Getting Hybrid 3/4
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Happy March everyone! Can you believe it’s March already??
I don’t know about you but I hate having plain old boring things around me. I *LOVE* adding personality to the things that I look at and use every day. Today, we’re going to be creating new covers for those inexpensive 2 year planners like this one:
yeah, it’s cute, but it lacks personality!!!
Planners like these can be picked up in the $1 spot at Target, Michaels, various party stores, and most $1 stores. I’ve even picked them up 2/$1! I usually pick up a few of these to keep on hand – esp. in the fall for the following years.
If you can’t find any for $1, the big retail store that rhymes with Mal-wart has them for about $3. Still a bargain for a quick and inexpensive gift! Keep these in mind when you are looking for last minute teacher’s gifts for Christmas!! 
Here’s the challenge:
Create a new cover for a store purchased planner.
If you can create a layout, then you can participate in this month’s Getting Hybrid challenge. add on a technique or two from the Hybrid Bootcamp and you’re well on your way to completing this challenge!
Here’s my new planner cover – isn’t it much cuter than the one with the star?
Supply list:
- purse planner
- digital kit of choice
- printer
- Epson Presentation paper (or paper of your choice – refer back to the Hybrid Bootcamp – Know thy Printer lesson for tips on printing on different papers)
- Scissors
- ruler or tape measure
- ribbon, ink, etc – your choice of supplies
- adhesive to apply any elements (ribbon, etc.)
- Stapler – one that reaches from the side of your planner to the middle so that you can re-staple your cover onto your calendar pages – *I have a cheap Swingline Stapler from Mal-wart
And here’s how I made mine:
1. GENTLY remove your planner from the plastic cover. Be very careful not to tear the pocket that the cover slides into.
2. Remove the center staples from your planner. be careful not stick yourself! :giggle:
3. Set the calendar pages of your planner off to the side. Keep the cover in front of you.
4. Measure your planner – length and width. Open your favorite editing program. Create a new blank canvas the size of the measurements of the cover you removed from the planner.
5. Create the new cover for your planner – keep in mind as you look at your screen that the right side of your blank canvas will be the front of your planner. I used one of Jeni Hopewell’s Scrap It Quick Templates, II and The Design Girl’s Girly Girl to create my planner cover.
6. To create a cover using the template, use the template as if you were making a layout. Make sure you add your shadows. Once it’s done, hide the background papers of the template. Merge all layers visible, and then copy and paste your “layout” onto your blank canvas. Add in background papers of your choice and resize the grouped elements to your liking.
7. Once your cover is created, print it using your printer’s best print options – see the Hybrid Bootcamp 2/1- Know Thy Printer for printing tips and techniques.
8. Cut around the edge of your new cover – add any additional hybrid elements of your choice. maybe a little ribbon strip? Would distressing the edges add a little personality to your cover? How about adding in a bow or some faux stitching? I really like how the faux white stitching around the edges really gives it spunk!
*note: whatever you decide, keep the layers and extras to a minimum or your cover will be too thick to put back into the cover*
9. Fold your planner in half like a book and crease – open it back up and position calendar pages inside new cover. Holding everything in place, turn the cover and pages over and from the outside, re-staple the planner back together so that the staple lines up with the center fold of your planner.
10. Carefully, and patiently! reinsert your newly covered planner back into the plastic protective cover and admire your work!
I can tell you that these make GREAT Teacher’s gifts, Sunday School Teacher’s gifts, stocking stuffers, exchange gifts, and even gifts for teens!
Here are some planners from the team:
Jennifer’s using Captured Romance-SM Collab and Get Real – Realistic Drop Shadow Styles by Jennifer Barrette
One from Melissa using Stolen Moments- Just Call Me Yolanda Templates and GG Digital Designs- Sick Of Winter:
As always, here are the guidelines for the challenges at Scrap Matters:
- Entries must be posted in the appropriate challenge gallery (hybrid projects), and in the corresponding thread in the forum (this one)
- You will have until the end of the month (March) to complete your project
- You’ll get 1 point for designing, printing and putting together a new planner, and then posting the photo of it in the gallery. If you want some pointers about photographing your hybrid projects, see this thread here. You will get a bonus point if you used a new release within one week of it’s release to complete your project but you have to let me know. Plus, I’ll select one entry at random for a bonus challenge point.
So, go forth and get Planning….. :giggle:
