Inspiration Friday: Simple Stories Happy Day Card Keeper

Thanks for joining me on the MemoryWorks blog this month for Inspiration Fridays! I've enjoyed the opportunity to share what I'm working on, and it gave me an extra dose of motivation to get scrappin'! Hopefully, I also inspired you to create something this month! Here's one last idea for September...



I created this fun birthday card keeper using the Simple Stories Happy Day line (See, I told you it was one of my most favorite lines!) I got the idea for this album from the awesome We R MemoryKeepers class at the 2011 MemoryWorks Scrapbook Retreat. We created an adorable travel album using papers from their travel line - and it included pocket pages for memorabilia. I figured those pockets would also work great to hold cards I create for specific birthdays throughout the year.

To create your own, you'll just need six sheets of double-sided 12x12 patterned cardstock, two 6"x6" pieces of chipboard, four 6"x6" coordinating patterned sheets (I used some from the 6x6 paper pad), cardstock stickers, and some type of binding mechanism (I used the Cinch and a coil binding, but a simple office binder ring would totally work!).

Cover the front and backs of the 6"x6" chipboard with papers from the 6"x6" paper pad. SUPER easy! I added some cardstock stickers (the balloon is popped up with a pop dot) and inked the edges with brown ink.

Then, to create the inside pages, you'll need your paper trimmer. Trim the six 12"x12" sheets to 9.5" x 12". Then, score at .5" and then at 3" across. Fold on the scored line to create a 3" pocket, then fold and adhere down the .5" edge to the outside to strengthen the edge of the pocket. Then, fold the page in half vertically to create a 6"x6" page with a pocket on both sides. I used my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher (mini stapler) to hold the page together, but you could also sandwich adhesive between the non-pocket sides to keep it together.

Then, cut the mini-calendars from the Simple Stories Happy Day cardstock. Ink the edges with brown ink and adhere to the center front of the pockets. Add cardstock stickers for decoration, as desired.

Add your covers and bind using your binding tool of choice (the Cinch or just office rings would work). Now, you'll have a fun place to keep birthday cards so you won't lose them before you give them - and a good way to keep track of the upcoming birthdays to celebrate!

Speaking of celebrating...I'm celebrating my fifth year as a MemoryWorks consultant this October. Just wanted to say thanks to the MemoryWorks team and family for all your great products, inspiration, and opportunities! An awesome group of people, and such wonderful and inspiring products! If you haven't joined the MemoryWorks team yet, you have to check it out! Join us!