Homemade Journals Tutorial

Today, I have the coolest post to share with you. My friend Melody has put together an awesome tutorial for you all. This just scratches the surface of all the creativity that is in this amazing woman. I wish I could show you all of the beautiful and creative things she makes! I hope it inspires you : )


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Hey there! My name is Melody Thibodeau, and I'm honored to be apart of Katelyn's awesome blog! A little bit about myself: I grew up in the beautiful mountains of Colorado (in the US), and now find myself living (for the past year and a half) in a big ole' city called Busan in South Korea.  I'm married to my best friend, Kyle, and we're both English teachers at elementary schools in Busan.  A few things I love: my husband, my family, raspberries and chocolate, mountains, exploring new places, coffee shops with friends, and most of all-Jesus-the One whom I seek to treasure more and more and tell the world of His worth!

...Also-I'm a big journaller (is that a word?). It's how I process and study, and I've got shoeboxes full of journals from the past several years that track my musings, and mostly the countless ways God's been faithful to me through so many seasons of life... Naturally I got excited when a friend showed me how to MAKE my own journals, and I want to share it with you. These make great gifts too, and you can completely personalize them! They're fun to make and aren't too tricky once you get the hang of it!

A few examples:

In Busan-you can find all of the supplies listed below at Jisung Plaza (the 5-story craft store on one of the main streets at PNU); in the states-you can probably find these things at any number of big-ole craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc...?).

These are the supplies you'll need:

-pre-bound notebook paper (book filling)

-2 cardboard pieces cut a little larger than book filling, and 1 the width of the binding

-thick card stock (to attach cardboard at binding)

-thick, fabric-like paper (to bind book and cardboard)

-fabric of your choice

-ribbon for bookmark

-bookmark binding ribbon

-easily spreadable craft glue

-box cutters (or fabric scissors)

-ruler

-corner protecters (optional)

-elastic for closure (optional)

1. Cut ribbon for bookmark, glue to binding at top of book:

2. Cut 2 pieces of bookmark binding ribbon to width of book binding, glue to top (over bookmark) and bottom:

3. Meanwhile, use glue to attach your 3 pieces of cardboard together with card stock, leaving enough room between cardboard pieces to bend over book (about 1/4 inch). Make creases:

4. Glue cardboard piece (journal hardcover) to fabric, with enough glue that it will stick tightly with no air bubbles, but not too much that it will seep through the fabric, even in the cracks:

5. Make diagonal cuts from the fabric at the corners of the cardboard:

6. Pull tightly and glue fabric onto cardboard (even in the cracks of the binding). Your journal cover is now complete:

7. Cut your thick, fabric-like paper to be twice the size of your journal paper (and fold in half). This will join the book to the cover. This is what it should look like when finished (but check out the following pictures for how to attach!):

7 cont'd. On one side of the fold, paint about 1 inch of glue along folded edge, attach to first page of bound paper:

7 cont'd. Then paint glue on the remainder of the other side of the fabric-like paper and close the cover onto it. Press book closed tightly for a few seconds for maximum adhesion. (Do step 7 for the back cover as well). (If this step is confusing, just look at the binding of any hardcover book you have lying around-you'll see what I mean! That's how I figured it out):

8. Attach corner protectors if desired; squeeze tightly with pliers:

9. And...voila!

You can be as creative as you want! You can add bookmarks, elastic closures, etc. If you want your cover to be more exciting, sew on some buttons, patches, charms, or do some embroidery (before you glue it to the cardboard)-whatever you want! Happy journalling!

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Melody, thank you so much! What an awesome way to put your own style into an everyday thing! 


Thanks everyone for stopping by today!