Retro-look Valentine Notebook with Pen

I like both vintage and retro-looking things.  For me retro has a lot to do with the colors and images of the 50's and 60's.  That's why I was immediately drawn to the faded red of this Sierra Pacific blank notebook with undecorated pen ($1.99!) and the American Crafts 'Love Notes' dimensional stickers (purchased at Ben Franklin Crafts).

At the CHA show I saw lots of blackboard papers, stickers, and stamps....I loved them all!  To give a blackboard-look to this project, I decided to stamp directly on the faux leather texture of the notebook with white (Versa Magic) ink and apply white (Detail) embossing powder (set with heat gun).  The hearts and arrow images came from two stamp sets (Paper Smooches and AC Love Notes).

To coordinate the pen and spine of book, I covered them with Amy Tangerine (American Crafts) paper. The paper was reversed and the grey side used inside the notebook to provide a background for the calendar and Post-It pad. (Yes, I still have calendars to use up!)  Notice that I left the yellow striped edge of the 12x12 because it just looked like it belonged there.

I didn't worry about getting the images perfect because I was going for a blackboard look....messy, right?  For a change I didn't make this project for anyone in particular.  I'm gifting it to myself because I totally made it just to suit my retro taste.  It makes me happy to look at and use this notebook! Hope that you will craft a Valentine's Day gift to yourself too.....you deserve it!