By DENA FISHBEIN
Whenever I see blank books on sale at my local discount store I scoop them up, knowing I'll put them to good use. Whether used to record private thoughts or just for grocery lists, a pretty, embellished journal makes picking up a pen that much more fun.
And, of course, they make fabulous gifts.
Often, my favorite designs are simply layered elements I happen to think are nice. Buttons, ribbons, rickrack _ whatever suits my mood at the time. But it can also be fun to design around the theme of the journal. For instance, a gardening journal can be embellished with velvet leaves and paper flowers. Kitchen-related images go well with a recipe book, while a moon and stars are perfect for a dream diary.
You may even want to make yourself a special journal for recording notes on your embellishment projects. You can track what worked well, what you'd do differently, and even sketch special designs you want to remember. You may be surprised at how fun it can be to reflect back on your crafting adventures.
Gather:
Hard-spined (not spiral) blank book
Paper or fabric
Scissors
Permanent spray adhesive
Brayer (optional)
Ruler
Embellishments
Adhesives (craft glue, double-sided tape, etc.)
Create:
1. Open the blank book and measure the width and height of the front, back, and spine combined. Cut fabric or paper to be 1/2-inch larger on all sides.
2. Spray the back of fabric or paper with permanent spray adhesive. Place the open journal with its covers down on the adhesive-coated fabric or paper.
3. Smooth the fabric or paper cover with your fingers or, for a large surface, a brayer. Note: For best results, be patient with this step. Keep at it until all air bubbles and wrinkles are removed.
4. Miter the corners of the cover material by clipping them to be one-eighth of an inch longer than the corners of the blank book.
5. Cut two slits into the excess cover material at the top of the spine. The distance between the slits should be the width of the spine. Tuck the excess material into the space between the original cover of the journal and the bound pages. Repeat to finish covering the bottom of the spine.
6. Press the excess edges into place around edges of each of the covers.
7. Decorate the front using an appropriate adhesive for each embellishment. For instance, heavier items may need superglue or hot glue, while paper items may do better with low-moisture glue dots or double-sided tape.
8. To finish the inside front cover, spray adhesive on the first page of the blank book and press it over the inside cover. Repeat to finish the inside back cover.
(Dena Fishbein hosts the television show Embellish This! aired monthly on the DIY Network. To ask her how to embellish anything, email her at dena(at)denadesigns.com or check out other ideas at www.diynetwork.com.)
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