Covered notepads with tutorial

Today I have 3 different notepads to show you. The last 2 are stepped up versions of this basic covered notepad.
For the first one, I used Soft Suede, More Mustard and Whisper White cardstocks. I used the Sanded Background stamp on the Soft Suede cardstock, and then used the It's Beautiful Jumbo Wheel in Soft Suede ink on the More Mustard cardstock. The acorn stamp is from The More The Merrier set. I watercolored the acorn with Soft Suede and More Mustard inks and blender pens. I used circle punches to cut out the images, popped the acorn on Dimensionals and mounted them on a Soft Suede Scalloped Circle Punch which I pierced at each scallop. I used a piece of Soft Suede Dotted Grosgrain Ribbon to embelish the front.

Open the cover and here is the notepad. I repeatedly stamped the acorn image in Soft Suede ink on a piece of Soft Suede cardstock to cover the top of the notepad. This is a very nice notepad that is still fairly quick to produce.

This one I made using Bermuda Bay cardstock. I'll be honest, I'm not thrilled with this one. I think the bright color just threw me off. Anyone that knows me personally, knows I am more of a "muted color" person. I had a real hard time with this one! I stamped the background with an image from Boho Backgrounds in Bermuda Bay ink. The flourishes are die cut with my Big Shot and the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlet die. I stamped It's All in the Details from the Favorite Things stamp set onto Kraft cardstock with Chocolate Chip ink and punched it out with the Oval Scallop punch. The image I stamped in each of the scallops is from Boho Backgrounds as well. I mounted that on a larger oval scallop cut out from the Punch Windows Movers and Shapers dies. I made a closure for this notepad with Hemp Twine and a 5/16th inch White Jumbo Brad and a button from the Button Latte collection.

Here is a close up of the closure. The Hemp Twine just wraps around the button and the brad.

Inside the notepad, there is a pocket on the inside cover. Handy to stash coupons. The Hemp Twine is secured under the notepad before sticking it down to the cardstock. When glueing down all the notepads to the cardstock, I always use Sticky Strip. You need something really strong to hold these together. "A Note" is a portion of A Note of Thanks stamp from the Thank You Kindly stamp set which I inked with my Chocolate Chip marker.

*Edited color of cardstock and ink.....sorry, I was on pain meds last night when I wrote this!! *

This last one is my favorite. I used Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss and Very Vanilla cardstock. I used alot of background stamping as well. Stamps include: Baroque Border Wheel on the Always Artichoke base. Then Pocket Silhouettes on the Mellow Moss layer. I pierced all around the perimeter of this layer as well. I used the small branch image from Always to stamp on the Very Vanilla layer. The monogram is from the Lovely Letters Alphabet. I embossed it with Always Artichoke and Clear Embossing Powder. I punched it out with the Designer Label Punch and framed it with a Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware Raised Dots Designer Holder. The closure on this one is a bit different from the last one. I adhered 1 piece of Mellow Moss Grosgrain Ribbon behind the notepad before I stuck it down and also behind a 5/16th inch Vanilla Jumbo Brad. Then I tied them closed to form the double bows.

You can see that detail close up here.

Inside there is another pocket. I stamped the Always Artichoke cardstock with the Baroque Border wheel as well.

I typically stamp the backside of the notepads as well. It adds a nice finish to the project.

Here are the dimensions for cutting your cardstock if you'd like to make one for yourself.

For the notepad base:

Start with your cardstock cut to 8 1/2" x 8 1/4"

Score at 2 3/4", 5 7/16" and 5 11/16"

Fold to the first score mark for your inside pocket. Use sticky strip on bottom and right edge only to form the pocket. Fold on 2 other score lines to form spine of notepad. Use sticky strip to adhere notepad to the right of all score lines.

For the notepad header piece:

Cut a piece of cardstock to 2 1/2" x 2"

Score at 5/8" and 7/8"

Fold on score lines and adhere to notepad with sticky strip

I hope you'll give these a try. I'd love to hear any comments you might have.