Color Me Monday: A Carnival of Color!

The summer is in full swing, so why not have a breezy, bright, unique color combination that really captures the essence of summer! I pulled together an eclectic mix of Sorbet, Twilight, Sunflower, and Chocolate (all tastes, sights and icons representative of the season for sure) to start with. The project I like most of this group is the mini-album coupon book.

Do you ever hear “Mom, I’m bored!” or “I don’t know what to DO!” from your kids during the summer? Well, this adorable project is sure to banish summer boredom and it’s so simple to make (it also makes a fabulously fun gift and can easily be adapted for parents, grandparents, birthdays, or even teacher gifts). First, start by giving kids meaningful assignments—for me, that always meant cleaning up their rooms and personal spaces, practicing instruments, and generally helping out with housework or yardwork. I’ve always believed in getting my kids involved so we can share the responsibilities and rewards of having a well-run home. And speaking of rewards... inside the book, I’ve created tags that can be removed and redeemed for simple things, from “Good for one snow cone,” or “Redeemable for an afternoon of swimming.” You can choose the rewards and the requirements based on each child’s age and need and I guarantee it will increase the helpfulness and decrease the whining on the spot!

If you’d like to build your own gift coupon book, here are some simple instructions you can follow or modify to make it all your own:

Step 1: Cut (4) 6 x 12 pieces of Colonial White Cardstock. Score the long sides at 1-3/4” and again at 4-3/4.” Fold toward the center and adhere at the overlap.

Step 2: Score and fold in half at the 6” mark to create (8) 2-3/4 x 6” pocket pages.

Step 3: Cover both sides of the pages with B&T’s measuring 2-5/8 x 5-7/8”.

Step 4: Use the circle punch and eyelet tool to create notches and holes for the binding. Stack the pages on top of each other.

Step 5: For the spine, cut a piece of cardstock measuring 2-1/2 x 2-3/4.” Score 1” from both sides of the 2-1/2” length (creates a ½ spine back). Adhere to the front and back covers. Bind with metal jump rings.

Notes and hints:

• The inside pull tags measure: 2-5/8 x 5-3/8

• The printed fun passes measure: 2-1/4 x 4-1/2

• Embellish cover and fun passes with stamping, ribbon and embellishments.