Friday, November 4, 2011

Week #5 of our 12 Weeks of Inspired Christmas Creations: Moleskin + Giveaway!

Hello again!  Our new Christmas Releases are now in the Inspired Stamps Online Store, all the orders placed today have gone out to the post office, and I am ready to share a gift idea that I am making this year with you!!


Several years ago I remember making decorated notebooks for several people for Christmas.  It was a lot of work to take off the spiral binding, then make sure the decorated paper was well 'stuck' to the notebook covers, plus all the decorating.  A big job, and honestly, I didn't enjoy the process...not one bit!  My joy has always come from the decorating/coloring/stamping/embellishing, never all the hard work to get the surface ready for all that LOL.

I have found the most wonderful alternative, which I am sure is not new to many of you, but it is new to me so I'm sharing.  They are called Moleskin journals and they are gorgeous, sturdy, and so ready for the fun part I can't even tell you, so let me show you:
 Look at the beautiful binding (no more metal coils to fuss around).  They come in packs of 3, I've found them in several sizes but these two are the ones I use most:
Their covers are like a very sturdy Kraft cardstock (much more sturdy).  Here's the inside:


 I love to ink the edges with Distress Inks before stamping.  Here are my samples in both sizes for you:
I stamped this in momento ink and colored in with Copic Markers (and the Spica markers...they are very sparkly and work really well on the Moleskins.) You can see it better here in the Label Maker Alphabet Stamp set I used and colored in with a Spica yellow.  I did her eyes and hair with it too.

I stamped Prayer Journal, and Create using the FAITHBOOKING stampset, and the LABELMAKER ALPHABET sets' Frames work really well with this stampset!  The 'pinecone branches' come from the TREES AND LEAVES stamp set (which sold out but is now back in the on-line store).
This one is the full-sized Moleskin.  I used a Jolee sticker on it, but I really like to keep these as 'naked' as possible from bulk because if they are really used, those added embellishments tend to get pushed off.   The stamp sets used here are the same as in the other two, plus FLOWERS and the FALL GRATITUDE sets.  I'm making this one for a friend I know will be peeking over here, so her name will be placed in the center before I give it to her :o)

I get mine at Target stores, so when you comment if you've seen them elsewhere, feel free to mention where!

Giveaway:  Just leave a comment here and/or on our Facebook page and let me know if you've used these or what you could see using them for if you did....Let your friends know about this giveaway and if they post and mention you, if they are chosen as the winner, you'll win the same prize too!!  Thanks to everyone who has liked us, followed us on the blog, and recommended Inspired Stamps to your friends!   So here's the prize:
A full-sized Moleskin and the FAITHBOOKING stampset to help you decorate it!
Don't forget to leave your comment below!
I'll announce the winner in Monday's post, so be sure to come back and see if you won!
Until then,
Be the Blessing!
~Antoinette
www.inspiredstamps.com (shipping most orders the same day you place your order!  40% off coupon is on the store's first page; you have until Nov 18th to use it!!)

15 comments:

  1. Oh my! What a great idea! I have been burned out in the past on covering composition books-these are sooo much nicer. I will be looking for them to make for gifts for a very special group of ladies!

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  2. What a stunning idea! Perfect set!

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  3. Wow! This is awesome!! I've not altered or decorated a notebook for a long while. You've inspired me to do it again. Great idea, Antoinette!

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  4. Fantastic idea. Too bad I don't have a Target near me. Looks like I may be having to make a road trip! These books would make a great gift for SS teachers, youth leaders, etc. Thanks! I am totally loving your 12 weeks of Christmas ideas.

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  5. Wonderful idea, Antoinette - I will be looking for some of these! I adore working on Kraft, and can't wait to give this a try. They would go great at craft Bazaar's, and could be personalized as they are purchased! Thanks for sharing :)

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  6. I have seen the moleskin and have wanted to give it a try. I love making journals and planners - for gifts and for ME! lol My goal this year is to somehow include something in each of my creations that lifts up Christ, whether it's a Bible verse, an image, or a "God loves you"! I love the set you are giving away today. I love all your stamps for that matter! I'm so glad I found you! Thanks for giving us the chance to win!

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  7. Wow! What a great gift idea - and a wonderful idea to keep the project as easy as possible! Thank you!!

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  8. Gosh, I never seen these before, but would love to find them. I would use it for my gratitude book. Love the binding also. Thanks for the chance to win this.

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  9. I love this idea - great for gifts! I need to go find the materials and get busy. Thanks.

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  10. I've never seen these before and have never tried making a journal or any thing like it. It looks like fun! Gives me an idea for my nieces and nephews for Christmas.

    Thanks for all the ideas! You are so talented!

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  11. I have seen these at Target too--I love what you did with them. I would use these to make prayer journals for my church stamping group.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  12. Thanks I love the look of these and the simplicity... Would be something fun for kids to make over Christmas holidays and record their memories.. I think I will be giving kits to make these to my grandkids.. Thanks Geri

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  13. I have never seen them before, I love the idea of no rings. I have 3 very young grandchildren that I would love to make a journal for recoring their first Christmas with us.
    cathyplus5.blogspot.com

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  14. I really like the prayer journal. It would make a beautiful gift for the ladies at church to keep our many prayer requests in. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. Antoinette-I found these exact same moleskin books this weekend at Barnes and Noble!

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Kind words welcomed here!