Summer Bucket List Notebook

Today's craft was inspired by the multiple summer bucket lists I saw on Pinterest.  I wanted to make some type of visual list for the twins, but didn't want to dedicate a wall to the idea.  Plus, I wanted something fairly economical and potentially a keepsake.  Enter my unused Epic Day This and That journal.  Stampin' Up started selling this great little blank journals last year, but I hadn't figured out what to use mine for... Each one of the journals contains 60 pages of DSP plus a pocket and a few small envelopes.  Mine features the Epic Day DSP that retired this year.

Cover: The cover was embossed with hexagons, but otherwise blank.  I decided to play off the hexagon pattern with some DSP and my hexagon punch.  I love how it turned out!  Very bright and cheery.  I added the title with my handy journaling pen.  Then I went about attempting to fill it...

Before adding anything to the inside, I made a general list of things we wanted to do.  Then I scoured my Pinterest boards and some local websites for more ideas.  Once I had my basic list, I was ready to start writing in the journal.

I elected to add our basic weekly schedule to the inside cover.  So far this weekly schedule has helped us stay organized and helped lessen the amount of times I hear "What are we doing tomorrow?"  I also re-entered the title and our names.  You will also notice that I used a sticker to the inside cover.  I bought the journal, DSP, washi tape, and stickers (now you can buy journal, washi, and stickers in a bundle), so I could have everything coordinated.

For the inside pages, I dedicated a page to each activity/place.  I cut some of my Epic Day DSP into strips for the title of each page.  I adhered them with snail, but also added the washi tape for visual interest.  I then added any relevant info (hours, admission, etc) for each activity/place.  Randomly I added some stickers. Finally I added a little box in each corner so we can check off the activity once completed.

I left enough room to add more information or to include ephemera (i.g. tickets) after our activity.Overall, I'm really surprised at how well this turned out. I love the look and especially the organization.  We haven't filled the notebook with activities so I'll probably carry this one over to next summer.  Once completed, this will be a nice little keepsake of our summer.  I've included links to the three current journal bundles you can buy from SU.

Epic Day Bundle

$17.50

Retro Fresh Journal Bundle

$17.50

Documented Bundle

$17.50

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Monthly Page -- June

I'm starting a new monthly project.   I say these 6x6 month pages on another blog (can't remember where) and I thought it would be a cute little side project.  I pulled out some supplies and went to town. For June I went with bright summery colors.  I started with a 6x6 piece of textured white cardstock.  I then used a 6x6 paper pack for the square bases and postage stamp squares.  I then used my Recollections stamps to add the fun images.  The ink was all from my Stampin' Up stock.  I tried to get the closest to the paper that I could.  Lastly I popped up the month with dimensionals.  Very cute!  I thought about doing each monthly using the same paper pack, but I think I will be changing it up every month.

Quick Note Cards

Just a few quick note card sets for you today.  I've had this pack of blank note cards for about three years (yes, I may have a slight craft supply hoarding problem).  I decided to finally get rid of them.  The more I looked at them, the more I thought I could jazz them up a bit and possibly sell them. So, I took the blank note cards and envelopes and paired them with some Amy Tangerine cardstock (value pack from Michael's) and some die cuts from a My Mind's Eye pack (brought from peachycheap.com).  They are blank on the other side, perfect for writing a quick note to someone.

May PL Swaps

I joined a Project Life Swap group on Facebook a few months back and have really been inspired.  Basically every month, the admins post swap themes (8-10 usually).  You sign up for how ever many you want and commit to making usually 10 cards making the theme.  Before the due date, you send your cards to the swap host.  She collect everyone's cards, sorts them, and sends you back a packet of card. This month, I joined four swaps:

Yellow -- I used SU's Hip Notes and Petal Parade stamp sets and the Bitty Butterfly punch.  The base cardstock and yellow patterned paper were from my scraps pile.  Very simple card, but lovely.

PL Card Revamp -- The goal was to take existing PL cards and revamp them with embellishments, stamps, paper, etc.  I chose some random 4x6 cards (mostly from Studio Calico kits) and the Vintage Collection Paper stack and started layered.  I also added some pink chevron washi tape and stamps from SU's new PL collection.

Children's Book -- I joined the children's book swap because I immediately thought of my favorite children's book: Alice in Wonderland.  I took a simple quote on a black background and layered some paper that reminds me of Wonderland.  I used American Craft's Galaxy Marker in medium, DCWV's Bewitched paper stack, and SU's Pocketful of Posies DSP (retired).

Butterflies and Ribbons -- For this swap, I challenged myself to use all non-SU stamps, accessories, and papers.  I'm use really trying to use as much non-SU stuff as I can to make room for my growing SU side business.  I took a sentiment stamp from a forgotten set (with peacocks) and combined it with some punched out butterflies and ribbon tassels.  I was going for a fluttering look and they do flutter if you wave the paper around a bit.  I also tried to use paper scraps for the butterflies (a few are slightly different papers because I ran out) and leftover ribbon.  And it change it up a bit, I made five purple and five red cards, just for the variety.  I like how these came out: clean but with a bit of flair.

Archives: Cards #33

Originally published on March 16th, 2014Crafting: 

• PL Swaps (easter eggs, scraps, rainbow) -- I love the use of washi tape on the rainbow cards.  For the scraps swap, I decided to make pocket cards with washi tape.  And the easter egg cards made use of my SU Birds of Feather DSP.

• Book of lists notebook -- Tons are people are participating in the 30 Days of Lists this March, but I just don't have the time or energy to commit to that.  Instead, I thought I would create a notebook, decorate it, and then have various lists.  The idea is to do a list a week (or so).  I love putting my own spin on the project.  I ran across this perfect little binder on clearance at Target the other day.  I set about cutting cardstock and patterned paper down to the sizes I would need.  When it comes time to make a list, I'll select a topic, pick a stamp set to decorate (and any embellishments), and cut a piece of white cardstock for the actual list.  I love that it's ready to be used.  I don't have to start from scratch every time!

• PL W9-10 -- I finished these weeks yesterday.  Check out my blog post here.
• Punch Guide -- I also made a handy guide to all my punches using some random blank playing cards (from old teaching supplies).  I got the idea from Pinterest and immediately put it on my to make board.  This will definitely come in handy when I need to figure out the best punch to use or the relative sizes.  No more digging through the drawer!
• Stamp Guide -- Making my punch guide led me to want to create on for all my stamps.  I have so many now (both loose and SU boxes) that I often forget what I have.  I spend way too much time digging through all of them to get ideas.  So, I decided to stamp all my stamps onto white cardstock to act as a handy guide.  There are separate pages for Christmas, Holidays, Sentiments, Occasions, and Misc.  I'm only partially done, but this is going to be great when I'm finished.

Shopping Scores: 

• Steals.com box -- During steals.com's big archive sale, I ordered a mystery box. This is what came.  I'd say that 70% of the box will be used by me.  The paper stack is great.  I love the alphabet stickers and small tags.  The chipboards will get a lot of use.  The jewels will probably get use, but I need to find the best adhesive for them.  The ribbon isn't my style at all and I'm still trying to figure out the best way to use the watercolor products.  Overall, a really good buy.

• Target randomness -- I grabbed the 3x4 and 4x6 Dreamy sets by WRMK.  I also found two containers that are the perfect size for holding greeting cards.  The zebra print wasn't my first choice, but they work.  And I found some great little stickers and embellishment pieces in the One Stop bins.

• Peachy Cheap -- Another daily deal site I found a few weeks ago.  This time I grabbed an entire set of enamel dots from Basic Grey.  I couldn't wait to use them, hence the missing dots.

• Birthday gifts -- This week I received the last of my birthday gifts from J's parents.  I love the paper stacks and am super excited to use the PL theme packs.  The Americana pack is even cuter in person.

• PL Swap and Sale FB Group -- I've been a part this group for a few weeks now, but most of the items don't appeal to me.  I had been marginally searching for the PL Kiwi set.  Ever time it came up for sale, someone snatched it up right away.  I finally caught a listing at the right time.  I received my 1/3 of the kit yesterday.  Love love love the cards I received!  I also received my scrap swap back.  I'd say that over half of these cards will be used.  There's only a few that don't fit my style (looking at you cowboy card).

• Stampin' Up order -- I ordered my March order early as I will not be in town for the monthly stamp club.  We are doing a huge DSP share so I bought three packs to share.  Plus one other member and I are buying two of the larger color collection DSPs to share so I bought the Regals.  Lastly, I grabbed the 2012-2014 In color DSP as it was one sale.  For my Saleabration item I grabbed the Petal Parade stamp set.  I've seen some great examples to copy.

• Michaels -- Last week I grabbed the Baby Boy Mini Kit on clearance, some purple washi tape (how did I not have any purple?), and a cute little stamp set on sale.  Today they were starting a huge paper crafting sale and bonus extra sale this afternoon.  I had to take advantage of both sales.  I was also looking to pick up some items for the mom's group Easter party next month.  I managed to get most of the party items and some basics for me (white and black cardstock, trimmer blades).

Project: Somehow I agreed to help organize an Easter Party for our mom's group.  The group is starting a babysitting co-op and we plan on having a quarterly social.  The Easter Party will be our first big event.  The original idea was just to get together and have an egg hunt, but babies aren't so great at the hunting.  Instead, we are putting together baskets filled with baby-appropriate toys, shaker eggs to play with, and a few arts and crafts.  Parents pay us back a set amount.  We are also using the leftover money to make baskets for charity.I picked up a ton of the arts and crafts supplies today at Michaels.  We are waiting a week to gauge our RSVP amount before we commit to buying the toys (we have to buy in dozen units). I hope everyone decides to come as we have some great plans!  Overachiever that I am, I've already started on some of the items.

Archives: Cards #21

Originally published on March 24th, 2013

Monday was stamp club.  We made three cards and a 3d project.  The extra card (on brown cardstock) was my version of our homework.  I particularly loved the whale card.  I don't plan on buying the whale clearlit, but I love the play of circles.  I'm debating about whether or not to get the banner framelits next order.  I didn't like the coordinating stamp set, but the framelits are cute.

On Saturday I acquired a ton of new card supplies.  I had to try them out, so I made 10 cards, 5 color/designs with 2 options.  Some of these are sticking around until April stamp club as they are my interpretation of our homework.  I'm really loved the blue vine embossed cards with the polka dot flowers.  The colors look really nice together.

Shopping Scores: I was hostess this month as stamp club.  I bought my $50 of products to get the Sale-a-bration gift.  With everyone's combined total, I earned $50 of free products. Holy cow!  After searching through the catalog, I finally narrowed it down to a few great finds.  Our order arrived on Friday.  My scores: Four Seasons stamp set (hostess), Sweet Essentials stamp set (hostess), Wacky Wishes stamp set (hostess), Stacks of Wishes stamp set (hostess), 2011-2013 In Color Markers set, Secret Garden Bundle (framelits and stamp set), Glimmer paper (hostess), Vine embossing folder (sale-a-bration), Perfect Plum Ink pad.

A crafting friend clued me into the big clearance sale as a local craft store.  She picked me up early Saturday morning so we could get there before the rush. Tables upon tables of new and used card making and scrapbooking supplies.  People can sell their supplies on consignment.  We dove in, but the crowd was intense and the aisles small.  After about 1/3 of the way through the tables, we decided to call it quits.  But I did find some awesome supplies: 3 stamps sets from Stampin Up, 1 stamp set (manufacturing unknown), 1 double sided circle stamp, 1 square punch, 3 Stampin Up ink pads (basic gray, real red, and tangerine tango), 100 sheets of various paper ($5!), and 1 mini scrap pad ($0.50).  Such a great shopping trip!