Great gift ideas for Christmas - CHEAP, but not cheap LOOKING!!!

     If you have followed me for a while, you will know I am all about saving money and doing things cheap...but I can't stand things to "look cheap"...  My husband was taken out of work over 8 years ago, at the time, I lived in Utah - scrapbooking heaven!  I couldn't shop much, I had to do things as cheap as I could...  One gift idea for you to get started on is an altered composition notebook!  

     If you look at your gift list, you will find a few people that you could make an altered notebook for.  They are great for younger girls to start a journal, or even just for an adult who might be going through a trying time; add a book to it, and a handmade bookmark and you are done.  If you look at the school supply sales right now, you can pick a notebook up for about $.50 each, customize them to each person you are giving the gift to.  For teens, add a gift card to their favorite store hidden in one of the pages!  Write a nice note tucked in the front - telling the person what they mean to you!  


     For the composition notebook, here are directions and supply list!  


Supplies list:

Composition notebook

2 sheets of 12 x 12 paper/cardstock

2 sheets of coordinating 8.5 x 11 paper

Glue stick, adhesives, or hot glue gun

Misc. ribbon, buttons, or charms to decorate

Directions:

Step one:  Decide what colors will be used for the outside cover.

Step two:  For the color where the yellow is, cut it in half, creating 2 6 x 12 sheets of paper.

Step three:  Take the paper you are using (where I used the flowers), fold in half to go around the front and back side of the notebook. Using the glue stick (or glue gun) glue the paper down to the notebook.

Step four:  At the bottom and top sides, where the binding is, you need to cut a slice in the paper to allow you to fold the excess to the other side. Glue the paper down.

Step five:  The papers you cut in half, you will be gluing to the front and back cover, again, folding the excess over to the other side. Glue the paper down.

Step six: Decorate the outside front cover with ribbon, buttons, or other items you might have available to you, before you do the final step. 

Step seven: Take the 2 sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper, and glue to the inside cover (trimming if necessary), and again to the back cover.

     Bookmarks are another easy thing you can do to add to the notebook - and is great to use the left overs from another project!   

Supply list:  

Scraps of paper

Die cuts or stickers  

Buttons 

Floss

Ribbon

Corner rounder

Adhesive

Circle hole punch 

Directions:  

Step one:  Looking at your scraps of paper, find one that is around 2" x 5.5" (or cut scraps to that size).  Use your corner rounder to round the corners of the bookmark.  Use your circle hole punch to punch the hole at the top.  

Step two:  Finding coordinating paper, start to add it to the bookmark.  Cut to size, and round the paper if you choose to.  

Step three:   Using your die cuts or stickers, start to create the bookmark using a few items.  Add any special touches you need to.

Step four:  Add your ribbon and floss to the top - leaving enough of a tail that it looks good!  

     When you use your scrapbooking supplies to make things, you are saving money first of all, AND you are making something out of love for that person who receives it.  I have a fun week planned for you, with a Blog Hop this weekend with 13 other girls included!  4 days from the 22nd until the 25th...full of great ideas from other people who love to create...I hope you join me!  Have a great day!  

Lynda Jeffs

Memories in Tyme