Documented Saved This Notebook

Hello Simple Stories friends, Emily here today with a story about a forlorn little notebook. 

My daughter organized and got rid of a bunch of things from her room last year. She purged many of the things that shouted "11 year-old-girl," the cheery pink, green, and orange paint, comforter, pillows, and decor that had dressed up her room for 6 years. She traded them in for the more grown up hues of grey and sage green, with pops of orange.

One of the things that made it to the garage sale pile was this notebook. She probably got it as a gift, but she never used it. When the time came for shedding her preteen image, this notebook was done for, it was pink and had girlie shoes all over it, very preteen in appearance. But, being a mom that scrapbooks, I saw the hidden potential and snatched it from the depths of garage sale despair. 

Enter Documented.

I love this line because it is so neutral, so usable, so grown up. I knew I could take this notebook and give it a new life. Covered with a strip of Memories (#2306), it immediately quieted down and started looking presentable. Add a strip of the 2x12 Border and 4x12 Title Strip elements (#2314), and well, I think I could have stopped there and my daughter would have been impressed and rethought her decision to discard.

A quick tip for covering notebooks with paper, score the paper where it will be bending, this usually will prevent any sort of cracking in the paper when you open and close the book. It also allows for a nice clean edge when wrapping a spine.

 

I finished off with another bit of text dissected from the 2x12 Border and 4x12 Title Strip elements (#2314). I love all the phrases that Simple Stories comes up with, they are very useful and rarely the typical things you find in scrapbooking. "The Good Stuff" came from a strip that said, "Don't Forget the Good Stuff." I hacked it up and used the portion that worked for me. I know I'll be able to use the other portion sooner or later! Add a couple of stickers from the 12x12 Fundamental Stickers (#2303), a punched border and circle from Sassy (#2107) from the Fabulous line, scruff up the edges with sandpaper, and I was done. A really quick and easy transformation. 

I decided that a built in bookmark would be useful, so I braided some bakers twine, attached a mini spool covered with a scrap of Ever After (#2305), and glued the end inside the spine of the book, super simple!

When I was done, I liked the book so much, I was going to keep it in my purse and my idea catcher. Because it will get a little more wear and tear while residing in said purse, I decided a coat of sealant was in order, and as soon as it dried, it made it's way into its new home. 

And so ends the tale of the forlorn forlorn little notebook, given new life through the Documented collection from Simple Stories.

Products used:

Documented
Memories (#2306)
2x12 Border and 4x12 Title Strip elements (#2314)
12x12 Fundamental Stickers (#2303)
Ever After (#2305) 

Fabulous
Sassy (#2107) 

Other
Baker's Twine, Wooden Spool, liquid adhesive.

 

Comments

[cari Locken]

Beautiful and what a great way to extend its' life!

[Jodie R]

This would make a great little journaling notebook too! The papers are awesome and that little spool is so cute! Great idea on sealing it.

[Ruth G]

Love the story! And what a wonderful way to upcycle something that's been outgrown! TFS!

[Steffanie S]

Love this!

[Jean Marmo]

Wonderful!

[Guiseppa Gubler]

Oh Emily...I love this! Very creative!

[Amber]

Love it Emily - I LOVE how you mix and match patterns and colors from different lines...love the black dot on the little spool..so cute!

Amber :)

[Donna Jannuzzi]

Polka dots, text, and a star, just a few of my favorite things. Love the finished notebook. =)

[oliwia]

Does your site have a contact page? I'm having problems locating it but, I'd like to send you an e-mail. I've got some ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.

[anastazja]

This really answered my drawback, thanks!

[szybka pożyczka]

I'm still learning from you, as I'm trying to achieve my goals. I certainly liked reading everything that is posted on your blog.Keep the stories coming. I liked it!

[franciszka]

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