Wednesday, September 4, 2013

WOYWW 222 and happy mail

Or perhaps in this case, what was on my workdesk for the past few days. Yes you saw it right, it is a suitcase, or perhaps again, it was a suitcase. A rather old and beaten up old suitcase I got from a thrift store for next to nothing.


I killed it....


I killed it, so I could use the old fashioned rubber material to make Midori style travelers notebooks.

These two are mine. A full sized one for work and a fieldnotes / moleskine journal sized one for my craft projects to keep next to my diary and day book (smash journal). I also made a full sized one for my husband. To take to work, as an agenda and for notes.

And I even have material left to make two more. Yay, best buy ever =).


I adapted the prototype I made earlier to these sizes. Made the larger full sized inserts myself, but used some tiny notebooks I had (3 for 69 cts) for the little one.

I like that I can now use up all that paper I have lying around. Bought to use in binders for my kids. They were never going to use them, because like me, they don't like binder rings...



Made some penloops and removable fly leaves, to use as dashboards and page markers. Made stickers from a art journal page photo, printed on label sheets and put those on the front of each booklet.

I love the worn and used feel they already have, it makes me want to use them even more.

So bumping into the old suitcase last saturday made me happy and if that wasn't enough, I also received some wonderful happy mail from Susanna.


She bought some booklets from me a while back and sent these as a thank you. Which she realy shouldn't have done, but look what she sent me. Isn't it gorgeous! 


A wonderful booklet necklace, a card and an ATC. Even the envelopes were decorated. All made by herself. Beautiful work, you realy should check out her blog, she makes the most wonderful things.

So thank you Susanna, it was a very happy day. It's so wonderful to receive someting other than bills or advertising in the mail.

At the moment my desk is full with my attempt to make 29 faces in 30 days and the book binding swap I am in. Other than that, I'm slowly starting work again, back to being an IT engineer. Slowly, because easy does it, as they say...

But before all that, I'm going to hop around the world to visit some fellow crafters desks and see what they are up to. You can go to Julia's blog the Stamping ground to find them.

Happy WOYWW to you all and I wish you a wonderful creative week.

32 comments:

  1. Well I would never had guessed your fab notebooks started of as a suitcase,most impressed :-)
    Happy WOYWW
    Kay #41

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  2. Those notebooks are fabulous. What a great repurposing of the case.

    The bears @#76

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  3. Top of the AM to you Monique - which is what my sister who is married to a Norwegian says to me every morning when we are together. Here in Alaska it's 3:00 am and I can't sleep so what do I do? Have a nice cup of soothing tea? Nah. I go getting my brain all excited with a few blogs - I always love visiting yours. These books are amazing. What a great re-purpose and I know what you mean about soft leather - there is nothing better. Ummm. During my recent down time, I went back to an on-line class I had purchased last winter from Mary Ann Moss, a Ticket to Venice. She provides really great videos on how to make the yummy kinds of books and binders you make as well. Thinking of giving it a go before I am off to Portland for the Art & Soul Retreat in about a month. Something small - maybe one signature, just enough to take notes on.
    Your gifts from Susanna are beautiful. It's a nice world sometimes. Here's to a great week ahead!
    Hugs. Sara

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  4. I can't believe what great booklets you made out oft this oooold suitcase!
    What great recycling idea!

    xxx Susi

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  5. Hi Monique - thank you for popping by. What a fabulous up-cycle project!!! Your little books are fab - What a wonderful idea. I love that you can insert lots of smaller notebooks or journals. Great share! Happy WOYWW to you from Helen 70

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  6. zooo wat je al niet kunt doen met een oude koffer! Ziet er gaaf uit!
    Gezellige dag verder! Groetjes Karin

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  7. Like. Like like like like LIKE. Well done on that thrift shop find and even more well done on your result with it. Go to the top of the class, Monique!

    Thanks for stopping by...

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  8. You have been really busy. I love those notebooks you made and the happy mail you rec'd. Happy crafting #1

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  9. Wau! Again wonderful notebooks you have made! Very classy and stylish! Have a nice day! Oh, and thank you for advertising my blog. Everyone is warmly welcomed to visit my blog!

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  10. How clever are you? Those notebooks from an old suitcase are just fab! I love the ATCs from Susanna. I'm off to check her blog right away! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier! Julie Ann x #32

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  11. Oh, words fail me for all this fab artwork all around ... smashing! What a delight to look at this. Have a great day, Suzanne
    #59

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  12. Wow Monique - fantastic up-cycling project and they look so cool! Gorgeous happy mail too - lucky girl!

    Thank you for your visit and lovely comments. Have a great week MMx #45

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  13. That is truly an awesome and inspiring upcycle Monique and love the mail from Susanna, how lovely. Cx #98

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  14. Amazing what you have done with the suitcase leather ! The books look great & it sounds like you have fun using them too! Ali #38

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  15. That is so clever - not just what you have made but to see it all in that suitcase! Wishing you a lovely productive week! Chris106

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  16. Oh I so want to find an old suitcase to destory those books are such a great idea to make out of the material. Have fun smashing away. It's so sweet to get happy mail just brightens your day up and you got such lovely mail too :)
    hugs Nikki 4

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  17. AWESOME transformation of an old suitcase... those books are just BRILIANT !!!

    HAPPY WOYWW 222

    IKE in Greece #67 xxxxx

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  18. It's simply amazing what you get when you recycle. And that suitcase came in quite handy for those books. Genuine genius! Happy WOYWW (because it's still Wednesday in my world) from #2.

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  19. How clever of you to alter the suitcase so cleverly.Love the things on your desk.
    Judy #20

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  20. Wow...love how you have made those notebooks out of your thrift store find Monique!! Very clever!!!
    ...and what wonderful happy mail too :)
    Jan x

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  21. Your notebooks are awesome, Monique,

    and that old suitcase has been reborn to new glamour! Very cool!

    Happy crafting!

    Claudia x

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  22. Wow, those notebooks are brilliant love how you have repurposed the suitcase. Gorgeous goodies as well.
    Sandra @68

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  23. What a fun idea with the suitcase - I'd never have thought of doing anything like that - well done!
    Have a great - and busy - week.
    Margaret #50

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  24. That was a brilliant idea! I love the way your journals came out too. Blessings!

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  25. wow....see, this desk thing is a continual fascination...how would I be able to look at an old suitcase as a book if I hadn't met you? what a great idea and FAB outcome, you must be really pleased! I could sit at your desk and just look, actually, very happily.

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  26. So much cool stuff going on, as ever - your desk is always so full of wonderful, exciting creativity.
    Alison x

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  27. Hi Monique, what a fabulous find, I love those books you have made, great work, and how lucky to have been in receipt of such a special gift, I can see you will treasure them, hope you get all the things done that you have planned, I keep campaigning for another couple of (secret hours, just for crafters) LOL. Hugs, Avril#60

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  28. I wasn't expecting the notebooks made from the old suitcase! They look wonderful... now you need to put a back on the shell of the case and insert some wooden shelves and what a fabby little storage unit you would have! LOL Apologies for being so late returning your visit! Annette #30

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  29. I shall look at battered old suitcases in a new light now. Wonderful work
    Famfa

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  30. Happy WOYWW! Sorry my reply is so late, Thank you for your visit, i like journals and that tiny silver book!!!
    -Tera #9

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  31. Very cool journal! I just found your blog and love it! I am interested in the suitcase leftover guts if you are selling it :)

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