Simple Journal

I wanted to show a simple gift idea with you. I kreated this journal and matching RSVP pen for my nephew who is 10 and has a creative mind for story telling and drawing. Along with a small artist easel and sketch pad, I decided to use an SU Art Journal to make him a small book that he could doodle in or jot down his stories. I used two different patterns from To the Nines Specialty paper to decorate the cover.
* The polka dot pattern I used the Spiral Punch to get every nook of the chipboard covered (you could make it easier and just edge your paper to the spirals).
* I measured where I wanted the next pattern and butted them right next to each other. TIP: Sticky Strip has the ultimate bond, so for projects that are going to get a lot of 'use' or that you want to make sure stay together, you won't go wrong with it!
* My Choc Chip letters came from the Big Shot and the Go Go Boots Alphabet set. The Big Shot made personalizing it with his name a breeze!
* It needed something else... no frills though... I thought the Pewter Jumbo brads would add just enough without compromising the masculine lines. TIP: For more precise placements of eyelets and brads, I use the Mat Pack with a wonderfully handy little template included to mark out exactly were you want your embellishments to go.
* After using my template and mapping out where I wanted my eyelets, I used my Crop-a-dile to punch out the circles and then set the eyelets.

Within minutes my nephew was using his gift and drawing. I thought that was confirmation enough that this was perfect for him - although the huge smile and thank you spoke volumes too!! These chipboard journals would be great for a diary/journal; to affix momentos and special dates; to keep those special photos, scrapbook style; a recipe book... lots of options. Hope you like this quick and easy gift idea! Click HERE for some other ideas I have kreated with SU journals.

I'll be peering out my front window for that BIG Brown Truck to round that corner and stop in front of my house today :) New Goodies - WaHoooo!!!
If you want to see why I'm so excited check out the Occasions Mini Catalog! If you'd like a FREE copy (and don't currently have a SU demonstrator), I'd be happy to send one out pronto!
All these wonderful PROMOTIONS... it is time to Sale-a-brate!!
spend $50+ and pick an item of your choice FREE out of the Sale-a-bration brochure!!! And did you see the new Clear Mount option????...What about the new punch style...? What about Joining my Team with the new starter kit options for %15 off the retail price??? So much to be excited about!! Any questions, you know I'm just an email away.

Shop ALL product orders online with me.

Inspired Coordination

My card yesterday inspired my coordinating project. Have you used any of the SU Stencils? Check out the Definitely Decorative Catalog to see more (pgs 28-31). This is the Kind Thoughts Stencil that I used on the On Board Journal. I love it!!
*I used Removable Dotto on my stencil and laid it over my journal.
*Applied Choc Chip Craft ink with a dauber over my stencil. The ink absorbs quickly into the chipboard journal, so I went over the stencil again to keep it as wet as possible.
*Removed the stencil and applied some Clear Embossing Powder and used my heat tool to give the raised, shiny embossed image. SO pretty!!
*Laid the stencil back over, slightly offset, and kreated my shadow again with Bermuda Bay ink. (to keep with my shadow technique of yesterdays card)
*Removed the rhinestones from my Clear Rhinestone Brads and adhered them to my image with a dab of Crystal Effects. Tip: to remove the stone, just pull back brad legs and little prongs and the stone will just pop out.
*Used my dauber and some Soft Suede ink to lightly accent my journal.
*Isolated the words Define Your Life with my Bermuda Bay Marker and stamped onto my journal. A simple look, but I like it.

Then I went on to kreate my bookmark.
*The Lovely Letter 'L' was inked in Choc Chip and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder on Melon Mambo
*Used the square hardware from Silver Hodgepodge Hardware set and adhered my 'L' onto the back with Crystal Effects.
*Covered the back with a square piece of Kaleidoscope DSP(one of the flowers) to keep it pretty and neat (sorry I didn't photo that, but you'll have to take my word that it looks pretty)
*Threaded Bermuda Bay polka dot grosgrain into each end of the holes in the hardware
*Added a Circle Fire Rhinestone at one end - knotted at the other with a Filigree Brad threaded through. Fun little bookmark :)

Any questions, feel free to ask! Leave me a comment and let me know what ya think. I'm trying to decide if I should make a few of these for a craft fair in the fall

Shop ALL product orders online with me.



Supplies Journal:
Stamps: Define Your Life(114950)
Ink: Choc Chip Craft(101816), Soft Suede(115657), Bermuda Bay(115655)
Accessories: OnBoard Art Journal (107065), Kind Thoughts Brocade Stencil (116572), Clear Embossing Powder(109130), Clear Rhinestone Brads(113144), Daubers(102892), Dotto(103305)

Supplies Bookmark:
Stamps: Lovely Letters(115030)
Ink: Choc Chip Craft(101816)
Paper: Melon Mambo(115320)
Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware(111325), Circle Fire Rhinestones(109110), Filigree Brads(112577), Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Grosgrain(115610)

Holiday Tradition

Holidays bring many a tradition. One in particular is certain foods that we always seem to have. This tradition I'd like to pass down to my girls when they cook/bake for their family holidays. So in the years to come I will compile some of their favorites foods and sweets in this cute recipe book! Which hopefully they will treasure and be able to hand down to their children. This little book starts with SU 5x5 Chipboard Journal and is covered with some ribbons. The chef from the Voila set was inked in Basic Black and his clothes and hat highlighted using blender pens and ink. TIP: Take a closed SU ink pad and squeeze the center of the pad. Upon opening you will kreate a small pool of ink in which you can pick up a little color with your blender pen and begin to 'color' your image.
The chef was snipped out and placed on dimensionals to finish off the cover - pretty simple but I think way cute!

The index page is stamped with a retired alphabet set using the coordinating ink colors as the colors for each tab. From the top - Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and Rose Red. Each tab was punched out with the Round Tab punch to make the perfect little section dividers. On each page with a tab, our little chef revisits holding the dish to be focused on. His hat and tie are also inked in the same colors as the tab, again using the blender pens (I may also go back and highlight some of the foods on the dish and also use my alphabet set to caption each section)

The greatest thing about this little book is with the Spiral punch I can cut some Very Vanilla cardstock, Spiral punch it and add it to the book as needed. Now this isn't meant to be a full blown recipe book - just some of our most favorites and hopefully my girls will be able to add their own recipes one day.
Definitely a cute gift idea too for that cook in your life! Hope you enjoyed!

For now, go kreate
Kim