Hello my dear crafty pals! Happy Monday (already!) How was your weekend? I hope it was great! We had a nice mellow weekend here – and it's a bit cooler so that has been nice (by cooler I mean 98 degrees lol)! I want to say THANK YOU for all the nice comments and emails and notes about my last post/project. I'm so happy you guys loved that project as much as I did. It was a joy to share it with you!! There is so much good stuff on my desk for the coming months. It's all good, and Fall crafting is starting. Yay! Today's post is my Doodlebug Blog Design Team post for this week. And I'm using a brand new collection – it's called Seaside Summer! OH GOSH! You guys, everything is so adorable. Ocean theme? Yes please! I made something I've never made before too – my own Traveler's Notebooks! It was so simple – I hope you try it. Let's get started…
Here are my three finished notebooks… The finished size measures 8.25" x 4.25" and that is the standard size for TN inserts. I made custom covers using 12×12 papers and then filled the books with blank pages, patterned paper pages, vellum pages, and some tags, etc. You could really put any pages inside. That being said, I would probably max out at around 6-7 folded pages – just so that your notebook actually closes! Each book is held closed with a decorated 'belly band' that slides off easily and keeps the books neat and tidy. Supply List Here and at the bottom of my post!
Here are my three books without the 'belly band' closures on them. How dang cute are those papers?? And, they're two sided of course so the inside is just as cute and colorful!
This is the counter in my craft room as I was deciding what papers, pages and embellishments to use for each notebook.
SO….just how did I make these?? The answer is easy! I cut all my papers into the same size: 8.5"x8.25". Then I used my Scor-pal to score each page in half on the long side. I hand folded each page. Then, I used a long reach/long arm stapler to put three staples in the spine – spaced out evenly. The only tricky part is that when you fold your notebooks, the pages kind of bulge out of the cover. So you have to use a paper trimmer to trim them down to the cover size. I used a corner chomper to round off all the corners of the cover and the pages. Here is a great Youtube video!!
The rest of my photos today are close ups of all the 'belly bands' and inserts/decorations!! I put lots of bling on them and used stickers and gems galore!! Everything is from the Seaside Summer Collection.
I just feel like these would be awesome vacation mini scrapbooks, or to-do lists, or to journal on vacation…really so many ideas!
Thanks for joining me today! I feel like saying "ALOHA" because of how tropical these turned out! I really hope you will make your own notebooks!! Guess what? I'll be back on Wednesday introducing a new release from The Greetery! See you then! Happy crafting. XOXOXO
Comments
5 responses to “Doodlebug Seaside Summer – Travelers Notebooks!”
I say it every time- Wanda and Doodlebug- winning combo!! These notebooks are so cute and fun! I love the papers and your belly band designs! This would make me want to get organized with such a cute notebook!
WOW, WANDA! SO MUCH WORK! Your little Summer Traveling Journals came out WONDERFULLY!!!! WHO do you give all these ADORABLE creations to? Or do you save them for the next summer to use yourself? I LOVE ALL of the little details you’ve added to these, including INSIDE! (I ordered some Doodlebug Gingham paper, thanks to YOUR INSPIRATIONS! I didn’t even have a full 12 x 12 sheet left of gingham! Gingham is a CLASSIC!) SO HAPPY it is cooling off there a bit! More rain is expected here! :/ HUGS DEAR FRIEND!!! 😉<3
WOWZERS WANDA! You have created the most awesome notebooks!!!! You and Doodlebug are like peanut butter and jam together- soooo meant to be!
These papers are so adorable. Love this notebook idea. My granddaughter is turning 11 in another week and she kind of started doing some journaling. I think this would be fun to showcase her summer activities. Love this idea. I hope I can try this sometime soon. (most likely not until my garden is done) TFS so cute!
I saw these on the Cherry on Top blog and tried to click to find out more but no-go. I’m thrilled to find them now as I was looking at your The Greetery post – I love your ideas. Then I saw the journals – yes they were real and not just a photo prop. I LOVE THEM. I want to make a batch to give one away every time I get a complement on their adore-ableness. Now to get back to The Greetery post. I need more money!!!