I’m pretty sure this is my first post in Paper & Vinyl crafts, I’m not a natural papercrafter.
I am a journaller, but I’ve always used pre-made journals and scrapbooks, and they’ve typically been low in art and high in functionality / text. Recently I’ve become obsessed with making journals and scrapbooks from scratch. It seemed like a perfect item for the Summerween swap (see: Summerween Swap Gallery )
I didn’t take progress pictures, but I started with a large piece of cardstock that I folded into an accordeon first, like this: W. To get the dimensions right, I did a miniature version first from a cardboard food box.
The front and back cover are made from fabric - the front from sturdy cross stitch aida and the back from quilting cotton. To make the covers I cut a piece of cardstock slightly bigger than the journal pages. I measured the fabric, folded it around the cardstock so the design was in the right place and made some markings on the back of the fabric. Then I added double-sided scotch tape to the cardstock, folded the fabric around the cardstock (make sure it’s pulled taut) and pressed the fabric down on the tape. When both covers were finished, I glued them to the front and back.
Next, I designed each page on the inside from scrapbooking paper. I created space for pictures on one side and space for journalling (or pictures) on the other side. The shell paper on the journalling side was cut open so it’s a pocket. The scrapbook was designed to stand up as well as being read like a book, and this way you can choose to display one side without necessarily showing the other side (as you mighy want to show your pictures without wanting to share your journalling with every visitor to your home).
I wanted to make sure my swap partner @chameleonhound knew what it was, so I added text and “vacation pictures” on sticky notes. My swap partner can remove them and put in their own notes and pictures.
I am a pretty novice papercrafter, so this was quite a big project for me and I’m very happy with how it turned out!