Monday, August 30, 2010

You called?


I don't know about you, but when the phone rings and I need to jot something down, it seems like I'm always scrambling to find a pencil and some scrap of paper to write on...then later when I need it, who knows where it has ended up!  It is my turn to design the project for this month's Lizzie Anne Designs newsletter, so I decided to make a little notepad that hopefully will remedy my situation!  It was inspired by a card I made a few days ago in these same sepia tones.

I started out with a 6 1/4 inch wide x 8 1/4 inch long piece of black card stock which will form the cover.  To score it (I avoid math when I can!) just move the right edge to the 7 1/2 inch mark, then score at 2 3/4 and 3 inches.  Set this aside for now.





Score a 3 x 5 inch piece of card stock at 1, 1 1/2, 2, and 2 1/2, then score 1/2 inch from the bottom edge, trimming the flaps as the picture shows.  The part to the left of the first score line will be adhered to the inside of the cover at the bottom right corner to form the pencil holder.  (You can see how it attaches in one of the pictures below).

Cut a 3 x 8 1/4 inch piece of card stock to line the back cover.  This liner will form a pocket for the back of the notepad...that way it can be replaced when the pages are gone.  Yay for not having to throw the whole project away, right?!


Make a mark (about 1 1/2 inches from the top) to help keep the punch parallel to the top of the paper as you punch the slot.  (You should make yours in pencil so it is erasable!)  Keep the opening more toward the left edge of the piece so that when the front cover is closed, the notepad will not show from underneath.

Add a little notch in the top of the pencil holder if you like.  Here I've applied tape to the long edges that will attach to the inside back of the cover.  Fold this part under and align the edges along the right and bottom of the inside of the cover.  Adhere.

Flip the slotted liner piece over and apply narrow tape to the back side, along the very edges and to the top edge of the slot.  Be sure to keep the part below the slot free...that will become the pocket. (Notice that I forgot to flip mine over, so in this picture I put tape on the wrong side...OOPS!)



Apply tape along the long edge of the pencil holder, fold it under and press it flat to adhere it and form a box.  (Notice that the long edge of this flap, when folded under, will align with the long edge of the cover).  Use glue dots to adhere the flaps at the bottom.



Here you can see the tablet tucked inside the slot...because of my earlier mistake, I had to snip the slot of mine to get the notepad to slide further to the left, but it still looks ok!  The eraser helps hide my mistake!  :rolleyes:


Now for the stamping!  The image panel is 2 1/8 x 7 5/8 inches.  Use a multi-liner and a ruler to ink in lines along the left and bottom edges, then sponge on some transparent color using a mask and some distress inks, allowing the color to fade away toward the top and right side.

Stamp the phone image with black ink.  Mat the focal image with a layer of black (2 3/8 x 7 7/8), then another of white (2 1/2 x 8).




Tie a big bow with some wide ribbon and attach the finished piece to the front of the prepared cover with foam tape.  Add a few adhesive backed pearls to the pencil holder and you're all done!

17 comments:

  1. What a wonderful project Deb! Love this!

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  2. oh deb...SO flippin' cute!! love it!! great job!

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  3. Wow! Deb, this is gorgeous! Great project!

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  4. Your tutorial ROCKS! I'm making these for gifts!

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  5. Deb - I love this and what a great idea - one that I will surely give a try since I am always scrabbling to find something to write on when the phone rings. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  6. oh, cool! a great gift idea, a great tutorial, and an illustration of how to use my new distress ink--a three-fer today! thanks so much! ~k

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  7. I love this!!!
    AND I never have a pen and paper handy when I need to take a message! (they seem to *walk* away)

    Thanks for the step by step! I think I am gonna try it!

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  8. Love the vintage look! Makes practical gift so pretty!

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  9. How clever and Creative.. I love the image of the old phone a touch of vintage :)

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  10. Wonderful tutorial - I came here from Vicki Wizniuk's blog and am so glad that I did! You are very talented!

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  11. I didn't post a comment when I first came across your post, but I had to come back because I too want to thank you for posting this project! Love it! :)

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  12. Super cute, TFS the instructions! Will definately try this one!

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  13. Awesome project.... I just finished mine, however; I noticed the inner part with the slotted punch is sticking out from the front cover. I have a Scor-Pal and followed your instructions, please let me know what I did wrong. I also have the MS score board and scored at 2 3/4 and 3.... Help...

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  14. I figured out the error, wow what a fun project. Where did you purchase your note pad or did you have a large pad and cut it down, if so what are the measurement.

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