Hello again. I have a special treat for you toady. We will be making some journal covers from paper bags, and covering them with cloth to give them a new lease on life. Afterwards, you can fold some A4 paper sheets in half, and fill your cover with the papers of your choice. Once full, you simply slide the papers out and refill it with some blanks. But I am getting ahead of myself.
The idea with these journal covers is to use them for a ladies retreat. I was therefore mass making them and ended up with 60 in total. However, I am not taking them to completion, as we would like the ladies to complete their own journals at the retreat.
Start by opening up the bottom of one of the big paper bags favoured by the grocery shops for deliveries. These bags are sturdy and strong and will make for strong journal covers. Don't get hung up on tearing and imperfections. These will all pull together in the end.
Cut one of the sides open.
Thurn the bag outside in. This is to mask the bright colours printed on the bag, so as to avoid these prints showing through the fabric that we will be covering the bags with.
Use PVA glue (craft glue/construction glue/wood glue) to cover the printed side of the bag in glue.
Only half the bag needs to be covered in glue. Fold the remaining half over the glued side and flatten. Don't mind areas that have thicker layers or has torn. These will not be an issue as we progress.
I found a series of old German books at a local charity shop (thrift store). I tear six pages from one of these books.
I glue the pages onto one of the sides of the paper bag. These book pages will become the insides of the journal covers.
To prevent the glue from drying too quickly in the intensely warm days we've been experiencing, I glue the pages onto the bag one row at a time (2 double pages at a time).
Lay your pages right next to each other to make sure you can fit all 6 double pages on the bag. If a page ends up hanging slightly over the edge of the bag, it is not a big deal. The fabric will strengthen the paper.
Leave it to dry. It doesn't have to be completely dry, but at least touch dry, before you continue.
Cut the pages apart.
Use the cut-out pages as guides to cut blocks of fabric to cover the bags with. Be as accurate as possible, but err on the side of larger, rather than smaller.
Cover the remaining side of the bag in glue and lay the fabric on top. Flatten it.
Leave it to become at least touch dry.
Sew all around the edges of the journal cover, as well as down and up the middle where the fold in the two pages is.
It is easier to see the sewing instructions on this photo. If you don't have sewing machine, the same results can be achieved by punching holes with an awl and sewing by hand.
Trim the edges where any fabric or paper bag might be overhanging.
Fold the cover double.
Flatten the fold line. I should have used bone folder for this, but had only the handle side of the scissors conveniently at hand.
Punch a hole at the top and bottom of the spine.
Set an eyelet in the punched hole.
This is the result you're looking for. Repeat at the other end.
Cut a string of decorative elastic to be four times the height of the journal.
String the elastic through the holes you have made in the spine of the journal. Both ends of the elastic should run from the inside out, so that the two ends end up on the outside of the journal.
Knot the two ends of the elastic with a slip knot. Don't make it too tight. It should just fit the journal, without distorting it, not hanging slack.
Find some beads with huge holes. String the first bead through both ends of the elastic.
String a second bead through only one of the ends.
String four more beads onto the elastic in this alternating pattern.
Tie another slip knot after the last bead and string a charm onto the elastic.
Yet another slip knot to secure the charm in place and cut the ends shorter.
You can now slip your folded papers into the elastic on the inside of the covers. I am still on two minds over whether I prefer the beads at the top or the bottom of the journals. What do you think?
At the retreat, each lady will be able to string the beads onto the cover for herself. I only strung the beads on the two sample journals.
Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
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