Posts Tagged ‘journal tutorial’

Creativity Prompt – Make A Fabric Covered Hardbound Journal

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Fabric Covered Hardbound Journal

This week I want to suggest another quick and easy way for making an hardbound journal. Covering the thick chipboard with fabric adds additional appeal, the coveted and elusive “je ne sais quoi” :) . Yet, it is soooooo easy to do (provided you did not cut your finger in the process).

Unfortunately, I DID cut my finger in the process, therefore my journal isn’t really as beautiful as I would like it to be (see the frayed edges in the corners)… So please ignore the imperfections and see the hidden potential in it… Considering you can see this raw potential read on for the full (video) tutorial.

Tools & Supply -

Tools & Supply

Measurements -

measurements
[Click on the picture for a better view]

  • Fabric – 12″ by 5.5″
  • Patterned cardstock & copier paper – 7 1/2″ by 4 1/2″
  • Chipboard: spine – 1/4″ by 4 5/8″ cover – 2 (3 7/8″ by 4 5/8″)

How To -


[Click twice on the video to get to You Tube and watch in high quality.
While you're there, feel free to rate and comment :) ]

Step By Step Instructions -

[I hope it is helpful for those of you who cannot watch the video]

  1. Adhere the chipboard pieces to the fabric with a glue-stick.
  2. Start at the middle with the spine. Then attach the cover pieces – one on each side of the spine. Use a brayer to insure a strong bond.
  3. Cut all 4 corners of the fabric in an angle. Leave a 1/8″ gap between the fabric and the chipboard edges.
  4. Adhere the fabric’s flaps with a glue stick. Tuck in the corners, for a nice fold.
  5. Fold the patterned paper (heavy weight) and copier paper stack in half. Crease well with the bone folder.
  6. Straighten up the copier paper stack with a sharp craft knife. To avoid falling finger tips… don’t press hard on your knife, but rather use repeated soft strokes.
  7. Lay your signature (patterned paper + copier paper stack) on a soft mat (I’m using salvaged styrofoam) and staple together. Use your bone folder to flatten the lil’ prongs.
  8. Cover the signature with strong double sided tape. Some added glue stick doesn’t hurt…
  9. Carefully adhere the signature to your chipboard cover.
  10. Voilà! Enjoy!

Enjoy!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share :)

In an effort to make you share more, I want to show you the FABULOUS notebooks the talented Robin Gibson made, following this notebook tutorial. [Click on the picture to go to her Flickr photo page]:

Readers Gallery

Aren’t her notebooks fantastic?

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Posted in Tutorial, Video Tutorial, creativity prompt | 9 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #27 – How To Make A Colorful Mini-Book

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Colorful Mini-Book

For this weeks creativity prompt I have got a cute project with a unique “measurement method“. If you want to learn how to create this whimsical & colorful mini-book – read on:

Supply -

  • Patterned paper
  • 2 chipboard scraps. [use the chipboard that comes with your craft supply or with your writing pads or even cut 2 pieces from a cardboard box]
  • Ribbon (optional)
  • A scrap of fabric for the spine (optional).
  • Glue stick
  • Double sided tape
  • Tape runner

Tools -

  • Paper trimmer
  • Bone folder
  • Ruler
  • Craft knife + Self healing mat
  • Regular office stapler

Step By Step Instructions -

  1. To determine the size of the pages – measure the width of your stapler’s “arm”. [I did promise a unique measurement technique...]
    Unique measurement technique
  2. Next, determine the desired height of your mini-book [everything goes] and cut an even number of patterned papers at your desired height and double the width of your stapler’s “arm”.
    Cutting your patterned paper to measure - preparing the inserts
    My stapler’s “arm” width was 2¼” and I wanted the height of the mini-book to be 5″, so I cut my patterned papers at 5″ by 4½”
  3. Adhere every two pieces of patterned paper together – back to back – to create your inserts. [or use double sided cardstock...]
    Adhering patterned paper together - back-to-back
  4. Score each insert at the midpoint, lengthwise. [It should measure the same as your stapler's "arm". Mine is 2¼".]
    Scoring the inserts
  5. Stack all your inserts together and staple them twice in the middle crease to create your signature. This is when all your measurements are going to make sense…
    Stapling the signature
  6. Next cut your chipboard scraps ¼” taller and wider then each page of your signature. [mine are: 5¼" by 2½".]
    Cutting the chipboard to size
  7. Now you need to cover your chipboard pieces:

    First cut 2 pieces of patterned paper (or fabric) which are at least 1″ taller and wider than your chipboard pieces. Then, using a glue stick, adhere the chipboard pieces in the middle of the patterned paper pieces.
    Adhering the chipboard to patterned paper

    Next, cut all the corners of your patterned paper and create a triangle whose base is about an 1/8″ away from the chipboard’s corners.
    Cutting the patterned paper's corners for the cover

    First adhere two flaps which are opposite to each other.
    Folding the opposite flaps of the cover

    Next, tuck the corners of the remaining flaps with the tip of your bone folder. This is going to give your cover a more professional look.
    Tucking the corners of the remaining flaps

    Adhere the remaining flaps to the chipboard, and your covers are ready.
    Finishing the cover

  8. Adhere a scrap of fabric [the same height as your book - mine is 2" by 5"] to the inner side of your covers with a strong double sided tape. This is going to become the spine of your mini-book. This step is optional.
    Attaching a fabric strip to create the spine of the book
  9. Adhere the ribbon to the spine – the thinner the ribbon is, the better. This step is also optional and is going to provide your mini book a built-in bookmark.
    Attaching the ribbon to the spine as a bookmark
  10. Finally, attach the signatures to the cover with a strong double-sided tape and enjoy your colorful mini-book.
    Adhering the signatures to the cover

Enjoy!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own mini-book creations, so don’t be shy and share :)

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Posted in Tutorial, creativity prompt | No Comments »

Creativity Prompt #24 – Recycled Stitched-Spine Journal

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Stitched Spine Journal Next time you receive a package, don’t throw the box and the padding material away. Instead, turn them into a gorgeous hardbound journal, you can carry in your pocket.

This tutorial is a recycled version of the extremely popular Hardbound Journal tutorial. You can find another variation here.

Supply -

  • Two 2¾” by 3¾ “ cardboard pieces, cut from the box.
  • 50 pieces of newsprint paper (used for padding packages) measured 5” by 3½ “.
  • 4 scraps of patterned paper. Two measured 3¼” by 4¼” and two measured 2 5/8” by 3 5/8”.
  • Glue stick + double sided tape.
  • Ribbon
  • Embroidery floss

Tools -

Instructions -

  1. Flatten the box and cut 2 pieces, measured 2¾” by 3¾ “.
    Cutting the covers from the box
  2. Adhere the cardboard pieces to the larger scraps of patterned paper (3¼” by 4¼”) with the glue stick. Position the cardboard pieces in the middle of each paper scrap (you can also use fabric scraps which are slightly larger). Cut the corners of the patterned paper flaps and allow an 1/8” gap between the edge of the cardboard to the base of the cut. Fold each flap and adhere it to the cardboard, using a bone folder.
    wrapping the covers

    wrapping the covers

  3. Cut the newsprint paper to size (5” by 3½“) and fold each piece in half (creating 2½” by 3½” pages) – use a bone folder to insure a crisp fold. Stack every 5 pieces into one signature (altogether 10 signatures of 5 pages each).
    Folding the newsprint inserts
  4. Measure the height of the stack of signatures to determine the width of the spine.
    measuring the signatures
  5. Position the two covers apart from each other allowing the gap between them to equal the signatures’ height, as you have measured before. Using a double sided tape, adhere a strip of ribbon to both sides of the covers.
    attaching the ribbon to the covers

    Mark the width of the ribbon on the signatures to figure out where to pierce them afterward.
    marking the signatures for piercing

    Repeat with a second strip of ribbon. The second strip will reinforce the journal and increase its stability.

  6. Secure the embroidery floss to the cover with a piece of tape and start sewing the signatures to the ribbon. Start from the outside of the ribbon, into the signatures and through the ribbon.
    Preparing the stitched spine

    Preparing the stitched spine

    Take a peek at the finished spine –
    The journal's spine

  7. Cover the inside of the journal with the 2 5/8” by 3 5/8” pieces of patterned paper to conceal the embroidery floss and give the journal a finished look. This is the time to trim the ribbon’s ends and cover them, if you don’t wish the ribbon’s ends to show.
    Finishing touches

    Here is how the journal looks without the ribbon’s ends -

    The journal without ribbon

Enjoy!!!

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share :)

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Posted in Tutorial, creativity prompt | 8 Comments »

Creativity Prompt #8 – Making Your Own Hardbound Journal

Friday, June 27th, 2008

A few weeks ago I mentioned the importance of treasuring ideas in an “inspiration well”. Having a place to go back to when you are feeling uninspired and blocked is important both for your creative process and your well being – it keeps you inspired, optimistic and energized.

Just taking notice of your environment and of all the wonders of the world around you and the beauty of your everyday life can help you feel more inspired and have a more relaxed life. However, writing those details down can help you stay focused and inspired also on gloomy days, when it is very difficult to be aware of all the goodness around you.

Another good reason for writing all the great ideas your mind (and your heart) yields is to perpetuate them on paper (or on your computer). When we have a fabulous idea we are consumed with it and cannot imagine we would ever forget it, but we do. No matter how fantastic and fabulous the idea is, life’s endless flow of information and duties can push away the greatest ideas.

Now, think about a journal that does not only keep your ideas but also helps you to come up with the ideas… That sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? Well, in my case, making my own journal from scratch can do that for me.

This week’s prompt is making your own hardbound journal to inspire and to treasure ideas in it.

Supply -

  • Chipboard
  • Cutting mat + craft knife
  • Blank papers
  • Construction paper
  • Paper piercer
  • Needle + thread
  • Adhesive

Optional tools -

  • Brayer
  • Bone folder

Directions -

Cut two pieces of chipboard, the size of your desired cover and one narrower strip, the length of your desired cover and the width of your desired spine (about ½“ should do for the width).

Cut the patterned paper 2” longer and wider than your cover chipboard pieces (an inch more in each side).

Adhere the patterned paper to each cover – use a brayer to insure the paper sticks well to the chipboard.

Cut the corners of the patterned paper – but not all the way to the chipboard.

Adhere the patterned paper’s rims to the chipboard. (a bone folder can be helpful)

Cut a piece of construction paper to cover the spine, allowing an inch of a rim all over.

Adhere the spine to the center of the construction paper and apply glue only to the parts which are marked with an ‘x’ in the picture below. Allowing a ¼” of unglued paper near both sides of the spine.

Adhere the spine to the cover pieces, as shown below.

For the inserts of your journal cut the blank papers ½” shorter than the length of the spine and 2 times the width of the covers pieces, minus ½”. (That means that if your cover is 6” in length and 5” in width – you need to cut your blank papers at 5½” X 9½”).

Fold the blank papers lengthwise to find the middle mark and pierce it with 3 evenly spaced holes.

Attach all the blank papers together with a needle and a thread. If you have more than 10 inserts, it is better to make it in batches and attach each batch with the thread as well.

Cut a construction paper slightly bigger than the unfolded inserts (If we go back to the example above, it would be 5¾” X 9¾”). Adhere your inserts to the construction paper (I have used doubled-sided tape).

Adhere the covered inserts to the cover pieces, lining them with the outer cover. It is better to first adhere one side and than the next, by applying the glue and closing the cover on it.

Enjoy your new journal and get inspired !!

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Posted in Tutorial, creativity prompt | 12 Comments »