A Mixed Up Summer Journal

 

It's Amy here today, to share a recent book I made for myself. I have recently become very dependent on Google calendar on my iPhone to organize myself and my family, but I often need a place to quickly write a note, stick a business card or brochure, sketch out an inspirational idea, or tuck tickets from a movie or event. I was sort of needing a Smash book, but something more along the lines of a smash book meets journal, meets spiral notebook. I decided the only way to have this strange book, to my own to suit my needs and style, was to craft one myself. 

 

I 

To embellish the inside covers, I simply took two pieces of super cheap stationery, ($1.25 for 150 sheets), cut them to fit the inside of the book covers,  and distressed them with the distrezz-it-all. Then I decoupaged them to the book, and gave the white area of the paper a coat of gesso, before misting them with black mist, and some drips from the cap.

I started with an old library book discard for my book's cover. The covers of this book were sturdy, but very vintage, and it was easy to tear the binding apart, and use just the outside covers. I decided I would have pages of differing sizes and textures inside, so I punched the holes with my bind-it-all on the top and bottom only. In retrospect, I would have punched all along the side, to simplify the process....but I do like the look of the separate sets of o wires.

 

I used my bind-it-all to punch and bind all kinds of interesting and quirky objects, like this 45 record I cut in half (the other half is on the book cover). The bind-it-all is amazing, and can just bite into nearly anything! I covered the cut ends in washi tape, and it kept the edges from potentially chipping and splintering during the punching process.

 

 I wrapped stamp packaging with washi tape (if anything needed edges, it was washi taped!) , and threw those in the mix of pages that also include library card pockets, a restaurant beer coaster, and legal sized envelopes. It always inspires me to have a mix of ideas, even in something somewhat utilitarian. Since this book will accompany me pretty much everywhere, I definitely wanted it to be inspiring! (Even if it's a little quirky and strange at the same time).

 

Another soft cover to a book was a fun addition, but it felt a little thin, so I added washi (again) to the edges. 

 

I had an old spiral notebook with some blank pages left, so I tore them out, and bound them, as well. Zutter chipboard helped me out with some stability, so I put gesso on one side of four pieces, and put October Afternoon travel themed papers on the other side. The other blank papers are more of the stationery, and it is simply folded in half and bound. There are plenty for me to use to journal/make notes on.

  

My summer has been quite mixed-up, and definitely hasn't been what I planned. But now, I have a fun and inspiring journal to tote with me during the last "dog days" before school starts. 

I hope maybe you will give creating a "mixed up" book a try.....it's so easy! Just grab your great Zutter tools, some random things you love, and in just a little bit of time, you'll have something special to use for ideas and inspiration, too! Thank you so much for joining me today! 

Recycle. Reuse. RePurpose.

Office scrap paper

This is what I had at work the other day.  These sheets of paper contain data that I turn into reports.  Once I am done with them, they go into the recycle bin.  I get this much about every four weeks.  During a couple of slow days during the holidays, I chopped a bunch of them into quarters to use as scrap paper at my desk.....but then I thought I would take it a couple steps farther with my Bind-it-All! 

Trimmed into quarters

 First I raided my stash of random Zutter Owire.  I have loads of bits and pieces and different colors that I save for projects such as this!  I also pulled out scrap cardboard that sits in a pile alongside my craft table.  Since the scrap pieces of paper measure 5.5" X 4.25", I used my Zutter Kutter to trim the cardboard to 6" X 4.75".  Along with the bits and pieces of patterned paper and letter stickers I save, plus a bucket of random embellishments, I made a bunch of scrap paper note pads for my office mates.

Scrap cardboard and Owire!

Zutter Kutter does the cardboard trimming!

Scrap paper, stickers and embellishment made up the rest!

Admittedly, these are NOT fancy - they are not meant to be.  They are made with the backsides of old emails and reports with random office information.  The cardboard may be tattered or bent a bit, and the stickers or paper  mis-matched.  I know my office mates with still love 'em and use 'em!  Just remember that with your Bind-it-All you don't have to start with fancy supplies.  Look around at what you have and make something special with it.  Recycling and Reusing is highly recommended! Happy New Year!

Recycle-Reuse!!!

My goal for this little project was to use some Zutter chipboard scraps that I had left over from other projects! I am very happy with how it turned out. The covers I kept the same size but all the inside pages are different!

To take my reusing/recycling theme even farther I decided to use my left over "punchings" from my Bind-it-All to create the mane of my lion! I am thinking these pieces would make a great border on a page or project or even as the material for a shaker box!!

Challenge yourself to reuse/recycle on your next project and make sure to incorporate your "punchings" too!!! Happy creating with Zutter!!


Zutter Zister DT Member Shelley Haganman