Me and my big ideas

Happy new year! I hope 2011 is off to a great start and that you've been successful over the past few hours at keeping any resolutions you've set. The only resolution I've made this year is to learn how to use my DSLR camera (and the auto setting I've been using for the past year doesn't count). So wish me luck with that!

If you've come over from the Imaginisce blog for the January altered challenge, you're in the right place. And if you've come on your own, hop back to the Imaginisce blog for details on how you can enter this month's challenge and win a prize package worth over $75!

So I guess you're wondering what I altered?

The print services manager at my company knows I love to scrapbook, so one day she dropped a box of old paper sample books by my office thinking I might find a use for them. They're great little books -- spiral-bound with all kinds of tabs, windows and different sizes of paper inside.


They've been sitting in my closet for many months now, but when I read about this challenge, I had an idea. Actually, the idea was the idea. I'm not very organized when it comes to collecting sketches or bits of inspiration when they come to me. So I created an idea/inspiration notebook.


The cover had these great circles, which reminded me of the Imaginisce Dino Roar papers I had leftover. I covered some of the circles, but I cut out the bottom one with a craft knife so the paper would show through. I added some striped ribbon around the binding for a finishing touch.

On the inside, I interspersed some quotes I found about creativity and ideas on pages where I needed to cover up the old text.



And I customized the tabs using Tiny Type stickers from Cosmo Cricket. There's a section for Notes, one for Sketches, and one for Inspiration. Behind the Inspiration tab, I adhered the top and bottom edges of the pages together to create pockets where I can stash clippings, memorabilia or other loose papers.


Leave a comment on this post for another chance to win this month's blog hop prize (worth over $50) and check out the Imaginisce blog for links to the other design team members who are participating this month. For each comment you leave on a design team member's blog or on the Imaginisce blog is another entry into the drawing.

Good luck!

83 comments:

Angie said...

I am sure you have some really cool ideas to up in this cute book! I think that all of us crafty people need one of these! (And what a nice co-worker!) I was already a follower of your blog. Thanks for the cool ideas you share!

Unknown said...

What a great inspiration book. Looks like it might even be small enough that you could take it with you. Thanks for the inspiration!

ruth said...

I *love* how you did your book!

Manhattan Mandie said...

This is such a cool idea!!! I love how you re-purposed this book. And I LOVE the quotes!

Precious Memories Scrapbooking & More said...

what a gr8 job, that is a great idea to re~purpose a book. Gosh if I keep seeing all these awesome ideas I am going to have a draw full of junk to turn to treasures!!! this could be a dangerous hop :0) LOL!

Staci
Staci412 at optonline dot net

Karen Pinsonat said...

what an awesome idea, love that book!

Sue said...

Great book! and a great idea!!

Unknown said...

I have an idea book, now I need to decorate it, thanks for the idea!!

XXOO AMY said...

what a great IDEA!

Jenn K said...

Love how you re purposed this book!

Colleen said...

Love the "new" book

Unknown said...

Love it, looks amazing!

sandyh50 said...

Wow, I love your inspiration "idea" book! It's great!

JennyKozar said...

Great idea - I love your altered Inspiration book!

Khristen said...

Very nice, I need something like that! TFS!

Carol W. said...

I love your 'idea' book! One of my goals this year is organization and this 'idea' would be a great start! TFS

Leah's Crafty Life said...

Oh, I love that book!!! How beautiful you turned that into a treasure... love it.

Karen AKA Soccerboyzmom said...

Very, very cute.

Cathy H. said...

This is wonderful idea! I just started my own inspiration journal. Thanks for sharing yours!

Leti EM said...

awesome project. too cute. i made something similar. but i like to keep my sketchs in a separate lil tiny binder by 3 of photos comes in so handy for crops. ~following

Reneeleeak said...

Your "idea book" turned out so cute! You did a wonderful job on it.
Your manager is going to "Wow" at it.

Have a Happy New Year!
reneeleeak at yahoo dot com

Kelly Sas said...

I love the idea of in Inspirational Book! I am inspired (tee hee) to make one.

Amy said...

Great idea! TFS

Melissa D. said...

I love this little organization book! Now I want one : ) Great job!

Anonymous said...

Super cute book!

Brittney said...

You did a wonderful job transforming this.

And, I'm your newest follower =)

Unknown said...

this is such a great little book - love the windows in your book

Kristal said...

Cute, cute, cute is what comes to mind when I see this book ... loving the windows.

Paper Dolls said...

How cool is that? I think you made great use of the nifty little book!

Sophia said...

It looks amazing...love it♥

Lydia said...

I love my sketch book!! Great idea making it all pretty!!! Happy New Year!

Rhonda Van Ginkel said...

What an amazing transformation! I bet she would be blown away by what you created with this!!!

Happy New Years to you and yours!!!

Candi Ladwig said...

cute

Kathy said...

I am loving what you did here....very creative! And your goal for 2011 is the same as mine! Unfortunately, it was also my goal for 2010 and 2009, so I hope you go in a different direction than me!

Cassie_lu said...

what a great use of those pads. You did an amazing job altering them

Beth said...

very cute!

mimisimon said...

Oh, that book is fantastic.

Sherri Everett Thompson said...

Robyn, what a fabulous idea! I have cards and layouts clipped from magazines, along with color swatches and sketches, just pouring out of manila folders in my scraproom. This is such a great way to organize your ideas! TFS

Chelle said...

What a great idea. Happy New Year

lesleyw1 said...

i am just loving all these ideas,and I love the name of your blog, its's great!

Sandi said...

Awesome job....thanks for the inspiration

Auntie Em said...

Wow, you don't fool around when it comes to re-cycling and inspiration! That is such a great idea and you have a pretty good boss to pass along treasures like this.
Happy New Year and thanks for sharing! :o)

Kris Berc said...

What a cute notebook!

joni said...

Cute notebooks!!! So many great ideas for them too! TFS Happy New Year!
hugs,
joni

ErinJean said...

Oooh I need a book like that! So cute! Thank you for the idea!

Kim said...

WONDERFUL re-purposing!! TFS!! I am now a follower! Have a GREAT Day,
Me-Ma Kim

Tracey Taylor said...

These paper samples make wonderful bases for scrapbookers. Lucky you to get a whole box. Love the quotes you used!

Drayia said...

What a great idea. You could also make some scrapbooks for grandparents about special events at school for your kids or make litte scrapbooks for gifts at birhtday parties.
http://drayia.blogspot.com/

Janet's Joy said...

Those books look great altered!!

Anonymous said...

I love this idea...a neat altered project...thanx for the inspiration..:)

nicolle@nicollelovesscrapbooking.com

Becky said...

I so love how you did this book

mommyof5kidz said...

Great idea! Love it!!!!! The quotes are a fantastic little touch~!

Anonymous said...

Great idea!

Debi
2spunky4u@bresnan.net

VinDeeLoo said...

What a kewl idea.

VinDeeLoo
vndlewis at rocketmail dot com

Kim A. said...

what a super cute idea!!!

Unknown said...

OHHHHHHH! I love this idea. I am a totally organization girl. Love it!

My Hideaway said...

This is a GREAT idea!!! I Love it!

Happy New Year
Olivia
ojdorman at gmail dot com

Melanie said...

Great idea!

Gypsyangel said...

Love the notebook, what a great idea.

xoxo
Karen

Denine said...

I adore how you have altered this notebook. The quotes are awesome. Just opening the notebook will inspire new creative ideas. Thanks for sharing.

Melfield said...

Great idea....just gorgeous colours too! Your inspiration on your blog is fantastic - Mel x (melfield.blogspot.com)

Pammejo said...

Love the inspriration book, I am a sucker for altered books, pammejo1@yahoo.com
http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

Liz said...

Great idea. Love it happy new year

Sharon Peele said...

First of all I would like to say, I love what you did with the cover and the insides of your note book!! Second, what a great way to keep up with your ideas. I just have to say that I am learning a lot!!

Unknown said...

Very cute :) Thanks for the chance to win

Glynis said...

This altered book is such an Inspiring idea!! Love the idea of a purse size book for inspiration on the go! :O)

Cherie said...

Cute! what a great idea!

Thanks for sharing!

connie said...

great idea!

KarenB said...

Totally cool - what a great score for you to come by those books. A scrapper's dream :)

Kathy said...

Great project! I love the idea of collecting all your "ideas" in one place. Thanks for sharing!

Year 2 said...

What a perfect IDEA for the start of a New Year! I will be making one of these! TFS!

Karey said...

I did something I set out to do last year. It was read the bible through. I had told myself some other things I was going to do also, but wasn't up for the challenge. I'm trying again this year to get organized, lose weight, and read through the bible again.

Michelle said...

This is such a great idea!! I love all the quotes you added!!

Pammie Kay said...

I'm inspired by your inspiration book! Thanks

Anonymous said...

so cute! great idea

Ann said...

What a great little book, Robyn! I hope you use it lots both to gather your ideas, and then to draw from.

Sam said...

Fantastic inspiration, thanks for sharing!

Kim. said...

Great idea and beautifully altered with gorgeous papers.
Kim xXx

Amanda said...

What a good idea! I struggle with keeping sketches and articles organized myself...might have to lift this from you ;)

Unknown said...

What a fantastic idea! I love it! That was so thoughtful of her to give you those tabbed books. I think it's wonderful she thought of you when she saw them and I love what you decided to do with them!

Aimee said...

Wow, that is such a great idea!! I've been looking for a way to save my inspiration sketches!

Tonya said...

Great way to reuse the sample book!

Cindy Groh said...

Thise are so helpful to have. great project

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