Midori Traveler's Notebook-style notebook cover

I was given a piece of leather (I don't know what type of leather it is) - it is soft, thin, creased and a bit worn. I love that it looks like it has had a bit of a life already!



So, I made it into a Midori-style notebook cover for my brother for Christmas. And then I made a video about it - of course!

From rubbish to useful - an experiment in re-use

I decided to make a book out of paper bags:

 and here is how I used my new book:

This page opened out into a pocket that I could  put photos, tickets, tags etc into (see below)

there is stitching along the seams and outer edge to create pockets

It's hard to see, but I tapped in a clear plastic page here - it was resused from a package

I stitched a torn book page and red striped ribbon to the flap of an envelope for some added interest

Here I tapped in a postcard and journaled on the other side. The left hand page opens out into a pocket that I inserted ephemera into from our outing (see below)

This is the pocket page opened out

Here I attached a pocket to put photos into and tapped in an envelope to put our ephemera into

Reverse of the tapped -in envelope 

This is an envelope that I opened up along the glued edges so that it could open up to become a big journaling spread

Inside I tapped a post card into the envelope to make it into a kind of book in a book

My beautiful blessings loved my book, so I made one each with them and for them.

Amazingly, I still have heaps of paper bags.

I have to exercise immense self control NOT to collect more.

Argh!

The joys of genetic hoarding.

Moleskin (art) journal pages

Creativity Likje a Flower

Flower Doodle Sketch

Garden Care

My Sonshine (unfinished)

Don't be anxious

Wallart doodle

Listen

Think! sketch

A bit of recent creativity

I made an advent calendar with my blessings.

I was inspired to make an advent calendar with my blessings this year, and then went and secretly stuffed it with all kinds of things...

Each day of December has a bible reading leading to the birth of Jesus - the reason that we celebrate Christmas.

Most days have an activity suggestion, like: look at Christmas lights; drink hot chocolate; donate some toys to charity; give some baked treats to a neighbour etc.

And then the 'gift' inside has to do with the activity suggestion. i.e. drink hot chocolate has mini marshmallows inside.

After decorating all the bags and boxes I hung them over a dead tree branch from our yard that I had twisted fairy lights around. I hung bits of sphagnum moss over it, some baubles and ribbon.

The kids LOVE opening it each morning, listening to the bible story unfold and following through on the daily suggestion.

And I'm having fun with it, too!