Just Do It

So, did you ever get an idea -- get inspired -- and then file it away to do "someday"?  Well, it seems like I've been doing that a lot lately.  In fact, I look back at 2007 and don't feel like much happened.  So this year I'm going to try to act on those little ideas instead of filing them away.

Project #1 -- This morning as I was surfing, I came across this little printable calendar at the Blueprint Blog.  Well, I'm not so hot on the idea of cluttering up the desk, but I thought -- hey!  I can make a tear sheet calendar to hang on the wall using those little pages! 

So here's how I did it. 

1. Print out all 12 pages.  Stack them together neatly and staple them on all 4 sides (one staple per side will do the trick) -- this will keep them neat while you are cutting through the stack.
2. Get out the cutting mat, metal ruler and exacto knife.  (Oh and put on some tunes.)  Then cut out all the pages in one go.  You want all the pages to be the same size -- so that's why you do it this way.
3. Then find some binder clips.  (Believe it or not, this was the most difficult part for me.  Yeah, the ubiquitous binder clip -- nowhere to be found!)  Clip the pages together, leaving the top edge uncovered so that you can. . .
4. glue it!  I used PVA and a little cheap-o foam brush.  I think plain crafting glue would work.  You just want something that doesn't get brittle when it dries -- PVA is perfect for this since it stays flexible.  I got mine from Paper Source.  So, go ahead and glue very carefully along the top edge only.  Wait about 15 minutes and glue it again -- get the glue in there so it holds each page into your little booklet.  Squeeze it a bit and put the binder clips across the top, close to the edge (but not on the glue!)
5. Now, or after it dries, get a hole punch -- you have 12 pages to get through so you need something that is up to the job.  I used a metal punch that you hit with a hammer -- sort of like a Japanese Screw Punch.  Mine came with an eyelet setting kit -- the kind you find at scrapbooking shops. 
6. All finished -- on February first, have fun ripping off the first sheet!

So, that's all there is to it.  You can make all kinds of little scrap pads using this same technique.  Save those scraps!

Comments

[Pete]

Funny, but I don't feel like I accomplished much writing in 2007, either. Which is probably why I went a bit overboard in my writer resolutions for 2008.

[marti]

thanks so much for the links and mini tutorial. i've passed it on. although the quilt sounds like it has been a royal pain, it sure is beautiful.