Altered memo pads make a great gift idea for family and friends. I love them because they are as functional and useful as they are pretty. And they have the added benefit of being a very cost effective project, too. Especially perfect when you need a quick and easy idea in bulk.
Bon Appetit Memo Pads by Designer Audrey Pettit
Project Supplies:
Therm O Web XL Memory Tape Runner
Therm O Web iCraft® Easy-Tear Tape- 1/2″ and 1/8″
Patterned Paper, Cardstock Stickers: Photo Play Paper Fresh Picked Collection
Twine: The Twinery
Ink: Ranger
Any Post-It note or memo pad will work here, as well. I found these long skinny note pads at my local dollar store…. a stack of 8 pads for one dollar. You really can’t beat that. I thought the long shape would be perfect for those weekly grocery lists, so I went with a food theme for mine. But you can adapt your project to any size, shape, or theme you’d like.
Project Instructions:
To get started, gather your supplies. You’ll need your notepads, of course, and patterned paper, die cuts, stickers, and any other embellishments you’d like to use. You’ll also need some strong adhesive, since these will be heavily handled. I recommend using Therm O Web’s iCraft® Easy-Tear Tape.
Cut patterned paper to the width of your notepad. You need some extra on the height, so here’s where a bit of simple calculations come in to play. Measure the depth (thickness) of your memo pad, and then add on that amount plus an extra half an inch to the height of your paper. My notepads are about an 1/4″ thick, and are 3″ x 7.5″. So I cut my patterned paper 3″ x 8.25″. I also cut a second slightly thinner piece of paper to layer onto the first.
Using a bone folder or scoring board, make two score lines at the top of your paper. The first should be at the height of the notepad. The second mark should be over the thickness of the pad. My notepad is 7.5″ tall, so my first score mark is at 7.5″. My notepad is about 1/4″ thick, so my second score line is over 1/4″ from my first mark, or at 7 3/4″.
Bend all papers at the score lines to create the flap that will wrap over the top of the notepad, to the back side.
Adhere the papers together using Therm O Web XL Tape Runner. This creates the base of the notepad covers.
Now have fun embellishing your covers with additional papers, die cuts, stickers, and embellishments. I like a vintage, aged look to my projects, so I added brown ink to the edges of all my pieces.
Adhere the embellishments with strong iCraft Easy-Tear Tape, so that they stay in place, even with all the extra handling.
Place Easy-Tear Tape adhesive along both of the top flap sections.
And adhere the covers to the memo pads. Tie with decorative string or twine, if desired.
So quick and easy, and really fun! And makes a great gift for everyone! Enjoy!
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