Leap Day Tutorial - Graphic 45

How about a Leap Day tutorial?! Since we have an extra day, maybe we can use it to make some stuff! I cannot think of many better ways to use up an extra day!

I created this altered notepad in the fall sometime. It's one of those projects that has been sitting here, waiting patiently for its turn on the blog! With the end of the school year fast approaching, this project makes a perfect teacher gift. Add a gift card to it, and your favorite teacher will be in heaven! (As a homeschool mom, I never get teacher gifts...but then I don't have to make any either!)

This is a long envelope, with a skinny notepad attached to the front. You can use the envelope to hold notes, receipts, and such.

To create the project, I used an envelope from a Graphic45 Black Policy Envelope Album. The envelopes are about the same size as a business envelope, and have a top opening. 

Cover the front and back of the envelope with Graphic45 paper, trimmed to approximately 4 x 8". Make sure the envelope flap is free and is on the reverse side of the project. Now you can stick items inside the envelope!

To create the holder for the skinny notebook, trim black cardstock to 5 3/8 x 8 1/8". Score at 2 5/8" and 2 7/8" (for a 2 1/2 x 8" notepad). (Designer idea: if you cannot find 2 1/2 x 8" notepads,  your local office supply store will trim 5 x 8" notepads in half for a small fee.)

Cover the top of the notepad with a scrap of Graphic45 paper, then glue the pad into the holder. Attach the back of the holder to the envelope. Decorate the front of the notepad holder with cardstock and Graphic45 papers.

If you want the notebook to stay closed, you can create a band for your project by trimming out the ruler from the School Days paper. Wrap the ruler around the project and attach together at the back. Make sure that the band is not too tight. You want to be able to slip the band off and on easily.

Stamp your message onto kraft paper, then use a die cutting template to trim out circles from the kraft and black cardstock. Attach the circles to the front of the band. Tuck a pencil inside the band, next to the notepad.

Add a chipboard button and some twin to the envelope flap. You can also add some small magnets or hook and loop tape to the flap to keep the envelope closed.

You now have an envelope to hold receipts or other items, plus a note pad for jotting down your notes! This project makes a great teacher's gift!

Supplies:
Graphic45 papers:
An ABC Primer: Jumping Joan, Alphabet Soup, The Three R's, School Days
Graphic45 Staples: Graphic45 Policy Envelope Album, An ABC Primer Chipboard 1

Partner products:
Clearsnap Colorbox Graphic45 Decades Photogenic dye ink
May Arts twine
Spellbinders™: Die templates S4-114 Standard Circles Large, S4-116 Standard Circles Small

Other:
Office supply: Note pad and pencil
Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Kraft cardstock
Bazzill: Haley cardstock
Papertrey Ink: stamp