My Other Creations: Notebook Made with Simon Says Stamp's Hand Lettered Encouragement set

This week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is all about Christmas gifts!  Decorate them, make them-- whatever you feel inspired to do.  And we're highlighting some of Simon's own fabulous products.  I decided to make a notebook to give as a gift.

I started out with a notebook and all I did was revamp the cover.  I traced the shape of the notebook onto Strathmore Mixed Media paper and stamped on some images with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink.  I used trees from Simon's One With Nature stamp set (I wanted the inside of the trees blank, so I didn't ink the branches of the stamp this time) and the circles are a versatile fave from Simon's I Love Donuts stamp set.

Next I started "coloring" with sponges dabbed in Distress Ink.  I smeared color into the trees and into some of the different circles.  Then I dragged white paint down the piece. 

I've been having fun experimenting with coffee filters lately, so I cut a filter into strips, colored them with green Distress Ink, and glued them to the base of the cover.  I stamped a sentiment that I love (from Simon's Hand Lettered Encouragement set) on top of everything and glued my cover on top of the notebook.  Then I decided to add an embellishment to the top of the spine.  I made it by setting an eyelet in a piece of ruler ribbon and looping some Tim Holtz crinkle ribbon and other fibers through.  I colored the crinkle ribbon with Distress Ink and water.  Once it was done, I glued it to the top of the spine.

Here are the supplies I used that you can find at Simon Says Stamp:

Strathmore Mixed Media Paper	Simon Says Stamp One With Nature Clear Stamps	Simon Says Stamp Hand Lettered Encouragement Clear Stamps	Simon Says Stamp I Love Donuts Clear Stamps	*We R Memory Keepers CROP-A-DILE Eyelet and Snap Punch Pink
We R Memories Eyelets	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon	Simon Says Stamp Coffee Filters	Salty Ocean - Distress Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad WILTED VIOLET
Picked Raspberry - Distress Ink	Shaded Lilac - Distress Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Twisted Citron Ink Pad	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad LUCKY CLOVER Ranger	Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink Pad
Dina Wakley Ranger WHITE Media Heavy Body Acrylic Paints	Mixed Media Sponges Bars

I can't wait to see how you are inspired by this week's theme!  Upload your works of genius to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog for your chance to win $50 to the Simon Says Stamp store!