Vintage Inspiration Notebook

Happy Sunday to Everyone!!

     It's Labour Day Weekend here in Canada, so everyone I know is in great spirits ... Monday is a "sleep in" day!   Even though I have retired from teaching, Labour Day still means the end of summer's lazy days and the beginning of cooler, shorter ones.  We're having family over for a barbeque today - just hope the weather is sunny and warm. It's been very cool, rainy and windy here the last few days.

     I wanted to update my Inspiration Notebook - I've been collecting card sketches and other ideas for cards in a little notebook that I bought at the dollar store. The only problem... it was getting full and I had no way of expanding it. So I cut it apart and used binder rings to create a notebook that I will be able to expand over time. 

     I started by covering two pieces of heavy cardboard (6 1/4" x 9 1/4")  with brown paper  
(inspiration from  PTI August Blog Hop Challenge).  This patterned paper has been in my stash for a long time, but I've never been able to make it 'work'. Since I have quite a few 12" x12" sheets it was a good choice...if I 'messed' up I wouldn't be destroying my only piece of patterned paper!!   As you can see it's fairly subtle with very muted colours.  It just needs some zing!

Back of Notebook

     I was was so impressed with Betsy Veldman's  botanical collage and her Moxie Talk on the Moxie Fab blog, I decided to experiment!! 

  

Front of Notebook

     
     I don't usually make cards and paper projects with a 'vintage' look, but I kind of like it... I want to try it again, now that I have figured out some of the techniques!! 

     Betsy comments that this trend is "popping up in home decor, stationery and paper crafting products" and  "the look is layered, full of details...lots of times with text and ledger backgrounds".  

     So I pulled out all kinds of stamps, punches, accessories and kept adding to the front cover until I was happy with the results.

I made a Pocket on the inside 

covers for both the front and the back.

Inside there is a section for different styles of 

cards with instructions and "mini" samples.

And another section has some card 

sketches that I would like to try or 

ones that I have made and really like.

Project Details:

Stamps: PTI - It's Official; Library Card; Mini Scrapbook Series: Tabs. Stampin'Up - Rough Type; Tiny Tags; Vintage Vogue. Close to My Heart (CTMH) Air Mail. Hampton Art- "K"

Inks: CTMH - Black, Cranberry, Olive, Indian Corn Blue. PTI - Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo.

Papers: Recollections Olive & Cranberry. Patterned Paper - Karen Foster "Bouquet"

Other Supplies: Scalloped Border Punch; SU Tiny Tags punch; Boho Blossoms punch; circle punches. PTI- Spiral Notebook Die. Embroidery floss; binder rings; ribbons; Prima flower; brad; Marvy markers; cardboard; brown paper bag.