Make Your Own Journal
I had eight panels of cardboard that folded nicely in the middle just lying around from a recent sewing project and decided they were too useful to just toss in the recycling bin so I enlisted this one to be the cover of my travel journal.
I then 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 sewed 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.
I couldn't help but sew a little travel case to keep it in as I knew the journal would get tossed around on its way through the Midwest. I reused a ribbon from a recent gift swap to keep things sealed in style.
Its a nice switch from the usual structures of scrapbooking and a lovely way to catch up with yourself.
Merry Christmas to all!
~Rachel~
Useful and fun idea, I like the switch up and keeping it funky & fresh. Love your ideas. I hope you had a very merry Christmas!
Posted by: lisa | December 26, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Love how this turned out! Must try it! :)
Posted by: Bekka | December 26, 2007 at 03:04 PM
I'm so excited about this! I can't wait to get home from work and make me one!! Hehe :)
Posted by: Christen Krumm | December 27, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Great idea. Mika
Posted by: mikascrap | December 28, 2007 at 11:41 AM
this is so fun rachel. love the cardboard and all that stitching!
Posted by: Kimmi | December 28, 2007 at 02:27 PM
This is beautiful Rachel! Thanks for the inspiration. I hope you have a wonderful time traveling to see family.
Posted by: Michelle Jacquemet | December 30, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Hey hey !!! Thanks so much Rachel ! It's a wonderful album !!!!!
Happy new year to y'all girls ! And a lot of hapiness...!
Posted by: Cristina | December 31, 2007 at 05:48 AM
I'm so glad you did this for your blog, I love to recycle stuff and your "random" journal reminds me that i haven't done one of these in awhile. Thanks Rachel
Posted by: joyce | January 04, 2008 at 12:03 PM
(whtf....?!) Posted a comment recently, but nowhere to be found....?!'
Anyway - Great Work. Really!
Peter
Posted by: Peter | January 21, 2008 at 02:55 PM