Custom Handbound Address Book

If you saw my last post, and actually made it to the end, you know that I have been working on a project for myself--a new address book. I almost gave up on it before I ever got to the binding part because getting the pages printed right was so difficult, but I persevered, and here it is! (Lots of photos!)

Most of my books are approximately 4" x 5", but this one is larger--5" x 7".  It is bound very similar to my journal from Monday, with a groove for the elastic band and Coptic and French Link Stitches over tapes, but I added Long Stitches with weaving, also.

Since this book has a longer spine, I was able to use wider ribbon for the French Link stitches, and I had a fairly large area for the long stitches. 

Here's a better view of the spine, especially the weaving. Weaving like this is simple, but given that I had 2" of Long Stitches to cover, and the thread was not very thick, it took awhile. And, since I don't have a lying press, I had to hold the book between my knees and sit all scrunched up while I worked on it, which did not make my neck happy at all! What a relief when I finally got to the last row!

I covered the inside covers with a calm, dark green paper. I like pink, but can only take so much of it at once. You can also see the first divider. I used white 65 lb. cardstock and added die cut tabs. The text on the tabs was made with a label maker. The black and white strip is Washi tape. I love how it looks, but I mainly used it to cover the part of the tabs that is glued to the divider. It didn't look too good sitting there all naked. ;D 

The best part of making your own address book is getting to put anything you want in it and leaving out things you don't need. These are the sections in my book. There are 15 in all, and I divided them by wrapping every other section with a cardstock folio. In all, each section has 12 pages--a total of 180, not including the dividers. You might be wondering if I'll ever get around to showing you the actual pages, right?

This is my title page. The pretty floral paper is a digital paper by Juliana Kneipp, called Old Sweet Times. Unfortunately, she no longer makes or sells digi paper, so I don't think it is available anymore. I used this particular image because it was only a border. Since I was printing this on my printer, I didn't want something that was going to drink up all my ink.

The entire book was created in Word, using tables. Here's my Personal Information page. I used that same floral image on every page in the book, adding a text box over it for the tables I made for the information. 

One of the things I really wanted in this book was a place to put things like the paint colors we've used, and major appliance information. I don't need to access it very often, but when I do need it, I can never find it. On the facing page, there is room for favorite babysitters, restaurants, theaters, parks, and libraries. 

The actual address section has 6 pages per letter, with room for 4 addresses on each page, except for a couple of combined sections (t,u,v and x,y,z). I can't imagine ever having more than 24 addresses under one letter of the alphabet, so I think I'll be able to use this book for a long time.

The last section is just a place for notes. All the pages in this section are set up the same, but 4 of them have a blank writing area, 4 have a lined writing area, and 4 have a grid writing area. You never know what you'll need to write in there. It probably looks like the text on every page in this book is printed in a different color. It's not. I can never get photos with lots of white to turn out right--especially when there is a lot of red in the photo, too. 

I see pics of handmade books with the pages fanned like this. Why? I have no idea. But, I figured I'd do it, too. :D

And, this is my favorite shot of a handbound book with an exposed spine. One that shows both covers and the spine at the same time.

After working on this for several weeks, now I need to fill it with information. I hope I can bring myself to actually write in it! I might need to work on my penmanship first. ;~/

Hope you are having a stellar week! Thanks for stopping by!

I'm entering this book in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create #148: Anything Goes
Color Throwdown #367 (CTD#367)
Craft Your Passion Challenge #286: Always Anything Goes

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties October Release Party!

Paper Sweeties Release Party is here, which means that all the new Paper Sweeties October stamp sets are available in the Boutique starting right now!  And, here's another Christmas card created with the newest Sweet Cuts die set, Stitched Tags #2.

After painting corrugated cardboard with white acrylic paint, I die cut the tree in the center. For the colorful tree inside, I happened to have some 12x12 patterned paper with large Christmas trees on it, so I just cut the tree from that. For the shaker, I used my Fuse tool to create a shaker pouch from a sheet protector and filled it with Frosting and Sugar Sprinkles sequins and Fran-tage Shaved Ice. I like the way acetate sheets look for shakers, but I have to tell you, using a plastic pouch is much easier because you can fill it before putting it in the card, and to attach it, I just die cut a tree from a second piece of cardboard, then sandwiched the edges of the pouch between the two cardboard layers. After adhering those layers to a red and white dotted background paper, I made a green bow with Green Apple Seam Binding and Peppermint Baker's Twine, both available at Paper Sweeties, and added a few Strawberry sequins around the card, filled with White Opal Liquid Pearls. Finally the star tree topper was cut with the star die in the Trim the Tree Sweet Cuts set, and Diamond Stickles gave it plenty of sparkle.

On the inside of the card, I stamped a sentiment from the new Do You See What I See stamp set, colored the heart with a Copic marker, and used a paint pen for the highlight. The distressed cardboard Christmas tree is the die cut from the front of the card.

The Paper Sweeties DT has more inspiration for you. Just click on each of the names to see what they've been busy doing lately.

Angel Johns 
Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier 
Jill Norwood 

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

Release Week always ends with a Rewind day. Check back tomorrow for Rewind Day, to see one last project featuring the newest releases from Paper Sweeties.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create Challenge #145: Anything Goes
House of Cards October Challenge: Add Texture &/or Color Inspiration
Craft Your Passion Challenge #283: Always Anything Goes
TCP Tuesday TCPTUES301: Anything Goes Challenge

~Hugs,

Supplies Used:

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Paper Sweeties October Release Countdown!

Day 2 of Paper Sweeties' October New Releases is here, and I've got a bright and cheery Christmas card to share with you. 

This card was so easy to make, and unlike most of my cards, it has no coloring (except for tiny hearts inside). The mitten tags were die cut from the new Stitched Tags #2 Sweet Cuts die set, and I added black faux stitches with a Sharpie marker, and some Strawberry and Green Apple Seam Binding. The sentiment is from the O' Christmas Tree stamp set, and was heat embossed with white ep. A few Sugar Sprinkles Sequins add the requisite sparkle.

I love the simple Peace Love Joy sentiment with those sweet little hearts that I colored with a red Copic marker. It's out of the new Stand Add On: Manger stamp set.

All the new October new release stamps and dies will be available in the Paper Sweeties boutique beginning tomorrow!

My Paper Sweeties teamies have more inspiration waiting for you on each of their blogs:

Angel Johns 
Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier 
Jill Norwood 

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

Have you entered this month's Inspiration Challenge yet? There's still time!

And, be sure to check out the October Kit of the Month. Aren't these cards adorable!

I'll have another Christmas card tomorrow. Hope to see you again, then.

Until tomorrow,

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create #145: Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #283: Always Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Clean & Simple Christmas

~Hugs,

Supplies Used:

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Paper Sweeties October Release Sneak Peeks!

Hello all my crafty friends! I hope you had a fun, long holiday weekend. We topped ours off with a trip to a local farm with our homeschool group and had an amazing day! 

And, now, since it's mid-month, it's time for Release Week at Paper Sweeties! Yay! Here we go....

I used the new stamp set, Stand Add On: Manger to create this Christmas card, and used kraft cardstock, in keeping with Paper Sweeties October Inspiration Challenge, which you still have time to enter. I stamped the images, including the star from the new Do You See What I See stamp set, onto kraft cs, then colored them with Prismacolor pencils, adding Stickles to the halo. The star was heat embossed with glitter ep. For the background, I cut a kraft distressed rectangle, then inked up a woodgrain embossing folder with Fossilized Amber on one side and Walnut Stain on the other, spritzed them with water, then sandwiched the kraft cs, and embossed it. I used Paper Sweeties Tea Seam Binding and Cookie Dough Baker's Twine for the bow, and added Gold and Frosting sequins for a starry night sparkle. The vellum banner, from the Hello Friend stamp set, was heat embossed with clear ep, and the sentiment was heat embossed with black ep. I used the Be Happy Sweet Cuts die set to die cut the banner. 

The inside sentiment panel was sponged with Fossilized Amber and I did a little masking to stamp two straw images together. The sentiment, from the new Do You See What I See stamp set, was stamped, then I colored in the "Christmas" text with a Garnet Spica pen. I hand-doodled the brown border with a fine-tip Sharpie marker.

Now, prepare yourself to be wowed by the rest of the Paper Sweeties team!

Angel Johns 
Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier 
Jill Norwood 

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala
Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

As I mentioned earlier, there is still time to enter this month's Inspiration Challenge.

And, be sure to check out the October Kit of the Month. Aren't these cards adorable!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you'll come back tomorrow for another sneak peek. Here's a little teaser for ya...

Until then,

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create #145: Anything Goes
Penny Black October Challenge: Warm Autumn Colours
Craft Your Passion Challenge #283: Always Anything Goes
House of Cards October Challenge: Add Texture &/or Color Inspiration

~Hugs,

Supplies Used:

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Things of Nature

Hello Friends! A quick post here to share my latest creation. I'm pretty excited about this one because I made it using my brand new Kutrimmer 1071 paper trimmer! I've wanted one ever since I used one at a bookbinding bookcamp in Athens, but the cost was prohibitive. But, I found a brand new one on Ebay last week for a great price and the seller just happened to be within driving distance, so I was able to pick it up and get started using it right away! 

I made all the flowers on this project, and all but the two tiny pink ones are made from the same stamp and die set. The flowers were all stamped onto patterned papers, die cut, inked along the edges, then shaped. There is a close up of the flowers at the bottom of the post.

I've always liked making boxes, but with my new paper cutter, that can cut right through book board, I like it even more. Cutting the parts for the box only takes a few minutes now, and requires very little effort, unlike cutting it by hand with a blade.

Here's a look at the inside. Actually, it has a set of cards inside it now, but they are all cards I've posted before, so nothing new to see there.

The spine of the box is covered in bookcloth with a strip of patterned paper added over that.

Here's a close-up of the larger flowers. You can see the centers much better here. I love how the dark pink one turned out! I used micro beads in the center of that one. The yellow and pink flowers have Stickles centers, and the purple one has a large rhinestone.

These are the smaller flowers. The yellow flower is filled with beads and glitter, and the purple flower has Stickles on the edges of all the petals. The butterfly die cut was covered in Ice Blue Inka Gold, then I heat embossed it with UTEE.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this. You'll probably be seeing a lot more handmade boxes (and books) in the future now! ;)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tiddly Inks Challenge #166: Don't Be Square
613 Avenue Create Challenge #143 : Anything Goes
Penny Black and More September Challenge: Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #265: Sparkle & Shine
Craft Your Passion Challenge #281: Always Anything Goes

~Hugs,

Supplies Used:

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One Touch of Nature

Hi Friends! I'm back again, with another card using this week's Tuesday Morning Sketch.

I used the TMS #150 for the card design. This was my original DT card until I realized that I didn't follow the "twist" of kraft, black, and one other color!  No worries! I just made another card for the TMS post. :)

I used the viola stamp from the Flourishes Botanical Bookplates Vol. I set for my main image. Now, I love flowers, but I don't know a thing about them. If Flourishes didn't always put the names of the flowers on their blog, I wouldn't have a clue about what they are. So, after reading that these are violas, I went to the internet to see what they are supposed to look like, and lo and behold, there is a variety called Chocolate Violas! Being the chocolate lover that I am, that's what I decided these are. I colored the image with Copics and added background shading with Distress Ink. The gold centers, as well as the gold dots on the scallops, are from a Pearl Pen.

I picked up these gold foil filigree corners at the stamp convention I went to a few months back. 

I used Versamark ink and the same viola stamp on the inside, as a watermark. It's almost impossible to see in the photo, but it's really pretty in person. The sentiment is perfect for the purpose of this card. It's a thank you to a couple who allowed me to share in their amazing personal collection of nature's beauty.

On my recent trip to Texas, my friend, Carolyn, honored me with a visit to a friend's home. The home was spectacular, but the real treat was not the actual house--it was what was inside! The couple who lives there are both--yes, both the husband and wife--big game hunters. I made this card as a thank you for the owners of the home, who were away at the time, for allowing me to get a glimpse of the most awesome collection of big game trophies I've ever seen--or even imagined! It was a big highlight of my trip!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Friends Challenge #5 (CFC5): Flowers

The Paper Shelter Challenge #68: Anything Goes

Lollipop Crafts Challenge #83: Flowers in Bloom

Cutie Pie Challenge #20: Real of Faux Stitching

Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge #45: In the Garden

Craft Your Passion Challenge #114: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of your week!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Botanical Bookplates Vol. 1 (Flourishes)
Paper: A Beautiful Life (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Distress Ink; Versamark; Memento; Copic markers; gold opaque paint marker
Dies: Classic Ovals Sm, Classic Scalloped Ovals Sm, Classic Scalloped Rectangles Lg (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Abstract Flower Punch (EK Success); gold foil corner stickers (Starform); sewing thread; Pearl Pen
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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