Earth Day Notebooks

Hello, my dears!

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while. We were on Spring Break last week. We took a trip down to Southern California. We spent days in Legoland, Disneyland, and California Adventure. It was Kalino's first time in Disneyland. This kid is not a Disney kid. He's never wanted to go to Disneyland until now. He loved Tomorrowland.

Here are some notebooks I made for my sister-in-law's students to celebrate Earth Day. The notebooks started with recycled cardboard from boxes of crackers, cereal, packaging, etc.

I covered the cardboard pieces with various papers. I used a lot of Hambly overlays and Hambly papers. I also used a lot of other papers from various companies, like Stampin' Up. Each notebook is approximately 4.25" x 5.5". Some notebooks were a little smaller. I used various types of binding. Mainly I used "cola de rata" (rats tail...I know...weird name). I also used bamboo skewers for binding on some of the notebooks. The stamp I used was perfect. My sister-in-law provided the stamp. I can't remember the manufacturer. It shows the Earth surrounded by children; perfect for Earth Day!

Well, I've got to get to bed soon. We have an early morning. We are doing a Community Cleanup event at Kalino's school tomorrow. We are also showing all the great art the kid's created this week during our craft camps. They up-cycled trash into great works of art. The kids love the event that all of us mom's organized. Thanks to our leader, Nadja! I heard comments like "this is better than recess". That's a huge stamp of approval. They had so much fun. Yesterday, I helped the 3rd graders glue their robot creations together. Kids love building robots; not just my robot-obsessed son.

Happy Easter Basket and a Giveaway at the PSA Essentials Blog

Hi everyone, Happy Earth Day! Today, several of my Easter cards are featured on the PSA Essentials blog. You have a chance (more if you spread the word) to win the Topiary set of stamps. Go here to enter before Easter Sunday ends EST.

Here's one of the cards. The bottom on the basket is a recycled Starbucks coffee jacket. I love incorporating recycled items when I can. The handle of the basket is the circular stamp that comes with the stamp set.

Here's a closeup of the basket. I used Diamond Glaze on the eggs to give them a glossy shine. I also added some "grass" to the basket with some JudiKins Speckles.

Don't forget to enter to win on the PSA Essentials blog. Have a great day!

Card Ingredients

Card Finished Size: 4.25” x 5.5”

Stamps: Topiary (PSA Essentials)

Paper: kraft (Stampin’ Up), white (Papertrey Ink), coffee jacket (Starbucks)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Tools:  Martha Stewart Scoring Board, 1¾“ circle punch (Stampin’ Up), scalloped scallop edge punch (EK Success)

Other: baker’s twine (Divine Twine), foam tape (3M), Copic markers (BV05, YR04, RV13), Diamond Glaze (JudiKins), Spring Meadow Speckles (JudiKins), Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue

Card Instructions

1. Make card from cardstock.
2. Stamp egg image repeatedly on white cardstock and color with various Copic markers.  Cut out egg designs.
3. Pour Diamond Glaze onto the surface of the eggs and dry thoroughly.

Tip: Don’t shake the Diamond Glaze bottle; it will create air bubbles.

4. Trim a corrugated coffee jacket to resemble the bottom of a basket. Tie some baker’s twine around the basket.
5. Stamp the round border design on kraft cardstock and punch out with circle punch. Cut inside design to create a handle. Adhere to create basket shape.
6. Punch out scalloped cardstock. Cover with adhesive and add grass Speckles. Add to basket.
7. Stamp sentiment on card front.
8. Adhere dry eggs, grass, and basket to card front with dimensional adhesive.

Happy Joyful Birthday, Yolanda

Hi everyone! I made this birthday card for my sister-in-law, Yolanda. I used the Fall-to-Layout #32 from Clean & Simple. I love their sketches. Sadly, this is the first time I've used one of their sketches; it won't be the last time.


Since my sister-in-law has been collecting "java jackets" for me to use in my crafting, I thought it would be appropriate to use them on her card. I die cut a Starbucks and a Peet's Coffee & Tea java jacket. Let's see if she notices...hehe!

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Small Sayings (SU!-retired)
Paper: blue textured card base (CA Paper Goods), designer paper (BasicGrey Euphoria), Whisper White (SU!), white corrugated flower (Peet's Coffee & Tea), brown corrugated flower (Starbucks)
Ink: Memories Black
Tools: Martha Stewart Circle Cutter, Corner Rounder (Fiskars), Big Shot, Flower Layers #3 (Sizzix/SU!)
Other: Prima flower, Linen thread (SU!), button (Making Memories)