Simple Card-Keeper
By: Melanie Smith, Artistic Guide

This project makes a lovely gift for the forgetful or very busy person, or those who love to take advantage of card sales and buy all their cards for the year in one hit.  I am making a few of these this year (I think I will need to make one for myself – for the first reason given).  Make it suit your own supplies and tastes.

All measurements width x height.
Finished size 7" x 7.75"

Supplies:
Stamps:
Small flourish (Autumn Leaves)
Papers/cardstock:
2 pieces of cardstock for front and back covers 7” x 7.75”
6 sheets of coordinating double sided (firm weight) pre-printed paper
4 sheets of A4 white card for printing month labels and inserts
Various coordinating card and papers for decorating front cover
Inks:
Your choice to coordinate with pre-printed papers.
Other:
Binding system – or a local stationery shop that will do it for you.
0.25" double sided tape (or wider)
Paper flowers
1 brad
january-december-for-card-keeperdoc (PDF document)
month-labels (PDF document)

Directions:
Pages of book:

1. Prepare the 6 pages of pre-printed paper to the required sizes. First cut along at 7", giving a large piece (a) and a smaller piece (b). Cut larger piece (a) at 7.75". Cut piece (b) at 6.75" - take the larger result of this cut and cut again at 4.25". Take the pocket made from piece (a) and trim to 6.75". Repeat for all six papers. You now have six pages 7" x 7.75" inches and twelve pockets of 6.75" x 4.25".



2. Lay your pages and pockets out.  I made mine so that each page opening has different papers showing.



3. Attach double-sided tape to sides and bottom of pocket and attach to the bottom of book pages. Leave a small border of page paper showing.  HINT: I like to fold out just the corners of the double sided tape, then lay my paper straight (it stops the paper sticking too hard if I put it down crooked, and prevents slipping). When satisfied with the position, push down on the corners to stick. Hold the top paper down and pull the 'tape release paper' out slowly. Each full page is made from a single sheet of paper with a pocket on each side.  You'll have six of these when all done.



4. Print and trim month labels and decorate them with stamped images of your choice and ink around the edges with a sponge. Attach to the page pockets.

Covers:

1. Cut cardboard covers to size specified (7" x 7.75").
2. Decorate the front with coordinating papers and paper flowers.
3. Attach the paper flowers to a layer of paper before attaching to the cardboard so that the brad does not show through.
4. Optional – cut another pre-printed paper to the same size as the back cover and attach to inside back cover.

Inserts:

1. Print the inserts on to white cardstock.
2. Trim and mount on to coordinating cardstock.

Construction:

1. Bind book together. I took mine in to a local stationer who made it up for  a minimal charge. Shop around if you are getting a few done – I found a variation of 100% in price.
2. If you own a Bind-it-All binding machine,  use that to bind your book.
3. Insert month lists into appropriate pockets.
4. Make some cards from any scraps left over and insert into random pockets.

Wrap it up quickly so you are not tempted to keep it!