Writer's Idea Box

Hello Friends! How's your week been? We had a good one here, and are looking forward to Spring Break next week. It looks like spring is finally here to stay, and aside from the usual seasonal allergies, I'm SO glad!

I recently subscribed to the Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit and Taylor has a special challenge each month, just for subscribers to use their kits. This month the theme is "Spring into Organization." I racked my brain for a good project for this challenge and was just about to give up when my daughter came to me with a request to make her an idea book for her writing. She is in second grade and loves to write stories, but she likes to draw a picture first, then write her story. She also likes to be organized about it. When I found this tutorial, I knew I had the perfect solution: a Writer's Idea Box!

Here's the box, all closed up. Except for the kraft cs, which I like to use for boxes because it's very thick and sturdy, the cardstock and dp are from the March Key Ingredients kit. The Echo Park brad on the flower is also from the kit. The white stamp on the box, as well as the typewriter, are from the Vintage Dreamer stamp set. The "Idea Box" alphabet is Curlz, by Sizzix.

I used the Daisy Heads Spellbinders dies and the McGill Starburst punch to make the flower. The brad is by Echo Park and was part of the March Key Ingredient kit.

When the lid is removed, the front falls open and the contents are revealed. The mini gel pens are from Michael's dollar bin. You could easily store crayons, color pencils, mini markers, or chalk there instead.

I used the Sky's the Limit stamp set for the inside of the front flap. I haven't put anything on either side of the center yet, but will probably put writing reminders there, such as "Use all your senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch," and "Ask questions: who, what, when, where, why."

Here's a look at what's inside the box.

My DD specifically asked for something that she could use to draw on, so I made her this mini clipboard.

Back View

I glued together two thick, sturdy pieces of chipboard, then covered the back with the same cs that the box is made from and covered the front with a piece of dp from the This & That pad by Echo Park that was in my March Key Ingredients Kit.

Front View

I used scraps to decorate a small binder clip, and the solid borders at the top of the clipboard are pieces of cs from the Kit, also. I sponged Distress Ink along the edges of the clipboard and the "dream" stamp is from the Vintage Dreamer stamp set.

For writing her ideas and stories, I made 3" x 4" mini books out of regular notebook paper. The paper and kraft cs was cut 6" x 4", folded in half, and stapled along the center. For the covers, I typed up some labels in Word, printed them on white cs, then cut them with a Labels One die. By having a place for a Book #, my DD can number her drawings so she'll be able to match them up with the correct book later. The flower stamp in the corner is from the In the Park stamp set. 

The little pocket at the front of the box will hold 3 of these books, but I made eleven, because eight more can be stored comfortably behind the mini clipboard. I sponged Distress Ink along the edges of each label, using several different colors. All the flowers were colored with Copics and no two were colored alike.

This sentiment, from the In the Park stamp set was so perfect for a Writer's Idea Box set.

Besides the Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients Challenge, I'll also be entering this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamps: Anything Goes

Lily Pad Flower Challenge

Lily Pad Virginia's View Challenge

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I appreciate each and every visitor and I love reading your comments! You all are the best!

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Hugs!

 

Stamps: Vintage Dreamer, In the Park, Sky's the Limit (Taylored Expressions); Antique Typewriter Alphabet (Image Tree)
Paper: This & That (Echo Park); Pomegranate cs (Taylored Expressions); kraft cs
Ink: Colorbox; Memento; Distress Ink; Copic markers
Dies: Daisy Heads, Labels One (Spellbinders); Curlz Alphabet (Sizzix)
Accessories: Starburst punch (McGill); ribbon (Taylored Expressions); brad (Echo Park); copy paper; notebook paper; stapler; binder clip; chipboard; mini pens
Size: Box closed: 6" x 5" x 2"; mini book: 3" x 4"; mini clipboard: 4.25" x 5.5"

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Dream Journal

Hi there, Friends! I've got a cute, simple project to share with you today. It's a blank notebook from Michael's dollar bin that I gussied up with a little country flair. I used the My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club #61 sketch, the theme from Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge #158: "Country Comfort," the ingredients and theme of "Take Note" from the Taylored Expressions February Key Ingredients Kit Challenge, and a torn layer for the Tuesday Throwdown #87 Challenge: Paper Tearing.

















This is my first Key Ingredients kit and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I LOVE it! It's so great to have everything already color coordinated. Everything on this project came from the kit except for the dark brown cs, a Pearl Pen, and the metal embellies on the corners.

The stamp is from the Taylored Expressions Vintage Dreamer set (you can find the set on the same page as the Kit Club subscription information. I think you can still get the stamp set right now for half-off if you are a Key Ingredient Kit Club subscriber. I inked the stamp with several colors of Distress Ink, using sponge daubers, the added Pearl Pen dots and Stickles just on the rose image. I also stamped another image from the set (a floral motif) in the lower right corner of the gingham paper. The brown cs behind the image was embossed with a Woodgrain embossing folder and I tore the edges to give it a more rustic feel. I adhered all the pearls and metal embellies with Glossy Accents to make sure they stay on.

This is so much cuter than it was before I covered it, and no more difficult than making a card! :)

Well, time to head out to the car rider line. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Vintage Dreamer (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Lost & Found Two (My Mind's Eye); Watermelon CS (Taylored Expressions)
Ink: Distress Ink; Memento
Accessories: Woodgrain embossing folder (Sizzix); pearls (Want 2 Scrap); Flora & Fauna Metal Accents (K&Co); Stickles; Pearl Pen; sewing thread
Size: 5.25" square

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