This is my first FULL quote book, "words to live by". I'm so inspired by neat quotes, poems, and verses that a couple years ago I covered this composition book to have a pretty place to write them down. It's much better than the collection of little bits of scrap paper I had collecting all over my desk. Anyway ... I recently filled it to the last page!
So I had to make another one, "more words to live by", since I keep collecting more to record ...I loved the Asian theme of the green one so I kept it going here. I just love the fact that I'm on my second book. And, yes, I do refer back to them and use the quotes on my scrap projects - LOTS.
Next up was to find a way to collect the project ideas that I've accumulated in this random mess of notebooks into one convenient place. I was constantly picking up a different notebook whenever I needed to record an idea for a mini book or other art project. 
I wanted one place where I could keep and record project ideas, design sketches, color and paper swatches, etc. So I created this out of an old Bo-Bunny canvas binder. The canvas was too light so I sprayed it with Glimmer Mist (suede), then used some Tim Holtz stencils and distress ink to create a scroll-y design on the binding.
Some 7 Gypsies, Prima, and Basic Grey papers, some manilla file folders and Prima embellishments later and I had a working home for the project ideas floating around in my head and swimming in that stack of notebooks scattered all over the place.
I've been playing around with different mini book binding options. They're really more like glorified cards but are sort of a fun, quick way to make a little mini as well. The vintage chocolate ad was from www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com. Inside I did a little booklet with the verse "The Truth about Chocolate" printed inside.
Of course I had to stamp up the inner pages. Who likes just plain text on a page?!? Also had to do my share of distressing as always. Love the silky ribbon. It reminds me of all the wonderful rich shades of real chocolate. (Yep - been on a little chocolate kick lately.)
Another binding mini option was this accordian fold binding. This idea came from a webisode on www.heidiswapp.typepad.com. I used some 6x6 papers from Memory Box, a Hambly transparency for the cover, and some plain cardstock.
Here is how I embellished the book. It's going to be presented to my parents as an Anniversary card in late May. They're on their 60th. I printed out a neat quote (you guessed it, from my quote book) on strips of cardstock and that became my journaling for the book. I think I got carried away with the flowers on the cover but ... oh well.
The quote throughout reads: "Time is a companion that goes with us on the journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived."
OK - that does it for now. Been on a role, I guess. That must be why no one has anything clean to wear these days. Back to life ...Thanks for looking -
Jill
