'Cause you're gonna keep on lovin' me...

'Cause you will love what you are gonna see!

I've been working like a house elf here trying to get this done! First, I have to say I can't take credit for the basic idea, apparently this project was done on the Cruise this year. I got my first look at a similar one here on Blue Moon Stamping which is Deb's (lastname?) blog.

Naturally, I was intrigued by this project and thought it would be a perfect class! Especially if it was made to be a Christmas organizer and I used the Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' Kit. So I've been taking a bash at it and finally came up with this:

Ingredients: Stamps - Rough Edges Alphabet, Typeset Lower Alphabet; Paper - Winter Brights Simply Scrappin'; Ink - Basic Grey, So Saffron; Other - Large Open-Ended Envelopes, Silver brads, Wild Wasabi Double-Stitched grosgrain, red & light blue gingham, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Apricot Appeal & Real Red Grosgrain, Bind-It-All machine, 1/4" coil, 3/16" corner rounder punch, 1/2 junior legal pad, bond paper, Avery white unlaminated 2 pocket folder

You make this by taking a plain school folder, folding the covers back on themselves, then folding the edge of the covers back to the middle, making a "W" shape. I used my Fiskars to score the centers of the covers so I got a nice crisp fold. You can find the white folders in packs of 10 at OfficeMax. This project uses up about 1/2 a scrappin' kit with lots of leftovers to make cards or scrapbook pages with. I'll be scheduling this for early October, if you live in the area and are interested in attending.

Here it is open:

I gave some thought to what should go in the pockets. I figured a shopping list was a natural, a receipt envelope, a planner/calendar and a guide to the sizes and personal preferences of those we were giving gifts to would also be nice. So I came up with the following:

Here's the gift guide and here it is open:

I have 40 pages (20 printed on both sides), which ought to be plenty for anyone shopping, but you can always add more. Because I'm SO NICE (YILM!) and because you all love me SO MUCH, I've made the file into a PDF which you can download here:

Download giftguidepages.pdf (16.4K)

The pages print four up on a sheet and you need to print the front and back so as to save paper and make a slimmer booklet. I used the 1/4" wires from Zutter in my Bind It All. I've always wanted a little book like this to keep track of sizes, favorite colors, brands, etc.

Then I moved on to the shopping list. I found that I could actually cut a junior legal pad in half...mostly. I could get through everything but the chipboard on the back, but that was easy to finish with a craft knife. Previously, I could as Dan to do it, as he had a full print shop at school at his disposal, but since he doesn't teach at the high school anymore, I can't. So I figured I'd try my Carl DC220 and it worked! So I put a cover on half a pad:

And then I did the envelope for receipts:

And finally, the calendar/planner:

Here it is open:

I found these calendar printable pages at Organized Christmas, which is a very cool website with the goal of having all your Christmas shopping/baking/decorating done by the first week of December. They have lots and lots of pages to put in your planner that I didn't include, but you can if you wish. You can get two of them on a sheet of paper if you print front and back. I am not entirely pleased with how the binding punched into the top of the calendars, so I may redo this just 'cause why? Because I'm A-N-A-L, that's why!

Now...don't you think my interpretation of this project is STINKIN' CUTE, not to mention GOJUS!?!?! I hope so! After all, you came here to be inspired and I came through! Do you love me now?

Before I sign off I have to show the Blogger Rak I got yesterday:

This is from Jana Weaver, whose blog is Stamp with Jana. Thank you, Jana, for the beautiful RAK!

Comments

[Jackie]

You are the best!! Now I know I need a Bind It All!

[christina fischer]

This is fantastic!!!! Thank you so much for all the details -- it is such a great project!

[Cyndi Bundy]

OMG! I want to come to your class, this is sooo stinkin' cute! Too bad you live so far away, I'll have to create my own, sniff. Thanks for the awesome directions and photos, as always your blog ROCKS!

[Jana Emmert]

Awesome, Jan! (As always) How far away from Duluth are you anyway? Maybe I need to sign up for a class.

[Heather P.]

Oh my goodness, you've been BUSY! These are INCREDIBLE!

[Mary Jo Price-Williamsm]

Jan this is great! Perfect choices on what to put in the pockets. I especially love the size and favorites pages. Beautiful work.

[Pat]

Jan..this is way too cute! I do have a question for you. I am not always the most computer literate, but here it goes...How do you print the calendar pages smaller than a full sheet size? Like the ones you did to make a small notebook. Thanks for all your help!

Pat
foodpartyfun@yahoo.com

This is the best thing I have ever seen, totally! Thank you so much for your time in posting this for us. You rock!

[Alexandra Hobson]

wowzers!! that is an amazing idea - I am thinking you are sooo right and it makes for an AWESOME class....gotta go now and start plannin - you amaze me girl!

*STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

[Virginia]

Guess what? Your organizer was featured in Organized Christmas
http://organizedchristmas.com/node/779. They really loved it just like we do!!

[Jen]

Awesome folder! I would love to come to your class? Where are you located???

[Karista]

Thank you for sharing this. I just found this through householdnotebook.com and love the idea. I think I may case it myself for a stamp class sometime this year. What a great Christmas in July project to get everyone ready before the big season hits :0) TFS