DIY Smash Book

Hi again every one...

Today I am sharing my entry to Make The Day Special Stamp Store Blog October Challenge - Anything But a Card mines a 'gift'.

I brought a couple of A5 notebooks a few weeks ago just to jot down ideas and notes etc. they have lined pages, a kraft cover with a pink elastic closure band - nothing too fancy. On one book I used washi tape to jazz up the cover, but left this one plain - until now, which I will probably gift out to a friend.

I have taken inspiration from SMASH books and elements of journaling.

I've used a number of items sold by MtDS; mostly Mama Elephant, but also some Lawn Fawn, some Paper Smooches and WPLUS9 (full list is at the end of the page).

There are some polaroid frames in plain white and patterned papers, speech bubbles, die cut letters and hearts, some DIY 'journaling cards', these I made from Crafters Companion white watercolour cardstock, using a WRMK corner chomper to round the corners and some Tim Holtz distress ink on the edges. There are also some self-adhesive embossed word labels I made with a Dymo Omega labeller.

The polaroid on the front of the notebook is basically a pocket with an acetate window, so a photo can be put in there without it falling out. I made some little inserts to use as well, which I thought were cute.

To keep all the bits together and inside the notebook ready to use when needed, I cut some kraft card and created some pockets on the front and back cover, using the red double sided tape to secure them in place.

I stamped the edge of some the love quotes speech bubbles with memento black ink, then used black, silver and gold Wink of Stella glitter brushes to edge some plain speech bubbles to add some sparkle.

The die cut lettering is Lawn Cuts Coles ABCs and they are cut from Crafters Companion white watercolour card which I first coloured with a variety of pink Distress Inks. The Paper Smooches Hearts dies were also cut from a white card stock coloured with picked raspberries distress ink, which was then sprayed with a shimmer mist (perfect pearls and water in a mister bottle - simples).  

Dies and stamps used:

Mama Elephant

Polaroid Fun dies

Photobomb stamps 

Everyday Greetings stamps

Love Quotes dies and stamps

Lawn Fawn

Let's Play stamps

Lawn Cuts Cole's ABCs

Paper Smooches

Hearts dies