New Large Journal Die Is A Recipe For New Ideas

There has been a new release by Sizzix with a nice variety of designs from Eileen Hull. This post will feature the large journal die. The size brings with so many options for making some wonderful creative projects.  Of course the first thoughts include journal making and book making. Albums for all occasions can be created for personal use or gift giving.  

My first make with this new die was inspired by an old recipe binder that was found some time ago at a second hand store. The original binder is the exact same size as the book that was made from the die.  With a few different adaptations and editions here is a very nice book for any any size collection of recipes.

Materials

Eileen Hull Large Journal die

Eileen Hull Journal die

Eileen Teacup 3D die

Mat board

Sizzix Big Shot Plus Machine

Double sided adhesive sheets/tape

Decorative papers

Adhesive backed clear covering, matte finish

Elastic

Paper brads

Note book inserts (6" x8")

Leather cord

Hole punch

Tiny stapler

NOTES/TIPS

When the process of making this recipe book began I had not yet have the large journal die in my possession, but only the pieces already cut from mat board.  Also in my stash of decorative papers had found the perfectly "recipe" related papers to use. The related papers had to be applied to the precut mat board and then trimmed carefully around the edges with an Xacto-knife.

As mentioned above, an old find of a binder-like recipe book become the inspiration for the finished recipe book, mainly because the new Eileen Hull die was exactly the same size. 

***The older version contains dividers with food categories along with an envelope that recipe clippings can be placed. At the back of the book there are blank pages for attaching recipe clippings also and followed by lined paper for writing recipes down.***  

The inserts used in the new version are lined notebooks purchased at the near by "Dollar" store with the perfect measurement to fit the large journal. Because these notebooks come with various decorated covers some of the coordinated papers from the stash on hand were used to cover them. To create something similar to the envelope pockets of the old version, a folder was made by cutting  two pieces from coordinating papers or a heavy card stock from the orignal journal die. 

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

• Cover mat board with papers of choice and adhesives of choice. Both sides are covered for this project.   
• Die cut two covers. (NOTE: Be aware if using directional papers.)  
• Cover the front and back cover pieces, both the outside and inside areas with clear laminate material. (A matte finish, clear, transparent, adhesive backed covering was used, example: Con-Tact paper.)  
• Decide how many inserts will be included in the book and complete the construcion of the book accordingly. 
• Double-sided adhesive was applied to the spine to help the hold the spine together. String the spine of the journal with choice of elastic. (NOTE: This book has four individual bands strung in the spine.) 
• For the recipe book closure: Cover two small pieces of mat board with a metallic paper. Die-cut two spoon shapes from the pieces. Attach the two spoon shapes together.  Punch holes into the spoon (Refer to photo.) 
• Place spoon onto front cover and mark the holes onto the cover where desired. Pierce the marks. Add spoon to cover with brads.(NOTE: Longer brads may be needed.)  
• Cut a length of leather flat cording for closure. Refer to photo and pierce holes into the back cover, equally spaced. Pierce through the leather also. (NOTE: There was some difficulty piercing the thinner leather cord, a slightly wider leather strip could be easier, this was what I had on hand.) Hold the leather strip in place with brads. 

• Bring leather cord around the edge of recipe book, thread under the spoon shape and around and loop to close. 
• Create the pocket folders from desired papers and the orignal journal die. Cut 2 pieces with the journal die. Fold over the spine edge on one piece. Slip the unfolded piece into the folded one and allign the holes on the two pieces. Insert small paper brads into the holes. (NOTE: Pierce through the center hole before inserting brad.)  

• The sides of the folder are stapled with tiny staples from the front on each side to help hold clippings. 
• Cover the insert books with coordinating papers using perferred adhesive. (NOTE: Doubled-sided tape strips were used for the project.)  Excess paper was carefully trimmed around the edges with an X-acto knife. Inserts the covered books into the journal. 

• The folders are placed at the center of the book inserts with a strip of double-sided adhesive. 

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Cut the labels from card stock and place on the covers of the insert books to categorize. Or make tabs to place on the edges of the covers to categorize if desired. An extra folder can the attached to the inside back cover. 

***INCLUDING A BONUS PROJECT HERE***

Along with the large journal die, another new 3D embossing folder was included in this release. Here is a seasonal card using the sweater design for the background and also the pumpkin to showcase this design.

For the background, a textured brown paper was used along with the sweater embossing folder. To give the background the look of tweed sweater, the surface has a white ink applied to it.

Materials

Eileen Hull 3D Sweater Embossing Folder

Eileen Hull Large Journal die (label strip)

Various Sizzix thinlit dies (pumpkin, leaves, flower)

Big Shot Machine

Blank card/envelope

Decorative glitter paper

Orange cardstock

Brown texture paper

Printed paper/Vellum/Kraft

White ink (Blends-Coconut)

Felt scraps

Raffia ribbon

Brads

• Cut a background layer 1/4" smaller on each side as the card size used. 
• Cut a piece of textured brown paper for the next layer.  
• Using the sweater 3D embossing folder, emboss the brown paper following directions for embossing. 

Using a white ink (NOTE: I used Eileen's White Coconut Blends), to shade the embossed brown paper. 

• Cut a pumpkin like shape from a orange piece of card stock: emboss with the sweater folder also.  
• Die-cut leaves from green felt scraps.  
• Die-cut flower shapes from yellow felt scraps.  
• Cut a stem from kraft colored paper scrap. 
• Die-cut label shape from a pattern paper and vellum.  
• Stamp a verse onto the vellum piece. Layer onto the pattern paper piece. 
• Refer to photo position of layers and elements to finish card.

Ah Nature - Let It Be Your Inspiration

 

How can a "theme" like nature not be inspiring?  For this months post, it was suggested to use any of Eileen's dies to create a nature themed journal, other then the dies specific for journals. It seems my idea could not be made without the use of those journals dies! The thought behind this project was to make a version of a "star book" with a few twists. Like many of the projects I create, sometimes there is a need to change, or a want to change things up in the "making process". Crafting can sometimes bring a flow of ideas and then it does it's time to “go with the flow”!

This post will share more of the process with tips, hints and hacks to use as you create your projects with any or all of these versatile dies for any theme.  

Materials

Eileen Hull die, Folio Journal

Eileen Hull Notebook Journal

Eileen Hull Waterfall & Tag Thinlit 

Eileen Hull Journal card Thinlets Flower, Leaves, Hearts

Eileen Hull book plate Thinlit

Sizzix Thinlit Alphabet, #665182

Mat board

Decorative textured papers

Water color papers

Assorted decorative papers

Card stock, neutrals

Rinea solid foil, merlot

Double sided adhesive sheets

Double sided adhesive tapes

Gel Medium, matte

Verse stamp

Stamp ink, black permanent 

Distress inks, assorted, coordinating colors

Fabric strip 

Fine jute cording

Rubber bands

Paper brads

Brush

Dried naturals (optional)

BEFORE STARTING, PLEASE READ

The process of cutting and assembling the book will be given throughout the explanation of this project for the most part. Tips and hints used for this journal will follow the symbols *** and typed in italics. 

Choose papers for the covers and inside pages. ***Because of the Nature theme, the papers I chose where natural and organic looking. 

Cover the mat board for covers with double sided adhesive on both sides before adding you the papers and die-cutting the pieces. ***Because of the texture of the papers, the use of double sided adhesive gives a good bond. A wet adhesive could warp the mat board (but the warp may give the project even more of a natural look!)

Cover watercolor paper with a lighter weight paper for the pages, adhering with gel medium and allow to dry well before die-cutting the pieces needed. ***The papers used were more the weight of rice papers. If only white is available color with inks or dyes, use sheets of torn tissue paper, use sheets of paper towels that were used for wiping up paints or inks. Collage torn scraps to the watercolor paper.

Die cut the mat board pieces for the covers with the Folio die.  Die cut the watercolor papers for the pages with the Notebook die. ***When cutting the 2 cover pieces, the entire cover does not need to be cut since it will be trimmed at the end with that joins the covers and Six pages were cut for the narrow book that I made. (The explanation for this will be referenced further on.) Refer to photo showing what parts will not be needed. 

When cutting the inside watercolor sheets, only the collaged or decorative paper side will be seen and these are all folded down the center of the die cut piece. The top folded edge will need to be glued or adhered to hold with doubled sided tape. 

To go along with the Nature theme, four of the inside pages will have a reference to the four seasons. ***On one side of each of these pages, 5 cuts from other light weight decorative papers were made  with the Waterfall die in coordinating colors. Fold the papers in half and place the folded edge just to the inside of the lower edge of the waterfall die, hold in place with washi tape to keep it from moving, cut shapes. Tag shapes are cut from a solid neutral colored card stock.  They can be inserted into the pocket that is created when the decorative papers are cut on the fold. **Refer to photo for cutting.**  

For the opposite side of the page, die cut letters from an alphabet die for each season and add to the top with gel medium. Later a poem, verses, photos or quotes can be added onto the page as well as the tags if desired. 

Each of the page inserts will be adhered together except for the ones at the front and back of the book remaining unattached. ***Connect one to the other with either glue (and clamping till attached) or use double sided adhesive tape on edges of top, front side and bottom to hold together. (Do not add any adhesive to back/folded spine.) 

ASSEMBLING THE COVERS AND ADDING PAGES

Pierce or punch a small whole into the center of both front and back covers to push a paper brad through.  

Use rubber bands to attach each of the pages to the back cover. Add a strip of double sided tape down along the inside and outside of the narrow spine of the back cover.  Remove backing paper on each.  Add each page, with rubber band at center fold, to the book spine with the bands fitting into the top and bottom slots. ***Carefully place each rubber band onto the spine so they line up next to each other on the adhesive front and back. Press the bands into the adhesive strip on both sides of spine to hold in place. **(They will overlap each other at the area of the slots on the top and bottom.)**  

To add the front cover, align the holes of the front and back covers on the spine. Add one paper brad into the added center hole to the inside and spread the ends to hold together.  Add a paper brad into the top and bottom holes from the inside spine to the outer spine and spread the ends open to hold the covers in place.  ***Before adding the covers, the inside pages may have to be clamped into place firmly with binder clips or similar to compress the pages tightly. This should help in adding the covers with the paper brads. 

View of open book and pages

FINISHING THE FRONT COVER

For additional texture, if desired, add a few pieces of dried natural elements to the cover with gel medium. Layer interesting elements to the center of the front cover.  This project used a scalloped cut (Journaling card) of Rinea merlot foil sheet, topped with a Book plate cut in a heavily textured brown paper, finishing with a stamped verse as the top piece.  Flowers and leaves are cut using the dies from other Journaling cards. Color added with inks and glued to the cover.  Add  closure of any type to the book.  ***The closure for this project is a strip of torn cotton fabric that coordinates with the colors of papers for this project.  It’s layered between the pieces on the front cover in a way to have it wrap around the opening of the book and back, then tied in a bow at the side spine.  

TIPS & MORE

The double sided tapes used are 1/8”, 1/4” and 1/2”.

Using mat board for pages would made them too thick to place in a one thickness spine, making a heavy weight watercolor paper a better choice and also sturdy.  

Using mat board for the covers makes a sturdy book but not easy to turn back on itself and tie like a normal “star book”.  An idea to make this possible would be to use something different. A heavy canvas, paper leather or heavy interfacing could be flexible substitutions for the covers. 

Summer Travel - What To Take Along

Summer travels are happening again this year! Many have already taken to the road or other means of traveling to various destinations. 

A few years back I created two journals from Eileen Hull's Journal die for two of my grandchildren to take on a road trip with their parents to points west of where they live. It was meant to be a way for them to right down thoughts of places they would be going to; but also as a keepsake to place anything interesting that they found.  Here is a photo of the journals made for them. 

The journal die was also used to create something similar for two friends that where traveling to Scotland several years ago for the same purpose. Unfortunately I deleted the photos I had of them but they were easy for them to tuck in a backpack or travel bag for taking and keeping notes or information of the  places they were visiting.

For this latest journal I used many of the same ideas, but with the addition of some of the newer dies from Eileen, I made some additions.

Materials

Eileen Hull Journal die

Eileen Hull Notebook die

Eileen Hull Folio Journal die

Folio  page, pocket and flower dies

Eileen Hull Homemade Alphabet die

Sizzix Label die

Big Shot machine

Matboard

Adhesive, of choice

Old map

Card stock

Clear vinyl adhesive sheet

Elastic

Inserts for writing

Chalk tape

NOTE: To make this journal, covered completely outside and inside with an old map, I used Thermoweb Heat n Bond Ultra, iron on adhesive.  Of course double-sided adhesive sheets can be used or a spray adhesive also. Anyone not familiar with using Heat n Bond as an adhesive in crafting projects, it takes a little practice to getting the heat setting on the iron and the pressure needed to adhere different materials together. I also used another product from Thermoweb after the map was adhered to the pieces of matboard called Thermoweb vinyl. This material was applied to the covers, outside and inside and the separate inside box that was created also. After applying, the excess was trimmed carefully with an Xacto knife. Hint: A clear covering product like contact paper can also be used.

• The inside pocket box is made from cutting the Notebook die and three of the end pieces from the Folio Journal die.
• To form the box, one of the end pieces is attached to the bottom of the box with double-sided adhesive tape.
• The two side pieces are trimmed slightly at the top to be even with the box and attached to each side with double-sided adhesive tape. 
• Elastic was threaded through the opening along the edge of the box that will be closest to the journal spine; threaded through the bottom, middle hole and center hole, then knotted.
• The signature inserts were purchased and inserted with elastic to each side of the box insert. 
• Corner pockets are cut from card stock, covered with the iron-on vinyl (if desired) and attached to the corners with double-sided adhesive tape.
• Letters and labels are cut from black adhesive backed chalkboard tape.
• Add your choice of closure ... pack up and hit the road for an adventure!

New Dies, More Ideas with Folio Die

 A new release of Eileen Hull dies for Sizzix is here once again. This latest project here is made by combining the two new dies that were designed to coordinate with the FOLIO die and the other thinlit sets. 

The combination of all the dies gave me the opportunity to create a sweet little booklet to give as a gift. 

It began with a collection of coordinating decorative patterned  papers and card stock.  Die-cutting and layering the pieces and altering the folio as the base can create some fun projects. With this collection, the versatility and the ease of using these dies can result in so many interesting combinations. The Folio covers are cut without the fold and extra flap. All but one binding strip was removed for the spine to make the booklet. A single folder/page was constructed for placing in the middle of the booklet. The inside page contains the waterfall cuts.. The outside, front and back folder covers has the corner pocket attached to hold tags. The inside covers (front & back) of the main booklet have the binding die with tags attached. The booklet is finished off front and back with the Mandala die. The front shows a white shiny mandala adorned with flowers and leaves. The back cover has a black foil mandala cut and adhered with a button at the center for part of the closure. 

This blog hop will show ideas of all types to help with inspiration to start creating. This post will not be sharing a step by step tutorial of the process I used, but will be at another time.  Use this link from Eileen Hull Designs to see the post and read about the projects or use the individual links to each participant of the blog view each individual post here. 

Additional Photos of Folio Booklet

Material List

Dies: Folio journal, scoreboard die

         Mandala, thinlit die

         Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers, thinlit dies

         Card, Waterfall & Tags, thnlit dies 

         Bookbinding & Label, thinlit dies

Decorative patterned paper, several coordinating sheets

Card stock, coordinating solid colors

Double sided adhesive tape, various widths 

Spray adhesive or adhesive sheets

Ribbon, to cover spine

Seam binding

Cording, thin black leather

Elastic hair band

Button, flat for closure

Gel medium, matte 

Brush 

Embellishments 

IDEAS

Mother's Day is soon approaching and this little booklet would make a special small, personal gift card or keepsake for any mother, a new mother and grandmother.  Add photos, quotes, memories, gift cards onto or into pockets, the various tags or folded binding.  (NOTE: I have made my own folded accordian style binding for projects, and I'm really liking this new design.)

Think beyond Mother's Day to upcoming graduations, weddings, special birthdays or celebrations. This is basically a four page booklet made from coordinating decorative papers and some basic card stock. It can go from simple to extravagant as anyone likes. Any combination of the Folio Die with the other elements are a great start to very personalized projects.

***A MESSAGE FROM EILEEN***

Welcome to our Chapter 2 Release Party! Today we are sharing Folio Journal accessory dies- the Waterfall & Tags and Book Binding dies and the new Bigz L Camper ScoreBoards die! Use these elements in different size journals, cards and layouts!

Check out all the different ways to use these dies on our Blog Hop. Click through and leave a comment on each of the designers' posts and be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate in Eileen's Etsy Shop! 

Join us on Facebook Live and YouTube Live for an up close and personal look at the team's projects. I will also demo how to use the dies during the show. Really hope you can join us for this fun event- prepare to be surprised! Thanks for joining us!

NOTE: There is also another Eileen Hull die design in this latest collection being released.  It is a 3D Camper on a Scoreboard die to allow the use of heavier materials.  A new project coming soon using this die in a special way. 

Here are images of the three newly released dies from Eileen Hull -

List of Blog Hop Participants

Julia Aston

Madeline Arendt

Jennie Atkinson

Karen Bearse

Susie Bentz

Sarah Lizzie Dodd

Sue Eldred

Maggi Harding

Lisa Hoel

Jenny Marples

Elizabeth Robinson

Tonya Trantham

Mitsyana Wright

Cheryl Waters