March 9, 2009

Librarian Notebooks

Edit: Watch this Get Out Your Colors video......be inspired! Link HERE.

My friend Lori became the high school librarian this year. She had been teaching history classes but finally got her degree in Library Whatever (Library Science???....sorry Lori, I can't think of your degree) and a new position came open at our high school. She is SO good, she's got these high schoolers reading all the time. I can hardly believe some of the kids that I see reading now. And she's very good at organizing and displaying books by certain themes and making them look very enticing. She's still trying to get me to read the Edward vampire books but I haven't quite caved yet. Anyway, I wanted to give a shout out to all you librarians. Reading is such a great thing, the stories will take you away to anywhere you want to go. You guys have great jobs!! Well onto my post for today. Lori is meeting up soon over Spring Break with some of her librarian friends. They're all to bring one gift item and stuff it in a gift sack. Then each friend gets a goody bag full of sweet surprises. Lori had me make these little notebooks for her gifts. You know they will be one of a kind...well actually 5 of a kind.
I bought this cute librarian stamp from Stamping Bella just to make creations for Lori. I knew she would love it because Lori's not your frumpy type of librarian. She's cool and hip and wears fun glasses, etc. She wanted some fresh, fun colors for her notebooks so I chose some October Afternoon patterned paper that had greens and blues. I colored my Bella librarians in with Copic markers, using the Copic Colorless blender to wash out the shirt and jeans for a faded look.
For some fun embellishments, I used some May Arts fuzzy ric rac ribbon, some Michael's dollar bin ribbon, buttons and felt flowers from my stash. These notebooks are junior size notebooks (like 5 x 8) that you can find in any office supply section. I took them to my local printer (try Kinko's) and had them cut them in half. I simply folded my solid colored card stock around the notebook...measurements are hard to give because each brand of notebooks varies slightly, it's best to measure and score each notebook individually once they are cut. The height is typically 8" high but the spine and width of the cut notebooks can vary. I make these notebooks ALL the time and the recipients always love them!

You can view more of my mini notebooks HERE.....and HERE......and HERE.

37 comments:

Coach Prentice said...

Listen to your friend. Read the Twilight books. My daughter had them hanging around and I showed no interest. One day I picked one up and started in...oh my! I LOVE them!

Sandy said...

I love these little books. I love that stamp too. I have a couple of these myself. You are just so creative with you stamping.

And you need to cave and read the entire Twilight series. It's is awesome. I'm so excited because the movie releases on March 21st on DVD. Can't wait since I took my hubby to the premiere. He actually loved it too. LOL

Anonymous said...

This is such a great project. I enjoyed your post as well, I feel like I see lots of people reading more as well, good news for librarians everywhere!

I also second the suggestion to cave on reading Twilight. It's fun to read and will probably inspire you creatively, it did me! The movie is also fun. :)

queenjolene99 said...

What a great Idea!!! In these economic times, anytime we can make something for a gift the better. Besides, I think people like handmade items better anyway :)

LOVE IT!! I will have to CASE this idea at some point...Thanks!!

Tracey Mason's Studio said...

Love the coloring on the jeans! I need to try that with the blender. Your friend is going to love these!

And just like everyone else- read the Twilight series. They are so worth your time. Note: they are addictive

Anonymous said...

OMG these are so freakin' CUTE!! Love the color combo, the copic coloring, the whole deal. TFS

Anonymous said...

Love the notebooks-I have that Bella since I work at our local library and love that she looks "hip"! We library ladies can be cool too, not frumpy!!

You should read the Twilight series-I saw it described as Romeo and Juliet but with vampires and felt that description really nailed it. It is an awesome series and reminds you of being 18 and experiencing your first love.

Thanks for sharing all your creativity with us all-you rock!

Linda said...

These will truly be 1 of a kind for your friends. Adorable!

Anonymous said...

Another great project! : )
I just have to say that I'm a newer reader on your blog. . .and I love it! The projects, the details, the stories, the light-heartedness. I totally look forward to seeing 'Mish Mash (1)' on my Google Reader : ) Thanks for sharing your 'stuff' with all of us.
P.S. Your new blog topper is super-cute too! ; )
Have a Great Day.

MichelleY said...

Oh Mish....these are FABULOUS!!

Anonymous said...

Love the notebooks!!! I'm not into vampires so the Twilight series has not intrigued me at all...but everyone who reads them loves them! Stand strong! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Mich... it is a library science degree. I'm a children's librarian (preschool actually) and I love to see my kids interested in books... even when they can't read yet! Your little notebooks are adorable. I'm going to have to cave in and get that stamp! I read the first Twilight book and wasn't crazy about it, but all my friends love the series. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful creations!

Kathy and Bobber-Wobbers said...

At first glance, I thought you had made BOOKMARKS, but these notebooks are very cool too (can't ever have enough notebooks!). Love the color section!

Read Twilight - your girls are youngish, but if they read the series, it's a wonderful "Mom & Daughter" chat to have.....my baby is 16 and we've had a lot of fun with these books. Also, as a stamper, it's loads of fun to create some "Twilight-themed" cards....daughters & neices are wild about them!!

As always, your work is wonderfully inspiring - thanks!!

AuBien said...

Michelle,
would you care to share which blue copics you used on bella's jeans? I can't tell from the photo and I love how it turned out for you. Thank you so much!

Maureen said...

Love your little notebooks!! I made some for Christmas gifts and they were a big hit - thanks for the idea!

And I have to agree with everyone else that you need to read the Twilight series! The movie was a little lame, but the books are great!!

Lynne said...

Us librarians don't often get a good press as we're dogged by the whole frumpy thing. These will go down well with any librarian I know and I'm sure Lori's friends will appreciate them. They look lovely.

KanataNewf said...

Love the notebooks! I am sure the lucky recipient will be very grateful to your friend!

Debby said...

Once you start the first twilight book you will be sucked in forever. Trust me. They are enjoyable. And these are way cute and your coloring is fab fab fab.

Renee said...

These are absolutely adorable! Your friend is going to love these and so are the people she gives them to! Oh and btw I haven't caved on those books either...my son keeps telling me to read them but just don't have the urge.

momoftwo said...

Hi Michelle - what a great blog you have! I just found it and I love it! What brand of ink pads do you use? Your lines are so sharp. Thanks!

Whimsey said...

Adorable!! What a special treat!!

Chelsea said...

Lovely! What a great Bella for these!!!

Heidi Kilgore said...

Oh Mish,

The notebooks you made for your friend the Librarian were TOO CUTE! I know she and her friends will absolutely adore them. I love that you were able to find that "sylish gal" with the books to put on the front . That totally makes them custom, well...cuz they are, but so special for the recipients. I loved your links to your previous notebooks too. Really Great!!!

Hugs,

Heidi Kilgore

Julia said...

I love your little notebooks! I keep seeing you use October Afternoon paper...I'm going to have to get some soon. I love the look of them! They're beautiful!!
I've read all the Twilight books myself, my daughter who is not a book reader finally caved and now she is Twilight obsessed! I love the books, they're easy to get into. Wasn't impressed with the movie though...
You're still an inspiration!!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely darling. The librarians will love the notebook. The stamp is just perfect. You are wonderful to make these special gifts.

CathyB said...

Love, love, love those!!! You are so talented!

Norine said...

these are so pretty love them
Hugs
Norine

Michelle said...

The return of the notebook - I remember you did some of these at Christmas, I think...like your to-do list maybe. Very clever - and that Bella is PERFECT; they will love!

Debbie Fisher (debbiedee) said...

I love these and your bookmarks! I have this stamp and am inspired to make some of these.

Toni K said...

These are adorable! Love the faded jeans. Genius! I'm sure they will all love them!

Anonymous said...

Love the bookmarks.
LOVE the Twilght books, i'm 42!
Skip the movie, it's for tweens!
lol :)

Lori Craig said...

Stinkin' cute! You are a rock star!

Sugar Cards (Candi V) said...

Ok first thing, Read TWILIGHT. I will not say they are FANTASTIC. okay the first 3 are good. The last one was ok. I did get to a point where I was at the climax of the book and the bell rang for lunch (I was teaching that day). I was so mad. I hurried through lunch, got the next class started and finished the book in the next 10 mins.

Love the Notebooks. and the BOOKMARKS!

Heather said...

I don't believe it--after years of not liking Bellas you finally found one I actually sort of like. It helps that she has piles of books heaped around her. *g* These little books are really cute.

I'm another who thought the Twilight series pretty good. The movie is so-so. I didn't hate it, but at the same time found it lacking a bit.

Amy said...

As a fellow hip librarian who also has her degree in Library Science - thank you for thinking of us :)

READ TWILIGHT.....

Brooke S said...

lookie lookie I found my answer... You Rock!

Hugs
Brooke

Anonymous said...

Mish - soooo remake these and put them on your etsy site :)

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