While continuing to showcase some of Stampin’ Up!’s retiring products I couldn’t help playing with some new things. So today’s project, while fairly simple to create, is one I love. I started out with a boring notebook and transformed it with a faux textile cover. All I needed was a piece from the new In Good Taste 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack.

SIMPLE COVER

I began with a 3-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ hardback notebook purchased as a pack of two from Walmart. The books are good quality but the covers are plain pink and plain blue. That said, the plain cover provides so many possibilities for dressing it up.

Today I chose a tweed textile design from the In Good Taste DSP pack. I placed it on the desk and put the opened notebook on it so I could get an idea of where to cut the paper. In the end I went with 6-1/2″ x 9″ which was more of a guess than a measurement of what I really needed.

Next, using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow), I attached the paper to the outside cover of the notebook. To ensure that the paper was firmly attached I made sure to add glue up the spine too. I gave it time to dry and then began folding in the excess paper.

It was at this point I realised that I’d been careless in placing the book on the DSP and it wasn’t really in the centre. OK, that would make the next step more fiddly, but it wasn’t a total disaster.

CUT, FOLD AND HIDE

I placed the book on the desk and using my Paper Snips cut a little piece from the top and bottom edges of the DSP just where it wrapped around the spine. Then I opened the notebook so I could see inside the cover. It wasn’t a pretty sight!

Instead of simply cutting off the excess paper in line with the edge of the hard cover I decided I would try to create a more ‘finished’ look. So I folded in the paper across the corners of the back cover, then I folded in the top and bottom edges, followed by the side piece. I pressed each piece firmly with my fingers and then opened them up again.

With the creases made I put liquid glue on the DSP before folding it in once more and holding it firmly in place. After a minute or two I added more liquid glue to the final page of the notebook and closed the cover onto it.

Then I turned the book over and repeated the same process to fold and glue the DSP around the front cover. Finally, once the very first page of the notebook was glued to the inside front cover, I could get to work on the embellishment.

TEXTILE ON TEXTILE

I love the tweed textile design of the paper and I chose this because I knew it would make a great masculine notebook. For that reason I wanted to keep the embellishment on the front fairly simple.

After looking at a few ribbon options I decided I liked the contrast of the retiring Whisper White 5/8″ Flax Ribbon. I cut a 6″ piece, folded it in half and shaped the ends. Then I added it to the front of the notebook with Tear & Tape Adhesive.

For the ‘Just a note’ sentiment I turned to the retiring Music From The Heart Stamp Set. Using Night of Navy ink I stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of Thick Whisper White Card. Then I fussy cut around it using Paper Snips.

Finally I used liquid glue to fix the sentiment over the ribbon and my masculine ‘textile’ covered notebook was complete.

IN GOOD TASTE

Oh my goodness, I’ve only just received the In Good Taste DSP pack and already I’m thinking I need to order more. Being 12″ x12″ sheets it is so much more versatile than had it been 6″ x 6″ sheets.

As well as a variety of textile patterns there are also wood and tile designs, all in the same photorealistic style. The pack is huge too, with two sheets each of 12 double sided designs, giving 24 sheets in the pack.

I know you’ll love it as much as I do and I’ll have more sneak peeks from this DSP in the coming weeks. It will be available for customers to purchase starting on June 3rd, so you haven’t got too long to wait.

If June seems like an eternity, why not join Stampin’ Up! and my Crafty Canadians team? Right now you can include selected new products including this DSP in your starter kit, and you’ll pay no shipping either. For more information see my Join Stampin’ Up! page.

PRODUCT LIST

RETIRING PRODUCTS – The Flax Ribbon used today is retiring and now only available while stocks last. The retiring Music From The Heart Stamp Set is also retiring and stocks are only guaranteed until May 22nd. After then it too will only be available until June 2nd, while stocks last.