Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop-January-Journaling

The first challenge for the Craft Connection Group in this new year is "journaling".  I'm looking forward to seeing all the ideas the group comes up with.  With any tips that are shared and ideas for journals, my goal is to work on journaling my ideas better than in the past.

What I created is made from all scraps - cardboard, fabric, packing paper, paper & metal scraps and even paper towels used for clean up.  The only purchased element was the "ring binder" from the idea-ology collection by Tim Holtz.

Follow the general instructions given.  Any size journal can be made by just adjusting the sizes you cut the cardboards, fabrics and papers for covering and pages.  For the journal cover cut three pieces: 2 the same measurement for front and back covers, 1 for spine (the same length of covers and 1 1/2" wide).  For inside journal covers: cut 2 pieces 1/4" smaller then outside covers, 1 for spine (the same length of inside pieces and 1 1/4" wide).

Use a clear packing tape to join the outside covers to the outside spine.  NOTE: Leave approximately 1/8" space between the spine and each cover.  This will help the journal close easier.  A scrap of drapery liner was cut 1" larger on all four sides for the journal covering.  Use any type of paints or finishes to cover the fabric. Use any color combination of choice.  Allow the paint to dry completely before covering the boards. Use the same paints or finishes to also cover a large piece of brown packing paper.  If paper crinkles when dried, iron carefully between parchment paper to smooth.  Cut pieces to cover the inside boards for the journal. Again allow approximately 1" around the front and back pieces and 1/2" for the spine piece.  NOTE: Cut a piece from the packing paper about 3" to 4" wide and the same length as the outside cover.  Glue this piece to the inside center to cover the spine, gap and inside edges of the cover pieces.  Glue the painted fabric piece to the outside cover piece.  NOTE: Miter the corners in any fashion you like to use.  Glue the painted packing paper to the two inside boards and the spine.  Attach the ring binder to the paper covered spine using the paper brads.  Center and glue this spine piece in place.  Glue the two inside cover pieces in place, also centering them evenly.

Finish the front of the journal in any desired fashion.  I used a scrap of canvas and stained the edges with Distress Stains.  From a scrap of metal, I pierced it with an "M", for Madeline and then colored it with alcohol inks. I die-cut flowers and leaves from scraps and my clean up paper toweling.  All were then glued to the top cover.  I cut pages for inside from a variety left over pieces of papers.  NOTE: Jot ideas on the pages or clip or glue ideas found to the pages.  I printed some "creative" and "artistic" quotes found on Pinterest that would be inspiring to add to pages.  

Excited to see all the ideas about journals and journaling.  This blog has been a form of journaling for me.  Pinterest is a digital form with "pinboards" of inspiration.  I hope to create journals of all types and sizes this year - any form of journaling that would help me in my daily journey to continue to grow.

IDEAS:
Check out the "app" Evernote for helping to keep track of ideas.  With this app you can add notes in a variety of ways: written, photo, audio.


Make a journal the size of envelopes and use the front for journaling and slip photos or notes into the envelopes.

Cover $0.99 Composition notebooks for using as a journal.  Make one for each month if you journal a lot or make one for each season and decorate accordingly.