DIY Notepads

I've been looking for a notebook or even small pieces of paper I can write on and I noticed that we ran out of notepads! Eeek! It's one of the most dreadful thing that we can lose in our home-office, at least for me.

And since I honestly don't want to head out to the nearest bookstore and simply purchase notepads, I thought I'd get a little creative with Mr. Snuggles' old, unused planners and make my own notepads. Well, I still went to the bookstore to purchase the padding glue for this DIY project. haha

Here's how I did it:

1. Cut up the old but unused planner into your desired size using a cutter. I was lucky that Mr. Snuggles' 2008 UP Planner had nice lines that were almost equally laid out on every page. I used a ruler and tore some of the pages by hand just because I like how rugged hand-torn paper looks like. (And the fact that I couldn't find my cutter and I was really excited to cut the pages lol)

2. Align the edges that you plan on gluing together and use a clamp to hold them together.

3. Apply a generous amount of padding glue on the side you clamped. Padding glue comes in white, which dries off clear, and in red which dries off, well... red. :) It would be better if you use a heavy object to

4. Let it dry and voila! You have yourself a lovely notepad!

A visual how-to right here:

My notepads were a huge success at home and I might design other pads as party favors, giveaways or gifts. Will definitely keep you guys posted!

Valentine's Day Banners

One more week to go before February and we are welcoming it with so much love!

I've set up banners inside our home just to welcome the month of love :)

Freebie Download: Valentine's Day Banners

Valentine's Pinwheel Box

Here's a great way to give out those mini chocolate hearts or other trinkets to your lovey-dovey.

You can slip inside small pieces of chocolate or a love note. Or better yet, if you are planning on giving a big surprise gift to someone special, you can use these cute pinwheel boxes as a countdown calendar to tease him/her before giving out the surprise. You can fill each box with trinkets, notes or anything under the sun to clue in your recipient about his/her big surprise!

Remember to add handwritten love notes or mushy quotes!

Here's how you can make them:

1. Download the Pinwheel Box template. Print it out on a 200gsm vellum board or any board you like.

2. Cut along the lines provided in the template.

3. You should have a Ninja Star-like pattern. Turn it over so you'll have the pattern on the other side.

4. Fold in the flaps, pattern side out. Follow the folding guide (line dashes) in the pattern.

5. Fold in all the four flaps. Do it as neatly as possible, lines are pretty accurate. There's a space near the "L" corner where you can put a double stick tape. Peel the backing of the double stick tape.

6. Tuck the side with the "L" corner under the curved corner and stick the two corners together.

7. You can also put a small tape inside if you have not used a double stick tape. (Just like I did) Close about 3 flaps only, so you'll have enough room to tuck in your goodies.

8. Slip in your chocolates or notes or whatever trinkets you might want to give your lovey-dovey or friends.

9. Seal the pinwheel box by using a tape under the 3rd flap (which you'll stick to the 4th flap). No need to tape the 4th flap.

Download Freebie:  Pinwheel Box Template (printable)

Have fun making these boxes!

365 Days of Creative Living

Before 2010 even began, I made Mr. Snuggles (aka boyfriend haha) a recycled planner. I actually made him two kinds of planner. The first one was from a 2007 Starbucks planner. It didn't turn out the way I actually wanted because I basically changed the dates (by either slapping a brown kraft paper with print on it or I used a matching oil pastel to cover the dates) and that's pretty much it. So when I started doing my own planner, Mr. Snuggles was mighty envious of it and had me do the same for his own planner. I made a completely manly version for him and it wasn't really about creativity. His was filled with 'Success' quotes. :)

Anyway, here's how my 2010: 365 Days of Creative Living Planner came out.