Monday, August 20, 2018

Ladybug Notebooks Tutorial

Hello everyone! I hope you had a good weekend! Here, things are returning to our normal routine. It is surprising how much longer it takes to pack school bags when you didn't have to do it for quite some time. I am so glad I don't need to pack lunch in the mornings, since they get food at school. 



This week at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog we have a Back to School theme, very fitting for this time of the year. Don't miss the wonderful project by our August guest designer Anne Redfern.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

I made four notebooks, which have already been given away as teacher's gifts. Handmade notebooks are such great little gifts, and you can easily make them fit a certain person, interest or occasion. Since I made four of these books, I kept the design pretty simple, with the focus on a very true quote by Nelson Mandela from the SSS Thank You Teacher set, and a beautiful ladybug stamp.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

I used watercolor paper for the covers and stamped the ladybug from Tim Holtz's Entomology set in three places and once on the back cover.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Smear Candied Apple Distress Ink on a craft sheet, mist with water and watercolor the ladybugs. Leave a white highlight.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

I wanted the ladybugs to keep both their bright red color and the white highlight and protected them with a thin layer of Distress Micro Glaze. The glaze is waterproof and protects the ladybugs in the following step.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Smear Distress Inks on the craft sheet, mist with water and press the papers into the ink. This is such a quick way of coloring paper and as you can see, the ladybugs stayed just as they were.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Stamp sentiments with black ink.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson with Tim Holtz Entomology stamps

For a little texture, stamp the dot stamp from Tim's Tiny Textures set here and there and emboss with white ink. Cut Sizzix Little Sizzles Mat Board to the same size as your watercolor paper. Mine were 4 x 6 in (10.5 x 15 cm). Adhere the watercolor paper with Matte Medium and place under a heavy book. Round the outer corners when dry.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

The final touch on these covers is Glossy Accents on top of the ladybugs - put aside to dry.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Use a Crop-A-Dile to punch holes in the covers and cut papers for the inside, slightly smaller than the covers. Bind with Tim Holtz Mini Book Rings.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

For the inside, I used a mix of white and kraft papers, rounding the outer corners for a finished look. You can also use patterned paper, or maybe watercolor paper. One of the great things with making your own notebooks, is that you get to pick the inside paper yourself. I am not very fond of the lined, often flimsy paper, you find in a lot of store bought notebooks.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson with Tim Holtz Entomology stamps

These are quick to make, and if you want more details on the cover, you can just add more stamping. I like to keep notebooks quite flat and rarely use dimensional items, but you can of course add embellishments such as flowers too.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

Don't worry if the embossing powder strays, it leaves additional texture. I didn't remove any stray powder on purpose.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

This is such a great quote, and a little extra special for us because of our South African connection. I have even seen Nelson Mandela in real life twice, albeit from a distance.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

On the back cover, I just stamped a single ladybug.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

The covers are pretty similar, except for that I placed the stamps a little differently on this one.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson with Ranger Glossy Accents.

The Glossy Accents gives a really nice look to the ladybugs and make them look and feel dimensional.

Layers of ink - DIY Ladybug Notebook Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson

I just had to add one more photo of the ladybugs with their glossy surface.

I hope you will join us this week in our Back to School challenge. As always, you have a chance to win a $50 gift voucher to do some fun shopping at Simon Says Stamp. You have until next Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.




Don't forget to follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram, they post great stuff daily. 




Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.





Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog today!  

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.



11 comments:

  1. There must be three very happy teachers at that school, these are not only beautiful but useful too. I love the ladybird, they look so realistic and that Nelson Mandela quote is wonderful. That stamp set really has some great quotes on it! Love these! Hugs, Anne xx

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  2. I love the lady bug design that you used on the journal pages. This is such a clever idea, loved seeing this. Thanks for the share, hope you had a fantastic weekend. Keep up the posts.

    World of Animals

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  3. Wow!!! Such amazing design! (I'm a teacher and )absolutely LOVE this! :) Thanks for sharing!

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  4. What wonderful little notebooks, Anna-Karin! I know the teachers are loving these! The saying is so powerful, and the ladybug is a fun touch. I am sure it is nice to have one less thing to do getting everyone ready for school days. Both boys are going now? Wow, time sure flies! hugs, Maura

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  5. Oh what lucky teachers! These notebooks are just wonderful & work for male or female--love them! Your instructions are always so clear--might even be able to do something like this. Wish you were here to do a class, Anna-Karin! Extra special that you actually saw Mandela in person--wonderful quote! I hadn't gotten to the blog yet when I saw your email--such an unexpected happy start to my day!

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  6. This set is so pretty! I love the soft watercolor background with browns and greens blended so well. The ladybugs are beautiful and match so great with the covers. I need to order this stamp set asap! Hugs, Marzena

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  7. These are so lovely, Anna-Karin! I have thought many times over the years how lucky your boys' school teachers are! They always get the best homemade gifts from you! These are no exception. I especially like how they include a variety of different kinds of paper inside.

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  8. your notebooks are just adorable and love that wonderful sentiment, Mr Mandela was a very wise man, hugs kath xxx

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  9. These notebooks are so cute, Anna-Karin! The ladybugs are really adorable and look so dimensional the way you've colored them and used Glossy Accents on them. Hugs, Sandra

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  10. Gorgeous notebook! Love so much your use of Entomology set! barbara

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment! Happy Crafting!