Sometimes I get the biggest kick from the smallest details. There’s something about the Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper (DSP) that really appeals to me. The designers at Stampin’ Up! created the most amazing combination of images and colours for this pack, and I love it. Probably my favourite of all is the sheet with the tree frogs. The half-closed eyes and the very raised eyebrows have so much expression. If a frog could talk I wonder what this one would say?

PERFECT FROG PLACEMENT

When I was thinking of a project for today I decided it was time for another decorated notebook. So I pulled out some DSP and stamp sets that I haven’t used in a while, hoping for inspiration.

While looking through the DSP I came across a piece of the frog paper that had already been cut. As luck would have it, the paper was just a little larger than I’d need to cover the back and front of the notebook. Then when I started to look at it, there was the frog, just above the place I’d want to put my sentiment. It was obviously meant to be.

So I cut the two pieces to fit the front and back covers.

Then I remembered that I like to include a pen or pencil so I’ve always got one to hand. I had some mini biros that I’d bought in Dollarama and one was a bright lime green. That settled it. At 1″ the piece of DSP I had leftover on my desk was the perfect width. So I wrapped it around the pen and glued the cut ends of the strip together with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).

Next I attached the pen holder to the back of the notebook, then fixed the DSP cover on top.

I fixed the other piece of DSP with the perfectly placed frog to the front cover and then rounded the corners of the paper using Paper Snips. That just left the sentiment.

LOVE YOU TO PIECES

I happened to have the Love You To Pieces Stamp Set among the ones I’d pulled out and found just the one. ‘Thanks for keeping me together’ sums up my feelings about my notebooks where list-making is a necessity for my busy life.

So using Shaded Spruce ink I stamped the sentiment onto Whisper White Card. Then I added it to a mat of Lemon Lime Twist Card with liquid glue.

Finally I used liquid glue to add the layered sentiment to the front of the notebook and I was done.

As notebooks go this isn’t particularly fancy, but if it’s to live in my handbag anything fancier wouldn’t last long. No I’ll keep the elaborate ones at home, in the kitchen, by the bed and in my craft studio. You can never have too many cute notebooks, right?

LOW STOCK WARNING

I’ve been reminding you for a while about the impending Retiring List and the need to beat the rush to any remaining items you may want. Well the Retiring List will be issued on April 15th (that’s in less than two weeks), and when it is, all items on it will only be available while stocks last.

I noticed today that there are a number of things that are definitely going to retire that are showing as ‘low stock’. This means that they could well sell out very early on April 15th, probably while you’re still sleeping. Every year I hear people say they missed out on something because they didn’t think it would sell out so fast. Please don’t be one of those people, if there’s something you really want, order it now and save yourself the stress and regret.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – The Love You To Pieces Stamp Set can be purchased by itself or as part of a bundle with the coordinating Puzzle Pieces Thinlits Dies (not used today). If you want both items you’ll save 10% by buying them using a single bundle item number. I’ve included links to the bundles below in case you are interested. Just be aware that all bundle prices in the 2018/2019 Annual Catalogue and the 2019 Occasions Catalogue will end on June 3rd, even if the individual items carry over.