Altered Notebook Tutorial

I thought I’d do a tutorial on how I made the notebooks on my School Days post just in case anyone was interested.

1.This how it started off.I bought a pack of these spiral bound notebooks with plastic covers from Poundland.

2.I removed the wire by straightening the ends with my fingers,no fancy tools needed, and just kept turning it round until it came out.Take care that it doesn’t get caught when you’re doing this.

3.Next I applied ultra adhesion double sided tape as close to the edges as possible.Probably not the best colour cover to demonstrate this as it’s almost identical to the backing on the tape LOL

4.I then covered it in patterned paper,turned it over and using the cover as a guide trimmed it as close to the edges as possible.It’s best to cut the paper slightly larger so it doesn’t make it too difficult to line it up especially when using ultra tape.If you make a mistake that’s it the paper will tear if you try to pull it off.

5.Next I turned it over again to put the holes back in.I’m lucky enough to have a Japanese screw punch with just the right sized attachment.You could probably use a small plier punch if you lined it up carefully.

6.Now for the fun part!Very neatly gather up and align the covers and the pages making sure the holes are lined up too.Wind the wire back through by turning it over and over.Keep checking that the wire is going back through every hole of every layer.You need to hold everything as firmly as possible.Once the wire is back in place bend and tuck the ends in.I found I could do this with my fingers but if you find it easier to you could use pliers.  

7.This is the best part.Decorate it however you choose.I made a topper with a stamped image coloured with Promarkers and some coordinating paper.

  

8.If you want to add that little bit extra you can make a matching pen.Take a clear barreled pen,remove the stopper,roll a narrow strip of paper and gently feed it in.Put the stopper back in and there you have it!I used a pokey/piercing tool as it did the least damage to the stopper. The elastic around the book came in handy to hold the pen in place too. 

Well I hope that wasn’t as clear as mud!!And that you give it a go.It really isn’t all that difficult otherwise I wouldn’t have done it.I really enjoyed making them.

TFL

Lisa x

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School Days

****Edited to put a link to a tutorial on how to alter the notebooks here****

Here are one of each of the cards and presents I made for my 3 youngest children’s Teachers,TAs and HLTAs.The TAs and HLTAs each got a Thank You card and bookmark on the left and the Teachers all got a card and notebook  and pen on the right.

I kind of cheated by making them all the same but with so many to make and time being of the essence that’s what I decided to do.The images are from the School Days set by C C Designs that I bought for a bargain price in a sale earlier this year.They’ve been coloured with Promarkers.The ‘Teacher is a special word’ sentiment is from the same set.The ‘Thank You’ is from the Hero Arts Dolls set.The papers are all Making Memories.The top strip on each card has been punched with the Scallop Dot Martha Stewart Edger.The layers for the images and sentiments have been cut using Nestabilities Labels 4.The pieces the sentiments are stamped on have had a Lip Pattern Corner punch used on them.The bottom corners of each card have been shaped with a Large Corner Rounder punch.All the buttons on the Teacher’s cards are Papermania and the TA’s cards have a mix of  pink Papermania and some I cut from my eldest daughter’s old school shirts.The ribbon is from a Dovecraft bargain roll.

To make the corner bookmarks I followed the instructions I found at Stamping Mathilda.The card is from my stash and the papers are Making Memories.The cute little bookworm,coloured with Promarkers, and word are from the same stamp set as the one on the cards.As is the punch.

I covered some note books in more Making Memories paper and created some toppers with more of the same stamps and Nestabilities.I bought some pens with clear barrels and rolled a small coordinating piece of paper up and fed it inside.

Here are some more pics:

All the Teacher’s cards.

All the TAs and HLTAs cards.

Sorry it’s a bit of a lengthy post.And the pics are perhaps a little dodgy – it was about 1a.m. by the time I’d finished.

Here are some challenges:

I Love Promarkers : Buttons

Crafty Creations : Happy or Sweet

Stampavie and more : Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes : Back to School (hope this counts.Although it’s not really back to school – just school related)

Rosie D’s : All creatures great and small

Paper Jewels : Fancy border

Digi Doodle Shop’s Best : Anything Goes

Fab n Funky : Reuse or Recycle (shirt buttons and notebooks)

Gingersnap Creations : Spicy Supply Challenge – Markers

Pile it on – Stretch the plastic (buttons)

Hand Full of Stamps – Punch the Stress out

Crazy 4 Challenges – Photo inspiration

Cas-tastic Challenges – Inspired by Summer

Bunny Zoe’s Crafts – Summer Days

TFL

Lisa x

Distressed?Well wouldn’t you be…

…after 20 years?Of course I’m just kidding.I’m sure he has a lot more to put up with from me than I have from him!

I made this card for my DH for our anniversary which was actually last Wednesday but I’ve not had the chance to take a pic and post here until today!!

I’ve used a sweet Meljen’s Designs freebie (not sure if this one is still available) and coloured it with Promarkers and coated the heart in Glossy Accents.The edges have had a mix of  Antique Linen and Stormy Sky Disress Ink applied.The papers are K & Co Hopscotch the plainer base one has had Peeled Paint Distress Ink sponged around the edges.The coloured card is Core’dinations So Mod in two different shades.I cut some circles with Standard Circles Nestabilities,I like to think of these as masculine flowers,and layered them up with a sentiment I generated on the computer.I fixed them together with a brad.I made the dangly thing using two charms from my stash along with the chain from an old keyring.I tied on some ribbon that I cut from a new top I’d bought recently.They were the hanging loops inside the shoulders.They look so much better on cards,don’t you agree?All edges have had the Tim Holtz Paper Distresser treatment. 

Here are the challenges this card is for :

Passion for Promarkers : Distressing

My Time To Craft : Check It Out

Papertake Weekly : Cutie Patootie

Tuesday Throwdown : Paper Piercing

Crafty Creations : Happy or Sweet

Stampavie and more : Anything goes

Crafty Ann’s Challenge : Sir Cliff Richard song – Congratulations

E.C.P. : Photo inspiration

No Time To Stamp : Two’s Company (two charms)

Stampin’ for the Weekend : Recipe – 3DP’s,2 flowers,1 ribbon and an added extra of gems or charms

Create 4 Fun: Use flowers

Stamp Something : Something Flowery

Totally Gorjuss : Congratulations

Stamp,Scrap and Doodle Saturdays : Digis

Rosie D’s Challenge : All creatures great and small

Digi Doodle Shop’s Best : Anything goes

Fab n Funky : Reuse or Recycle (chain and ribbon)

Mami Doodles : Anything goes

Raise the Bar : Distressed,Torn,Ripped, Broken

The Stampman : Anything goes

Pollycraft Monday Challenge : Love and Marriage ( hope anniversary counts)

Alphabet Challenge : M is for Men

Bunny Zoe’s Crafts : Summer Days

Crafty Catz : Summer Time

Creative Inspirations Challenge : Anything goes

TFL

Lisa x

Flower Power

This weeks challenge at Craft Your Passion is a Recipe to use ‘Three Different Ribbons’.I don’t know about you but I LOVE using ribbon.So if you love it too this challenge is perfect for you!There’s also a prize of digi stamps on offer!Pay us a visit to join in the fun,see some fabulous DT inspiration and grab the chance of being a winner!

For my card I’ve used ‘Choupinette fleurie’  by CocoDingo and coloured her with Promarkers.The papers are Making Memories and the purple card is Papermania Textured.The mint green card is from my stash.I used an Oval Nellie’s Multi Frame Die to cut the scalloped piece and threaded some organza ribbon through,finishing with a bow.A length of purple grosgrain creates the border between the two papers.I tied two pearl headed pins and a flower together with a piece of green satin ribbon,then curled the wire stem of the flower.I stamped the sentiment from Kanbans The Wobblers Jungle Characters set onto a Nestabilites Classic Ovals die cut piece.All egdes have had a Tim Holtz Paper Distesser used on them.

These are the challenges this card is for:

Passion for Promarkers : Distressing

Digital Tuesday Challenge : Happy Birthday

Crafty Creations : Happy or Sweet

Papertake Weekly : Cutie Patootie

Stampavie and more : Anything goes

The Pixie Cottage : Double Up

Shelly’s Images : Birthday Card

No Time To Stamp : Two’s Company (two papers and two pins)

Andrea’s Stampin’ Moments : Simply Saturday – Simply Flowers

Create 4 Fun : Use Flowers

Stamp Something : Something Flowery

Stamp,Scrap and Doodle Saturdays : Digis

Cowgirl’s Sunday Stamp’en Challenge : Anything goes

Crafty Catz : Summer Time

Fairy Fun Friday : Lace It UP!

Digi Doodles Shop’s Best : Anything goes

The Creative Cottage – Touchy Feely

Mami Doodles : Anything goes

Raise the Bar : Distressed,Torn,Ripped,Broken

Kah-Wink-E-Dink – In the Garden

TFL  

Lisa x

Elephantastic!

At Pear Tree Designs this week the challenge is Birthday.A nice easy one I think – hope you agree!Our sponsor for this challenge is Robyn’s Fetish Digital Stamps and the lucky winner will get to choose 3 digi stamps of their choice!!Plus there is plenty of inspiration from the DT.So three very good reasons to play along this week – go on,you know you want to 😉

There is also a DT call for one member as we’re sadly losing the lovely and talented Karen.So pop on over for more details on how to apply.

For this card I’ve used ‘An Elephant never forgets’ from Robyn’s Fetish Digital Stamps.I just couldn’t resist this little (?) guy – he’s so cute and looks so full of fun!Plus I love elephants and he’s a fantastic example of one!He’s been coloured with Promarkers and I’ve used Glossy Accents for the spray of water he’s squirting out of his trunk.I was lucky that I managed to capture it on camera!Click on the pic for a larger view.The papers are K & Co and the cardstock is Papermania Textured.I’ve used a Martha Stewart Traditional Scallop Edge Punch and a large corner rounder.I cut some felt with a  Sizzix Bigz Flower,Beauty Bloom die and tied some embroidery thread around a large brad before fixing it in the centre.The sentiment comes from the Hero Arts  Elephants clear stamps set. The edges have been coloured with Promarkers and I’ve attached brads in each corner.Perfect for this card.

Here are the challenges :

Digital Tuesday Challenge : Happy Birthday

Papertake Weekly : Cutie Patootie

Crafty Creations : Happy or Sweet (both I think!!)

Stampavie and more : Anything goes

The Pixie Cottage  : Double Up (two stamps)

Kah-Wink-E-Ink : In the Garden

Charisma Cardz : Anything but square

Shelly’s Images : Birthday Card

No Time To Stamp : Two’s Company ( Two papers and two flowers)

Create 4 Fun : Use flowers

Andrea’s Stampin’ Moments : Simply Saturday – Simply Flowers

Sentimental Sunday : It’s all fun and games

Stamp Something : Something Flowery

Stamp,Scrap and Doodle Saturdays : Digis

Rosie D’s Challenge : All Creatures Great and Small

Cowgirl’s Sunday Stamp’en Challenge : Anything goes

Paper Jewels : Fancy border

Crafty Catz : Summer Time

The Res Q Challenge : Put Your Glasses On (something that reminds you of glass – Glossy Accents) 

Digi Doodle Shop’s Best : Anything goes

The Creative Cottage : Touchy Feely

Mami Doodles : Anything goes

Ooh La La Creations : Birthday 

Totally Stampalicious : Birthday Challenge

 TFL

Lisa x

Oops I did it again!

There is a colour challenge of using orange,yellow or blue in your card/project at Craft Your Passion this week.To aid the creative process there is a beautiful  inspirational pic too.So if you want to play along please feel free to click on the link.Take a look at the other DT’s fab work while your there and don’t forget there are digi images for one lucky winner!

The image I’ve used here is ‘OMG I forgot’ available at Lauretta’s Digital Stamps.We all have those moments don’t we!So this image is ideal for one of those times.She’s been coloured with Promarkers and I have added Copic Atyou Spica along the top edge of  her blouse and to the dots on her skirt.Not sure it shows too well.You could try clicking on the pic to get a closer view.The paper is from the Spring Life Colossal pack that I managed to pick up for the bagainous price of £1.49 for 50 sheets!The coloured card is Core’dinations Gemstones and the piece she has been layered onto has been cut with a Rectangles Nellie’s Multi Frame die.The tab has been HAND sewn on (a rarity for me with mt VERY limited neddlework skills!).The sentiment has been printed from the computer and outlined in Promarker pen.I’ve used a small corner rounder punch and the more fancy dotted corner I cut with a Martha Stewart Traditional Scallop Edger by lining up where I wanted it to cut.I adhered some jute ribbon using Micro dots as I find these best to add some texture.I cut some flowers from the piece of backing paper left over and to give them more substance I gave them a quick burst with Crafter’s Companion Spray and Shine,coloured the middles with more Spica pen then layered them over the ones on the tree.I just coloured the centre of the one lower down.The corners of the matting pieces have had the same punches used on them as the tab.

Here are the challenges :

Lexi’s Creations : Stitching

Creative Card Crew : To Die For Challenge

Papertake Weekly : In the garden

Tuesday Throwdown : Stitching

Gingersnap Creations : Spicy Supply – Markers

Little Red Wagon : Use  a tree on your project

A I Factory : Flower Frenzy

For Fun Challenges : Favourite techinique to colour

Fussy and Fancy : Stitches,Scallops and Sparkle

Craftalicious : Birthdays

One Stitch at a Time : Digi Madness 

Stampavie and More : Anything Goes

Paper Playtime : Flower Power

Pollycraft Monday Challenge : Happy Birthday (this one’s belated so I hope it still counts) 

TFL

Lisa x

Pretty Cheeky!

The challenge this week  at Pear Tree Designs is a sketch with a twist to include ribbon somewhere in your creation.This is the sketch:

Our sponsors are Lilac Lemon Designs and they are offering 2 x single rubber stamps from their shop for the winner.I own some of their stamps and I have to mention what good quality they are!So why not drop on by and take a look at how to enter the challenge in more detail and take a peek at the lovely DT work.

This cute little monkey is from The Wobblers Jungle Buddies stamp set by Kanban.The stamp doesn’t come with the flower on her head so even tho’  it has longer eyelashes I’m quite sure with a change of colour scheme it could easily fit into a male themed card.My youngest son has the honour of longest lashes in our family so I suppose that kind of backs up my theory.She (in this case) has been coloured with Promarkers and cut out using a Scalloped Circle Nestabilities die,then layered onto a Standard Circle.The PP is from The Wobblers pad that came with the stamps.The coloured card is Core’dinations So Mod.The flowers are a small stamp from the same set cut out and coloured with Copic Atyou Spica glitter pens.The leaves have been  made with some scraps of grosgrain ribbon,you know the ends you trim off but never have the heart  to throw away then don’t know what you can use them for.They were white originally so I coloured them with a Promarker too.The butterfly ribbon is from a  £1 pack from The Works.The sentiment is also from the same stamp set and I came across these co-ordinating brads by Making Memories in my stash.I’ve used a large corner rounder punch too.

This is also an entry for the following challenges :

My Time To Craft : Butterfly Bliss

Creative Card Crew : To Die for Challenge

Gingersnap Creations : Spicy Supply Challenge – Markers

Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge : Seven of something

Stampavie  and More : Anything goes

Creatalicious Challenges : Show us some 3D

Passion for ProMarkers : Animals

A I Factory : Flower Frenzy

For Fun Challenges : Favourite technique to colour (definitely Promarkers and Spica’s for added glitz)

Creative Craft Challenges : Summer lovin’

Craftalicious Challenges : Birthdays

Hanna and Friends : Celebrate

K L Stampin N Scrapping : Ribbon

TFL

Lisa x

Fairy Dogfather

No,it’s not a typo – he’s a dog,he’s a fairy and his gender makes him a father!

I’ve used another stamp from the Fairy Friends set by Pink Cat Studio.I’m on a mission to use stamps that have never been touched by ink ATM.We’re going on holiday soon and I’m on a craft spending crash diet.I really need to buy clothes instead – what a waste of money!Anyway back to the card.He’s been stamped in  Rich Cocoa Memento and coloured with Promarkers and I’ve highlighted his eyes and nose,the bone and the wings with white gel pen.Because this is a boy’s card I used Glossy Accents on his wings instead of the usual glitter type stuff.GA has also been added to the same areas the gel pen was applied to.I printed a selection of background papers from The Wobblers CD-rom by Kanban onto white card.I pierced around 3 of the edges on the background piece and drew faux stitching with more gel pen.I cut a variety of Standard and Classic Scalloped Circle Nestabilities and repeated the process around the edges of those.The topper has been mounted using foam tape.I adhered the sentiment,from the same stamp set,onto the smallest scalloped circle and lay it over felt cut with a Sizzlits Curly Decorative strip.This card has been made for a friend of my youngest son,who will be 6 tomorrow.I try to keep it a bit simple with kids cards and just add some interesting accents.

Here are the challenges that influenced this card :

I Love Promarkers : Sketch and Dog Theme

Passion for ProMarkers : Animals

Lexi’s Creations : Stitching

Creative Card Crew : To Die For Challenge

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday : Felt

Tuesday Throwdown : Stitching 

Stamp with Fun : Fairies

Flutterby Wednesday : 3 or more layers

Stampavie and more : Anything Goes

Creatalicious : Show some 3D

For Fun Challenges : Favourite technique to colour (Promarkers without a doubt!)

Theme Thursday : Something Round

Craftalicious Challenges  : Birthdays

The Craft Garden : Fairies

Hanna and Friends : Celebrate

Fairy Fun Friday : For the Boys

C.R.A.F.T. : Babies/Children

Stamp Scrap and Doodle Saturdays : Animals

Party Time Tuesday : Anything Goes Birthday

Gingersnap Creations : Random Redhead Challenge – Fairies

Lothian Crafts – Blue and one other colour

TFL

Lisa x

‘Twas the night before Christmas…

…when all through the house not a creature was stirring,not even a PENGUIN?!

I had the idea last year to use this little cutie as a Christmas stamp even tho’ he’s from the Pink Cat Studio Fairy Friends stamp plate.But like sooo many of my stamps this is the first time he’s seen ink!I’ve coloured him with Promarkers and added a coating of clear Copic Atyou Spica over his wings and dotted some Sky Blue on his wand.(Click on the pic for a closer view).I used a mix of Standard, Inverted Scalloped and Classic Scalloped Circle Nestabilities to mount him on.A short length of grosgrain ribbon has been folded in half and sandwiched between the layers.The front of the card has been cut diagonally,a greeting stamped and a piece of acetate that has been embossed using the Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder attached with brads.I mounted a piece of Daisy & Dandelion Winter’s Tale paper,that I had left over from last year,onto some card from my stash.These have also been cut diagonally (not to be confused with Diagon Alley!As any H.P. fan knows!).The topper was adhered with foam tape for extra dimension.Because I have loads of Christmas cards to make I try and create an effective, stylish design (I think) and also use my stash frugally.I’ll probably mix these up a bit with different images,papers and embellishments.I may even substitute the acetate with vellum.

Here are some challenges this card was made in mind for :

Ooh La La Creations – Christmas in July

Cupcake Craft – Acetate

Stamp with Fun – Fairies

The Shabby Tearoom – Christmas in July

Flutterby Wednesday’s – At least 3 or more layers (hoping this is eligible ‘cos of the way the card is constructed – please tell me if it’s not)

Gingersnap Creations – Spicy Supply Challenge : Markers

Stampavie and more – Anything goes

The Pixie Cottage – Triple Play: 3 of something : Sketch,theme or both.I’ve gone with the theme.

Cute Card Thursday – Get a Head Start (Christmas cards)

Paper Cutz Challenge – Christmas : No red or green

Stamp Something – Recipe : 1 designer paper,1 ribbon and 1 image

Sunday’s with Crissy – Monochramatic (Mostly)

Ann’s Creative Nook – Anything goes

Sentimental Sunday – I can see clearly now : Use a clear element on your creation plus a sentiment

Magical Craft – Christmas in July

Creatalicious – Show some 3D

K L Stampin N Scappin – Dry embossing

Fussy and Fancy – Christmas in July

Digi Doodle Shop’s Best – Use those scraps!

Passion for Promarkers – Animals

Christmas Cards All Year Round – Anything goes

Fab ‘n’ Funky – It’s Christmas in July

Fresh Brewed – Christmas in July

Stampotique – Christmas in July

Theme Thursday – Something round 

No Time To Stamp – Christmas in July

Order of the Opus Gluei -Sending smiles

Shelly’s Images – Lots of layers

TFL

Lisa x

Sweet ‘n’ sparkly

This weeks challenge at Pear Tree Designs is Glitter/Sparkles.Our sponsor this time is One Stop Card Crafts and they are offering one lucky winner a prize!So what are you waiting for?Pop on over for more details and to check out the fabulous DT creations.

I decided to make a tent card as I haven’t made one for a while and it fitted with my idea for this card perfectly.The main image is a C C Designs Swiss Pixie and the Birdhouse is from the same set.Both have been coloured with Promarkers and have had touches of Diamond Stickles added even tho’  it doesn’t show well in the pic.(Deeply disappointed!)The papers are the My Mind’s Eye freebie that came with the August issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.I love these papers so much that I did some detective work and found out that in real life they’re from the Contrary Collection.The card I’ve used is Core’dinations Gemstones.It has a beautiful sparkly,pearlescent finish.I’ve used Classic and Scallop Oval Nestabilities to create the aperture and pierced around the edge of the frame.The white strip has been punched with the Martha Stewart Flower Bed Deep Edge Punch.The swirly leaf has been cut using Marianne Design Creatables Ribbon Flower 3 and the pink flower using Flora 1.The  petals on the paper rose have been edged with Diamond Stickles.I’ve added a little bird cut from the paper stack, more Stickles on his chest, and a butterfly charm to the Birdhouse.I’ve used pink and green pearls as finishing touches.All corners have had a small corner rounder punch used on them.

Look out here come the challenges :

My Time To Craft – Angelic

Creative Card Crew – To Die For Challenge

The ABC Challenge – You and Me

Flutterby Wednesdays – Open theme

Quixotic Challenge – Pearls

The Pixie Cottage – Sketch and or aperture (just the aperture)

Your Next Stamp – Flower Power

Fresh Brewed – Summertime

Creative Craft Challenges – Summer Lovin’

Dutch Dare Card Challenge – Flower Inspiration

Craftalicious Challenge – Cute

The Craft Garden – Fairy

Tiffany Doodles – Birds and Windows

2 Sisters Challenge – Anything Goes

Little Red Wagon – Nestabilities

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenges – Apertures

Speedy the Cat’s Challenge – Punch it

Fairy Fun Friday – Photo inspiration  

Gingersnap Creations – Random Redhead Challenge : Fairies

Charisma Cardz – Watch the birdie

Cute Card Thursday – Schools Out for Summer

Aud Sentiments – No sentiment 

Shelly’s Images – Anytime

Hanna and Friends – Unused stamps (both of them!)

Cowgirl’s Sunday Stampin’ Challenge – Sherbet and Ice cream colours

Stamp with Fun – Fairies

Paper Sundaes – Lots of Layers

TFL

Lisa x