Cheap, Cheap...

A few weeks ago Paula spotted these rolls of packing tape at Michaels in the dollar aisle.

Of course we loved the numbers and letters and at a dollar each I loaded up and purchased several rolls for me, Paula, sisters, etc.  Maybe some of you have gotten an envelope or package from us that we have used it on.  It takes anything you ship up a notch....I’m sure I had the coolest packages standing in line at the post office.  I might mention that it is pretty thin and probably best used just for decoration, but it was cheap so that was okay with me.  

So fast forward several weeks later I find these darling journals and pencils that match my packing tape....quite good for a dollar!

I think it would be very cute and perfectly acceptable to give as a gift as is.  

Just do a cute wrap and you are good to go.

But, I have a hard time not doing a little something to spiff it up, so I decided to cover the inside cover and following page.

Here's what I did.....
Mark the paper using the end papers as a guide, then cut the paper to size.  

Horizontally

and vertically

Save the piece that you trimmed off.  We will use it after the next step.

Cover both pages thoroughly with glue stick and adhere paper, making sure you get the patterned paper all the way in the crease.

 Fold the strip that you cut off in half lengthwise and glue to the edge of the page so that it covers both the front and back edge of that page. (This paper is double sided so it makes a nice coordinating print)  

I left the back side of the page blank except for the folded over band.....

.....I made several journals, some of them I ran a sticker strip along both edges of the band.

I thought it would be nice to have a book mark in the journal.  I used a couple of different styles of tabbed dividers that I had on hand, but you could easily make your own. 

I added a pocket, tag, and some 7g stickers and rubbings.

Wrap it up with hemp and an old button, or a fun ribbon.  Slip an old postcard or ephemera under the bow with matching pencil and add a tag.

Don’t you think this is a great little thank you gift or teacher gift.....and fast!