Paperbacks Just Got Bigger

I've been pondering the idea of making some bigger sized paperback guest book albums this past week. The smaller paperbacks (5.5" x 8.5") have been growing in popularity lately. It seems they're being used most often for baby showers, bridal showers, and retirement albums (in place of a card).

Where as the hardbound guest books (small and medium size) are more popular with weddings.

I've had some 8 x 8 paper stacks sitting on my work counter for a few months now and haven't been sure what to do with them. Sometime I cut them down to make the 5.5" x 7.5" albums but got to thinking I'd add a new size and style to the shop this week.

So, I put together this 8" x 8" paperback guest book album.

It's all pretty in pink with it's floral print and glittery highlights.  I used pink signature pages stamped with a floral swag.

 For the photo pages I added yellow card stock (acid and lignin- free) in the back and stamped with this cute flower bouquet stamp.

Then I couldn't help but thinking that stab stitch wasn't going to work for this book. It needed something more feminine, so I used my zutter bind-it-all (affiliate link) and punched the binding holes. then using one inch wide satin pink ribbon I laced the binding and double knotted it with a bow.

It almost reminds me of going to one of those fancy tea parties, all pretty and dressed up and totally girlie.

What do you think, does the size work for the cover style?

Valentines' Day Gift Wrap

Last Valentine's Day I needed some gift wrap to put together a package for my husband. Many times I'll use postal paper to wrap things going out in the mail and decided to design some heartfelt paper of my own.

If you're looking for a fun way to wrap up that Valentine's day present you can check out my article, How To Make DIY Stampin' It Up Gift Wrap Paper.

Have fun stamping!

Baseball Autograph Album

Using the baseball card sleeves to organize my stamps gave me an idea for an baseball autograph album.

There's forty white card stock pages in this album that have been designed using publisher with a baseball player in the bottom corner of each page.  The autograph album is 5.5" x 8.5" so it's easy to take along to those baseball games and pass off for autographs.

Because the card stock is acid and lignin-free it's also good for attaching those baseball photos from this season's game. It's easy to record games and collect photos. 

All finished, it would also be a great gift for a baseball coach at the end of the year. You know a little scrapbook filled with game stats, player signatures, player cards, and game photos.

What do you think? Does this one hit the ball out of the park or what?

Paper Gallery

I've been spending some time over on my website trying to remodel the site and make it easier for you all to navigate. But the main purpose of my site is to allow you to browse all the options of being able to create a book for your special occasion.

Originally, I loaded all my paper choices over on flickr and ran out of space. So, I've moved the paper gallery over onto my website at www.mrschadt.com.  You'll find it under the custom order tab.

I'll try to keep the paper designs updated frequently. But in the meantime, feel free to stop over and browse the paper gallery.

I'm working on getting the custom order form back up on site, but until then please excuse the inconvenience of using the contact page. 

If you have any suggestion on how to make the paper gallery or custom order process more user friendly, I'd love to hear them.

Clear Stamp Storage Solution

First, I have to say that I have become a big fan of clear stamps. They take up less room then the wood block stamps and you can mix and match them on the clear blocks for ease of designing your pages. However, when you keep acquire more and more of them, they tend to take up space.

Mine, until now have been piling up in a plastic storage bin along with my wooden stamp sets. It becomes quite a mess when trying to dig through and find just the right stamp when I'm designing a book. So the other day I was cleaning my daughters' room and came across one of my oldest daughter's Pokemon card holder sleeves.

As you can see, these baseball card sleeves (affiliate) are the perfect size for holding those small stamps sets. You know the kind that you pick up for just a few bucks at your local craft store.

The second nice thing about them is that baseball card sleeves are prepunch for fitting into a 3-ring binder (affiliate). So, not only was I able to organize my clear stamps, but they're nicely collected into a 3-ring binder that I can flip through and find what I'm looking for in just a few minutes. Total, I think it cost me less than $10 to get over two hundred stamps organized.

Black and Ivory Damask

Black and Ivory Damask Guest Book Album

I pulled out this paper from the new paper pack along with the pink from the Think Hot Pink post yesterday. The black damask is glossy and I think it makes a sophisticated statement.

I slipped in paper for a matching RSVP pen for those using it as a guestbook or even a journal.

I tried to match the damask print as closely as possible in this book. Since the print has a floral design I decided to go with this corner stamp. Each alternating page has the stamp in the upper or lower corner of the signature pages.

On the card stock pages I used just the flower. Simple but gives it just a little bit of something elegant to grace the pages along with those photos or extra notes and signatures.

I stitched the book using ivory ribbon in the traditional four hole Japanese stab stitch technique.

And of course, it wouldn't be a MRsCHADT book without it's felt protective sleeve. This sleeve has two snap closers-- one on each end of the inside flap to hold it closed.

You can find it and long with my other books in my shop on etsy.

Think Hot Pink

After yesterday's post I've been in a pink mode. It appears that pink has been and always will be a popular color. I've had a few request lately for pink guest books, so I just got some new papers that are a variety of pinks, gray, black, and ivory. They're foil and gloss.

I put together this pink dotted foil guest book album and slipped some matching paper into an RSVP pen.

Inside I used gray and pink paper and stamped using a new stamp set I just got with these
 unique bow type flowers.

With 40 signature pages and 16 photo pages, it's perfect for those weddings, bridal showers, and baby showers.

 There's plenty of room to write within the signature pages. And it just occurred to me that this could also make a nice pregnancy journal too. Forty pages means one page a week to record your pregnancy and the acid-free and lignin free card stock pages can hold plenty of belly shots! 

And for those brides, it can be making lists, recording wedding plans, and making a wish list and photo collage as you prepare for the big day.

I just love how vestal these books can be, don't you?