Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday Project | Spring Animals Mini Notebooks

I’m back for another Digi Choosday project! This week’s DT theme is Spring Animals, and I had so much fun with it. I originally planned to make just one mini notebook using the adorable Chicks in a Basket digi, but when I saw Bunny Rabbit with Roses, I couldn’t resist. So of course… I ended up making two mini notebooks instead of one!




These sweet little notebooks are perfect for jotting down notes, journaling, or even adding to an Easter basket as a handmade gift. I love projects like this because they’re not only cute but also practical, and they’re a great way to use up scraps and recycled materials too.




For the covers, I used patterned paper from Paper Patterns 4 – Winnie Daisy Fairy, which has cute designs that felt perfect for a spring-themed project. To make the notebooks sturdy, I used recycled cardboard from a cat food box (we never throw those away! They’re perfect for crafting!).


I colored both digis using Ohuhu Alcohol Markers. To decorate the covers, I added gauze and string for texture, then popped the colored digis on top. I ran out of foam tape, so I simply glued a small piece of cardboard behind the images to create dimension - a handy little crafting trick!


To finish the notebooks, I added some sparkly gemstones from Rosie’s Studio Softly Spoken Gemstones, choosing the glittery ones to match the gold wire binding.


These tiny notebooks measure 3x4 inches, making them the perfect little size to carry around or give as a gift.



Materials Used

  • Mini Cinch

  • Pattern Paper - I used Polkadoodles' Paper Patterns 4 – Winnie Daisy Fairy

  • Digi Stamps - I used Polkadoodles' Bunny Rabbit with Roses and Chicks in a Basket

  • Bond paper / typewriting paper

  • Cardboard (recycled - I used a cat food box)

  • Tim Holtz Guillotine

  • Ohuhu Alcohol Markers

  • Gauze

  • String

  • Surebonder Glue Gun

  • Rosie’s Studio Softly Spoken Gemstones

  • Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue

  • Optional: We R Makers Book Guide


Instructions

  1. Prepare and color your digi stamps.

    I colored mine using Ohuhu markers.

    Bunny Rabbit with Roses: GY4, GY5, R211, R3, R26, RV23, YR45, CGII07, CG02, CGII00



    Chicks in a Basket: YR511, Y10, Y4, BR5, PR3, RV23, T03, Y19, Y06, GY5, GY4, BR1, BR2



  2. Cut your paper pages.

    Trim bond paper/typewriting paper to 3x4 inches. I used 45 sheets per notebook, but you can adjust depending on your preference.





  3. Create the covers.

    Cut two 3x4 pieces of cardboard per notebook. Recycled boxes work great - cereal boxes, soap boxes, or in my case, a cat food box.



  4. Cut your patterned paper.

    For each notebook, cut two pieces measuring 5.5 x 5 inches.



  5. Wrap the covers.

    Glue the cardboard in the center of the patterned paper.



  6. Trim the corners.

    Use a Book Guide to make diagonal marks on the corners, or simply measure and trim them manually.





  7. Fold and glue the flaps neatly around the cardboard.




  8. Finish the inside covers.

    Cut two pieces measuring 2.25 x 3.25 inches and glue them inside the covers to hide the exposed cardboard. I used leftover patterned paper scraps.




  9. Punch holes.

    Using your Mini Cinch (or other binding tool), punch holes in the covers and pages.



  10. Bind the notebook together.









  11. Decorate the cover.

  • First glue down some gauze for texture.



  • Add string on top for extra interest.



  • Mount the colored digi images (add cardboard behind them if you want dimension).

  • Glue them onto the gauze and string.



  1. Finish with embellishments.

    Add gemstones for sparkle!




Now you have adorable Spring notebooks you can use yourself, give as gifts, or tuck into Easter baskets!


If you love crafting with digital stamps, make sure to join the Anything Goes challenge at Digi Choosday for a chance to win Polkadoodles goodies.


And don’t forget to follow along with my crafty adventures here:

Instagram: @my.cat.and.crafts

Facebook: My Cat and Crafts


Happy crafting! 





Sunday, March 29, 2026

Slytherin April Happy Planner Spread Begins!

This week’s The Happy Planner layout is finally representing Slytherin, so of course… all things green! I leaned into the color palette but skipped most of the snake stickers (not really my thing). Instead, I went with iconic quotes like “The wand chooses the wizard,” “I solemnly swear I am up to no good,” and “Mischief managed.”



And yes, I used another washi from Kaye, this time a Slytherin one - paired with a green washi from the Bearly Art Macaron Mix.



I’ll admit, I slightly regret starting April with Slytherin because Traci Reed just released a brand new collection to the Design Team that’s all kinds of pretty and super good vibes and I thought that it's perfect for a fresh month start! But hey, Slytherin is not that bad and still brought its own charm… maybe I’ll switch it up next week. Hehe.





Reading Update



I’m currently at 10 books month-to-date! 

Not sure if I can squeeze in one more before the month ends, but let’s see… never say never 


Projects This Week


Bee Happy Weeklies



This week’s FREE theme gave me the chance to finally catch up on a personal project, a scrapbook layout for my milestone birthday last year!


I documented our pre-celebration in Abu Dhabi with our friend Jhe during our extended layover, then our trip to Malaysia where I celebrated with family. Definitely one for the books. Read about ou Abu Dhabi trip here and our Malaysia trip here!


For this layout, I reused the cake toppers I made for myself - less ephemera, more meaning! hihi!


Traci Reed Designs

Productive week over here!

  • Finished my Micro Minis using the Flower Child collection (due April 5—early win!) Can't upload photos yet as it is yet to be published next week.

  • Sharing photos of the sneak peek projects I shared on last week's blog:

    • The Daily STAMPede – a Traveler’s Journal insert turned into that viral postage punch junk journal.




    • Pocket Moments – a mini album made from scraps for my Instax photos from my sister Mica and friend Kaye.









More details are up on Traci’s blog if you want a deeper look:

The Daily STAMPede and Pocket Moments Mini Albums by Ana

Bloom Where You Are Planted with the Wildflower Collection


Miqueka Scrap









This one’s extra special. Using the Blanco Y Negro collection, I recreated a mini album with boxes originally made for me years ago by Katrina Crucena.



Since I didn’t have her template (and I’m team Cricut, not Silhouette), I measured and winged everything. The box measurements and score lines were a challenge, but I made it work and I’m so happy with how it turned out!


Polkadoodles

Created mixed media ATC cards for Mother’s Day, just sharing sneak peeks for now! 




Craft, Create and Swap Club (CCSC)



For CCSC’s 4th anniversary challenge, I made pocket Memorydex cards filled with photos and journaling from past events.







I used Kelly Bangs’ My Happy Place collection because honestly… CCSC has truly been a happy place for me since I joined.



Printable, Cuttable, Creatables


Another page added to the scrapbook album I’m making for my mom.



This one features our Easter 2022 celebration as a family, and I reused the same layout style from my birthday page. Slowly but surely, this album is coming together, and I can’t wait to gift it to her.

Also sharing last week’s sneak peek project, those Easter temporary tattoos I made!





Other Fun Stuff

Finally unboxed my Eid goodies!

  • gum ball machine (currently filled with M&Ms but ready for real gum balls soon)




  • Candy containers now filled with gummies from the Saudi version of Candy Corner



They’re now chilling on my craft table… because priorities!


Life Lately

We received our first National Warning Alert SMS here in Al Ahsa last Monday, and another one early this morning. Nothing like being woken up by two alarms going off at once. No report of anything from Saudi Ministry of Defense about anything that happened here in Al Ahsa though.



I also had my second infusion last Saturday, and this time was so much better. The nurses were gentle, I barely felt the IV, and they were all so kind. One even complimented my dress, whether it was to calm me or not, I appreciated it. I had my mom and sister on video call the whole time too.

Sharing pretty hospital photos!





Little Wins



My husband made an Andoks-inspired roasted chicken!!! 

If you didn't know, Andoks is my absolute fave back home. Safe to say, it was chef’s kiss!


Featured Moment

My video for Prestige Paper Products is now live! 

It has its own blog post already (read about it here), but I’m linking it again here because it’s a special one.




And that’s a wrap for last week!  

Mischief managed… until next week.

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday Project | Spring Animals Mini Notebooks

I’m back for another Digi Choosday project! This week’s DT theme is  Spring Animals , and I had so much fun with it. I originally planned to...