Create x3

Save an Inch {Swatches}

If you remember, back in April 2009, I posted how I made a swatchbook of my Memory Box cardstock colors.  If you missed that post, you can see it here.  And just an aside--wow, have I been with Memory Box for almost 1 1/2 years now?  Gracious, I am more than blessed!  Thank you, Dave!!!!!  Anyway, I love keeping all of my swatches for inks, Stickles, paints, etc., in a small 7"x9" notebook. So, I decided to create new "swatchbook pages" containing 3/4" swatches of all of the Memory Box cardstock to keep in my book with my other product swatches.

To begin, I created a file in Microsoft Excel in both 5 1/2"x8 1/2" pages and 8 1/2"x11" pages so that each of you could choose what you would like to use.  Yes, I am going to make the file available to you in this post. :)  I printed the file on white cardstock, and here is what the smaller page looks like before adding the swatches:

 
This sheet was then cut in half.  I punched 3/4" squares out of all of the cardstock colors I have here at the house.  Then I used a Glue Dot to adhere the swatches to the appropriate color block.

 
And here are how my pages turned out:

 
Aren't they pretty? I just LOVE a page full of color!  And then I created an 8 1/2"x11" sheet too.  Here is what the larger sheets look like:

 
Here is the file if you would like to use it for yourself.  The file contains both the half sheets and the full sheet so you can use whichever you like.

Download Memory Box Paper Swatches
 
I hope you enjoyed this and find the file helpful. Please do not distribute this file.  You can certainly link others to this post but please don't distribute the file itself. I truly appreciate it!  And remember, don't throw away those Memory Box cardstock scraps!  Save an inch for your color swatch page!  Have a great day!

Swatch Book Winner!

Thank you to everyone that left comments on the swatch book!  I can't tell you how much I use this thing!  It has a "home" but I never put it away because I use it so much. It literally stays out on my desk!  I hope that the winner uses it as much as I do!

So, shall we find out who our winner is?  Well, random.org drew the winning number for me.  And that number is:

15
Timestamp: 2009-04-20 09:13:00 UTC

And number 15 is Cheryl B.!  Cheryl said:
Patter,
This is a fantastic idea. The swatches are so colorful and the cover is so cute I would leave it out on my crafting desk. Thumbing through it would save time and increase crativity because you might find a color combo you wouldn't think of otherwise.   Posted by: Cheryl B. | 04/19/2009 at 10:38 AM

Congratulations, Cheryl!  Please e-mail me your address so that I can get this in the mail to you this week! If for some reason the e-mail link doesn't work, please leave your e-mail address in the comment section here, and I will contact you!

Thanks again to everyone, and be sure to read all of the other comments because everyone had some great ideas!  Thanks for playing everyone, and this will not be your last chance to win.  Dave has a lot of suprises coming your way so stay tuned!  And be watching this week as I show you fun ways to use Memory Box cardstock!  Have a blessed Monday!

Swatch Book {Part II} and RAK!

So, did you get your papers cut and labeled?  Today I wanted to share the completed swatch book with you.  To create my cover, first I cut two pieces of chipboard the same size as the swatches (2 3/4" x 4 1/4")--one for the cover and one for the back.  Then I cut two pieces of patterned paper from the Rhubarb Tart collection to cover the chipboard.

Once I attached the paper to the chipboard, I punched hole in the covers so that I would not put my embellishments where the holes would go.
 
Then I decorated the cover a bit but not too fancy as this will get some good use.  I added eyelets and large metal rings to hold it together.  You could of course bind it with your Bind-it-All or any other method you like.  I like the larger rings because it allows for growth.  The smaller rings were a very tight fit so I could not use those.  Here is my finished swatch book:
 

Papers:  Memory Box Co. Rhubarb Tart
Tools:  Crop-a-Dile
Alphas:  Rose Moka brown alpha stickers, Making Memories rub-on alphas
Stamps:  Memory Box Co. Solid Butterfly (B1048)
Stamp Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink faded jeans
Embellishments:  misc. ribbon, Heidi Swapp flower, Memory Box jewel stickers sky blue (15508), We R Memory Keepers eyelets

Now for the big surprise!  I am giving away this particular swatch book as a RAK to one of my lucky readers!  All you have to do is tell me why you would love to win this swatch book in the comment section here.  Leave your comment by this Sunday, April 19th, at 11:59 p.m. CST.  I will pick a random winner and announce on Monday!  Have a great weekend, and good luck!

Swatch Book {Part I}

Do you submit your creations for publication?  Do you love to come up with fun color combos?  Did you forget to write down the name of your favorite Memory Box paper, and now you don't know if you liked the Mocha or Vanilla Bean better?  Well, I have the solution--a swatch book!

I love my little swatch book!  I can match patterned papers to the right Memory Box cardstock, I know the name of the paper when I submit to magazines or create posts here for you, and I can match papers I never thought of matching!  So, let's see how I created my swatch book.

First I cut my paper into 2 3/4" x 4 1/4" pieces.  Aren't they pretty?  :)

Next, I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch holes into the longer side.

Then with a labeler, you can put the names of the colors on the back of each sheet. If you do not want to create labels, you can always handwrite the color name on the back.
 
So, for today, start collecting the Memory Box papers you have, cut them down, and write the color name on the back.  If you only have a few right now, that's fine!  That's how you start your collection!  Add to your book as you get more!

Memory Box papers are wonderful because they have a white core, and they are white on the back.  So, if you are creating a card, you don't have to cover the inside to write in it; it is already white and ready for your personal note!  To reference all of the beautiful Memory Box papers and colors, check out these links here:
Biscotti papers
8 1/2 x 11 sheets
Soiree 8 1/2 x 11 sheets

So, start on this portion today. Tomorrow I will show you how I finish off my book.  And be sure to check back, because there may just be a surprise in it for you! :)