I want Candy...Notebooks

I saw these cute little notebooks on Etsy and thought,

"I can do that".

Famous last words.

I usually think that right before I make a huge mess.

And spend more money than I would have if I had just bought the item that started it all.

I can't help it.

It's a condition I have.

I made one with a box of candy we already had. My middle daughter loved it and wanted one for her friends. This was early June, before school got out. And I didn't have nearly enough to do, so I agreed. I let both of my younger daughters pick out some candy at the dollar store (I love that place) and then we stopped at WalMart to get some steno notebooks. (Office Max had them for WAY too much money)

I have to warn you that I am NO teacher. My "tutorial" is only intended to give you an idea of what I did. If you still have questions, please ask. I will do my best to answer them.

So, here's what I do:

I gather my tools:

(I am using several different candy boxes. Because that is how it turned out to be the easiest for me.

Just keep in mind that they are pretty much the same.)

I take the candy out of the boxes. Sample a few of them.

Keep others around for inspirational energy.

It's what I HAVE to do. Yum.

Peel the glued seams of the box apart.

Flatten the boxes and cut along the creases.






I trim the front and back panels to the same size. And set them aside.

(Save the pretty side panels for bookmarks. I do.)

I carefully bend the locking loop back on the steno pad,

and un-twist the wire out of the notebook.

I found I can get two notebooks out of one steno pad

if I bound the Candy Notebooks on the

short side of the candy box panels.

I cut the steno covers to the same dimensions as the candy box panels.

Then glue one of the steno covers to the candy box panel.

(Make sure to check the orientation with regard to the holes in the cover.

I made one notebook upside down because I wasn't so careful.)

While the glue is setting/drying, cut the paper by carefully

grabbing 10-ish sheets at a time and cut to size using a paper trimmer.

Once everything is cut, flip the covers over and

using my Crop-a-dile, I punch through the candy box

panels using the holes of the steno pad for guides..

Place the bottom cover, papers, and top cover together.

I use a couple of binder clips to hold the stack

together while I re-wind the wire back into the holes.

Once it is all the way in, I cut the wire with a wire cutter

and then use plyers to bend a locking loop back into the wire.

And whiz bang, you have a Candy Notebook.

(see first picture in post again. I forgot to add it here

and am feeling too lazy to delete all the pics and add them again. Sorry.)

With the leftover pieces I was able to make a bunch of smaller notebooks. I am currently using one in my purse for whatever. These little notebooks are a great way to use up those little left over binding wires from my bind-it-all. I usually have little sections of 4 just hanging out.

I was eyeballing a box of mac and cheese the other day.....

It wasn't because I was hungry,

it was because I have an extra steno pad

just burning a hole on my craft table.

Oh the possibilities!

Hope you have fun. Let me know if you make any. I would love to see them.

Friday Fill-Ins #135

I know that I am behind on the Friday Fill-ins, but, better late than never. Right?

1. It's time for the follow-up treatment.

2. The kitchen; it's not a bad place for cooking. Who knew???

3. I must be cursed.

4. My family's love is the best thing I have ever known.

5. My life is simply complicated.

6. The last time I laughed really loudly was the other night sleeping. See post about dreams below.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing Ryan, tomorrow my plans include another treatment and Sunday, I want to cook a good Sunday Family Meal!

365 Cards - Day 153 - Tag You're It and other stuff...

I stayed home with a sick child today. My youngest has strep. YUK. On the up side, I got to play with my computer and paper. I was able to get some envelopes addressed for the Opus Gluei give-away. I won't show the pictures of the goodies being packed. I want them to be surprised. It should only be another day or two before they go out in the mail.

I also worked on the base for a Disney album for our coming vacation.

I happened to have a Disney Park Guide (brochure) from a previous trip. It measures 9x4, so I made my pages to fit. I also used white card stock and made a background overlay with the words "Disney World 2009" repeated in two different fonts.

I used a couple different frames for the different parks and restaurants that we have reservations at. Plus I made a cool airplane page. The girls are really looking forward to flying down there.

I still have to punch holes and maybe make a few more filler pages.

I was inspired by Lauren.
She made a couple of kickin' vacation albums built around brochures.

You can see one here and another here.
She has a fantastic creative flair. Thanks Lauren.


I will probably make a kit to take with me on vacation that is similar to Lauren's. Scissors, glue, stapler, rub-ons, pen. I don't know about the DYMO. Jury's still out.

Mine won't be nearly as cool. But it'll get done this time. Sooner.

The challenge today on 365 Cards was to use a tag on your card.

I used up some scraps that have been in my drawer for a while.

There is a bit of Little Yellow Bicycle, some other unknown bits of paper and I don't know the larger background paper.

The stamps are Unity. I am in the monthly club. AND holy moly is it ever a great deal.

You really have to check them out.

A little random bling and a scrap of fiber.

I also worked on a couple of Christmas albums from last year.

One for my mom and one for my sister.

I will show you them in a couple days.

Or weeks. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks for looking.

I've got to keep on marching on....

(Yup, that's Ryan, second one back closest to us.)




I have to admit. I am normally a "glass is half full" kind of person. But this last week was a bit too much. I won't bore you with details, but here is a brief synopsis: Danny went out of town, we had out of town company, a late start Tuesday morning, I had a root canal Thursday, battled lice Thursday night into Friday, drove 2 hours to pick up my nephew for the weekend, drove an hour to get him back to the house, got stung by a jellyfish and then spent another 2.5 hours in the car taking my nephew back to his station. (Note: I am NOT complaining about driving to get my nephew. I would gladly drive this every weekend to see him for the weekend.)



This week has GOT to be better.



Don't cha think????

Friday Fill-Ins # 134

And...here we go!

1. De-lousing is not the end of the world.

2. Sitting here, listening to the sound of rain falling, I think about the family room in the house I grew up in. It was an addition to the house and had a corrigated metal roof that always made lots of noise when it rained. I loved listening to the rain then and I do now too.

3. Dinner out always tastes so good!

4. Sometimes, putting others first is the last thing I want to do.

5. My teenage daughter's thoughtful behaviour over the last week is breathtaking, really.

6. Well, maybe there is a human being in that teenage body.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Chinese Food with Ryan & the girls, seeing Danny (he's been away this week) and relaxing at home, tomorrow my plans include finishing a project for Opus Gluei, okay, two projects for OG and celebrating Brannon's birthday and Sunday, I want to take the kids to the beach and maybe a movie!

Menu Monday

Danny is out of town for the week. So, I am NOT making big meals.

Monday: Happy Buffet - Chinese food buffet that rocks. I don't have to cook. And we don't have to wait. Everyone (but Danny) loves this place.

Tuesday: Fish Sticks and Mac & Cheese. Another food Danny doesn't like.

Wednesday: Angel Hair Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Easy peasy dish.

Thursday: Chicken Nuggets, Fries and salad for the girls and Mashed Potatoes for me. (Root canal in the morning.)

Friday: Chinese food on the way home from getting Ryan. He has already started thinking about what he wants. He's a cutie pie.

Saturday: Spaghetti with meat sauce (or meatballs if I feel up to it and/or get help)

Sunday: Fish Tacos (baked Tilapia with spices - I don't like the battered and fried fish tacos)

Laugh out loud, but don't wake anyone up...

Apparently my sub-conscience has an entirely different sense of humor than my conscience. While I am awake, I absolutely HATE being splashed in the face. Not in the pool, or anywhere else. Actually, I don’t like the wind hitting me in the face while riding in a car with the windows down either.

BUT, in my dreams I find it is uncontrollably hilarious. So much so, that I woke my husband up with my laughter the other night. I was laughing so hard I was actually snorting. Even thinking of it now makes me laugh. Really. It does.

I am not even sure of the details of my dream. Only that someone, could have been me, was getting blasted in the face with water.

You guessed it. With a seltzer water bottle.

And just to make sure you don’t think this is a freak occurrence, it happened to me another time. About 20 years ago. Same type of dream. Same laughing/snorting out loud. Same way of making me laugh out loud just thinking about it. I can still get teary eyed laughing about that one too.

These are the only 2 times that I am aware of that I have laughed in my sleep.

Interesting. Amusing. Goofy. Isn’t it?????