How to make a glued notepad

One of my new Etsy products is a digital download of notepad pages that can double as journal cards for memory books, journals and scrapbooks. 

However I recently discovered how to make your own glued notepads while looking for something else entirely. Isn't it always the way? My first notepad was made using scraps of leftover paper. But it is so simple that I wanted to make something a bit more decorative and realised my art made the prefect subject matter for some cute notepads to scatter through the house. 

Tools and materials:

10 printouts from the PDF included with these instructions. I use plain copy paper in 70-100gsm (roughly 20 - 24lb in the US).

Tacky PVA glue (It has to be tacky glue that is nice and thick. I use Aleene's Tacky Glue.)

Paper trimmer or scissors

Spring clamps

Method:

1. Print out ten copies of the notepad papers. That makes 40 sheets of paper for the pad. I used the printer's standard settings but you can use a higher quality print if you prefer.

2. Cut each of the sheets out using the grey outlines as a guide.

3. Bundle all of the sheets together and make sure all the sides line up and are straight, especially the top edges. Clip the bundle of papers together near the top of the pad using the spring clamps. You want the top of the bundle of papers to be nice and tight and firmly squeezed together.

4. Take the top off of the tacky glue and squeeze a generous amount along the top of the paper bundle. You want to smooth it out either using your finger or a little piece of card but don't mash the glue into the top of the paper or you will get glue oozing in places you don't want it. Let that layer dry. Then squeeze a second layer of glue on top of the first once it has dried. Again, make it a generous layer, smooth it out and let it dry.

That's it! You have a great little notepad using some cute images.

Alternative ways to use the sheets

Instead of using the glue method, you can hold the sheets together using a fancy bulldog clip or punch holes along the top of the pad and fasten the sheets together with string or hinged book binding rings.  

You can also use the sheets for journaling or scrapbooking too.

Springtime paper beads

I had hoped to have a few more sets of paper beads to release this spring but life sometimes gets in the way. They were supposed to be available at the start of April but my sister was in a car accident and it was all hands on deck to deal with family stuff. Thankfully she is OK but the car was a write off.

Anyway, back to the beads. One set is reminiscent of a Moroccan pond in the moonlight - and called Moroccan Moonlight. There is something about Morocco's art and architecture that I just love.

The second set is Celtic Inspired. The pattern reminds me of Medieval manuscripts with its flowing leafy vines and bright colours. These ones are in green, pink and purple with a distressed vintage background.

As always, they are available in my Etsy store

Beads for Christmas

I finally found some time to make some new beads designs - and update some older ones. You can find them on Etsy at the moment while my web site undergoes some updating.

I added a new colourway in the Moroccan beads - Moroccan Sunrise. These are one of my all time best sellers so I am hoping people will like the new colours. Of course, the original Moroccan beads are still available too.

 

Years ago I sold some mermaid theme beads and with the resurgence of ocean themed crafting I thought these might go down well, along with.....

 

 .... these lighthouse and beach beads. A customer asked me to make some sea themed beads for her earlier this year. I thought these worked out so nicely that others might appreciate them too.

 

There are three more brand new designs to come shortly. This time in a Bohemian theme. I have to admit that they are looking rather nice. Hopefully they will be online in a few days.

For the birds

I love painting warm and fuzzies, i.e. mammals. They are undoubtedly my favourite animals. But over the last few weeks I have been adding more birds to my stock of paintings.

My garden is full of birds, from the usual garden birds like blackbirds, great tits and green finches to less common visitors to this area, nuthatches and long tailed tits. Add to that the countryside birds like partridges and pheasants and the garden is frequently crammed to overflowing. Last week while I was out walking I got very excited when I saw a goldcrest in the hedgerow. I always wanted to see one but thought they didn't exist in this area. So I was very excited, so excited that my attempt to photograph it was stymied by my hands shaking with excitement. As a result I have plenty of subject matter for producing bird paintings. The three birds below all visit my garden and now they have been immortalized in watercolour. How many birds can say that?

I have listed these three birds on Etsy along with a few other ones so if you want to check them out then drop on by. There is also a variety of commission that I have been asked to paint over the last few weeks. Check out the 'sales' section on the left of the page to see them.

From the mad scientist of beads

I have been experimenting like a mad beading scientist this week. I got very messy, very covered in glue and my eyes were filled with glitter. Well, maybe not 'filled' exactly but there was glitter in my eyes on several occasions. Let me tell you, it's not something I advise. It nips. However, from these experiments came some new style beads. Silk paper beads to be precise. I got some wonderful colour combinations and am very pleased with them. I have added a few sets to my Etsy store but I really must find something wonderful to do with some myself. Mmmm. What to make?

NEW BEADS!!!

Yes, I am excited about these new beads. Big, fat chunky ones! I love the colours, I love the foiling and metallic paints. I could fill a big hole full of them and dive into the middle of them like one of those kiddies ball pools. The bright colours are my favourites but I've also made some in vintage script and music designs. They are one inch long and about 0.45 inches wide. Now I need to find some new patterns and designs because they are full of possibility.





Then there are slightly smaller ones too. These are rolled paper to form barrel shaped beads but instead of being coated in UTEE (ultra thick embossing powder) they are coated in many layers of varnish. These ones are three quarters of an inch long and about a third of an inch wide at the widest point. There are a variety of colours and a couple of sets that are one inch in length. The notepads I mentioned in my last post are destined to be decorated with some of these but I can also see them as earrings or a pendant. No doubt I'll be posting pictures of whatever I use them for. However there are sets for sale in my Etsy store so pop by for more pictures of them.

Beads, beads and more beads

Where is the time going? Mid-February already! I don't know about you but it just seems to be zooming past. However, I have managed to get a few more sets of beads made with more on the way. Here are some pictures of the most recent sets listed in Etsy, some in smaller, more affordable mini bags so you can have something original to add to your craft projects but in smaller quantities.

Notepads

Here are the results of this week's productivity. A handful of notebooks, two of which were inspired by the Commonwealth Games in India. I just love those colours, so warm and yummy. They are all laminated too so they will last and can be refilled using a Bind-It-All. They are now available in my Etsy store and make ideal gifts.

Spooktacular downloads

Yes, I know. I'm obsessing over Halloween. So many of my recent post have been about it but I guess it's too late to go back now. Soon October will be here. Yippee! But this week I created some new digital downloads for my Etsy store - spooky ones with plenty of creepy action going on. The first set consists of four small envelopes made using my own photos and some digital images I created. The second is a collection of three small envelopes with images by Harry Clarke. Both sets are ideal to print out and give little treats or spooky notes in. The larger set is ideal for ATCs too.

Yet more treasure!

Yes, my work has been included in another Etsy treasury. This time it is all about graphite and my picture for my pencil drawing commission has been included by the fantastically named CreepyDolls. How honoured am I. The other work is beautiful and imaginative so it is even more of a thrill. You can find the treasury here.

A little treasure

My Mona Lisa beads have been included in a Mona themed treasury on Etsy. How cool! Thanks to Inkspired for adding them. If you want to take a look you can find the whole treasury here.

Etsy update

I have added a few new paintings to my Etsy store and cut the prices of one or two of the others. Due to the variations in the difference between the dollar and the pound I can afford to make adjustments every now and then. So if you want a deal on a painting now is the time to do it.

I also have lots of new bead designs that were uploaded over the last few weeks so I hope you'll drop by and take a look.

More beady treasures

Here is another example of what someone has done with my beads. How brilliant is that? Anyone who reads my blog regularly will know how much I love Halloween and all things spooky. So this journal suits my taste very much. It was made by Lori and you can see more of her art and BEAUTIFUL quilts at her blog. She has also opened an Etsy store where you can buy unpainted quilts to paint yourself too. Beautiful and fun all in one. Thank you for sharing, Lori.

Etsy update

Yes, new beads are now on Etsy. The pink ones were listed last week but I was quite impressed with them as I actually hate pink. Who'd have thought I would make some pink beads. The others all have their own inspiration story - Easter Candy, Graffiti and Scotland the Brave. I suppose it was only a matter of time 'til I made some Scottish themed beads.