Masculine Scratchpad Weekend Project

First you need a scratch pad.  You can measure if you wish but I like to just wing it.  I do measure how wide the the scratchpad is but after that I just fold things over edges, mark them with my fingernail and score as I go.  My Island Indigo card stock measures 7-7/16" x 3-1/16".  It's not that important because each scratchpad is going to be different. Scratchpads are not precision work so it will be rare to find a whole pack that is exactly the same, especially if you buy them in bulk.  I had gotten mine in bulk from Staples.  Paper is heavy so you may have to pay a lot for shipping.  Fortunately when I ordered these I needed printer ink so I was able to get my order high enough to qualify for free shipping!!! 

I took a full sheet of cards stock and cut it on the short side at 4-1/4".  I did that so I could use the other side for a future card.  I took the other piece and cut it the width of my scratchpad.  Then I marked the edge of the card stock where the back of the scratchpad lined up to it.  I scored that line.  Then I marked the next edge where the card stock folds over the bound end of the scratch pad.  I scored there too.  Then I measured 2" from that last score and cut the end off.  You don't have to measure.  You can eye it, just make sure you have enough to fold over.  The top edge is tucked under so a fold is showing on the front and not a raw edge. Plus that makes a little side "pocket" for you to slide in the strip of card stock to bind the top piece to the scratchpad.  I took the strip of card stock that was left over from cutting the width of my scratchpad.  I slipped it in the "pocket" and folded it around the scratchpad to the front.  I cut off the end, leaving over an inch of card stock to slip into the other "pocket."

Now for the assembly.  Glue your card stock to the back of the scratchpad.  You can tape it but you need the Sticky Strip.  It just seemed like a lot of Sticky Strip to use and it's not as easy to work with if you get the pad on crooked.  And trust me, it doesn't always want to go on straight.  Glue the card stock to the bonded edge of the scratchpad, plus glue the inside flap to the white paper on the pad.  The bottom photo shows the card stock glued to the back of the scratchpad. You can see the bound edge is not glued or that inside flap.  In the photo the inside flap is facing outward. Once I glue that it will fold in and stick to the white scratch paper.  Do not glue that flap shut or you will not be able to slip that strip of card stock inside.  A note here: Even if you cut your card stock straight and think you glued it on straight, it may not end up straight due to the scratchpad being cut just a little bit crooked.  Don't panic, it will still look fine.

This part is a bit tricky.  Put a little glue on one end of the strip and slip it inside the "pocket."  I glued both sides of the card stock strip with a light layer of glue so it wouldn't ooze out or scrape off.  Then I repeated that for the other side.  Now your scratch pad is ready to decorate as you wish!  

I have a "notes" stamp that I had custom made a LONG time ago.  I use it when I make notepads and notebooks.   Next I stamped the pages with the fish from the "By the Sea" set.  That took a little while to do.  Just a note here.  The image is not as sharp as it is when you stamp on card stock.  Scratchpads are not the greatest quality of paper.  But the image is clear enough and the paper is just going to be written on and tossed out eventually.  And there you have it, a fun notepad from a plain scratchpad.

These are very fun to make and after you make a couple they go pretty fast.  It just takes a little bit of time to get the other end of that strip in.  Just start with a corner of the strip and slowly work it in.  You can bend the strip a little on the end, it won't matter, it won't show.  It will be tucked and glued to the inside!

Have fun making these and thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Horse Frontier Masculine Card

I am trying to build up my stash of masculine cards.  I don't have very many samples at all.  

This card was made at Terri's Stamp-a-Stack (SAS).  It was quick, easy and fun to make.  Plus it helped that all the pieces were cut for me!! LOL  That is what I love about the SAS.  Nothing to do but stamp, assemble and have a great time! I just went to Terri's Open house today and made a fun project I'll show you soon.  I've got a few other things scheduled and almost finished so I will be showing them first. You'll just have to be patient!!! LOL

I don't have the "Horse Frontier" set and I probably won't be buying it.  The horse was the only image that I personally liked in the set so I would have to pass on it.  The masculine set I have now that is current and that I use the most is "The Need for Speed".  And there are a few other sets that will work for masculine cards.  I think sometime in March I'll do a few days of masculine cards again.  It's always good to have some new ones on hand!

The decorative paper used here is from the International Bazaar pack.  Another item that I didn't purchase.  But I do love how this design goes perfectly with the horse theme.  Terri sure has a great eye for these things!  And I love how the card opens.  Well, it opens like a "normal" card but the front is cut at 1-3/4" and then the focal part is attached to make up the rest of the front of the card.  

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

For the Boys!

I find myself always making "girly" things and once in a while tossing in a masculine card that we all ooh and aah at because they don't show up on blogs much either!  Today I thought I would make something for the boys!  I wanted to stick with the Valentine's Day theme so I just toned it down a notch.  Instead of the lacy scallop I just went with a solid scallop on the top to give it some character.  The lacy was just too "girly!"  The background is wheeled on using Pirouette Pink ink and the "I {Love} Love" jumbo wheel.  Now I did use pink and that is not a boy color but I did have to stick with the Valentine's Day theme, that is why I chose the lightest pink.  It's on the background so it is a soft subtle look.  And the front is just a red heart (which is acceptable by both make and female - on Valentine's Day!) and the words "Be Mine" were just enough. Nothing mushy, just typical of the day!  I did the words on the computer.  I printed out a full sheet of them so I'm good for several Valentine's Days to come!!!

Inside these fun little notebooks are dinosaur puzzles and games. I got them at Oriental Trading.  These can also be altered and used as stocking stuffers too! There's 3 or 4 different puzzle/game notebooks in the box.  I have extra so if you want to buy some (CHEAP) just email me.  I need to get some of this "stuff" out of my workroom to make room for new "stuff."  One can never have enough "stuff" can they?  Oh wait, I do know they can.  I watched that TV show "Hoarders" and know that some people can collect a LOT of stuff.  I get the hoarding of "things" part but I don't get the garbage part.  Why can't they through out what is obviously trash? Trash can be dumped anywhere.  There's the neighbors trash can (on garbage day - in the middle of the night or after the leave for work!!! LOL) or when you are out and about buying food, every store has a garbage can outside their doors.  Anyway, I do realize you can have too much stuff. SO that is why I'm trying to get rid of some of my stuff.  Out with the old and in with the new, an even balance is good!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Gifts for the Guys!

It seems we're usually making cards and gifts for the gals and rarely do we do cards or gifts for the guys. Well, I had mixed up a batch of Trail Mix and thought I would put some in one of the MANY jars I am recycling! I thought this would make a wonderful "guy" gift. Just dress up the jar to have more of a masculine look and I could pull this off!!!

SO, I thought about what stamp to use and the Stampin' Up! "Wanted" set came to mind. Well, then the Bandanna Technique came to mind too and once I put the two together I took a photo of the end results. Definitely a masculine gift!!! It was a very fun and very easy project to do too!!! I think it took longer to mix up the trail mix than it did to decorate the jar!!!

I did use the computer for the wording on the top of the jar. I just typed out "Trail Mix" and printed it out on white card stock. I first printed it out on copier paper and then changed the size of the font until I got it to where I thought it was a nice size for the lid of the jar. Then I printed it out, punched it out and then layered it. I added a ribbon around the neck of the jar but I only tied it in a knot and not a bow. I wanted to keep it masculine and a knot seems to do that better than a bow!! I took the ribbon off when I filled the jar because I didn't want it to get in the way when I was filling the jar. But I'm sure you can imagine what it looked like. Personally I wouldn't add the ribbon, it just gets in the way when pouring out the trail mix. It does get in the way! If it were warmer out I would have spray painted the lids, I don't like the green and the words showing on it. It was a Heinz gravy jar. Yup, a gravy already mixed up, just heat and pour. And get this, I can even make that one lumpy!!! LOL

These will make great Easter gifts for the guys!!

Thank you SO much for visiting and have a WONDERFUL day!
Wanda