Sweet 'n Sassy DT Round-up

Usually for design team round-up I try to make a fancier-than-normal project, but this month I really wanted to stick to something rather clean and simple. Sometimes it feels good to just go back to basics and let beautiful paper and a great image take center stage without a lot of competition from other design elements. I love the sense of accomplishment that I feel after finishing a quick project like this...in just a few minutes it is complete, and although it is simple, it is pretty enough to give as a gift...although you might want one for yourself too! It makes an every-day thing lots prettier to use and nicer to have laying around!

I really love this designer paper from Basic Grey, and when I saw a pink post-it note pad sitting on my computer desk I decided to combine the two to make a note holder to keep handy. I used three 4-inch square coasters and three harmonizing prints of paper along with Sweet 'n Sassy's new release, Dream Silhouettes.

I cut a strip of coaster ½ inch wide for a spine, then laid it between the other two coasters on top of a piece of pink designer paper, leaving about ¼ inch between each piece and ~1/2 inch extra of paper around all the edges. I folded the edges over to the inside, mitering around the curved edges of the coaster corners, adhering them with mono multi glue. Next I stamped the Dream Silhouettes image onto the front using Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I added a strip of designer paper to the bottom portion of the panel, then glued a piece of layered ribbon around to cover the seam. I added a square of the same designer paper to the back cover, punching all four corners with a corner rounder to match the rounded edges of the coaster.

For the inside, I cut a piece of polka dot paper approximately ¼ inch smaller than the entire length of the project. I adhered it to the inside, covering the ribbon ends, and using a bone-folder to crease between the edges of the coasters and spine so that when the *book* is closed, the inside doesn't buckle.

To finish my project, I added a small bow atop the ribbon. I stamped the Dream sentiment onto a Tim Holtz clear acrylic tag with Timber Brown Stazon ink (be sure to let it dry for a while before trying to handle it!), then tied the tag to the bow with white cording.

I missed blogging my inspiration challenge card from Saturday, and since it also uses Dream Silhouettes, I decided to include it with this post. It was inspired by a portion of this Prairie Landscape print at Grandin Road. The picture really doesn't do this card justice...sponging seems to sometimes confuse my camera and cause the picture to appear grainy, and reds are the worst!