Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Tiny Composition Notebook Tutorial

I LOVE school supplies! Weird, I know...but I could stand in those aisles for hours and look at all that stuff. This year I found a couple of little composition notebooks to make purses out of. I've done this before with the large ones but I knew these little ones would be cute!
While at convention I posted this photo and have received a LOT of e-mail on it, so I decided to make a little tutorial for you all to make your own!
Here we go...

The little composition notebooks are 2/$1.00 and are about 4-1/2" x 3-1/4".

Measure the top and sides at 1" from the corner and draw a diagonal line on the cover only. The corners are rounded so just get a close measurement, it won't be exactly perfect. With a pair of scissors, start cutting pages, 5-6 at a time using your cover as a pattern.

This goes very quickly, you literally have this part done in under a minute! It takes longer to clean up the clippings!

All done!
Cut 2 pieces of DSP to 4-1/2" x 3" .
I used Night & Day Specialty DSP to make a Herringbone purse.
Cut 2 pieces of Black Grosgrain Ribbon at 6-1/2" . Attach to the inside of the front and back covers with Mini Glue Dots.
Glue the DSP to the front and back covers. I used Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive. Trim the edges.

For the closure on the purse, I punched 2 Basic Black Designer Label punches and glued them together with Sticky Strip. Attach to the back of the purse with Mini Glue Dots and secure the front with half of a self-adhesive Velcro circle.

For the embellishment on the closure, I put a rhinestone brad through one of the new Real Red buttons in the Playground Button Assortment. Attach the button to the closure with Mini Glue Dots.

The pocket is not hard, just tiny and hard to hold on to while folding. :)
Cut cardstock to 1-7/8" x 4-1/8"
Score at 1/4", 3/8", 1-7/8", 2", 2-1/8", 2-1/4", 3-3/4" and 3-7/8".
Score along the bottom of the pocket at 1/4" and 3/8".
This will give you a series of 1/8" and 1/4" score lines to fold forwards and backwards to form two pockets out of one piece of cardstock. Just work with it and use the photo above for direction, it's not hard to figure out once it's scored. Cut out the areas shown above to make folding into a pocket shape easier.
Cut 2 pieces of DSP 1-3/8" x 1-3/8" to put on the pockets and a trim of scalloped edge punch in Basic Black.
Back view of the pocket.

Finished project. Pretty cute and easy, huh??
________

Nancy Horn, my fellow Idaho demonstrator friend sent pictures of her suitcase made with the Traveling Trio tutorial. You can see more photos on her blog here.

33 comments :

  1. How cute is that? Who doesn't need another purse? You are so creative.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Adorable! This is going on my ever growing "To Do" list!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OHHH SWWWEETT.. I love it :) hmm I think I bought of those for my boys.. hmmm lol... shhhhhhhhh

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is seriously stinkin' cute! I bought a bunch last time we were in the US (no Target in Canada - sad, I know) and this would be an awesome teachers/secretary gift.

    Thanks Becky!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love it!! Now I know what I want to do with all those cute little books I have laying in my drawers.
    Thanks for the free directions. Although your patterns are very inexpensive which we all appreciate!! Times are tuff these days. I know that I want all of the tutorials that you do. Wish I had tons of money to spend!
    Thanks for all you do!
    Kristi

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my gosh these are just too stinkin' cute!
    Thanks for sharing the directions!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for sharing how you did this. I was sure I would have to take a stack of the composition notebooks to Staples and have them cut them. Very cute. I think my club will love these. Gayla O'Dell, www.megastampinstudio.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my gosh I'm so glad you posted this! I just bought some mini comp books at the Dollar Store and can use them for this! :o)

    ~*Priscilla Aguilar*~
    http://faeriedreamsandpaperwishes.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very inspirational. I adore it, it's so cute. A lovely gift, I love all your stuff.

    Hugs Debbie xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jeeeeez could those BE any CUTER???? lol
    Adorable!!!

    And Im glad I got to meet you-even tho it was Tues. in SLC airport arrivals, as you were getting a rental car.. I yelled your name...sorry 'bout that! Got so excited!! hee hee

    ReplyDelete
  11. These are just adorable. I can't wait to make one, as I have a stash of these little books. Don't we all??? :-D

    Thanks for sharing your awesome talent!

    Wanda

    ReplyDelete
  12. oh my!!!! This is so cool! I have a bunch of these and am going to do this! (really LOL!)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ack! When can I go to the Dollar Store and pick up sone of these comp books? My niece (a freshman at my alma mater!!) needs one of these!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love mine the best, but this is pretty stinkin cute Becky...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh so very cute! I know of 3 little girls that i can make make this for - I will just make it very girly.
    Thanks for sharing the tut.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love your work and thanks so much for sharing this tutorial. I can't to make one of my own!

    ReplyDelete
  17. ACK! How totally cute is this?!!! I think I may actually have some of those notebooks on a shelf! YIPPEE!!! Now to find some spare time to do this! You totally ROCK!
    Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. So cute!! Thank you so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your creativity never ceases to amaze!!!
    xXx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love your ideas and love visiting your blog! Thanks for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  21. glad i'm not the only one who could get lost in the stationery shop!! Love stationery! Love the notebook bag :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for the purse directions and post. They are so cute and fun to make. How did you attach the purse closure to the front of the purse. That is what I had a struggle with. I tried magnets but they weren't strong enough. Thanks for your help.

    Melinda
    hamiltondm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Becky I always love to see what new ideas you come up with and this one is amazing as thee others...TFS

    ReplyDelete
  24. LOVE it, I am putting composition notebooks on my shopping list so I can make one..or two..or three!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love this! SO cute and totally clever!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This is too cute, you never quit do you. I love all that stuff in the aisle as do you. I stand there and think now what can I do with that. :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love these little purses, thanks for sharing. xo

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love your Absolutely BEAUTIFUL creation. You are So Creative.

    Sony

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Becky
    Is me again.. I add this tutorial to a post today.
    Thanks for your beautiful creations.

    Sony

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love this little purse, very creative. TFS

    ReplyDelete