1/14/08

Make Your Own Journal Tutorial

The Blog will continue to be a work in progress over the next week as I figure out how to make widgets and add a little zing here and there. In the meantime, here's a little journal tutorial for you to do with what you may. I've been going back to this one like an old friend. Its a great way to reuse what you have and see supplies in a new light. I'll be offering a few of these in my Etsy shop later this week for those of you who may have your hands full at the moment.
Valentine's Day is just sneaking up on us! I'm really excited for this pink and red, heart-filled holiday and can't wait to share some fun projects. Any excuse to make something, really.
TUTORIAL
I had an odd shaped piece of sturdy cardboard on hand so I used it as the cover of my travel journal. (It is a similar structure to the mailing envelopes you send when you'd like your photos to not be bent.)


I gathered up any old or useful non-scrapbooky papers that had also been rescued from recycling and cut them to measure 8 1/2" x 11" and then folded them in half.
I used pages from an atlas, a blank calendar page, old letters with interesting designs and plastic windows, a manilla envelope, a page from an Anthropologie catalog, an 8" x 10" picture, etc. and machine-stitched them together in the middle.

I then used double sided tape to adhere them to the back of the journal cover and sewed around three sides and in the center of the last page to secure it firmly.

I like to prepare my travel journals with a few pictures and ephemera as starting points or fillers. I also collected a few items that would be easy to add and general enough that I'd probably use them in the next two weeks. I packed double sided tape, a pen, vinyl alpha stickers, fabric scraps and more scrap paper to keep it interesting.




Its a nice switch from the usual structures of scrapbooking and a lovely way to catch up with yourself.
If you still need another crafty diversion from work, bookmark our new Red Velvet Kit Club Etsy Shop and check in on Jan 18th for our first ever Quilt Kits and Quilt Kit Tutorials.
Bissou, Bissou!

Rachel

16 comments:

EliseBlaha said...

rachel! i love this. thanks for sharing.

Vanessa said...

what a funky idea-can see myself trying this!
love the new header on your blog!

Rachelle said...

LOVe the fabrics you chose for the quilt. :)

RachelDenbow said...

ooh, thanks! Its a very feel good kind of color scheme.

katielicht said...

thanks for sharing! i really love doable, little projects like this.

cupcakesandcoffee schwartz said...

Thank you for the inspiration!!! I always make journals and then never what to fill them with :)

Tina said...

love the new look ;)

Unknown said...

Your new look blog is looking great Rachel. Love the journal idea, thanks for showing us how it's done.

JenCoen said...

This is so fantastic and inspiring!! Just what I need, thank you Rachel!!

Michelle said...

awesome book idea! =) Aand your new look is so fresh and happy...=) yay!

Anonymous said...

Lovin' the new blog look and that journal is fantastical!

Amber Ulmer said...

wowza Rach!!! You so gave me some inspo!!! Thanks love!!! I will so be doing a version of this in the future!! Your journals are so creative!

WendyZ said...

I recognized those $1 Spot cards from Target! I bought those a while back myself. I LOVE using cheap stuff... it goes a long way!

Lorie said...

OMG, omg, O...M...G
I totally love these!!! What a fantastic idea! Feeling so inspired! Love ya girl!

Anonymous said...

wow, what a great journal - very much the style and type I like to work in! I've made several spiral bound books with recycled envelops and they turn out sooo yummy! :-)

thanks for the tut!

Sarah said...

I really love this idea! You make it sound so simple. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing it.