Notepad Holders and the Pleated Look

I've been wanting to make a card with this paper pleating for quite some time. Yesterday I finally made one and I really like the look. I remember when pleated skirts were so in style and I'd wear them to elementary school thinking I was so very cool! Of course I wore them with color coordinated knee socks and penny loafers. To make the box pleats for a 4 /14 inch wide card:

• Cut a strip of designer paper 1.5" x 9"
• Score the strip at 1", 1.25", 2", 2.25", 3", 3.25", 4", 4.25", 5", 5.25", 6", 6.25", 7", 7.25", 8", and 8.25"
• Fold on the score lines by folding the first score back and the second forward. The third score should fold forward and the fourth should fold back. Repeat this pattern to form the box pleats
• Glue or tape in place
• align folded pleats on card front, adhere to card, and trim sides where needed

Project Details
Stamps	Fresh Vintage (retired)
Card Stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Everyday Enchantment dsp (Clearance Rack)
Ink	Riding Hood Red
Accessories	Very Vanilla ribbon (Clearance Rack), Crochet Trim, Basic Pearl jewels
Tools	Fancy Fan embossing folder, Window Frames framelits, Boho Blossoms punch

Notepad Holders 
Below are some notepad holders made with Stampin' Up!'s clear mount stamp cases. I sold several at a craft show last fall, and had a request to make some more. Below the photos you will find directions for making them.

Project Details
Stamps	Feeling Sentimental (Sale-A-Bration), French Foilage, Vintage Verses (Sale-A-Bration)
Card Stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Marina Mist, Twitterpated dsp and Beau Chateau dsp (Clearance Rack)
Ink	Black, Early Espresso, Soft Suede
Accessories	Marina Mist ribbon (Clearance Rack)
Tools	Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Stampin’ Distress Tool

 

Project Details
Stamps	Fresh Vintage (retired)
Card Stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede, Everyday Enchantment dsp (Clearance Rack)
Ink	Riding Hood Red
Accessories	Wide Striped Ribbon (Clearance Rack), Antique Brad, Linen Thread
Tools	Labels Collection framelits, Square Lattice embossing folder

Project Details
Stamps	Natures Pace
Card Stock & Papers	Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Twitterpated dsp
Ink	Soft Suede
Accessories	Antique Brads, Linen Thread, 7/16” Natural Trim Ribbon (Spring Catalog)
Tools	Decorative Label punch, Apothecary Accents framelits, Square Lattice embossing folder

·        Stampin' Up!  DVD cases (4 for $5.95) 

·        Designer Series Paper 3 coordinating pieces: (case liner: 10 5/8" x 7") (notebook top: 4.5" x 2)          (inside pocket: 8 1/2" x 3") (RSVP pen) 1 by 3 3/8 inch

·        Circle or oval punch

·        Sticky strip

·        RSVP pens

1.       The junior legal size note pads will need to be cut down to 4 ½ by 7 ¼ inches. If you don’t have a paper cutter that will do this, the office stores do this for you for a small fee.

2.       Leave the notebook loose instead of adhering it to the case so the user could remove it for easier writing and to replace when the tablet is gone. The notebook topper is 4.5" x 2" and can be secured with sticky strip. This can be embellished with a die cut strip or ribbon if you like.

3.       Before placing the 10 5/8 by 7-inch dsp inside the case, consider the pattern on your paper to determine if you’d like ribbon, die cut or some other embellishments on the cover. Adhere those then simply slide in the case.

4.       To make a pocket to hold receipts etc. cut a coordinating pieces of dsp 8 1/2" x 3.  Fold it in thirds and secure it in the back and on the bottom with Sticky Strip. Use a circle or oval punch on the front edge in the center so you can reach inside the envelope more easily.  Depending on the designer paper you select you may want to embellish this pocket with a die cut or ribbon before adhering it to the inside of the case. 

5.       An RSVP pen can be included 

Hand-Made Sponge Tools

          After seeing how ChickandScratch cut and labeled her sponges with the round tab punch, I knew I had to do it! I made a box to keep them in as well. Here is the video showing how it's done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzaXkfYx1mI

Christmas Gift Ideas

I'm making these for craft shows, but you might like to make them for gifts. These clear cases are sold by Stampin' Up! They're like CD cases, but they don't have that notchy thing in the middle so it's perfect for a junior legal pad. I also put an RSVP pen, a pocket and a calendar in these. I put directions for these on a previous post here. For the notepad cases below, I cut the tablets to 4 1/2 inches wide to accommodate the RSVP pen. I got the small calendars from SkyBluePink for a great price.

My friend Connie Stewart put a post it note pad and a smaller paper pad in hers and you can see it here.

Magnet Calendar- I simply adhered the calendar, stamped image and layers of paper together then put a magnet on the back. I used register covers from Home Depot. They come three in a package for around 4.50 and they are huge!

These tea and cookie holders are soooo adorable and would make such a wonder little gift for neighbors, co-workers, mail delivery person, etc. This is Debi Pippin's original idea. Her blog post with videos can be found here. I've had the most fun decorating the cards that go in the front pocket with the Stampin' Up! stamp set called Tea Shop. The pocket in the back can fit two tea bags if you like.

I made these Grinch pills using the 1 by 8 cello bags from Stampin' Up! the  modern label, ornament from merry minis punch pack and 3/4 inch circle punch. I hand cut the hat. The poem is on the back of his head. A lot of people use tic tacs and put the label around the package. They are too expensive to use for craft show purposes, so I opted to use green M &Ms.