I made a video showing how to laminate a folder, and here’s a link to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49EHbg_xS64

I started with printing out a bunch of lined pages and once I copied the front side of the pages I photocopied, then I flipped them over and printed the back sides. I had to cut 1/4″ off of the left edge and the right edge of each piece of lined paper to ensure the pages would fit inside my folder..

I made two signatures with eight pages and two signatures with five pages. I scored the pages at 5 1/4″ and put the pages in my punch board and punched a notch in the top and bottom of the center of my pages. If you don’t have an envelope punch board, you can cut notches out of the top.

To create the signatures, I clipped my pages together and then using a ruler in the center, made a mark with a pencil from the bottom at 1″, 4 1/4″, and 7 1/2″ and using a pokey tool, I poked a hole in the three marks on the center score line with a piece of foam under the papers. I took a needle and used dental floss (without mint) and starting from the back of the signature, put the needle into the center hole, then out through the bottom hole and then back through to the front on the top hole and out through the middle hole. You want the two threads on the back to end up on both sides of the center thread and then knot them..I use two or three knots to ensure the signature is secure. Fold the papers to make sure they lay flat.

I use a Crop a Dile Big Bite link: https://tinyurl.com/y55cz2us …Making a mark with a black water based marker, from the top 1/2″ to the left of the center score of the folder, make a mark 1/2:” from the bottom and 1/2″ from the top. You’ll make the same marks 1/2″ to the right of the center score on the top and bottom, again 1/2″ from the top and bottom. Once you’ve made these marks, you’ll take the Crop a Dile Big Bite and poke holes with the 3/8″ mark on the Big Bite. Take eyelets and put the finished part of the eyelet through the hole from the outside and then moving the lever on the Big Bite to the front so it squeezes your eyelets shut. You’ll do this with all four holes you’ve punched.

You’ll need elastic, and I found mine in the jewelry department. The elastic was from a company called Jewelry Fundamentals. Start your elastic from the top right outside into the folder to the bottom hole and then to the left side bottom and out through the left side top, then back into the right side top to the inside, and put it into the right side bottom to the outside then over to the left side bottom and into the folder and then out through the top left. Then you’ll want to tie the two cord ends and if you want to hang a bauble or charm from them, now’s the time to do this. I hung a few beads from mine and then knotted the ends so the beads stayed in place. Insert a signature under each of the elastic cords. I made four signatures to correspond with the four elastic cords. You can also put two signatures under one elastic cord, but I liked the way it segmented each signature when I put each one under a different elastic cord.

I got this laminator and thought you might like to see a review on it.

Here’s a link to the Ragu Laminator on Amazon. https://tinyurl.com/yxvtn8fq It’s currently selling for $55.99, but prices change regularly on Amazon. It is available in black or white, and I chose white.

With the Ragu laminator, you’ll also get:

-corner rounder

-1/4″ hole punch

-paper trimmer (on top of laminator)

-three O ring (paper clamps)

-40 various size laminating sheets, including large ones to hold 12″ x 16″ paper.

I turned on the machine by holding the on button for a second, and it only took two minutes to warm up. Once it was warm, I put the large laminating sheet into the front, making sure to line the folder up between the two marks that are the same size as the pouch.

I made a folder by using a 12 x 12″ piece of retired Stampin’ Up cardstock and putting it into my score board (with the back of my scrapbook paper face up) and scoring it at 6″ (the other scores I made are unnecessary.) Turn the paper one turn, and score at 2 1/2″ inches then you’ll turn the paper another turn, and score at 5 1/2″ and 6 1/2″ up to the 2 1/2″ score line. Then take scissors and find the 5 1/2″ score and cut to the 6 1/2″ score and cut up to the 2 1/2″ score line.

Then fold the 2 1/2″ score line for both pockets, then round the top inside corners of the pockets. I use a Kadomaru Pro corner rounder from Amazon link: https://tinyurl.com/y4ycy8ll You’ll also want to round the top outside edges of the folder. Then take your folder and leaving it open, put it inside the largest 12 x 16″ laminating pouch and with the pockets at the top with the opening of the pockets facing you, run it through the laminator, holding the pouch as it exits the laminator. Using an Xacto knife, link: https://tinyurl.com/y3fw8of3, cut out the pockets by laying the knife on it’s side and cutting between the two pages of cardstock at the top of the pocket.

Once I cut out the pockets, I ran the laminating pouch through the laminator again, to ensure the pockets are firmly laminated to the paper beneath. You’ll want to put the folder into the laminating pouch so the bottom of the folder is loaded into the laminator first to ensure the pockets don’t get jammed in the laminator.

I wanted to make a covered mug for a girlfriend who had a stroke and uses a walker. I bought her a cup holder for her walker that not only holds the travel cup, but also holds a small bottle of hand sanitizer and her cell phone.

Walker cup holder link: https://tinyurl.com/y4xfn2xo

Dollar Tree has changed the pattern on the outside of their travel mugs and here’s the link to how they look now. https://tinyurl.com/y4bltpfr

The paper I used was the 12 x 12″ cover sheet for Graphic 45’s Home Sweet Home. Here’s a link to it on ebay, as it is a retired collection, so I’m not sure where else you can find it. https://tinyurl.com/y58wol46

I took the paper that’s inside the mug and laid it on the bottom back of the Home Sweet Home paper I was using, and traced it, then cut it out. I then cut out the front of the image, including the woman hanging clothes and two pieces of the border that I could glue on either side of her. I glued them down then put it back in the mug and called it done.

I wanted to use the dies I got from Inloveartshop.com to make a few cards. Inloveartshop.com is giving my viewers a 20% discount by using the code S30626 at checkout. This code is good indefinitely. (So kind of them to do this.)

The center card in the thumbnail photo for this video was made before this video, but I used the “hello” die on that card from the inloveartshop.com haul, link: Hello die $3.72 link: https://tinyurl.com/y2nnolkj.

The other two cards I show in the photo, the card on the right, I made off camera, but made sure toward the end of this video to walk you through how to make it. The card on the left, I’m making in this video.

I started by using cream colored Recollections heavyweight cardstock from Michaels, and cut a piece of cardstock in half on the 8 1/2″ length to end up with a card base that is 11″ long scored at 5 1/2″ and 4 1/4″ wide. Here’s a link to the cardstock: https://tinyurl.com/y947o9hq

I used a stamp set from Stampin’ Up called Always in my Thoughts. Even though the set is very old and retired, there are a lot of them available on ebay…Here’s the link to them… https://tinyurl.com/y3r2775h I stamped the vase near the center of my card base with Gina K Amalgam Black Ink link: https://tinyurl.com/y557qebw Then I used Arteza TwiMarkers link: https://arteza.com/dp/twimarkers-set-of-48-colors-dual-tip to color the image. I used two colors of orange and gold for the vase/flower pot and two greens for the leaves/stems of the plant and two colors orange/red for the flowers. Then I colored below the vase/flower pot to give the vase a place to sit. I glued the doily from the inloveartshop.com haul link: Circle Nesting Floral Lace Frame Dies: $4.08 https://tinyurl.com/yxhrhez7 to the card and then took some pearls I had and laid them into each of the openings of the doily and then took an orange alcohol marker and colored the pearls.. I used a Spellbinder mini die from their monthly small die set and stamped a sentiment from the same Stampin’ Up stamp set as the vase and adhered the sentiment to the card using foam squares from the Dollar Tree.

For the second card, I used the same sentiment from the Stampin Up set called Always in my Thoughts, and the same die set from Spellbinders small monthly die kits. Unfortunately, I can’t find these dies to give you a link to them. I use them all the time, but sadly, can’t give you a link. I added the die from inloveartshop.com link: Crosswise Diamond Grid Background die:$6.21 https://tinyurl.com/y3j3akve and attached it to a red glitter cardstock from Crafter’s Companion Luxury cardstock link:https://tinyurl.com/y67f9h95 I used a lightweight pad of 6 x 6″ paper to cut the crosswise diamond grid background and glued this to the glitter red cardstock with Bearly Art Glue links: https://bearly.art/

The Mini : https://tinyurl.com/y4pqxoho 2 fl oz.

The Original : https://tinyurl.com/y3l8nngq 4 fl oz

The Refill : https://tinyurl.com/y2f5mpxj 11 oz.

The Bundle : https://tinyurl.com/y35gjlh7 4 oz and 11 oz.

I really recommend this glue as it is the only wet glue that I can easily squeeze out of a fine tip applicator (that comes with every kit but the refill in the information above.)

I laid the glitter cardstock on fun foam and glued the fun foam to an off white Michaels Recollections heavyweight cardstock in cream (link is above)..I cut the cardstock in half on the 8 1/2″ length creating a card base that is 4 1/4″ wide by 11″ tall, scored on the 11″ length at 5 1/2″. I adhered the sentiment die with foam squares from the Dollar Tree.

I was sent some great tools from Inloveartshop.com and thought I’d share them with all of you.

If you are interested in purchasing anything from Inloveartshop.com, they will give you a 20% discount. The discount code is S30626 and it doesn’t have an expiration date. I am not an affiliate and do not make any money from any orders you might place with inloveartshop.com. I’m thrilled that they have sent me their products to try..

Inloveartshop.com

Hello die $3.72 link: https://tinyurl.com/y2nnolkj

Christmas Gift Box Dies $5.33 link: https://tinyurl.com/yxlfnsxd

Cherry Blossoming Background Stamp: $4.49 link: https://tinyurl.com/y49d4ys9

Crosswise Diamond Grid Background die:$6.21 https://tinyurl.com/y3j3akve

Layering Creative Bubble Pattern Stencil: $2.58 https://tinyurl.com/yxe5gmcv The foam blender tool I used I bought on Aliexpress and here’s a link to them: https://tinyurl.com/y6m9um65 To make these work, squirt them a couple of times with a water bottle and then ink them. I was amazed at how much better it worked once I tried that. I think this will be my go to tool for stencils going forward.

English Letters Alphabet Dies: $3.93 https://tinyurl.com/yy9x5qde

Happy Thanksgiving Dies: $3.39 https://tinyurl.com/y3u33qhz

Beautiful Flower Wreath Decor Dies:$5.08 https://tinyurl.com/yylabh8w

Rectangle Lace Flower Background die: $5.73 https://tinyurl.com/y4try9o6

Circle Nesting Floral Lace Frame Dies: $4.08 https://tinyurl.com/yxhrhez7

Cute Sloth Stamps: $4.49 https://tinyurl.com/yxv2wb9f

I decided to make a quick card at the end of the video and used Recollections (Michaels) Heavyweight Cardstock in cream. I cut the cardstock to measure 4 1/4″ across and 11″ tall, scored on the 11″ length at 5 1/2″ The bone folder I used is made by Fiskars and I found it on ebay (now): link: https://tinyurl.com/y55r5her I used the Rectangle Lace Flower Background Die to cut peach cardstock and laid it on a darker orange piece of cardstock and glued the two together. I added fun foam to the back of the orange cardstock so that I could make the card have more dimension. I used the Hello die from the information above and glued it to a rectangle stitched die and glued both with foam squares to the front of the card…then added matching orange pearls to the sentiment.

I don’t know about everyone else, but the last few months, I’ve been stressing more and more about Covid. I did everything right….at least I thought I did everything right, but Rich and I still ended up with Covid. Darn it…

After I got out of the hospital and off the oxygen tank, I realized something….If I believe what I’ve read and been told, Rich and I should have antibodies that will protect us for the next 2-3 months from getting Covid (again.)

I went to the grocery store and for the first time, felt less anxious than before we had Covid. I actually didn’t feel like I should be eyeballing every person within twenty feet of me, silently accusing them of possibly passing Covid along to everyone around them. It was liberating. I think we’ve all forgotten what “normal” life is like….but this small window of normalcy has been just what I needed.

I truly hope that the vaccine becomes available to us about the time our antibodies are no longer effective, as I would love being able to continue feeling less anxious.

2020 was such a crappy year, and with losing my sister two weeks before getting Covid, the year ended terribly. I can only hope and pray that 2021 is the complete opposite of 2020…Let’s all put our collective thoughts and prayers together toward that end.

My girlfriend likes it when I make a covered Dollar Tree planner for her every year. This year, I could only find a two year planner, and even though it’s larger than previous calendars, I went with it.

To begin, I found some Stampin’ Up retired 12 x 12″ designer papers that I liked in black and white. The designer paper was larger than I needed, so I cut about 2″ off the top, so it’s 10″ tall by 12″ wide. I put the planner inside one of the papers and folded the top of the paper down to meet the top of the planner. Then I folded the bottom up to meet the calendar and removed the calendar to create a better fold. If you line one edge of the paper up with your fold, you should always end up with a straight fold. I don’t use a ruler or score tool, as this paper is pretty easy to fold without any tools. Then I folded the left side of the paper to about 1/4″ from the left side of the planner and folded it, and then did the same to the right side. You’ll want a little extra room (thus the 1/4″ extra) so the book doesn’t bulge when closed. Once the folds are done, you can lay the planner into the paper and using the side folds as flaps, put the planner into the flaps so it stays inside without any glue. If the book bulges when closed, make the side folds loose.

I then took a strip of the designer paper that was 12″ long by 3″ wide and scored it at 1″ and 2″ on the 12″ length, then folded the two folds to end up with a 1″ wide strip. I put tear tape inside one fold to make sure it would stay closed and then wrapped the belly band around the outside of the planner and hot glued the left end of the band to the front of the planner then wrapped the band around the back of the planner, hot gluing it in place. The right end I folded over and hot glued it shut, then put velcro under it so I could close the planner and it will stay closed with the velcro. I made sure the belly band wasn’t tightly closed with velcro, as you’ll need room for the planner to grow. I took two pieces of matching designer paper that I measured to fit inside the left side of the front cover and inside the right side of the back cover of the planner. You’ll want to make sure you leave a little space between the paper and the fold of the binding, otherwise you’ll end up with a bulge. I made the mistake of not leaving room when I did the first paper, and had to use my Xacto knife to cut a small strip of paper away from the seam.

I used tear tape to adhere these pages in place. I took three small pads of post-it-notes from the Dollar Tree and wrapped the designer paper around them and hot glued the back of the pad to the designer paper and hot glued a strip of glue to the top of the pad, making sure not to let any glue seep out of the top. If glue seeps out of the top, you’ll want to wipe off the excess glue before you lay the front of the paper onto the pad.

To decorate the planner, I had bought some matching embellishments from the Dollar Tree and I glued some to the front of the post it note pads as well as some to the belly band.

I made this video three times and apparently, this video wasn’t willing to play with me. I made these bobby pins for our niece who is a hygenist who specializes in applying individual eyelashes on her clients. I thought she’d get a kick out of having a variety of bobby pins to wear over the holidays. Unfortunately, because of Covid, I am slow in getting this video uploaded.

I started with bobby pins you can get from Joanns..here’s a link to them. https://www.joann.com/hildie-jo-10-pk-metal-bobby-pins-silver/15988074.html

Nightmare before Christmas buttons link: https://www.joann.com/dress-it-up-embellishments-disney-the-nightmare-before-christmas/15449176.html

Snowflake buttons: https://www.joann.com/flair-originals-14-pk-snowflake-buttons/15243850.html When you use these buttons, they look better when you layer a smaller snowflake on top of a larger one so you can’t see the metal through the snowflake.

My mother’s old clip on earrings were easy to take apart. I simply bent the clip with jewelry pliers until it came off…and then I hot glued the earring to the bobby pin base. Make sure the flat part of the earring is glued to the base.

Christmas candy beads link from Michaels: https://www.michaels.com/candy-cane-glass-beads-16mm–by-bead-landing/10547838.html

Hot glue works well to adhere most of the things I used, but if your hot glue doesn’t hold them, I recommend you trying E6000 glue along with hot glue for a better hold.

When Rich and I were newly married, he made me this video and I’ve never loved another gift more. With the year we’ve had, including losing my sister on November 30th, then Rich and I getting Covid and me ending up in the hospital, this year needed to end with a little bit of Christmas magic. So I’m sharing the video with all of you in the hopes that it will be a great start to 2021…