Customized Journal Tutorial

  "There is a saying that “paper is more patient than man”.…Yes, there is no doubt that paper is patient and as I don’t intend to show this cardboard-covered note book bearing the proud name of “diary,” to any one, unless I find a real friend, boy or girl, probably nobody cares. And now I come to the root of the matter, the reason for my start ing a diary; it is that I have no such real friend."
-Anne Frank

So heartbraking! Hopefully you will not find solace in this journal craft because you lack friends, but rather something that can be shared with them! Think happy thoughts!
I taught a class on this project a few years ago to a group of women and it went over really well! I hope you like it too!

      

Materials you will need:

Fabric (size depends on your journal size)

Journal (I found this fugly less attractive one at the dollar store!)

Scissors

All purpose craft glue

Elastic

Embellishments of your choice

Matte board or thin cardboard (cereal box/cracker box is perfect!)

1st step: Lay your journal flat on your fabric and cut out with a 1" allowance on all sides and set aside

Measure the inside cover of your journal and cut 2 pieces of cardboard out to that size.

Lay the 2 pieces of cardboard out on remaining fabric and cut out with a 1" allowance on all sides. Set aside.

This is where you are going to get a little messy! Take your glue and apply a liberal amount to the front cover of your journal. Use your finger to smear the glue around on the cover making sure there is an even layer. Clean off fingers with a wet paper towel...hurry!

Lay your fabric on your glued surface and gently smooth out any ripples, creases, or bumps. Allow to dry and then proceed to do the same steps to the back cover and binding. Allow to dry.

Once your glue has had time to dry, open your journal slightly to find the line of the binding. Make 2 small cuts in your fabric stopping at the edge of the book. Apply a very small drop of glue to the fabric and use a toothpick to tuck the flap of fabric into the binding.

Next, apply a line of glue to the edges of the inside of the cover and fold fabric over. You may need to use your finger to smooth the glue down again to assure even coverage.

         

When you get to the corners, fold them in like a present and glue down and continue to glue the remaining edge down.

        

If you are wanting any kind of ribbon on your journal, this is when you will need to adhere it. Glue the ends of your elastic to the inside and back of your journal. Glue the ends to the inside cover and entire length of the ribbon to the front of your journal. See below:

Now you will want to get your cardboard and fabric. Notch out the corners of the fabric and begin to apply glue to one entire side. Again, gently smooth away any bumps or imperfections. Allow to dry.

Then apply glue to the edges (like you did to the inside cover of your book) and fold fabric in. Allow to dry.

    

After glue has dried, glue your cardboard onto the inside cover of your journal to hide the mess and decorating the inside! Close journal and stack heavy books on top to weight down all layers for a more finished look. Add any embellishments or notions of your choice to the cover and you will have one darling diary! 

Congrats! You are done! If you are going to be having a baby you can use it to write down all the milestones and memorable moments If you are going on a trip you can use it to hold postcards, ticket stubs, and mementos to look back on one day. Or if you are like me, you need to carry one of these around with you to jot down any ideas, creative thoughts, inspiration that strikes you! 

    

            

Journal: $1.00

Fabric: $5.00

Elastic: .30 cents

(glue and embellishments I had on hand)

_________________________________

Total cost: $6.30

Total time to complete project: 1 hr. 20 minutes