder

Ok, here it is. The project I told you I was going to post and it kept getting delayed. 

I love buying these little dollar boxes at Target.  They even come with scratch paper inside.  I often take the paper out and use it and cut my own white paper for the box.  Here I didn't need to add a different color paper because the paper matched the decorative paper.  That doesn't happen very often!! 

To make these altered note holders I usually take off the inside box.  I then redecorate the outside and put the box back on.  I sometimes decorate the box too.  For this one I added a strip of the decorative paper around the inside box.  It's the same paper as the belly band.  Sometimes, when I remember to do it, while I'm putting the decorative paper on I will work a ribbon in there and tie the box shut.  The only thing I don't like about that is that once it's opened it's usually difficult to retie it.  And even if you do get it retied it never looks the same as that first fresh knot did.  So I am leaning towards belly bands on the future note holders I need to alter!  I have a box full of these.  I had bought them for a gift project that had now gone by the wayside.  But that's ok.  I will use them for the upcoming craft fair.  I had gotten most of them at a discounted price so I can keep the price low on the item and sell them ALL.  Hopefully!!!

The second photo is showing the inside of the note holder.  You can see the papers that came with it in the holder.  See how well they go with the decorative paper? 

I used the Very Vintage set for the front on the belly band.  And the scalloped layered circle also covers the seam of the belly band.  I like the smooth look around the holder with the seam hidden, don't you?

Click here to see one that I made a while back. This one shows the original note holder with Buz Lightyear on it!  You can get a better idea of what to look for when you go to Target.  And trust me, these things don't last long in the store!

So now I need to make up a few more of these and box them up for the craft fair!!! I need to get a move on this stuff.  I do work good under pressure but I don't like to!  I would like to have my stuff done before the craft fair.  I want to try to do some each month and then closer to the craft fair I won't have to scramble and lose sleep to get the things done I wanted done!!!  I do this to myself every time I'm in a craft fair.

So there you have it, my altered note holder!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Altered Tissue Box Weekend Project

 I was a bit surprised at how easy it was to cover this tissue box.  I know, you're saying, "it's no big deal to wrap some card stock around a tissue box and call it decorated."  Well, that is so true.  But I didn't just "wrap" the card stock around the tissue box.  I actually formed a box bottom and top to it so the original tissue box can be replaced when emptied! 

I did wrap the card stock around the box to see where the score lines needed to be made.  It's best to do it that way because I have noticed that each tissue box is a bit off in measurements from the next.  After I made the scores I did notice that the card stock (an 8-1/2" x 11") didn't go all the way around the box. Well, I wasn't going to waste this card stock so I just added a piece in the back to make it the right length (plus a little for gluing together).  Then I scored the bottom edge.  And before I cut it out I added one square to the bottom. I did this on the square I thought would be the front of my box. And I added a little bit more so I could have something to fold over and glue on the inside to hold the bottom on.  And there you have it.  The bottom of the box.  Before it was all squared up and glued I stamped on it.  Here I used a jumbo wheel image.  You can stamp anything you want on them.  I went with the wheel because I knew it would be quick and cute too.  I wanted the bottom part of my box to be busier than the top part.  I used Pirouette Pink for the bottom color and I used Pretty in Pink ink.  

For the cover I just measured the top square and added 1-1/2" around the whole thing.  I cut out the piece and then scored it at 1-1/2" on all sides.  SO easy.  Then I punched the edges.  I wasn't thinking when I was working the top and I didn't leave anything on the 1-1/2" side to create a tab to glue the sides together.  I ended up taking those pieces I had cut off and made a "V" shape with them and glued them on the inside.  It worked out nicely too.  The top felt a bit loose until I added those pieces in the corner.  Now it's perfect.  

Before you glue those corners together you do need to cut out the oval hole for the tissue to come out.  What I did was I took a piece of really thin scrap paper (cheap copier paper) and I took a pencil and with the copier paper on top of the box I just held the paper firmly in place and went around the area with the pencil and the texture of the perforated oval showed through on the paper.  I cut out that oval.  Then I used that as a template for the oval to be cut out on my lid.  It was a little difficult to get it exact but I got it close enough.  And once the tissue is opened no one will really notice that it is off about 1/8"! 

Now this is ready to go into the basket of Valentine's "stuff" for my friend.  It is getting VERY close to being full.  I have several more things I want to make for it but they may not make it into the basket because of their size!  But I'll see what I can do!!! LOL

My tissue box came from the dollar bins at Michael's.  It's a great way to dress up one of those tissue boxes for any occasion!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fun Note Holder Weekend Project

 I love those little note holders that the Dollar Spot at Target has.  I can be found buying several of them at a time.  I don't really care much for the paper that is inside them.  It kind of reminds me of the paper that is used when learning to write your A B C's. I think it's a new print type paper. Anyway, when I make these for gifts I usually cut up copier paper, not only because it's nicer but because I don't really like the color of the paper that is in the holder.  It's usually a melon color.  I've only used it once when I had made a box that had the melon color in the cover.  Now this box would have worked with the melon color paper but I opted to use white since I was making it for a gift for someone special.  

I actually printed out the paper on 28# copier paper and then I used the "Elementary Elements" download to make the cover.  The word "Notes" was just typed in and moved to the center of the image.  Then I put the strip paper I printed out back in my printer and printed out the words.  Now I could have put the words and the image along with background all at one time but I had printed the background and I didn't have any other use for it.  SO I have now used that piece of paper I printed and reprinted on!!

I added 2 brads and the ribbon holds the cover shut!  Just as simple as that and yet elegant looking.  I punched the one hole with the Crop-a-dial and the other hole I had to make using the paper piercing tool.  The Crop-a-dial wouldn't reach that far!! It was not a prefect hole but the brad hides it so all is good!

I LOVE making these altered note holders and my favorite was a snowman one I did a couple of years ago. I sold all of them at a craft fair and was meaning to make more but didn't.  Which is probably a good thing.  I don't think I want to have the same item out each year, that is what makes craft fairs go stale.  SO maybe this fall I'll make more of come up with an even cuter one!

These are also great for stamp camps, customer appreciation gifts, hostess appreciation gifts, a gift for coworkers, teachers and even stocking stuffers  

I was just at the Dollar Spot at Target and they don't have any of these in right now.  But they get them in every now and then!

Happy paper crafting!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

It's a Wrap Birthday Candies!

I had saved my Build a Brad containers and was SO glad I did.  6 Hershey Nuggets fit in them perfectly!!!  Was that planned by Stampin' Up!?  LOL 

I stamped the images on address labels and then attached them to a piece of copier paper to make a belly band.  This is done because of the rules that Hershey has in regards to their wrappers.  You have to respect their rules and laws!!  Though  I think the mostly apply to the candies if you are planning on selling them. Though I do prefer the belly band over attaching the mailing label directly to their wrapper.  It gives the one receiving it the option of taking a bite and wrapping the rest of it up for later.  With the belly band on the wrapper stays intact.  Attached to the wrapper it rips it.  I think the belly bands look much nicer too and it's easier to get them on the candies straighter too!

The container is going to be decorated with some ribbon and a nice tag and it will be ready for gift giving!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Faith in Nature Mini Notebook Weekend Project

Here is another little notebook I made.  This time I used the leaf from the "Faith in Nature" Hostess set.  I embossed the leaf using gold embossing powder.  Once it was heat set I sponged it in with Cajun Craze ink.

The "Just a Note" image is from a Studio G stamp set that I got for a dollar at Michael's a while back.  I bought it only because I wanted the "Just a Note" image.  I had plans for it and now you can see the plan in action.  What better words to put on a little notebook???  I want to get a "notes" custom made stamp. I do have one but it's a much bigger font.  A smaller font would be perfect for these 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" notebooks. 

So I will be adding this notebook to my ever-growing pile for the fall craft fair.  It's great to be able to make so many notebooks and have a place to get rid of them!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Big Shot Peekaboo Frames Tag

 This is recycling at it's finest!!!  This bottle use to contain a reed defusing fragrance.  It all evaporated or did whatever it does.  The bottle was empty so I tossed out the reeds and tossed the glass bottle and stopper in the dishwasher.  After it was all clean I set it in my workroom for a couple of months.  Last month I had made some bath salts and added some to the bottle and once again set it aside.  I don't want to rush into a project all at once!!! LOL

Today I was looking at the bottle of bath salts and I still had the "Sunny Fun" set sitting out.  SO I thought some flip flops would go well with bath salts!  I was thinking of how I was going to add it to the bottle.  The "tag"idea came to mind and as I was getting off my chair to pick out some papers I saw the new "Peekaboo Frames" die and thought I would try to make it work for my tag and here you have it.

I cut the round frame out twice, once in white card stock and once in Perfect Plum.  I cut the center part out of the plum colored piece and set it on top of the white piece for an added color frame around it.  I punched out a 1-1/4" circle and affixed it to the back of the tag.  I wanted to be able to open the front piece and have a solid back piece there.  

Next I stamped the flip flops, colored them and cut them out.  I set them in place on top of the flap. 

Inside I added the words "Relax & Enjoy".  I printed out the words on my computer and punched them out with a 1" punch and affixed them to the inside of the frame.  The second photo shows the flap open.  Now with adding that plum ring around the frame it allowed the flap to close again.  They will open and close again but the more you bend that score on the top part of the frame, the more it wants to stay open.  So with two layers for the flap to close into it stays closed!  I found that out by accident!! Don't you love it when you find something great by accident?  That is how most of my stuff is discovered!  LOL

So now it's ready for gift giving or for the craft fair.  I have not decided what I'm going to do with it yet.  But I am glad I got to use the flip flops from the "Sunny Fun" set.  That was one image I hadn't used yet (before that retires too).  

The bath salts recipe can be found here.  I don't usually color my bath salts.  I prefer to keep them white so I can use them with any color tags.  But last month I wanted to make colored ones for some reason.  Probably because I ran across a small bottle of colorant!!  That will do it every time!!!

This was a very fun project to make.  I wish I had more bottles!!  But at least this one was saved from the garbage.  Our city doesn't take bottles like this for recycling. 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Greeting Card Kids Notebook & Tiny Pencil! Weekend Project

I LOVE this time of the year!!  You can buy pencils for pennies on the dollar, notebooks, markers, papers, etc.  Last week I got these fun Mini 4" x 3-1/4" notebooks at Walgreen's.  I saw that Office Depot had some too.  I love altering these, especially this time of the year!  And now with this adorable "Greeting Card Kids" set, what a better image to put on the notebooks?  Inking up this image today made it official, I have used every image in the set.  Now how many sets can you say that about???  I don't get to say that very often.

I opted to use the boy image because there are so many things out there for the girls.  

To make the new cover of this little notebook I took Marina Mist card stock and taped it to the front and back.  Yup, you have to cover both!  Because these are so small I was able to find some scrap pieces that were big enough.  But that was just for one.  I have a few more I am going to be covering.  

On top of the Marina Mist I added a piece of card stock I stamped with the new "School Lines" image.  I colored it in with markers before I stamped on the card stock.  I trimmed it up a bit before I taped it in place.  

Next I added a Pacific Point scalloped Circle and then on top of that I added the image I cut out and colored.

And the little pencil.  Well, that was VERY easy to make.  You take a toothpick and your x-acto knife.  Set the toothpick on a surface you can cut on.  You need to determine how long you want the pencil. Set your knife blade on top of the toothpick where you want it cut at.  Roll the blade across the toothpick while gently applying pressure.  Make sure the toothpick rolls the whole 360 degrees.  You want the cut to be clean and even.  If it isn't even or a clean cut you can always sand it on an emery board.  Once it is cut then take your Daffodil Delight marker and color in the body of the pencil.  For the eraser I used Cajun Craze and for the tip, the lead part I used a black marker.  Let it dry before you handle it.  Isn't it just adorable?  I use to make bunches of these years ago when those miniature shelves and shadow boxes were popular.  I'd cut up a whole box of toothpicks and I would paint them with Apple Barrel paints and let them dry.  As they were drying I would take tiny wooden candle cups and paint them and when they were dry I'd add a bow to the front of them and then glue in the "pencils" with the points up.  I sold TONS of those things way back then.  Anyway, that is how you make this cute pencil!  Such a fun embellishment!

This was a very fun project and it is something that the kids can participate in too.  Let them decorate the covers of their on notebooks.  A personal touch is always nice!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Altered Notebook Weekend Project

Today I was playing with the "Nautical Expedition" and "Open Sea" downloads.  I saw a notebook done by Deanna at De Stampin' Corner and I wanted to try to make one similar. I didn't want to copy it exactly but I did want to take some elements from it to make my own altered notebook.  

I had some copier paper cut so I just had to punch the holes in it. Once I got that done I cut up 2 sheets of Cherry Cobbler card stock and punched the holes in it too.  I set the coil in place and then proceeded to decorate the front. 

Since I didn't have the decorative paper or the stamp set I wasn't sure what I was going to do.  Then I remembered that I bought those two in a download because I just couldn't afford them both.  Downloads sure help the budget out!

SO I decided what decorative papers I needed and how many and I printed them out.  Then I opened up the Open Sea download and printed out the images I wanted to use.  Once that was all done, I cut and punched out the pieces I needed and just taped everything in place.  When I got all done taping I stamped the word "notes" on the front using a personal stamp I had made  especially for me.  Then I used the Stampin' Up! copyright stamp on the back because I'm going to be selling these at the craft fair in November.  And I had wrapped them up in cellophane and forgot to take a picture.  I had to take it an angle because the flash would bounce off the cellophane.  I managed to get a fairly decent photo so I ran with it!!  I needed to make a few masculine notebooks.  They make nice stocking stuffers for the dads and boys.  It's always so difficult to fill their stockings.  

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Easy Events Altered Notebook Weekend Project

 Now these little notebooks would be perfect stocking stuffers (for those of you who are making handmade items this year for Christmas gifts.  It can be dressed up with Christmas decorative papers and a holiday image. 

For mine I used the "Easy Events" flowers image.  I just colored them in with markers that matched or complimented the decorative paper.  And it was simple enough to do too!  Sometimes I will glue the papers on and when I don't feel that glue will work well, I will use the Sticky Strip tape.  Here I used the tape.  I was in a hurry to get the notebook finished and glue does take a while to dry.  When using glue try to use the thinnest layer you can.  Too much glue will warp your card stock or even leave a water type mark on it.  Less is more, it will stick all the same, you just need to work in sections.

I was going to add Dimensionals to the scalloped piece but decided to just set it in place flat. If the one getting it were to put it in their purse, the raised areas may get caught on "stuff" in the purse and rip the image.  So it as best to just tape it in place flat!

You can get these little notebooks at your local craft store.  This one had an initial on it.  I thought it was fun covering it in colors I liked and dressing it up a bit more.  Using the flower image and this dp gave it a more cheery look to it.

These would also make great Hostess gifts, Customer Appreciation gifts, Teacher gifts, Craft Fair items (which is what I'm going to be using these for) and of course Stocking Stuffers.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Hello, Doily Matchbook Notepads Weekend Project

While I was looking for something else in my over-stuffed craft room I found these two matchbook notepads and I thought I would try some altered art!  I am sure I bought them to redecorate them.  And I'm glad I ran across them.  I am just loving this "Hello, Doily" stamp.  

To alter these, all I did was cut some card stock (here I used Melon Mambo) and wrapped it around the notepad.  I marked the folds and scored them so they were nice and crisp.  Then I taped the card stock in place around the notepad.  They sat on my worktable for a day because I wasn't sure what I wanted on the top of them. 

My first idea was to use the "Delicate Doilies" set and stamp each of the doily images in different colors.  Well, I did that but didn't like it.  It was just WAY too busy looking.  I put those images back and I put the set away, I was going to put the "Hello, Doily" stamp away and thought I would use it on the cover.  SO I stamped the image in VersaMark and embossed it in white.  I sponged on the Melon Mambo color and then I REALLY liked how well it covered.  All I needed was to add some words and "notes" seemed to be the best.  The notes are from a custom stamp I had made for me many years ago!  I wanted one that read "notes" because I do make a lot of note books.  It sure comes in handy!!!

And for the final touch I used the new scalloped edge Melon Mambo ribbon.  It's very pretty but a little difficult to tie into a bow because of the scallops.  And that was it.  Quick and simple and pretty too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Tart & Tangy Gifts Weekend Project

 Whenever I would find something that had fruit on it I would dig out my "Tart & Tangy" set and make something to go with it.  The first photo is of some strawberry hand sanitizer and the other photo is an orange scented room freshener.  

These make fun little gifts or stocking stuffers.  It's always great when you can find some useful items for around $1 and fill up those Christmas stockings with them!   Ok, maybe the orange scented room freshener isn't so useful (unless you really LOVE oranges) but it was just too cute to pass up!!

This set is retiring and will be available in my web store at 12:01 am on July 1st.  Hopefully I remember to go into the store and enable everything.  I have been adding a few sets to the store each day and setting them as disabled so I can open them up with it's time.  Stop by and see if there is anything in there you need.  The link to the store is on the right side of this blog under "shopping is just a click away."  Or you can just click here and go directly to the store. 

This is a fun set to play with when making jellies and jams too.  I had a lot of fun with it but I must make room for other sets!

Thank you for stopping by today,
Wanda