If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I am a sucker for a good journal. I really am. I love literary journals (where I write my thoughts and poems) and art journals, where I can sketch and draw and such.
Since I just had the baby, and it’s been quite frigid lately, it has left me home, with no way to get to the art supply store, to buy a new moleskin notebook. And I like to start the new year with a new journal. It’s just a thing about me, I guess.
Anyhow, while browsing Pinterest, I found a very cool art journal that a woman made from grocery paper bags. Now, the problem I encountered is that my supermarket does not give out paper bags, and I usually bring my own bags (or I take the plastic ones, because I recycle them for other things).
So in my DIRE need for a new journal, I decided to make one. Here’s what I came up with, since I don’t have blank paper to bind it with.
Inside, the pages are from a vintage children’s music book. It’s an educational book that was used in schools and such. I figured, I can just gesso the pages (or rather, use the poor man’s gesso, which is just white paint. Or, if you’re REALLY broke, use that left over white house paint).
The over has a little collage of magazine clippings, which my daughter made me. I love it so much, I put it on the cover! Oh, and for the cover, I used a Ritz Cracker box in place of chipboard, which I cannot find. I could in theory, since I do know where it is, but eh. With two children, I do not feel like spending the little time that they nap, on locating my chipboard. So I recycled, instead.
Then, I used some pretty paper by Crate Paper, and tissue tape by Tim Holtz.
What do you think, you like it? You can totally make this. It’s EASY! Just learn to do a good and simple book binding. You can learn on Booklyn’s website. Then, save your cereal box, or cracker box, or any sort of packaging that is made of chipboard.
It’s easy! Find some cool paper to bind. Maybe some newspaper? Or maybe you’re lucky enough to have paper grocery bags? Whatever, man. Bind it with whatever.
Well, so there it is. Do you like it? The flowers are crocheted, of course. I used Fantasy film and Fantasy fiber, by Art Institute Glitter, and some little cabochons in the middle there, of the flowers.
This is a hand bound sketchbook, with 100 pages of recycled paper, bound with my signature cardboard hardcover, a vintage picture frame, and hand dyed flower in the middle.
I still have to stamp and heat emboss the words, “All you need is love” onto kraft cardstock, with inked edges (that coordinate with the booklets), and then stick them on with pop up dots.
This is made with paper bags also, and I used a pamphlet stitch binding for this, with pretty ribbon and lace. I’m going to be teaching a class on this very book July 17th at the Ink Pad.
What a difference pretty papers make.
Oh, and here’s the hair clippies. I made her a few, because her mother really likes the ones I make for Dakota.
Hello Kitty, because all little girls love it. At least all the ones I know do. 
We took the bus there. It’s not too far. And we bought the DVD of the Tim Burton movie, Alice in Wonderland. Baby is going to sleep now, so I’ll let you know how the movie was tomorrow. If I make it through the whole thing without sleeping. 
Cute, right? This is an easy project. I’ll be posting a tutorial for it tomorrow or the next day.
That’s the inside.
This is the other side. There’s stuff sticking out of the inside pocket. I love me some pockets.
I’m not sure if the colors match, but I like it. The flower is just beaded with wire, and wrapped around a brad, then glued onto a bezzel ring. Easy peasy. I made this flower to match one I’d seen in a store and couldn’t afford.
It’s brand new. I haven’t used it. I want some new yarn, and I figured that rather than waste money listing it on ebay or etsy, I’d rather just swap it for something I really want. So if you’ve got some nice chunky wool, mohair, hand spun yarn, or something nice to knit with, please comment here with your email, and I’ll contact you.