Creating a inspirational note book Tutorial and FREE calendar download to fit the album kit by Cheri Piles

Hey There! I don't know about you but I am loving playing with all of the new BASICALLY ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS  This is the ALBUM KIT. I love how fun this is and all that you can do with it, it is seriously so cute! I have completely gone to town with it using the new MODELING PASTE and STENCILS. The cover has a decorative frame on it which I love all of the frills but I wanted to add some more depth so I layed the scallop stencil over the page and only applied ink to the outside of the frame. Then I used another stencil and added the days of the week using the paste, once dry I went over it with an ink pen. I added a few embellishments and Voila!! Pretty perfection! 

I really wanted to create... and yes.. I know, this is soooo OLD SCHOOL of me but when I'm teaching I really need a visual date book to keep track of when I have to ship class samples, create class samples and traveling... And a computerized calendar just doesn't work when I'm planning many months ahead and need to see more than one calendar at a time so this was/is, for ME, the PERFECT SOLUTION... A VISUAL but simple and SUPER PRETTY date book... it's the perfect size at 5x7 too!!

I added a little of this and a little of that from the Daily stories collection, although this is an album kit and it COMES WITH everything you need to make it your own. But like I said, I kinda went a little crazy with filling it up. So on the left I added flip pages from the file folder package. Then on the right is a super cute decorative lined half page. I added an extra journal card using a paper clip, I figured I might need to take notes so I added many cards and tags throughout the book. 

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I love how put together things look when you match them up, for example I corner rounded this dot page then added another card to the upper right but I corner rounded JUST the upper right corner of the card - imagine the difference if I left it square - It would be FINE, there are no rules, but I do like it rounded. 

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OK, so on the left is a pocket photo sleeve - there are two pages included in the book! Each pocked is 3x4. I decided for this book I wanted photos that make me happy and that are cheerful, so I printed them off. Most are from Better homes and gardens - I love flowers!! I will give a link to my pinterest board below my signature. These sleeves would be a good place to also hold BUSINESS CARDS, yeah cool!!

 

I am loving the extra tags for notes later on! I created all of these blank calendar pages and have a download for you below and instructions on how I added them to my book.

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I am loving how pretty my little book is!! I love the decorative shaped pages, so so cute!

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Have you noticed all of the stamped flowers yet? I think it's my most favorite stamp in the Daily Stories stamp set. I also stamped all of the months stamps from the "Calendars stamp set" Teresa made with FISKARS.

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 This quote is awesome and I love the contrast that this page offers this book, again so supper cute!!!

To create the fun decorative clips to hold your tags in place in your book simply glue your gems back to back on the end of your paper clip using the clear hold adhesive from Teresa's adhesive kit from Xyron.

To add additional pages to your book as I have done with my calendar pages punch holes using the larger eyelet punch from We R Memory Keepers, then with fine tip scissors cut the centers of the circle then you can add your pages to your pre-made book and they don't fall out!

Ok, so if you are looking for blank calendar pages to fit this book you can save this image and print it out. You will need to trim the bottom off to make it 7". Then trim the right side off for 10" then fold in half and you will have enough room on each end for your holes to insert the pages into your book.

I love how pretty the book turned out and it's nice to see some of my favorite pictures regularly!! Here is a link to my pinterest board - "my favorite pretties"

I hope you found some inspiration to create one of your own, this sure was a fun album kit!!

~Cheri

www.cherinspirations.com

Basically Essential and Daily Stories by Christie Bryant

Are you loving Daily Stories? There are endless possibilities for this line, especially when you combine it with the Basically Essential line. 

On this layout, I really wanted some additional texture and another layer while keeping a minimalistic feel. The Basically Essential Modeling Paste and Stencils came in handy. 

Check out the amazing texture that I was able to create on this black frame:

I used the tree stencil to create some added dimension on the bottom of my layout. I love the way it turned out.

What do you think? Do you love to play with the Basically Essential line too? 

Thanks for stopping by today, have a wonderful day!

XOXO, Christie

Mothers Day tutorial with Cheri Piles using the Basically Essentials Instagram Banner Kit

Hey there! Mothers day is right around the corner and I wanted to share with you a quick and easy project that would make a great little gift. I don't know about you but my daughter has been taking "selfies" so I went to her instagram page and printed one of her selfy pictures from 2012. This would work for any age!!

I wanted to create something fun and unique so I used the new Basically Essentials instagram banner kit. This banner kit is so fun and as you know with scrapbooking there are NO RULES!! So I switched it up and created a mini album with 6 of the pages, it comes with 8 pages, beautiful papers and ribbon. I corner rounded each of my 6 pages.

I wanted my book to have a cover so I cut a 4"x12" strip from the Daily Stories "ombre circles" paper. Gently fold it in half - and slip it into your new Teresa Collins Xyron 2 hole punch and punch your holes. Corner round all of your corners.

Then using a score board score 1/2" between each of the holes to create the spine of your book. Decorate your cover using embellishments from the Daily Stories collection. I used the journal card from the "currently"' paper and corner rounded the right sides. Then I added the thin monthly word strips from the side b of "ombre circles". I layered washi tape above the word strips. I added the layered butterfly sticker to top right of washi tape in upper frame of card. For some added fun I stamped in black ink the "this is me" in the bottom of the frame. For some "shine" I added a few sequins. Simple and quick! :)

Now, this is important to remember, when you punch your instragram pages from the kit do not slide them all of the way in so your holes on your pages will line up with the holes on your cover. Then using washi tape of choice from the Daily Stories collection, wrap a strip down the center of the openings. 

I printed all of my daughters photos 3"x3" then matted them onto white cardstock that I cut 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".  I rounded all of the corners of the photos and the white cardstock. Then adhere over your open space and add a second photo to the back. You will have a 1/4" of OPEN SPACE around your photo, This is what makes this so neat to look at!!

The back of the Ombre circles papers and months. So cut them into strips to create page "tabs", to make the wide tab cut just above the months of one line, skip a row (the row that you will use for your tabs) then just below the next row. Then cut between every other month so you have January & February together and so on. Then fold, corner round (only if you want, it's kinda tricky to corner round them because they are small...treat yourself to a piece of chocolate at this point) then adhere them to your pages. 

I started putting the tabs on the ends and working my way in so they were all evenly spaced.

Once you are done with your tabs cut 12 strips 4" x 1" from a sheet of paper from the collection. I used the "floral" paper. I corner rounded one side to match the edges then adhered them to the wide space. Add your rings and tie your ribbon to the top ring and trim excess away and you are done!

This was such an easy project using just the banner kit and two sheets of paper but you could use just the one sheet of "ombre circles" paper to complete it! I made it while watching a movie, super quick and easy! 

I hope you are inspired to re-create on of your own!

~Cheri

My Blog

Take Note journal using Daily Stories collection with Cheri Piles

Hey There, I wanted to share another booth sample I created for the show - CHA. I almost forgot to share this one with you all!! This is a fun one because I used the reverse binding technique on the spine. I also used the modeling paste with the stencil that has the days of the week! Modeling Paste is so much fun! Once the modeling paste dried, I applied ink over the top - you could use a pen, or paint. You can even tint the paste before you apply it. My daughter just LOVES this book and is using it, which means I will have to make another one for me!

On each of the pages I outlined them in black ink just using a fine tip pen. I also painted all of the edges in white. I really like all of the texture in this book! The first page are two tags from the "remember" paper, and I tied white ribbon onto them. 

I created all of the pages in this book just using basic templates I had on hand. The white paper is Bazzill card stock and it has a Pearl sheen on it. I loved using the washi tapes and stamps on these pages.

On the upper left is one of my favorite stamps from the collection - Remember Always, I love the fonts and how crisp and fresh it looks!

Here are two more journal cards, I just cut them down to fit in the book. I love having different page sizes and flaps in my books!

I wanted to have a spot to put items so I used the new Basically Essentials envelopes and manila tags. I wanted them to have more texture so I ran them through the TC Ebosser using the clocks embossing folder then I adhered ribbon to the back before adhering it to the page. Now it will stay closed when the ribbon is tied and I think it looks pretty!

I am all about circles lately so a lot of my books have half circle pages! I just think they are fun and add interest to the book when you see it all closed up seeing all of the fun shaped pages!

I love these stripes on the back of the butterfly paper! This is another tag from the new "tags" package - There are so many to choose from and I am loving playing with them!!

Aren't the journal cards fun?!? I love how bright they are!

Oh, this is a fun little envelope page that fold out, it's from the mini file folder package. It is so SWEET!!!

More tags! Yes, I LOVE them!!

Here is another bag from the new basically essentials envelopes and tags package. I put it through the TC Ebosser just like the other one to add more texture to my book. I'm always so impressed how deep the embossing is and how pretty it is!!

Clearly I also love this stamp set!! I have used the heck out of it that is for sure!!

This is my daughters FAVORITE paper - when she saw the pretty scallops with the bright fun colors she actually asked me to buy packages of just that pattern, she wanted to decorate a wall in her room with it!! 

I punched a lot of the circles out of the "circles" paper - this is a great technique to use by punching them out and putting them on pop dots you are creating extra embellishments you may not have. I always look for extra ways I can use paper like that!

I hope you are inspired and enjoyed this fun little book!
If you are looking for how I binded it, here is the tutorial: Reverse Binding. For today's book, I used chipboard on my cover and scored it then covered it with my papers.

~Cheri
My blog: http://www.cherinspirations.com

Monthly Journal Album Book by Cheri Piles using "Hello My Name Is" collection

Hey everyone, Today I wanted to share this fun journal book! On the cover of this pre-made chipboard album I stamped along the top and bottom using the damask stamp and just repeating it. Using the new Basically Essential Modeling Paste and alpha stencil I created the words "GOALS, DREAMS" The "&" is a the new Decorative Wood Pieces and I just colored it with ink to make it black. I layered the red and black sequins in the center of the damask stamped borders, added the chipboard "journal" sticker. The red word strips are from the 6 x 6 paper pad and I cut the page apart using the words in my book. 

Each of the months I cut out from the months paper in the 6x6 paper pad, then I added words into each of the open spaces on them using the new Basically Essential Alpha's. You will be shocked how many words you can create from just one sheet (there are 6 sheets per package!!) On this page I used one of the new tags from the package of Basically Essential envelope and tag package. I have loved playing with the new modeling paste and here you can see I only covered part of the tag then I stamped on it. The typewriters on the top of the tag is one of the four rolls of washi tape. 

I created all of my non chipboard pages with white cardstock then cut apart the 6x6 paper pad into 4x6 sheets. All of the red word strips in this book are from one of the sheets of the paper pad - it really gives the book some POP and is so inspirational and quite perfect for my journal book! I also added the new "TAGS" throughout the book. I love that there are places to journal but are also quite decorative too!

This is another chipboard page that is just decorative. I loved the stamped border and quotes!

I layered the sticker quote right over the top of the journal tag, it makes it look like the "This is me" is a separate piece but it's part of the tag.

I love LOTS of layers!!

You might not consider this but it's going to be ok with me to write all over the "LUCKY" card, you will still see it when I journal over it in black ink. 

I loved playing with the new library card - it comes in the "envelope and tag package". I added the vine stencil and modeling paste image to the front.

The "life" is another tag. I am LOVING them, can you tell??

This is probably my MOST FAVORITE!!! I love the STAMP and matching STENCIL on the tag together. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the look of it!!

One thing I love about using the modeling paste and stencils is that there really are not RULES, just play with them and use as little or much as you want!!

I love this circle tag - I think I'm just going to write one word in each of the circles!

And last but not least - a good quote. I LOVED being so inspired to create this journal album. I hope you have been inspired to create one too!!

~Cheri

Be sure to check out my {NEW} blog post today using the new alpha stickers and how many inspirational words I was able to make: http://cherinspirations.com/blog/