Handmade journal

I didn't make any art journal pages this week, instead I made my own journal!

Using directions from The Complete Decorated Journal and Cover to Cover, I bound some of my painted and prepared pages into a journal:

Now, the first thing I will say is that the author of The Complete Decorated Journal calls this style a "30 minute" book and that is CRAZY. I spent WAY more than 30 minutes on this binding! I guess she's made a lot of them and can whip them out in 30 minutes, but I sure can't!

The cover of my book is watercolor paper, decorated with water color crayons and glimmer mist, then spray with a fixative. The ends and spine are covered in washi tape.

Inside is a mix of vintage and new papers (most are painted or gesso'd), as well as some envelopes.

I used a variety of sizes of paper & envelopes, and definitely learned that that makes the binding really hard for me to sew. It was hard to clip everything firmly together when there are so many different sizes. As a beginner, I will definitely stick to same-size papers for now!!

This was a great way to use some of the pages that have been sitting around waiting for a purpose, as well as try out some paints and embellishments I have on hand.

I hope you like it! Thanks for looking!

-Susan

P.S. This is linked at Art Journal Every Day

Simple Pamphlet Stitch books

I made a few simple one and 2 signature books with sketch paper sewn into a few different covers, with waxed thread.

I like the look of the floral scrapbook paper covers, but I don't think they are the most sturdy covers. The orange wallpaper sample cover is definitely more durable.

The little notebook is stapled rather than sewn.

Mini Notebook

This mini notebook shows repetition for the Moxie Fab Repetition Challenge! It's a very simple design... and very perfect for carrying around in my purse! :)

Father's Day Notebook

Father's Day will be here before you know it! Cool stuff for guys can be so hard to find.

These notebooks are designed to be hung on a garage pegboard and used for any sort of lists or notes, such as

• measurements for a project
• remembering paint colors & brands used in the house
• reminders for home maintenance
• honey-do lists :)

- Susan

Library Notebooks

These notebooks have a library theme. The one on the left has a collage bookshelf cover, and the inside pages are vintage card catalog cards.

The book on the right has a laminated card catalog card for the cover, and blank index card sheets for the pages.

Perfect for the book lover!

-Susan

Laminated Mini Notebook

These mini books are 2 1/2 inches wide by 3 inches tall, with a 1 inch book ring at the top. The laminated covers make them perfect for use anywhere that might get a little messy- the garage, the kitchen, the glove compartment, and even your purse!

The inside contains 50 blank index card pages. I make them in a whole heap of patterns, with a chipboard back cover (also laminated). They come in very handy and also make a great little gift.

-Susan

Matchbooks

These are another cool way to use up small scraps and small stickers or other embellishments. The cardstock is folded matchbook-style, with notepapers stapled inside. These can be done with and theme and make great gifts!

I've also done the same with paint color samples from the home store. When we paint a room I always ended up with lots of rejected samples, and they are too pretty to throw out.

- Susan

Envelope Notebooks

These are found airmail envelopes glued together with paper pages stapled in. These make a tall skinny notebook that (I think!) looks very hip.

As usually happens with me, each notebook has different papers inside.

- Susan

Floral Notebook

This notebook was a thrift store find. I ripped off the existing front and back cover pages and recovered the existing chipboard with patterned floral paper.

I then added the ribbon and created the double punched flower with a center stamp. I also added a little "To Do" banner to give the notebook a purpose.

This notebook is posted at the Tuesday Trigger Winter Blossoms Challenge.

-Susan

While You Were Out

I found a stack of the pink "While you were out" message pads at a resale store and decided to dress them up. I created custom covers out of upcycled chipboard then added embellishments.

These would have looked lovely on my desk back when I was an Administrative Assistant.

-Susan

Vintage Images

These are plain notepads that I've decorated with vintage papers, including an old sewing pattern and magazine clippings.

I have a "crisis in the kitchen" often at my house, so this seemed appropriate!

-Susan

Disk Notepad

I found a giant barrel full of these old 3 1/2 in floppy disks at one of my very favorite stores, The Scrap Exchange (more on them later)! Since they already have a hole in the upper left corner, I knew I could turn them into a cool one-ring notepad.

Some of the notepads have plain paper inside, others have lined, graph or other interesting paper from old books that I've found. I particularly like the paper from old accounting and record keeping pads.

-Susan

Vintage & Upcycled Notebooks

One of my favorite things to do is scout out thrift stores and other resale shops for old books and paper that I can make new again. I also rescue plenty of stuff from the recycle bin when creating notebooks.

If the pages in a book become old and brittle, the cover may still be usable. Old magazines can be cut up (or photocopied) to save their old images from the trash heap.

It's fun to mix and match pieces and come up with a new notebook that's one of a kind!

- Susan

Embellished Notebooks

I like taking a boring store-bought notebooks and adding my own paints, papers & embellishments to really jazz up a plain jane book. Here are a few recent examples.

-Susan

Paper Pieced Bookpage flower

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I'm trying the Japanese stab-binding method for my notebooks. This book at a wallpaper remnant for a front cover with a coordinating card stock back cover. The binding is a thin brown ribbon.

I paper pieced the oversized flower embellishment using a Scrapbooks, etc pattern cut out with my craft scissors. The paper I used is from a vintage scientific education book about flowers. I love this old book paper because it's such nice thick paper with a great off-white color. The center of the flower is finished off with an old button.

-Susan

Stab bound Notebook

I made my first book today using the Japanese stab-binding method, aided by this great youtube video. Once you get the hang of it, the sewing technique isn't too hard.

This book uses cardstock front & back covers with vintage dot-matrix paper for the book pages. The binding is a glittery green ribbon that I had leftover from Christmas. The cover embellishment is from a notecard that I found in my supply stash.

Can't wait to practice this style some more!

-Susan

4x6 Index Card Books

These notebooks are 4x6 in size, with decorated covers and plain index card pages, bound with 2 book rings at the top.

The styles of these are almost infinite in possibilities- they can be covered with any paper, stickers, drawing or mixed media and laminated or left as-is.

I love the book ring style because the notebooks can be hung up if needed, and when opened up the pages always lay flat.

-Susan

Pocket Planner

This planner is something I made just for fun and I'm really happy with how it came out. It's done in an accordion style with pockets, tags and notecards. Some of the embellishments are cut from old magazines. I love the old-fashioned style graphics.

-Susan