... homemade journal ...

[playpen]

My admiration for your beautiful work knows no bounds.

[raigne]

These are all amazing, and I'm amazed it never occurred to me to learn how to assemble my own journal. I will have to try this, because I really like the paperblanks journals that have the bare spine, and after seeing your various journals here, they look like they'd be simple to make.

 

Not that I need another craft hobby, of course, I have enough unfinished projects of all kinds lying around.

 

I look forward to seeing more of your work.

[TMLee]

Tks 'playpen'

Tks 'raigne'

... More to come ...

 

 

[TMLee]

This is Journal #24 - Red Flowers. To be given away as well.

 

A simple hardbound journal.

 

I found this nice floral print in a quilting shop

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/2f836668.jpg

 

I used a piece of white pigskin for the spine. As usual, I pared it down as thin as I dared. This skin is much easier to skive. I am not sure why. Again I decided to use the reverse side (greyish instead of bright white) as it looked and felt nicer.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/f7feb356.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/ab0029ee.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/c4c3d0f2.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/15be0490.jpg

 

Used whatever leftover boards I could find and glued the fabric on.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/487829cb.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/5bb9cc9a.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/56bb5130.jpg

 

The bookblock with the mull glued on.

The paper here was GALGO Ivory Laid 100gsm, watermarked. Not bad. It took FP ink decently.

6 signatures, 4 folios each. Coptic stitched with ORAL-B dental floss - waxed. 7 lengths.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/b2a3b054.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/d71e87b9.jpg

 

I chose a light cool grey for the flyleaves

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/d83c08f7.jpg

 

Some of the closeup of the details

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/9a5c1c51.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/9c744b1b.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/6734d60b.jpg

 

The finished product with an Etruria Alter Ego for scale.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/7cb5bdde.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/e0b5bdc5.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/5688f840.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/2f8a3c5d.jpg

 

The colophon and matching pocket.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2024%20red%20Flowers/69515142.jpg

Edited December 29, 2008 by TMLee

[Sailor Kenshin]

I attempted some 'simple' bookbinding once. Simple it is not. (I couldn't even find the correct papers and boards)

 

This is amazing work.

[TMLee]

Tks Sailor K ...

 

This is Journal #25 - FP Print

 

It occurred to me that I could 'make' my own decorative coversheets.

This is one of my doodles from sometime back, posted here in other threads. A5 size. Blue FP ink on cartridge paper.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/e19c3c58.jpg

 

I photocopied it on EFALIN paper - the paper you see used on yr common desktop wirebound calendars.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/660566e0.jpg

 

This is the first time I am making a journal with rounded corners. Used a rounded corner punch.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/a8fcab2e.jpg

 

Proceeded to make the cover. Which also had rounded corners cut into it.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/c5897204.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/4b136319.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/f1f3532d.jpg

 

The finished cover

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/2dfff21f.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/2a8c32fb.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/e8e9fa34.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/61e73255.jpg

 

The Bookblock. Coptic stitched with ORAL-B dental floss waxed. Headband added. 6 signatures , 4 folios each. CONQUEROR Laid paper 100gsm, Brilliant white, watermarked. No probs whatsover with FP ink as is expected in the consistent quality of Conqueror paper.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/38f98a9f.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/3194f8f3.jpg

 

The original sketch in blue and copied in colour (enlarged) , used as flyleaves. A mistake cos the plain copy paper is too thin for gluing. A nightmare. I regret - its no longer 'perfect' .

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/3e22b023.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/f4be3e6e.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/3ba55c40.jpg

 

Using the same coloured copy to make the pocket.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/bfbca714.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/487a59ee.jpg

 

... cont'd / - ...

Edited January 1, 2009 by TMLee

[TMLee]

... cont'd/ -

 

The finished product.

The solid white of the EFALIN coversheet is perfect. Slightly off-white, looks great with black n white graphics.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/ac9d3f63.jpg

 

With an Etruria Alter Ego for scale.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/bfa124b8.jpg

 

Face down

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2025%20FP%20print/5cf93b72.jpg

 

Thumbing thru my other sketches, seeing what next to use ....

 

 

[elmer42]

Wow, those are some nice looking journals. I was thinking about making one a few days ago, and now, seeing this thread, I aspire to do so even more.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Now that last one is really CUTE.

 

Who knows--I might even delve into making journals again, though nothing to compare to yours!

[TMLee]

This is Journal #26 - Handphone print

 

Continuing with the series on white hardbacks bearing my doodles from the past.

 

The doodle from a time when HPs were still like this

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/d9f73c3e.jpg

 

Photocopied onto EFALIN white paper

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/2589665f.jpg

 

The bookblock stitched , glued , and mull added. Same CONQUEROR paper Laid. Brilliant white 100gsm, watermarked. Coptic stitched with dental floss waxed ORAL-B. 6 signatures, 4 folios each.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/b70c55f5.jpg

 

Again , this time with rounded corners

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/5e65eefb.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/61c39005.jpg

 

I made a photocopy of the same for the flyleaves

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/823fb4f1.jpg

 

The finished cover

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/a524d700.jpg

 

The finished product. The rear ...

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/34049d68.jpg

 

The flyleaves overall

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/76f2a302.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/45ec9464.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/0dc32277.jpg

 

The front

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/7a065ddf.jpg

 

I decided to do the pocket also in matching print and this time pasted onto the inside back cover instead. It was fun and more importantly , looked great .

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/c7cf6ff2.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/5b26f24a.jpg http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%2026%20HP%20print/0f4fb706.jpg

 

A couple more on the way , same theme.

Edited January 3, 2009 by TMLee

[TMLee]

Some pics were lost in the virtual world .. so I thot it might be convenient to do a sorta summary page ...

 

Journals #1 to #10

 

Journal #1 - pigskin leather white

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/3e4fc1cc.jpg

 

Journal #2 - Red paperback http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/8852f4a6.jpg

 

Journal #3 - Cognac leather

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/c7fe0a92.jpg

 

Journal #4 - Cognac & Yellow leather http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/31032fbc.jpg

 

Journal #5 - Black with White leather magnetic closure

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/32d3a692.jpg

 

Journal #6 - Brown leather "Spiderman" http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/145d759a.jpg

 

Journal #7 - Hardback - Japanese paper

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/56d94147.jpg

 

Journal #8 - Brown leather "The Eye" http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/8587e5dc.jpg

 

Journal #9 - Cognac leather cross stitch on spine

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/aebd2d03.jpg

 

Journal #10 - Brown leather for "YY" http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%201-10/799a025f.jpg

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

Journals #11 to #15

 

 

Journal #11 - "anne"

Brown leather cross stitch on spine

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2011%20-%2015/83f915c3.jpg

 

Journal #12 - "Deborah" Hardback, Japanese paperhttp://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2011%20-%2015/bd3bf745.jpg

 

Journal #13 - Cognac leather , open spine

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2011%20-%2015/a1a09ac5.jpg

 

Journal #14 - Cognac leather + cloth http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2011%20-%2015/650f8cf1.jpg

 

Journal #15 - scrap leather montage

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2011%20-%2015/32e2886f.jpg

 

 

 

[TMLee]

Journals #16 to #20

 

 

Journal #16 - Blue Dragonfly cloth hardback

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2016-20/3c7f3665.jpg

 

 

Journal #17 - "Rata" Cognac leather http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2016-20/8a3246d6.jpg

 

 

Journal #18 - "Grappa" Brown leather open spine

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2016-20/c14662b7.jpg

 

 

Journal #19 - "Olivia" cloth hardback http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2016-20/bd7ed6b5.jpg

 

 

Journal #20 - "Rhodia" cognac leather open spine

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2016-20/cc83da82.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

The close-up of your cover paper reveals an almost canvasy texture. What sort of paper is it again?

[TMLee]

Journals #21 to #25

 

Journal #21 - "Joys of Xmas"

Cloth hardback with leather spine

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2021%20-%2025/7261539f.jpg

 

 

Journal #22 - "Yellow Marbled" hardback w/leather spine http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2021%20-%2025/8c896b8c.jpg

 

 

Journal #23 - "Brown Marbled" hardback w/brown suede spine

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2021%20-%2025/83c6a2a3.jpg

 

 

Journal #24 - "Red Floral" hardback cloth w/white suede spine http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2021%20-%2025/2d08e211.jpg

 

 

Journal #25 - "FP Print" hardback

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TMLee/Journal%20summary%2021%20-%2025/d0370263.jpg

 

 

 

 

[TMLee]

The close-up of your cover paper reveals an almost canvasy texture. What sort of paper is it again?

 

 

mentioned earlier ...

 

I photocopied it on EFALIN paper - the paper you see used on yr common desktop wirebound calendars.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TM...nt/660566e0.jpg

 

 

I suppose EFALIN is just the brand name? ...

Its heavy paper with canvas imprint.

Reason I said it was perfect is becos it works well with PVA glue, allowing me to fold in any direction, whether grain long or grain short.

It doesn't curl up quickly when glue is applied on it.

Thats why the flyleaves of this paper you see here are perfect , in contrast to this .

 

I guess the imprint helps the paper to be less stiff.

 

Just look at your desktop flip calendar. Its the paper you see covering the stiff cardboard. Must be a good reason why they are using this paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

The close-up of your cover paper reveals an almost canvasy texture. What sort of paper is it again?

 

 

mentioned earlier ...

 

I photocopied it on EFALIN paper - the paper you see used on yr common desktop wirebound calendars.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/TM...nt/660566e0.jpg

 

 

I suppose EFALIN is just the brand name? ...

Its heavy paper with canvas imprint.

Reason I said it was perfect is becos it works well with PVA glue, allowing me to fold in any direction, whether grain long or grain short.

It doesn't curl up quickly when glue is applied on it.

Thats why the flyleaves of this paper you see here are perfect , in contrast to this .

 

I guess the imprint helps the paper to be less stiff.

 

Just look at your desktop flip calendar. Its the paper you see covering the stiff cardboard. Must be a good reason why they are using this paper.

 

Thanks. I read the name of the paper before but have never heard of it nor seen it on sale, and I don't have a desktop flip calendar... ^^;;

 

Do you know of any sources that sell it?

 

[TMLee]

Thanks. I read the name of the paper before but have never heard of it nor seen it on sale, and I don't have a desktop flip calendar... ^^;;

 

Do you know of any sources that sell it?

 

Youre kidding !

Try to get a hold of a desktop calendar and show that to a paper merchant near you.

 

 

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

Thanks. I read the name of the paper before but have never heard of it nor seen it on sale, and I don't have a desktop flip calendar... ^^;;

 

Do you know of any sources that sell it?

 

Youre kidding !

Try to get a hold of a desktop calendar and show that to a paper merchant near you.

 

We don't have one of those here either. Maybe an innerwebs source?

 

[liapuyat]

TM, how thick is the EFALIN in terms of gsm pls? There's lots of thick textured paper where I am, but I would like to approximate your gluing success with this thickness of paper.

 

Re calendar paper... did you mean the cover of a calendar or the inside pages of it? Because they're different thicknesses.