Today’s project is one that brings a smile to my face.  I just love these adorable notepads featuring the Choose Happiness and Everything Eleanor stamp sets from Stampin’ Up!  I have a secret obsession with stationery and notepads of all kinds… no wonder I made my way into the art of making cards, lol!  I love having cute little notepads all over the place to jot down a quick note, or make a list.  (For those of you who saw my craft room post, you might have noticed that I’m also obsessed with organization, so lists make me happy too.)

These adorable notepads are so easy to make, and can be altered for any color scheme or stamped design.  They would make great gifts too!  I purchased some small notepads from Staples and Amazon.com for this project today, but you could really make them in any size.  I prefer to use “Gum-Top” notepads, which means they are glued along the top edge, rather than having cardboard wrapped around the top and secured with staples.  However, either type of pad can be used for this project.

The process I use for making these pads is the same, regardless of the dimensions.  For this post, I am going to tell you how to measure your notepad to make a cover with a perfect fit, rather than focusing on the dimensions of this specific project.

Begin by measuring the height and width of the front of your notepad.  I like to add 1/8″ to the height, so that the cover extends beyond the bottom of the pad by just a little bit when it is closed.  This makes it easier to open the pad.  Next, measure the depth of the notepad and add that measurement to the height.  Finally, add 1-1/2″ to those two measurements to account for the part that will wrap around the back.  Cut a rectangle out of card stock that is equal to:

width measurement x (height + depth + 1-1/2″)

For example, if your notepad measures 3″ x 5″ and is 1/4″ deep then you would cut your card stock to 3″ x 6-3/4″ then you would score it at 1-1/2″ and 1-3/4″.  Of course, where you score your card will depend on the dimensions of your notepad.  The first score mark will always be 1-1/2″, but the second score mark will depend on the depth of your notepad.  To determine the second score mark, add 1-1/2″ to the depth of the notepad.

Once you have scored your card stock, wrap it around the front of the notepad and secure it on the back of the notepad with a strong adhesive, such as sticky strip, Fuse Adhesive, or Multipurpose Liquid Glue.  Be sure that you don’t glue along the top edge of the notepad, just on the back.

Once the cover is in place, you can really decorate it any way you want.  For this set, I created notepads in Blackberry Bliss, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Cherry Cobbler.  I used coordinating DSP from the Background Designer Series Paper stacks and added a beautiful art piece featuring several stamp sets from Stampin’ Up! I began by stamping the Dictionary background stamp in Baked Brown sugar on a panel of Very Vanilla card stock.  Next, I stamped the flourish image from Everything Eleanor in the same shade, and I added some ink splotches from Gorgeous Grunge too.  Then I used Mossy Meadow ink, and the leaf image from Kinda Eclectic to add some foliage.  Next, I sponged the background with Baked Brown Sugar ink.  Finally, I added some Venetian Crochet Trim and Linen Thread to the panel.

I stamped the flower image from Choose Happiness in the same color card stock as I used for the cover of each notepad.  For the Blackberry Bliss and Cherry Cobbler pads, I used the coordinating ink color and sponged around the edges with it too.  For the Crisp Cataloupe pads, I wanted a little more contrast for the flower, so I used Calypso Coral ink.  Finally, I added the flower to the background with Stampin’ Dimensionals and mounted the entire piece on a Baked Brown Sugar mat.

For one of the pads, I stamped the “Choose Happiness” sentiment in Early Espresso ink to finish it off.  For the others, I colored three large pearls with my Bronze Stampin’ Blendabilities Marker (from the Skintone set).  Then I added them to the top right corner of the art piece for a finishing touch.

These notepads are the perfect size to slip into your purse or keep on the corner of a desk.  I just adore them!  If you love them too, today is your lucky day.  Leave me a comment about this post, and I will draw one lucky winner to receive one in the mail!  I will announce the winner in my post on Tuesday, July 1st.  (Which also happens to be the day that several Blendabilties Marker sets will be available to the public!  Are you getting excited yet?)

I know you are going to want to save this idea for later, so you should definitely pin it to Pinterest.  You can find a “pin it” button at the very bottom of this post.  To subscribe to my blog via email, just click on the “follow” button in the sidebar near the top.

I hope you will consider selecting me as your demonstrator for your stamping needs.  I offer free catalogs to all of my customers.  If you are my customer or want to be my customer, please email me your name and mailing address.  I’ll be more than happy to send you the gorgeous 2014 Annual Catalog.  You can email me at handcraftingheather@icloud.com.

Also, it is not too late to sign up for my one-to-one card swap.  Cards are due to me by July 10, which is a little less than two weeks from now.  The details and registration link are below.  I hope that you will join in the fun!

If you need any supplies you can shop now in my online store!  Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions or if you would like a catalog.  I’m here to help!

Happy Stamping!

Heather

• Visit my online store here.
• Shop the Clearance Rack here.

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Tomorrow is the Last Day to Sign Up for Only $50!

Tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of the $50 sign up special from Stampin’ Up!  If you have at least $50 worth of products you would like to purchase from the new annual catalog you should really consider joining.  There are many benefits of becoming a demonstrator including a great discount and access to advanced products.  Did you know you could order several of the Stampin’ Blendabilities marker sets now if you were a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator?

Now is a great time to join my team!  I welcome Hobbyist Demonstrators, and during the month of June, new recruits can join Stampin’ Up! at one of two great prices. Stampin’ Up! will continue to offer their traditional starter kit priced at $99 ($125 product value + FREE Shipping), but only during the month of June they will also be offering a reduced priced starter kit at the low price of $50 ($55 product value + FREE Shipping).  Drop me a note at handcraftingheather@icloud.com if you have any questions or if you’d like additional details.  I’d love to have you on my team!  You can read more information about the benefits of being a Demonstrator here.

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2014 Annual Catalog One-to-One Swap

Just a reminder about my one-to-one swap.  I hope you will join in the fun!  It is so great when I get to actually connect with all of you and this is a wonderful way for us to share our inspiration and creativity with each other.  To participate, you will send me one card created with current Stampin’ Up! products (no retired items please) and a self-addressed stamped envelope.  Once all the swaps have arrived, I will send you someone else’s card in the mail.  It’s that easy!  If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at handcraftingheather@icloud.com.

To participate, please register for the event by clicking on the button below.   Once registration is complete, you will receive an email with specific instructions (including the address for where to send your swaps).  Projects are due in hand by July 10, 2014.  I can’t wait to see what you create!  Happy Stamping!

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WEEKLY DEALS for June 24-30

Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through June 30.

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Stampin’ Up! items used to create today’s project:

If you would like to order any of the products featured in today’s project, click the images below to order from my online store.