April 3, 2007

How Not to Use the Bind It All

Whenever I see some awesome new card, or other item, that someone with talent has made, I completely lose my senses -- I can't help but think "That looks great and it doesn't look that hard to make... if I buy the [fill in the blank] I'll be able to make that too." Perhaps that sounds familiar to you?? So, of course, I bought the Bind It All. The good thing is that I purchased the Bind It All from Bonnie's Best Art Tools. There is a Bonnie and she is the best! If Bonnie sells it and it is something I want, I always buy it from Bonnie. Bonnie sold me my Genesis Paper Trimmer and my Japanese Screw Punch, among other things. Bonnie got my order for the Bind It All and called me to explain that she could ship it more cheaply than the way I had selected and I would get it sooner. Now that's personalized service! The second good thing is that, if I say so myself, I came up with a practical thing to make with the Bind It All -- I wanted a portfolio with an easy way to store some "stuff" -- in this case, envelopes from stampers to whom I "owed" a card, bills that need to be paid, etc. And I made it with the Bind It All! Ok, now the How Not to Use it part. The instructions strongly suggest that you start with a small project. That was my first mistake. By small, they mean -- not a lot of holes to punch. But, I thought I was too smart to start small (passed the bar exam on the first try!!) and I really wanted to make the portfolio. So, here is what happened on my first attempt -- Beautiful, isn't it? I guess I missed the "following directions" class in law school. Keep in mind that I ruined a lovely 9 1/2 by 10 1/2 piece of lightweight cardboard covered on both sides with Stampin Up's Recollections paper. Eventually, however, I made this: Quit laughing!! I know it isn't going to win any design contests, but I also managed to use my woefully neglected Cricut to make the letters. Here's the inside (yes, I know the envelopes are not lined up evenly -- I did that on purpose so you'd learn from my mistakes ---- NOT!!). All in all, I think it is kind of cool. My next project for the Bind It All -- something small! ************* Note: to respond to a comment, the first 3 pictures posted in the entry on Gina K were all made by Gina, not me. Also, another wonderful commenter asked what my favorite color is. I love buttery yellow!

19 comments:

  1. I'm not laughing Joan - I think it turned out great!

    It did make me giggle though when I clicked the link that took me to Debbie's blog! I'm a fan too!

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  2. I bought my Rubi Coil from Bonnie and I just wanted to second the fact that she is AWESOME!!!

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  3. OMG! Joan, you are so funny. It looks great now it's done, really it does. Just teasing, really awesome project.

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  4. What a cool idea. Are you going to make us a tutorial so we DON'T make the same mistake??? LOL Thanks so much for sharing. How in the world do you have time with being an attorney and taking care of your MOM to do projects and this blog??? I envy you!

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  5. I am laughing simply because I often think I am "above" directions or I know better. LOL!!
    I love your project!!
    and thanks for the heads up about Bonnies!!

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  6. Bonnie is the best. Bonnie attended a convention in Reno (where I used to live) and she demoed the at the time cool binding machine and I knew I had to have it! Bonnie held my month old daughter for me while I got my cc out and organized. A year later when I ordered a Japanese screw punch and needed a little extra help (I cut myself on the first try with it) Bonnie quickly gave me some extra e-mail help (and asked me how my baby was doing!)

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  7. OH MY GOODNESS.....you had me laughing so hard at this post, Joan! I love your sense of humor and that you don't mind putting it all out there for us to see....including the mistakes. :) Thanks for keeping it real. :) And for giving me my first belly laugh of the day.

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  8. Oh Joan, I can so relate to what you write so many many times. It's almost like you have peeked into my life. I think your project turned out nicely, and that is a good idea for keeping track of those things. I just ordered the DreamKutz from Bonnie. Also got my Genesis and Japanese Screw Punch from her, and she IS the BEST.

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  9. Ahhh Joan...I love your project. The Bind it All is on my list of wants to (thanks to the same super talented stamper that you linked to) and I'll be sure to make myself follow the directions. Looking forward to seeing future bind it all projects from you.

    Linda (LSN on SCS)

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  10. Love your project, Joan! The rest of us just don't post our Bind It All projects that didn't quite turn out! LOL

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  11. Oh Joan...if you had started small, you would not have made the mistake and we would have learned nothing...I for one...thank you for starting big! *snort*

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  12. Bravo, Bravo! I admire your pluck, girl! Only REAL women crafters will show their work, mistakes and all :)
    Signed, The Erma Bombeck of the stampin' world'
    Vanessa Farkas

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  13. Joan...you are too funny! We are all human, aren't we? By the way...I love your project! I think it turned out great. :)

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  14. Aw Joan! I am seriously worried this will happen to me when I finally bring my bind-it-all out of the box. I ordered my o-wires from Bonnie and she was SUPER fast on shipping. I was really impressed.

    BTW... so you like buttery yellow. What is your second favorite color? :D

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  15. You are SO FUNNY and your story is ALL TOO familiar! You must be stalking ME! HA! And thanks so much for letting us know how not to do it, it helps. BWAAHHHaa! All kidding aside, I think you created a pretty cool project!

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  16. You are so funny - how fun to make your own book!

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  17. That is priceless imformation you shared with us. I love the final outcome - it's very pretty. I LOVE that you photographed the mistake because it made me laugh. I'm not a scholar so I read directions until I understand completely (dosen't matter though, I still mess up, LOL!). TFS

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  18. Mistake 8.95
    BIA 59.95,
    Directions that came with the BIA: Wortless
    Your Project & Post: PRICELESS

    Love your blog

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  19. It really does look good in the end though! Seriously, if you ever have a question about it or need help or whatever - let me know. I haven't made anything big, but I think we could figure it out together!

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