How to Make a 15 cent folder look like a million bucks

This is a 5 x 7 cloth covered sketchbook with two Gelli Plate prints on it and some random Fine Liner Faux script as a back ground to Ben's name.  

These are four 15 cent WalMart school folders which I put on the Gelli plate a few times yesterday just to brighten them up. I added a few embellishments with stencils, fine liners, stamps and paint pens.  

These are actually for hubby and me to "file" things in.  We take them to workshops for the handouts, put our trip information and hotel reservations in them, file agendas and etc.  BUT they would make wonderful gifts to grandkids for school as well.  Actually anyone would enjoy having a fun folder!  I usually brush on a final coat of Liquitex gloss varnish which makes it sturdier and gives it a great shine.  

The little sketchbook is part of a "survival kit" for our grandson Ben who will be a freshman at UW Superior come Sept 1.  

We had a little "warm up" here in the north woods and expect some mid-70s this week.  Acorns are falling and the forest is carpeted with mushrooms and fungi…all signs of the cusp of autumn in northern WI.  We expect the ducks and loons to be gone  before the end of the month.  Sumac are tinged with red now and late summer meadow flowers like black eyed Susans, mulleins, and golden rod appear on verges along the roads.  The school buses have appeared and fall/Halloween displays are in the store windows in town.  We are normally in full color by mid-Sept.  

Because spring/summer/autumn are so short here (and obviously winter is SO long) we are able to see all 3 seasons between June 1 and Oct 1.  And we "hear" that winter is very beautiful here.  I am sure it is.  People send us photos of it.