Because if you answered ‘YES!’ to this very question, then I’ve got a cute little project for you.
Presenting the "Month of Super Short Stories" Tag Book.
It all started on Friday, after going out to lunch with my sweet friend, Margie, which included a stop into the paper crafter’s sensory overload that IS Paper Source. While Margie pulled cuteness from all around the store, I focused in on one thing: these tags.
Now for those of you who are familiar with the fours walls of Paper Source, you know it’s nearly impossible NOT to spend a month’s worth of grocery money in less than 10 minutes, but I was exceptionally restrained. I simply focused on the tags and thought: “I bet you I can make me somethin’ with these here thingies.”
So here’s the thingie I’m making (with an emphasis on making as it’s not even remotely done). I’m getting everything prepped to do a tag book that will span one month’s time and be a cute little holding pen for random everyday story snippets and photos. I will begin collecting said data on March 1.
The idea of this project is NOT to jot down a story a day. Oh sure, if you’re REALLY motivated, go for it. But my hope is just to get you to record, oh…let’s shoot for, HALF of your days in a given month.
And what are you going to record? Whatever the heck you want to, but the challenge is this: just pick one thing from the day you're recording, and write down a little tiny story about it. The tags I designed for this mini-book only give you so much room to write, so the exercise is all about choosing your words carefully, and realizing you don’t need to write a thesis to adequately capture a moment/story/bit & piece of your daily life.
Maybe you will write about your wild success with laundry on a Tuesday. Or the way you had a massive, institutionalization-worthy meltdown on Saturday. Whatever goes, goes. Just find a way to write a mini-record of one thing from one chosen day.
Then, take a picture to put on the back of the tagger. It’s that easy. And guess what? The picture doesn’t have to have anything to do with the story, if you don’t feel the need. Why, you don’t even need a picture. Just use some cute patterned paper and the reverse side of the tag and be done.
The other part of this project is to use something Old and something New (you can leave out the borrowed and blue part, unless you are too cheap to buy your own scrapbooking tools AND you’re real fond of blue.)
For me, my New was the gorgeous new Sultry collection of papers from BasicGrey. My Old, was these way dusty Missing Link stamps in Colonial Style 5. I’m going to use those to stamp my dates on the taggers.
Beyond that, I pulled from my stash to complete the rest of the tag book cover.
I’ve already printed out 15 tag pages, and trimmed them so they are ready to go come March 1. What do you think? Are you in? Want to practice recording little stories in three to four sentences or less?
Here’s a quick shot of what I’m using, along with some more links.
Heidi Swapp Ghost Butterflys
Ink from Tim Holtz in Vintage Photo
Stamp from Cat's Life Press
Label stickers from Martha Stewart Crafts
mini glitter brads from KI Memories
paint, brush and sanding block from Making Memories
(tag design by yours truly!)
and… you'll need a jump/binder ring to hold it all together
I will say that you certainly don’t need to buy the Paper Source tags (believe me, I get no kickback from these tags, though I wish I did!) You can print out the tag templates, and just trace your own from chipboard. But I’m telling you, the ones from Paper Source are so thick and rich! And for you nutty super alter-er people, they'll hold up to around a pound of stuff and still be standing strong!
There is a tag template download below for March (the month I’m going to do, because it’s my favorite month, because it’s my birthday month), April and May. Beyond that, if people need other months, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Just print them onto your choice of cardstock and trim.
Finally, don't get all hung up on the specific details of this. The idea is to wing it, people! I will be sharing some of my entries as we get into March. Cross my heart.
Note: This isn't meant to be a monthly thing, though you may just have so much fun, you'll become addicted. Like I used to be addicted to nicotine and am now addicted to Sprite and salt and vinegar potato chips!
Trimming tip: B sure to trim your tags to the inside of the black guideline, and double-check they match up size wise to your Paper Source tag cover, or the one you make from chipboard. You may have to do a little trimming here and there, but don’t sweat it. It should work. Then punch a hole on the tag, grab a jump/binder ring, and you’re ready to start telling stories.
My posting will be light this coming week, and so… I wanted to leave you with something fun, and mildly meaty.
Here’s to meaty little stories!
love, Cathy
Here are the templates for March, April or May. (and they're all in brown. Sorry people, that's the way they're going to have to be. Brown is so neutral, really.) There is a little box on each tag, and that is for the date. Good luck!
Download march.pdf
Download april.pdf
Download may.pdf
p.s. hopefully these files will work, and you guys will know exactly what to do. If not, post any burning questions here.
p.s.s. the template files will print on an 8.5 x 11 paper, but don't bleed to the edge, so they should be easy to print.
