Mini tutorial: Book cover/ (stamp storage)

I'm sure everyone knows how to do this already, I learned that in school when I was 13, but just in case... here is how to make a nice looking book cover for little spiral notebooks and such.

In this case I was making a cover to store my My Thoughts Exactly stamps. :-)

I made an 8X10 cover to match the size of my zippered pouches (found those at Walmart for back to school and I should have bought more... Will definitely be on the lookout for those next August... ;-))

Step 1: Cut some cardstock to desired size. (I used old cardstock containers, because I was out of empty cereal boxes...) Glue to a piece of paper or cardstock slightly bigger then cut the corner. (I used Modge Podge to adhere my designer paper, and ran a brayer all over (the paper) to try to get a good spreading of the glue.

Step 2: Fold the extra paper all around and glue it. Add pieces of ribbon if you want to tie it shut afterwards.

Step 3:  Glue 2 pieces of cardstock or paper to finish the inside. They need to bit slightly smaller than your cover. (here I took 3/16" off from my original 8X10 measurements).

Step 4: Punch holes and use binder rings to hold everything together. I need to buy bigger rings because my little album/storage is really full... ;-) I made little reinforcers by punching cardstock with a 1/2" circle punch.

My stamps are stored in the zippered pouches, 2 sets back to back. I used a label maker to write the names of the sets at the top of the pouches, and stapled little tags on the side.

This way I can find what I am looking for in a glance... :-)

All that's left to do is tie a knot and proudly display it somewhere in your crafting area! ;-)
(and what better way to use this beautiful paper you have been hoarding forever for "that special project"? ... ;-))

ETA:  I have since found larger binder rings at Staples, which gave my inside pockets more breathing room, and enabled me to decorate them with little ribbons....

Window garland mini tutorial

As I am trying to not buy stamps this year, I have been buying SVG files instead, LOL ;-), and also using my Cricut cartridges, like I did here since my laptop was out of commission and I couldn't access my SVG files. I made a little garland with my daughter, to decorate the vertical window panels next to my front door. It's an easy and fun way to make seasonal decorations! :-)

Supplies:
- cardstock flowers and leaves of different sizes and colors.
- ribbon (gros grain works well)
- buttons
- hot glue gun
(and ink)

Start by inking the edges of all the cut pieces. This takes a little time but gives depth.
Using the hot glue gun, attach the flowers and leaves on the ribbon, then flip your design and do the other side. This way your project will look good from inside and outside.

Finish it off with buttons in the flowers' centers.

Hang in front of the window and enjoy!... :-)
(As always, clicking on the pics will give you a larger version.)

For regular windows, I'd suggest cutting several lenghts of ribbon of different size/length and hanging them vertically in a random fashion.
I'm looking forward to making more of those with different themes like maybe Back to school, Halloween, Holidays, even birthday stuff, seasons...
As they are exposed to the sun they will fade out eventually, but they are so easy and fast to make that there should be another one ready to take its place in no time!... ;-)

[I apologize for the weird/disjointed layout but Blogger gave me a hell of a time and just didn't want to let me place my pics where I wanted... >:-(...]

Tickets Holder mini tutorial

I have never made a tutorial but I always enjoy seeing them on other blogs, so I thought I would take pics as I was making a little booklet to hold Naomi's tickets.
(We are starting a ticket/points system in our household to help with the concept of shores ;-) and also keep count on TV watching or wii playing.)
I thought the whole thing would be more fun with a cute little holder to keep earned tickets in! :-)

Supplies:

- strip of carstock 9 1/2" X 2 5/8"
- 3 coins envelopes no. 3 (2 1/2" X 4 1/4")
- paper trimmer/scorer
- corner rounder
- 2 magnetic strips
- 1" hole punch
- 3 tabs (I used a die by PTI to cut out mine)
- ink pad
- adhesive tape of any kind
- embellishments (& ribbon + hole punch if you wish)


Start by cutting the envelopes' top off. The 1st one at 2 1/2, the 2nd at 2 7/8 and the 3rd at 3 2/8. Then use the 1" hole punch to make a little indentation on the front of the envelopes (for easier access to the tickets).
(Obviously this can be made to whatever size, I just left a little space between each layer. I skipped that step on the one I made for myself (see further below).)
Next add the little tabs on each pocket/envelope.

Stack the envelope on top of each other and trim the last one, then ink the edges.

That leaves you with this.

Glue the envelopes on top of each other by running 2 stripes of adhesive in the middle line of the back of each envelope and then stacking it on the next one.

Gluing only the middle part of the envelopes enables for some "accordion effect".

Take your cardstock strip and score at 2", 2 1/4", 6", 6 1/4". Then round the 4 corners.
Run your ink pad around the edges of the cardstock and let dry...

Glue your back envelope to the carstock.

Add the little magnetic strips facing each other. Decorate tabs if you wish.

Decorate the outside of your ticket holder.

There you have it. I don't know how to call this but let's just say a little holder for all kinds of little notes, wallet size pics and such...

Below is the one I made for myself to store the tickets I will be giving away! ;-) It's the same model, the only difference is I didn't cut "easy access half moons" and I left all the envelopes the same size... I think it looks better this way but I was looking for practicality with the 1st one... If it's gonna be handled often by a kid, they need to be able to get easily to the contents... ;-) Although the good thing it that those are so easy to make that you can just make a new one when the old one gets torn. And since the coins envelopes come in package of 250 I think I am all set for quite a while!! ;-)

I think I will make more of those to hold other little things like stamps and address labels, or the box tops I clip for the kids' schools, etc...

Well I hope my explanations were as simple as the project is. If not please let me know, I am open to constructive criticism!... ;-)

If you make your own little holders please share a link in the comment section! :-)