GIVE THANKS NOTE PAD OR DINNER FAVOR

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am reminded of all of the blessings in my life; my family and friends, my health, my home.  It is my Thanksgiving wish to you and yours that you are blessed.  Thank you for the joy you have given me as you stop by my blog and leave such positive and much appreciated comments about my work.  They encourage and inspire me so much!

This week's theme at Simon Says Stamp and Show appropriately enough is "THANK YOU".  I chose to create something that could be a reminder to give thanks everyday, a small gift, or even a nice favor left at everyone's place at your Thanksgiving Dinner table.  
I created a little festive note pad.

This note pad began from Tim Holtz' Matchbook Die Cut.  It is the larger of the two.  I cut two of pieces from Tim's Seasonal Paper Stash Thanksgiving papers.  One piece for the interior and one for the exterior.  I also added a little piece of Tyvek in between the papers where the scored folds are automatically added when die cutting the matchbook.  The Tyvek will fortify the scored lines so that they will not wear out when opening and closing the matchbook cover.  I added the Tyvek with 1/4" Scor Tape.  Then I put the two sides together, (wrong sides of the paper together) also using 1/4" Scor Tape.  Just be sure you line up the edges and the scored lines so that they will all match and remove the backing from the Scor Tape as you are lining up and taping the covers together.  I supposed you could just glue the covers together, too.

Next I added embossing with Queen's Gold Embossing Powder.  I inked the edges (a couple of sides at a time) of the exterior of the matchbook and then covered the inked area with the embossing powder.  Using a dry paint brush, I removed the embossing powder from areas that I did not want to be embossed.  When I was happy with how the powder looked, I heat set it with my Heat It Craft Tool.  

 Back Side of Exterior

I like the additional rich and festive look that the embossing powder provides.  It really dresses up an otherwise plain edge.  Then I sat the matchbook cover to the side and began creating the items that would embellish the top.

I began by cutting some of Tim Holtz' Mini Tattered Leaves out of manila cardstock that had been distressed with the colors of the turning leaves:  Rusty Hinge, Squeezed Lemonade, Ripe Persimmon and Evergreen Bough Distress Inks.  After I had blended all of the colors on the cardstock, I used Tim's spritz and flick method to create more interest on the leaves.  Then I sprayed the cardstock with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist to give it a bit of shimmer.

After I cut the leaves out of the distress cardstock, I embossed them with clear UTEE.  To do this, I inked all of the colored sides of the leaves with embossing ink.  Do this quickly because the Distress Inks will begin to come off of the cardstock, as they are water reactive.  Then I sprinkled the leaves with clear UTEE and tapped off the excess.  I heat set them until all of the crystals had melted into a clear, protective covering on the leaves.  Then I distressed the leaves with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

Next came the little pine cones.  I used kraft paper and Tim Holtz' Tattered Pine cone die cut  to create my little pine cones.  After I cut out the pine cones, I distressed them with Gathered Twigs.  I only used about half of the pine cone die cut to create the smaller ones that I used on the cover.  I made three of them.  I also added a little black cats eye to the edges of the pine cones.

I hot glued the leaves and the "twigs" from the pine cone die cut together directly onto the matchbook cover.  (Be sure you leave room at the bottom of the cover for the bottom flap to be able to pull up).  Next I added a little raffia bow.  Then I hot glued the pine cones in place on top of the leaves and the raffia.  Finally, I added a little "Give Thanks" tag using raffia and tied it into the pine cones.  The little tag is cut from Tim Holtz' Tiny Tabs and Tags die cut.  I had measured the size of the tag that I wanted to use and then computer generated "Give Thanks" to fit within that tag.  Then I just laid the wording in place on the die cut and cut it out.  

I loved this little note pad but it still needed something. Then it hit me....it needed just a little touch of Stickles here and there to give it a warmer, more festive fee.  So, I barely added some Stickles to some of the edges of the leaves: Paprika on the more orange leaves and Platinum on the greener leaves.  I also added just a touch of Platinum to the greenery that is part of the pine cones die cut, the pine cones and the perimeter of the "Give Thanks" tag.  You can see the difference in the two pictures above...with and without the Stickles.
NOW the cover was finished! 

To create your own scratch pad, cut paper - in this case, I used Kraft paper - to fit inside of the matchbook cover.  I cut my papers 3" x 2 7/8".  Next, I used 1/2" Scor Tape at what would be the top of my scratch pad.  Line up all of your papers and just press them down onto the Scor Tape.  Cut off the excess ends of the Scor Tape.  It does a pretty good job of holding the papers in place until you use them.  Then peel off the back side of the Scor Tape and press it in place along the already scored top of the matchbook.  Perfect fit!

So there you have it; my little "thank you" project.  The matchbook is simple to put together.  Then you can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish when embellishing the cover.  

Now it's your turn to create a "thank you" project and post it to our challenge.  You could be the lucky winner of our sponsor's 

You could also be honored as one of our TOP THREE entries for the week.  Good luck!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 

to you and yours.  Take time out to remember all of the wonderful people in your lives and give thanks for the many blessings you enjoy. 

Here are the products available at Simon Says Stamp that were used in 

creating this note pad:

InLinkz.com