Ya'll Ready For This?

Jen has some wonderful creations to share and a pretty neat tutorial. Ready? I hope so.

 

 

                     

Bedside Journal (the overnighter)

I'm one of those girls with too many notebooks but nothing to write on, especially when I think of something in the middle of the night. This is a little notebook that you can keep under your bed, on your night stand, or under your mattress. So you'll always have a place for your midnight stroke of genius, 3 a.m. ideas, next-day to-do list, weird dreams, and everything in between.

  

1. First, dig through your pile of scrap paper, junk mail, notebook paper, catalogs and extra photos that you have lying around. Pick papers that are pretty or just choose some randomly and trim them to 4x6 inches. I am normally terrible at accuracy and like to speed through projects, but in this case, you'll want to keep your pages pretty even and measure somewhat carefully. They don't have to be perfect but it's nice if they're close. Click here for a free download of three pages you can print for your book.

  

2. Once you've got a nice stack of paper (thickness is up to you) you can pick two pieces that you especially like and use them for the front and back covers. Take a glue stick and 'wallpaper' the back of each cover with another piece of paper/cardstock to give it a little extra sturdiness. Stack your papers + covers in order, line them up with a nice straight left edge, and punch five holes (somewhat evenly spaced) along the edge. I just eyeballed this part... no measuring necessary.

  

3. Find a strip of fabric that is approximately 2.5 inches wide. (The fabric strips in this month's kit are the perfect size for this!) Lay it alongside the longest edge of your book and trim the fabric one inch longer than your spine edge, so that when you center the book on the fabric, 1/2 inch hangs off each side. Fold under the top and bottom edges of your fabric 1/2 inch and iron thin strips of fusable interfacing in between. (Line your fabric strip up with the spine of your book while folding/ironing to make sure the book spine and the fabric are the same length.) Then do the same for the two longer side edges - fold in 1/4-1/2 inch and iron interfacing in the fold. This will create a stiff, fabric 'binding' that won't fray.

  

4. Fold the fabric over the edge of your book and line it up. Use a page with holes already cut to mark the fabric with a pencil and punch holes on the marks. The interfacing will make the fabric stiff enough to punch

  

5. Next, take a long length of embroidery thread (approximately 4 feet) and double it. (You can also use raffia, twine, or thin ribbon.) Thread it through the top hole on your book half way, so the ends hang evenly from both sides. I found it helpful to thread a needle on both loose ends, and also to clip the pages together while I did the lacing.

6. Criss-cross the ends of the thread and lace them through the holes like a shoestring. Both ends should be threaded through the next hole, but in opposite directions. Repeat and tie a small knot at the last hole on the bottom of your book. Thread a button, small charm or bead through the tails of the thread and knot again.

  

7. Decorate the cover however you like, and you're done! Take your new little book to your bedroom, find a pen and a good spot to tuck them both away. (And link up photos of your book to the RVKC Flickr groupso we can see what you made!) xo - jen

I don't know about you but I'm gonna have to make one of those! Wicked great Jen!

Comments

[Marie]

I love that little book and like i said i am sooo making one of those lol!

[Rachel Denbow]

Damn! So good.

[joleen]

fantastic!! thanks for sharing. i'm makin' one of these asap. :)

[Nora Anne]

That is SO cute, thanks for sharing, I can't wait to make one of my own!

[Beth Perry]

Jen, what a cool idea!! How fun!

And I love your latest layouts!
:P
B

[kathryn]

the red paper with pink bicycles! where is it from ????!!!!! *love!*

[heyjenrenee]

the red paper with bicycles is brand new Hambly and it's included in this month's RV kit! (*wink)

[Heather]

This is so great. Hey who won the October kit with the quote challenge? I love this kit and all you are doing with it!

[Heather V]

WOWzers!!! Great stuff.

Just got my kit on thursday after having a REALLY bad day and just the site of it leaning against my door when I got home made me giddy!! I immediately ripped it open! I have such plans for that paper from Sassafrass with the orange and 1 little blue bird!!

[Joyce]

Didn't get to bed until like 3:30am (I got three of them done and started on a fourth). I didn't do them with the kit stuff so they are on my flickr, click my name if you want to see them. Happy happies.

[theresaK]

Jen, I LOVE that notebook...hmmmm..I should go make one now...

[metrochic]

holy moly! i'm so all over this project!

[ellee]

I love this!!! Great idea!! ^-^

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