Altered Michael's Notebooks

I just love these little notebooks at the Michael's dollar bins. They are such a fun size to work with and they also fit nicely in your purse or tote.

The first time I redid one I didn't like how it looked. I had opened up the original one and traced the size. I scored it in the right places and cut the slits in the side for the pen. The problem was that after taping it together the notebook was a bit too bulky and didn't want to close. SO after I figured out what was wrong I had a change of plan.

I removed the pen (this one goes without saying!!!) then I opened up the notebook. I pulled hard to separate their glue job. Then I cut the note pad off but I left the original backing on it. I took my card stock and made sure it was the correct width. The lenght was more than what I needed but that was ok, it's better to have it too long than too short.

I scored it in all the right places (using the original piece as a pattern) and I cut the slits in with a craft knife. I glued it where the orignal one was glued. I added the pen to help hold it's shape and then I taped the note pad in place. And for the final thing I cut off the excess card stock with a scissors. It was now ready to decorate!!

Once I figured out what was wrong it went rather smoothly. The only thing I don't like about redoing these is you have to measure each one individually because they are not all the same width. The are close but it's not worth guessing. You don't want the notepad showing on the front. You could mass cut them but make sure you have some extra card stock on the front cover as well as well as the back cover and then you can just trim them with a scissor when you are done.

The stamp set used here is from the "Thoughts & Prayers" set by Stampin' Up! The words were typed on the computer and printed out using a size 14 bolded font. I used 3/4", 1" and 1-1/4" round punches for the circles.

I tried to use card stock that complimented the ink pens. Each design of notebook has a different color ink pen.

Aren't these fun to dress up?? You can even use something like this as a great opportunity to use up some of that decorative paper you are hoarding!!! Anyway, I thought it was a fun project!! I bought a bunch of them and I'm going to make them up to sell this fall at a big craft fair I'm going to be in!

Thanks SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

First Time in a LONG Time!!!

WOW, I can not believe I don't have a post for you today. I have several things in the works but nothing to show you today. But hang in there. The weekend is coming and I have some fun things for you to see!!!

I can't remember when I missed a day of posting. I think it was when I first started my blog WAY back in November of 2006!!! That's a shocker in itself.

But I promise you I will have something for you this weekend that will make up for today!!!

Thanks for your patience!
Wanda

Thoughts & Prayers Card

I needed a card and I thought I'd give the Stampin' Up! "Thoughts & Prayers" set a try. I hadn't used it yet and as excited as I was to play with it, I had to put it together. Fortunately all the new Stampin' Up! sets come die cut so all you do is remove the punched out image, take the backing off and stick it to the wood. Simple as that!!! No cutting at all!! Can't beat that deal!!! Well, I suppose if it came all put together, that would beat that deal but personally I would prefer to mount them because there are times I find that actually cutting the stamp in two allows me better use of it, especially if it's words or if the stamp and another element to it that isn't connected with the main image. I will attach it to the ends or sometimes the other side and on rare occasions I will cut a block and add it to the set and hope it all fits in the container!!!

Ok, onto this card.....
I decided to use up some more of my decorative papers. The paper here is "Persian Summer" by Stampin' Up! It's SO pretty and I REALLY was hoarding it.

I used markers to color in the flowers and leaves. It actually went pretty fast. The main color of the card is Bravo Burgundy. On the left side I added 5 clear dew drops. It just needed a little something over there and I didn't want it to be too distracting. The dew drops just seem to blend right in.

I do have one regret about the card though. I wish I would have used Very Vanilla card stock for the branch and flowers instead of Whisper White. But the sponging on the edges toned it down a bit. Oh and there is another regret. I wished I would have looked at my fingers for ink marks before I stamped the image. I didn't realize I got ink on my fingers when I stamped the words, of which are crooked even WITH the Stamp-a-ma-jig!!! I'm SO good at doing that. It's like the gravy thing at home. I can even make gravy in a jar come out lumpy!!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

New Sizzix Box

I had gotten the new Sizzix die from Stampin' Up! This box die is SO much fun!!! I think I'm going to wear this one out. Is that possible??? I'll let you know!!! LOL

I cut out my box using glossy card stock. It was SO cool. It scores and cuts at the same time. I just color, fold and tape/glue!!! Simple as that. See why I said I think I'm going to wear this die out????

Once I got the card stock cut I stamped my cute little jelly bean on it. That stamp is by PSX. I've had it for a LONG time and I dig it out every Easter to play with it. If you keep your stamps clean and conditioned (I use Stampin' Up!'s Stampin' Mist to condition mine) they will last a VERY long time. Not so much with the clear stamps though. They are not rubber, they are made of polymer and they will yellow and stiffen up in time. Though the rubber ones will get brittle in time if they are not conditioned.

Anyway, back to "MY" jelly bean box!!! I used black StazOn ink because it's on glossy card stock. When I got done stamping the jelly beans I colored them in with markers. Then I colored each jelly bean with a white crayon. After I was done with that I inked up my brayer with Almost Amethyst and went over the entire surface of the box until the color was well blended. I did wipe it off with a paper towel when I was done. The ink will bead up on the waxed/colored areas.

Then I took a 1-1/8" punch and made my window in the front of the box. I punched one square and them just moved it over and punched again and once more to get the window wide enough and fairly even.

I took a scrap piece of acetate and glued it inside the box over the opening. I poured some jelly beans in a food safe baggie and placed that inside the box. I closed the cover and added a ribbon. As simple as that!!!

I have LOTS of plans for this box!!! I hope I find the time to do them all!! LOL

Thanks SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

NOT Liking This One!!!

Boy, I REALLY struggled with this card. My plan was to do the three butterflies in a row like that. And to tell you the truth that is the only thing that I had planned that actually worked out on this card.

I did add a bit of glitter gel pen to the flowers on the butterfly to bring in some color to the drab card.

And to top it off, I didn't have any vanilla ribbon. Can you believe that??? Those who come here to stamp and read my blog will be shocked to read about the ribbon part!!! LOL

I am VERY disappointed in this card and after spending so much time on it I decided I had enough and just walked away. Sometimes it's just best to do that. There was no hope for this card at all. Ok, maybe there is but I just can't see it and I can't work with it anymore. WOW, I've never had "Stamper's Block" before!!! I hope it passes quickly!!! Maybe it will once I put that stamp set away!!! LOL I picked it up because I had been whining about all the new stuff coming out in the "Occasions" catalog and how much of it I REALLY wanted. There's SO many cute sets in it. I made a list and the total was enough to put me in shock. SO I am forced to take a serious look at my list and trim it down considerably!!! But in the meantime I thought I should use some of the sets I haven't even touched yet and this "Flight of the Butterfly" set by Stampin' Up! was one of them. SO I put it together and this is what I did with it. UGH!!! I think I may look on SplitCoastStampers for some inspiration with this set. There must have been a card somewhere that I saw that made me want to own this set!!! And I know it wasn't this card!!! LOL

Thanks for looking, hope it didn't strain your eyes!!! LOL
Wanda

Fun Foam Stamping Technique Page

I thought it was time for another "Technique Page. It's been a while since I posted one. This one is an oldie but a goodie. And with all the Fun Foam that is being used with the Sizzix dies there is LOTS of scraps to use for this technique!!! I had debated about doing this technique because it is SO old. But then I remembered that there are brand new stampers joining all the time and they need to know this technique too!!! SO here it is!!! Just a note before you read on. A "bulldog" paper fastener is one of those black ones with the silver wires on either side. They were very common last year being used for decorating and holding messages. It really doesn't matter what you use and if you are good with your embossing tool and can avoid chasing the foam around your work surface then you won't need anything at all. It's just for holding the foam in place, nothing more!!!! As for me, I'm a chaser. I tend to tilt my heat tool a bit too much and my item is airborne!!! LOL

Cut your Fun Foam the size of the wood the stamp is mounted on. Clip your foam to a firm surface. A couple of pieces of chipboard together will work just fine.

Have your stamp ready to pick up. Heat the Fun Foam until it curls. You will see it change texture a little. This is a good thing! Immediately press the stamp in the Fun Foam. You don’t need to hold it very long and you will press just a little bit firmer than you do when using ink. The image should be deep enough to see. Cut around the edges with a scissors and affix to your project.

You can ink up your stamp but keep in mind you will need a permanent ink as a water based ink will not dry on the foam.

Thanks SO much for visiting,
Wanda

Trendy Trees Thank You Card!

This is a very fun little stamp set by Stampin' Up! "Trendy Trees has several different tree shapes in it. I chose this one. Don't ask me what kind of tree it is, I don't know one tree from another other than I can tell you it's NOT a pine tree!!! It looks like one of those trees that you'll have to do a lot of raking in the fall with!!!! LOL

I saw a card similar to this on SplitCoastStamers. It's by sf9erfan. I thought it was a fun card. Simple yet elegant. She used some Hodgepodge Hardware on hers. I didn't. I opted to use the small slot punch. I also used the corner rounder on two of the corners of the image piece and the layer.

I did have to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the tress and the trunks.

I stamped the tree trunks first in Close to Cocoa. Then I stamped the tree part using Certainly Celery. There's not a lot of stamping on this card but it did take a little bit of time to line up the trees. I had found center and then I marked the top lightly with a pencil so I knew where to put the tree trunk. I wanted them to be pretty close to evenly spaced as I could. I think they turned out ok. I am use to more layers and more colors on a card so this one was a bit of a challenge for me!! But I do like it.

The words are from the Stampin' Up! "Short and Sweet" set. The Trendy Trees set does come with a thank you but it read "thanks so much." I didn't want the word "thanks," I wanted a "thank you." Sometimes "thanks" is just not enough, if you know what I mean. It's hard to explain that one!! Anyway, it's what I wanted on the card and it's on the card!!!!! LOL

As with all of my photos, just click on it for a closer view.

Thanks SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Bandana Technique Card

This was one of the cards we made on DIVA Day using the Bandana Technique. I had made a card earlier this year using that technique. Click here to view it. I am posting this one because it was done just a little bit differently than the one I did. There was less "doodling" on it which still made it look cute! Plus it was quicker to do too!!! Imagine that!!! LOL

It's a fun and quick technique to do. And not to mention the cool effect it gives a card. Especially a masculine card.

Thanks SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wonderful Watercolors Thank You Card!

I just got this new Stampin' Up! set "Wonderful Watercolors" and I HAD to play with it. I thought I'd make a thank you card because I need a few of them this week.

As you know I have been doing the Wednesday Sketch Challenge on Split Coast Stampers every week or almost every week. I try not to miss one. And if I do I make sure I print out the layout. I keep them in an album. I don't have all the earlier layouts in the album but I'm working on getting them in there. But I do have the ones from when I started through this weeks one.

I found the layout that fit with the size of the flower in this set, it was #SC162. Now I do remember quite a while back making a card using this layout. Don't ask what card, I don't remember and I don't even know if I still have it, but I do have the layout!!!

I used Almost Amethyst and I found some Almost Amethyst decorative paper I had sitting around here and thought I'd run with that. I have a lot of decorative paper that I need to start using up!!!! And of course cards like this don't use much decorative paper. But on the brighter side of that, you can make more of the same card!!!

My "thank you" came from the Stampin' Up! set "Holiday Blitz." Another set I use a lot. I stamped the words using black StazOn and punched it out with the 1-1/4" punch. I punched out a 1-3/8" Always Amethyst circle and the black scallop behind it.

To color in the image I used the Lavender Lace marker because the Almost Amethyst one was just too light to see. I colored in the stems and leaves with the Certain Celery marker and I stamped the image on Whisper White card stock.

Then I inked up the outline image using Always Artichoke. I did use my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the outline on the image I had just stamped. I sponged the edges using Almost Amethyst ink and then taped all the layers together. It's a pretty easy card, just lots of layering!! But SO worth it!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

It's a Stretch Thank You Card!!

I just love this Stampin' Up! set "It's a Stretch!" There's 4 stamps in the set. There's a Christmas stocking, a cake on a stand, a tree in a stand and this vase. The vase is the only one I've used so far. I know, I know. I REALLY should try to use all the images in a set at least once!!! I have a lot of sets like that. And SO sad to say I have a few sets I haven't even used yet. But they are put together!!! Oh and there are a couple that aren't even put together. I just need to find some time to play with them all before they retire!!! Though the retired part hasn't stopped me yet!!! Maybe I should say "I need to play with them before "I" retire!!!" LOL

This card is for a very special friend of mine and I'm hoping she gets it before she reads about it on my blog!!! I mailed it out on Tuesday so I'm hoping that she already has it.

I had run across a partially started card using this wonderful "Candy Lane" decorative paper and I just knew who I was going to share my last bits of this paper with!!! I need to order more and of course I forgot to. UGH!!! Or did I? I'll know by the end of the week!!! But as memory serves me (like it really serves me, it's eluded me more and more lately!!!) I don't think I ordered any!!!

The "Thank You" is from one of my very favorite Stampin' Up! sets "Holiday Blitz."

It was a simple card to make. I colored in the flower with a blender pen and Riding Hood Red ink. The vase was colored in using Bashful Blue and the blender pen. The center of the flower is from the YoYo Yellow marker and the leaves are from the Mellow Moss marker. I sponged the edges with Riding Hood Red and it was ready to assemble.

Isn't it just a sweet looking card?? I'm sure she will LOVE it!! Sorry about the crooked photo. If you tilt your head to the left it doesn't look as bad!!! LOL Did you really do it???? LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers

I REALLY thought this Sketch Challenge was a tough one. It was those two half circles that really threw me off. For me it was REALLY stepping outside the box!!!

I thought I'd make a birthday card because I can always use birthday cards!!!! Who can't??? I had gotten a package of decorative paper from Joann's called "Sweets." It's full of fun glittery papers!!! I just couldn't help myself and it was half off so........ enough said???? LOL

I used the Stampin' Up! set "Crazy for Cupcakes." I thought it would go so cute with the strawberries on the cupcakes. And what was really fun was the colors went well with the Stampin' Up! papers!!!! Such a deal, huh???

For the cupcakes I used a blender pen and the Riding Hood Red ink pad for the cupcakes. The stand was colored in with the blender pen and Close to Cocoa ink. I added a bit of Certainly Celery under the stand area.

The scallop was fun to do. I used the large scallop in the Sizzix die cut. Then I put that scallop in another Sizzix die that had circles. I lined the circle up inside the scallop as much as I could and cut it out. Then I snipped on the inside of the scallop and straightened it out. Then I cut off pieces to fit on the quarter half circles in the sketch. It was the easiest time I ever had making a scallop.

The rest of the components of this card are from that single sheet of decorative paper. Right down to that cute scallop at the bottom that I cut out by hand following their lines. Good thing I didn't make the card the opposite direction, it was grueling enough cutting that much of it!!! LOL

Much to my surprise I can actually say that I enjoyed this sketch!!! If you have time give this sketch a try too!!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Cat Sympathy Card

If you follow Leslie's blog "Running With Scissors" you know that her post on February 7th let us all know that Marvin her cat had died. She would post little stores now and then about his adventures.

I made Leslie this card. I wanted to express my condolences. I had learned a lesson from Marvin that I think we all could take to heart. The photo you will see on the link is of Marvin with a skeleton leaf stuck on is nose I believe the original post was on January 14th titled "It Just Doesn't Matter." In her story Marvin had been outside on one of his cat adventures and came in the house with the leaf stuck to his nose. He didn't seem to care that it was there. As the title of her post stated, "it just doesn't matter." What is on the outside is and never will be as important as what is on the inside! It's a lesson we all can learn. When I read the post that Marvin had died I just cried. I don't really know Marvin, I've never seen him. I've just read a few posts about him from time to time. But being such a cat lover and having a cat that has a spirit much like Marvin it just hit me hard.

The cat image is from the "All in the Family" set by Stampin' Up! The words are from the Stampin' Up! set "Close as a Memory" and the paw print paper was designed by me!!

Good bye Marvin, you will be missed.


Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

DIVA Day Swaps!

I am SO fortunate to be in with a group of VERY talented gals!!! The swaps are always fun and the cards swapped are always FABULOUS!!!

The theme for this swap was to use the Stampin' Up! (of course) "Love You Much" set to make anything but a Valentine's Day card with it. It's to show that the set can be used far beyond Valentine's Day.

I like finding sets that I can use for more than just one occasion. Some sets are just for a specific holiday or event and some of those sets can be used as elements in another type of card.

Here the cards cover a lot of events.

One of them is a new baby card,

one is a friendship card,

one is a birthday card,

two are wedding cards

and two are anniversary cards.

See how many occasions this set can be used for??? Ya gotta LOVE that!!! And didn't I tell you these are FABULOUS cards??? We make full cards, not just card fronts so we can use them if we need to!!! On the inside we put a post it with our name on it so we know who made which card and with no permanent names on the cards. Such a smart idea, huh???

Ugh!!! I tried several times to aline these cards. I messed around with the Html and had no luck trying to straighten them out. SO after a half hour I just gave up. Sorry for the messy layout but a WYSIWYG (WhatYouSeeIsWhatYouGet) is not always "what you see is what you get!!!" Fortunately I don't put a lot of cards on one post so you won't see a mess like this very often!!! SO sorry about it.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Notebook for a Friend!

Here's a notebook I made for a friend. I cut up the last of my copier paper (20 pound) and made a few notebooks. I used Ballet Blue for the front and the back. The layer is the blue digi paper I made the same night I made the pink stuff I posted a photo of a couple of days ago.

The flower is from the Stampin' Up! Hostess set "Echo's of Kindness." Isn't it just a sweet set?? I sponged the edges with Ballet Blue and layered it on a piece of Ballet blue. I even colored the flowers in with a blender pen and Ballet Blue ink. See the theme here? LOL

The words were done using a rubber stamp I had made for me. I make a lot of notebooks and I really needed a stamp that I could use for these. I punched it with the oval punch and I layered it in guess what color???? Yup, Ballet Blue!!! LOL

These are fun notebooks to make!!! I wish I had more time to make more of them!!! They sell SO well for me at craft fairs.

My friend really liked the notebook! You can click on the photo to see the digi paper I made up close!

Thank you so much for visiting today,
Wanda