Create 10 - Get prepared for class

Hi!
Here's a quick project idea for creating a folder ready to fill with Create 10 projects and classes. If you don't know about Create 10 you can check out all the details here, http://www.craftytemplates.co.uk/create10.html

The Create 10 Scrapbook Workshop starts on the 14th April but that's not a reason to sit back and wait around we can spend this time getting prepaired for class. This file folder idea will be a great way to keep print outs of each class in. Lots of the classes will include instuctions and templates for making various fun embellishments so building up a project folder will be a great asset to your future crafting you can turn to again and again as well as a good place to keep each class organised and ticked off as you work through the 10 days.
All you need to make this folder is:
2 pieces of A4 size (or US letter size) card.
A hole punch
2 book rings or treasury tags
Assorted patterned paper to decorate
Stamps or stickers for wording
A spare 12x12 page protector

Take your two pieces of card and cover the fronts with decorative paper. Here I'm upcycling some paper from packaging, (Topshop mail order has the cutest packaging!).

To make them nice and neat I've folded the edges over and stuck it down on the back with deco tape.

Next take the page protector and place it on the back of your card lining up the left edge and the bottom edge and draw the holes through at the top and bottom. Do the same with your other piece of card then punch holes using the marks as a guide.

Place the page protector back on top of one of your pieces of card matching up the holes. Trace the outline of your page with a marker pen on the page protector then cut it to the same size as your page. Stitch down the open edge to close it. If you haven't got a sewing machine to do this use some decorative tape or some masking tape.

 I've used masking tape as a decorative touch on my folder so you can add some more touches of it to make it look decorative. You can use this to fill with photos you want to keep ready to scrap or use it to keep small notes and cut out templates in as you complete the classes.

If you want to you can make and add more pages. Here I've used a spare 6x12 page protector to make a pull out class list.

Once you have finished your pages use the book rings to fix everything together. Once classes start as you print out your classes you can add them to your folder using the bookrings. If you don't have bookrings you can use something like treasury tags instead.

Finally add a little decoration to your front cover. Here I've used some October Afternoon papers, masking and woodgrain tape, a bit of lace, Thickers and a Prima canvas tab.

So now you have your pre-class task, go to it! The supply list newsletter will go out to everyone who's signed up for Create 10 next week so you'll have plenty of time to gather supplies together for kick off on the 14th.
xx Leo

Make an Inspiration Station

It's great to keep inspiration handy and magazines and blogs are a great way to get inspired so I've put the two ideas together to make an 'Inspiration Station'. I've got a stack of notebooks that I regularly use for jotting down ideas and pasting in pictures and magazine cuttings then the idea hit me to have a combination of a notebook and an easel that I can keep on my desk and fill with inspirational ideas I find each day. I put together this idea that's kind of like a standing up notebook. If you want to make your own have a go using the instructions bellow. Have fun!

Instructions
Gather together some supplies. You'll need something to make your pages with like sheets of scrap paper or card, (I've also used envelopes and 4x6 page protectors). You'll also need a piece of greyboard or thick cardboard and a Bind-it-all with a wire or something similar to bind your project together.

First cut your piece of greyboard to 11.5 inches x 6 inches. Score two lines 4.75" in from each end so you end up with a 2 inch space in the middle which should look like this.

Fold the two sides up so you have a triangle shape like this.

Using a Bind-it-All tool punch the holes along the top using the cover setting (c) for the first punch and then continuous setting (b) for the remaining holes. If you've not got a bind it all use something similar to punch your holes in the top for your binding. You should end up with this.

Paint the card or cover it with patterned paper.

Next make the pages. You can make as may pages as you like but they need to be the same size as the front of your triangle shape, (or smaller) so if you've used the above measurements that's 4.75x6 inches. Include some pockets and/or envelopes so you can store extra bits of information, scribbled notes, photos etc. Punch holes along the top of your pages as you make them in the same way as you did before. The mini page protectors I'm using here are by Teresa Collins they're already the right size and pre-punched to use with the bind it all. I'm also using card, notecards and paper from the Resolutions Quirky Kit.

Thread all your pages together on a wire that's the right size for the thickness of your pages. Here I'm using a 3/4 size, depending on how many pages you have made you might need to go larger or smaller.

Take your decorated board piece you cut out earlier and fold it up in to the triangle shape and thread the two top punched sides on to the wire. Keep hold of the whole piece and then bind the wire together.

Your Inspiration Station is now finished and ready to decorate and fill with ideas! Treat  it like a mini easel and keep it in your workspace to inspire you. Add torn out pages from magazines, snaps of things you see out and about, quick notes, sketches and anything else you find inspirational.

Have fun!

xx Leo