Handmade Gifting - Journal & Bookmark

Handmade gifts are the best! What better way to tell someone you care then to make them a journal and write a letter in the first page? That way they always know how you feel. I have two best girl friends. You know the kind that go through everything with you and still like you! The kind that you can call in the middle of the night and cry with. I have two! I am very blessed to know them both. Love you E & J!

One recently had a birthday and I made these items for her. She LOVED them! Pink....is all her color. Not to give it all away or anything, but I bought a "science" journal [you know the one they had you buy for Chemistry in high school?] at the dollar store and then covered it with Designer Series Paper. I adhered Stampin' Up!s fabulous 1-1/4" Striped Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon to the binding, added some die-cut adhesives from the retired Simply Scrappin' Kit - Rose Cottage, and then stamped a Monogram J [also, retired] and clear embossed it. Voila! Done!

I also made her this super fabulous bookmark! I take NO credit for the idea or design. [Stampin' Up! did this idea at Convention this year. VIEW HERE] But, the colors are all mine :-) Of course, Rose Red to go with the pink theme. I love this bookmark, because it flops over the outside of your book or SU! catalog and the Filigree Brad at the bottom pokes out the end. So pretty!

Here are the details on how to make your own bookmark. Feel free to comment!

Eastern Blooms Bookmark
STAMPIN’ SUPPLIES (items with * are new)
Stamp Sets
*Eastern Blooms (#111624, p.91, $21.95)
Card Stock and Paper
Pumpkin Pie: 4 ¾ x 4 ¾” (#105117, p.164, $5.50)
Whisper White: 2 ¼ x 1 ¾” (#100730, p.163, $7.50)
*Sweet Always DSP: (#112468, p.171, $9.95)
Ink
Regal Rose Classic Stampin’ Pad® (#105211, p.165, $5.25)
Rose Red Classic Stampin’ Pad® (#101778, p.165, $5.25)
Chocolate Chip Stampin‘ Write Marker® (#100071, p.164, $3.25)
Accessories and Tools
On Board Essentials (#112085, p.181, $12.95)
Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430, p.191, $3.95)
Sticky Tape (#104294, p.191, $6.95)
Micro Beads (#104266, p.190, $5.25)
Filigree Brads (#112577, p.184, $5.95)
Powder Pals (#102197, p.190, $19.95)
Crystal Effects (#101055, p.191, $6.25)
Paper Snips (#103579, p.192, $9.95)
1” Rose Red Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (#111846, p.186, $8.95)

INSTRUCTIONS
*Pop out the square in the middle of the scalloped On Board Square and set it aside. Ink both sides of the chipboard with Regal Rose Ink. [This can be messy, so you might want to find a wipe first to clean your hands after.] Set aside to dry.
*Layer Sweet Always DSP onto Pumpkin Pie CS.
*Stamp the “flower” image onto Whisper White CS by first inking in Rose Red ink and then coloring the middle with the Chocolate Chip Marker. Cut out with Paper Snips.
*Adhere the layered DSP onto the front of the On Board Scalloped Square with SNAIL. Turn over and adhere four strips of Sticky Tape inside of the open square onto the back of the Pumpkin Pie CS. Adhere ribbon on Sticky Tape inside the square leaving a small space near the top. Apply more Sticky Tape on top of the ribbon and adhere the On Board Square inside, as best you can. Adhere Pumpkin Pie CS with A LOT OF SNAIL on top of the ON BOARD square and ribbon to cover back.
*Fold the bottom of the ribbon in half lengthwise and cut a “V.” Place Filigree Flower and Brad at the bottom.
*Adhere cut flower to the front of your bookmark with a Dimensional on each petal and in the middle. Apply a small amount of Crystal Effects to the middle of the flower only for now. [Be careful this comes out fast!]. Hold your bookmark over the Powder Pals and sprinkle with Micro Beads. [Be careful they bounce!] Apply Crystal Effects to the rest of the flower and over the Micro Beads for a “shellacked” look. Set aside to dry. [This could take a half hour or more depending on the amount of CE you applied.]