I used Echo Park Scrapbook Papers, pastel lined index cards and colored cardstock for the pages of these mini notebooks all bound with The Cinch.
These miniature Blizzard Books measure approximately 1.75 × 2.5 inches. The pages are folded from Sumi Art Paper (washi/rice paper). The orange book, including both its pages and cover, is folded entirely from the same handmade paper from India. The covers for the other three books are folded from screen-printed designs on recycled newspaper by Norman's Printery, which I believe are no longer available.
I followed the instructions in Hedi Kyle's The Art of the Fold to create both the Blizzard Books and their pleated-closure schoolbook covers. Everything is made entirely by folding—no sewing, glue, or staples required!
Paula B. Krieg also offers easy-to-follow tutorials for both projects on her
YouTube channel. In one video, she explains how to calculate proportions,
customize the Blizzard Book/Card Carrying Case, and in another demonstrates the folding process. In another, she shows how to fold the Pleated Closure Book Cover.
Very delighted with the treasures I found 😊!
After all, they say...Presentation is everything!
I had hoped to get out and photograph the many mushrooms growing in our area before the torrential rains swept through, but I didn't make it out until after the storm had passed. By then, these resilient little fungi had endured sheets of rain and even a brief barrage of hail. The National Weather Service issued an emergency tornado warning for our area and urged everyone to take shelter. Thankfully, no tornadoes touched down in our county.
We were fortunate to experience only a few downed tree limbs and scattered debris, which were cleared with simple clean-up. There were no confirmed reports of storm-related injuries. However, the county experienced significant impacts, including widespread downed trees and downed power lines causing outages and blocked roadways.
Though battered by the storm, the mushrooms seemed all the more beautiful for it. Their weathered caps and worn edges gave them a quiet character and charm, as if each one carried a story of resilience written by the wind and rain.
View a brief slide video below:
Sweet wildflower greeting cards are transformed into beautiful, sturdy covers for these handcrafted mini notebooks.
Each cover is made by mounting two cards back-to-back for durability and charm.
Select cards are also featured inside as pockets, secured at the top and bottom to hold pastel cardstock journaling inserts.
Inside, coordinating pastel papers, lined index cards, and delicate floral line-art pages create a soft, cohesive look throughout.
Bound using The CInch
Dimensions: 3.5" W x 5" H
View a short video flip thru below - ASMR
This was a great 'scrap busting' project! Typically these are referred to as 'post-it note holders' or 'sticky pad note holders'. At the moment I was out of 'sticky pads' so I decided to refer to these as just 'desktop easel note holders'. I had lots of paper off-cuts so I trimmed them to size to fit into the holders.
Here is an easy to follow video tutorial by Einat Kessler. She provides you with cutting dimensions, and demonstrates how to score, fold and glue to make this DIY Easel Note Box.
I made one box with the dimensions she provided and then adjusted the measurements and made two more slightly larger Note Boxes.
I have tons of notebooks, but I'm always reaching for a piece of scrap paper to just write a little note. These will be handy to have around my craft room!
This was a great find, even includes some of the previous owners' handwritten and saved recipes.This hardback cookbook, titled 'Balanced Recipes,' was copyrighted 1933 by the Pillsbury Flour Mills Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The cookbook features a durable metal cover with the title embossed on the spine and a decorative design on the front.
The pages are bound by a secure metal ring binding system, and the tabs separating the sections are intact. Inside, the book includes classic recipes prepared under the personal direction of Mary Ellis Ames, head of Pillsbury's Cooking Service.
Below is a short slide video of the cookbook
You can find basic information about The Art of Hand Block Printing here.
If interested, you can do a google search for a more in depth explanation of this traditional textile technique that involves hand-carving wooden blocks to create intricate patterns onto fabric and various surfaces using natural dyes.
Disclosure: I'm not an affiliate, don't receive a commission for the product. Just sharing my honest appreciation for the product.
I used double-sided holiday scrapbook paper from the Carta Bella Collection to cover both the notebooks and to make the dust jackets. I added tuck spots to the front and back covers of the books and inserted holiday theme tags in each.
Makes a thoughtful little holiday gift!
If you'd like to know how to make your own, check out The Posh Paper Lady.
You can view a short slide video below:
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/home-for-christmas
License code: DBPOLBUSYTPYWH6N
Snail Convention
While researching 'snails' I learned something rather astonishing...at least unbeknownst to me.
There is a snail slime extraction market industry. They harvest mucus from snails for a variety of uses, particularly cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
"The global snail slime extract market was valued at USD 555 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 850 million by 2032. Key growth drivers include rising consumer demand for natural skincare and the proven efficacy of snail slime in skin repair and anti-aging"... According to 24marketreports.com
Wow! once again...who knew?!!
I love these beautiful William Morris design papers from Pepin. They make such elegant covers for these handmade top-spiral notebooks, which I bound using my Cinch Book Binding Machine.
Each decorative paper was carefully adhered to bookboard that I cut to size, creating sturdy, durable covers designed to last.
The collection includes two reporter's notebooks (also known as tall spiral memo pads), each measuring 3.75" × 8.25". They contain 40 lined, cream-colored sheets (80 pages).
The smaller notebook measures 4" × 5.5" and contains 36 unlined, cream-colored sheets (72 pages).
These notebooks are perfect for journaling, note-taking, lists, sketching, or tucking into a bag to carry wherever inspiration strikes.
As a kid, I spent hours drawing. We didn't have much, but we always had a pencil and paper.
I've always loved the look of loose watercolor with pen and ink (aka line & wash) and have experimented with them a bit over the years. Hmm, maybe it's time to pick up the pencil and brush again...
Seeing it jogged my memory. I remembered winning an earlier award back in grade school. We were assigned a project to use leftover scraps of colored construction paper from a previous project to create a brand-new piece of art. They liked my 'scrappy art'!
No wonder I'm so good at 'scrap busting' !😊
I used double-sided scrapbook paper from the Carta Bella Collection to cover both the notebooks and to make the dust jackets.
Makes a thoughtful little gift!
If you'd like to know how to make your own, check out The Posh Paper Lady.
You can view a short slide video below:
For the two books that measure 4 inches square I've used high quality double-sided Japanese Shibori Origami Papers. The smaller book that measures 3 inches square, I've used a collection of Origami Papers from Yasutomo featuring unique designs created by Artist Karen Elaine.
Liberty Grove Paper Arts has an excellent video tutorial if you'd like to make your own Origami Frame Book.
Below is a short slide video of the three books.
Two Mini Laminated Traveler’s Notebooks
Each notebook set includes:
Both notebooks were handcrafted using beautiful Stamperia scrapbook paper off-cuts from my personal stash, making each set unique.
These fun, pocket-sized traveler’s notebooks measure approximately 3" x 5" with a 0.75" spine—perfect for journaling, note-taking, lists, or creative inspiration on the go!
You can view a short video flip thru below - ASMR
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Each notebook contains 40 sheets of paper (80 writing surfaces). |
"Sumi-e-Washi-Rice" papers were used for the pages, which lend well to pencil sketching and pen and ink. Each notebook measures 3.5" x 5" and is hand sewn with durable waxed linen thread using a traditional five-hole pamphlet stitch. Ivory parchment paper endpapers add a lovely detail.
The mini sticky note pads are 1.5 x 2 inches. The finished notebooks are 2 inch squares. I bound them using The Mini Cinch. An easy project to use up lots of my stash.
I was inspired by 'craftytinas', she showed how to use up lots of leftover scraps for this project. I made mine simple and just left the black bookboard exposed as the base and used cute summer stickers to decorate.
A simple, 'scrap busting' project!
I created this Origami Frame Book and coordinating Tato Box using Yasutomo origami papers.
Colorful cardstock was cut to size to insert into the frames which created the base for the lovely botanical images. The artwork comes from the Fern Fables collection by Iron Orchid Design Transfers. They add a beautiful nature-inspired touch.
I decided to let the images trail and transfer onto the frames, and I was happy with the result.
A simple hemp cord tie provides a charming and functional closure for the book.
The Origami Frame Book and Tato Box measure 3 inches square. The book includes 10 pages, counting both front and back covers. When fully open, the book extends to 30 inches.
The Origami Frame Book was made following the video tutorial by LibertyGrove Paper Arts, while the Tato Box was created using the tutorial provided by Yasutomo demonstrated by Karen Elaine.
You can view a slide video below
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| Thinking COOL thoughts in the 90 degree temps! |
Smallest at 3" x 4" and largest at 5" x 7". I used my handmade distressed papers for the pages. Largest booklet has 16 sheets (32 pgs). Smaller booklets have 8 sheets (16 pgs) and one having 6 sheets (12 pgs).
Using select digital images from KBandFriends I printed these onto cardstock to create the covers and ephemera.
Below is a short slide video featuring the pamphlets.
These 7 mini notebooks (or often called mini jotters) were a great little busy project on a rainy day. I used Echo Park Scrapbook Papers, pa...
