I'm A Sad, Pathetic Stationery Junkie.

[Anne-Sophie]

On 1/11/2024 at 9:41 PM, Misfit said:

Here is the first of my Levenger order. It’s the Jotlet, filled with Levenger’s 3” x 5” cards. The rings are clear, and in the photo they are showing the Leuchtturm Copper notebook that’s under the Jotlet. 
 

 

 

The cover reminds me of ice cream colors. 

 

It is extremely cute!

 

I keep trying to convince myself that I need something similar but...a cheap paper notepad of that dimension is preferred for reading notes.  

 

I will be opened to suggestions for a glued blank notepad, the price point is the main concern.

[Anne-Sophie]

On 1/11/2024 at 9:41 PM, Misfit said:

Here is the first of my Levenger order. It’s the Jotlet, filled with Levenger’s 3” x 5” cards. The rings are clear, and in the photo they are showing the Leuchtturm Copper notebook that’s under the Jotlet. 
 

 

 

The cover reminds me of ice cream colors. 

 

It is extremely cute!

 

I keep trying to convince myself that I need something similar but...a cheap paper notepad of that dimension is preferred for reading notes.  

 

I will be opened to suggestions for a glued blank notepad, the price point is the main concern.

[TMLee]

On 1/26/2024 at 5:04 AM, Anne-Sophie said:

 

They look fun and now, I am completely stomped by your technique.

 

The center embossed area is the small color as the main leaf, how come?

 

 

 

I am not sure I understand your question.

 

I don't think you are asking about the red stitches , right?

 

This is a simple one piece covering material over the greyboards.

 

Before the ITOYA wrapping paper is mounted over the greyboards, the greyboards are modified to carry the emboss / deboss effect.

Cards are pasted over these greyboards to form the emboss/deboss pattern which you see in the pics reflections.

 

Then just glue the ITOYA paper over these dried modified covers , and this is the end result.

☺️

 

 

[DilettanteG]

I think this belongs here: my favorite journal manufacturer, Graphic Image, seems to have discontinued their calf bound 11" lined journals. I only really use the 9" 221 page versions as the 11" 384 page versions verge into tome territory. (Think Frodo and Bilbo's red book from the Lord of the Rings.) Despite this, I bought three of the discontinued ones from an eBay vender I've used successfully for discontinued Graphic Image products in the past. Tossed another 9" journal embossed with my username initials and a pocket notebook in brown crocodile print leather in the cart to justify shipping.

 

Since they're not directly from the manufacturer, my usual initials and volume numbers won't be stamped on them. I'm thinking maybe trying to label them myself with stencils and gold or silver leather paint. Because that's what I need: another project. Hmm...

[txomsy]

10 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

ince they're not directly from the manufacturer, my usual initials and volume numbers won't be stamped on them. I'm thinking maybe trying to label them myself with stencils and gold or silver leather paint. Because that's what I need: another project. Hmm...

 

If you do, let us know how it works out. I, for one, would like to know more about it.

[DilettanteG]

1 hour ago, txomsy said:

 

If you do, let us know how it works out. I, for one, would like to know more about it.

I’m not very crafty, but I’ll give it a shot and report back!

[XYZZY]

10 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

I’m not very crafty, but I’ll give it a shot and report back!

Some alternative ideas, at the risk of creating a new rabbit hole for you 🙂

 

I would look into dry transfer lettering for this, but I'm not sure about how well they might hold up to regular use.  I don't usually label my journals until they're full and ready to be stuck on a shelf.  Assuming you find a font/color/size that you like you can get some very nice letters.

 

Or... Marvy Uchida makes paint pens with a chisel tip, and if you've got a nice hand you could do your lettering that way.  Make sure to get their "Premium Gold", as the regular(cheaper) gold is more "gold-like" than gold.  I can find them in local Ben Franklin and Michaels stores, although Amazon has a better selection, and uchida.com a full selection.  https://uchida.com/products/decocolor-premium?_pos=1&_sid=e0c2f5364&_ss=r is specifically what I'm talking about.  My local Ben Franklin has a board with sample writing from different brands of paint pens and the Premium Gold is better than the other three or four brands that they carry.

[DilettanteG]

Thanks @XYZZY That's very helpful. I wish I could find a company that does gold stamping for leather journals locally, but I saved so much buying these Graphic Image calf bound journals from eBay, figuring out how to personalize and label them is totally worth it. 

 

I know it's extremely bourgeoisie of me, solid middle class yankee values here when it comes to saving money, but I actually think I enjoy things more when I feel like I got a deal. Learning how to personalize leather goods is just the icing on the cake. 

[XYZZY]

1 hour ago, DilettanteG said:

I know it's extremely bourgeoisie of me, solid middle class yankee values here when it comes to saving money, but I actually think I enjoy things more when I feel like I got a deal. Learning how to personalize leather goods is just the icing on the cake. 

Then you clearly need to get a used hot foil press so that you can do the budget bourgeoisie thing.😉

[Gloucesterman]

2 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

Thanks @XYZZY That's very helpful. I wish I could find a company that does gold stamping for leather journals locally, but I saved so much buying these Graphic Image calf bound journals from eBay, figuring out how to personalize and label them is totally worth it. 

 

I know it's extremely bourgeoisie of me, solid middle class yankee values here when it comes to saving money, but I actually think I enjoy things more when I feel like I got a deal. Learning how to personalize leather goods is just the icing on the cake. 

Look for a place that sells leather and/or luggage. I would wager that they may offer personalization and if so, probably in gold leaf or gold color, at least. That would be my first search focus.

[DilettanteG]

@XYZZY  Those hot foil presses are pretty tempting. I'm doing a Low Buy month in February, so I have some time to think about it. I just spent months decluttering and organizing my house though, and I'm not sure I want to give up the space that a  press would require or the time to really master it.  I'm  leaning towards @Gloucesterman's suggestion of finding a leather specialist. So far all I've turned up are gold foil printers. So, now I'm back to wanting engraved stationary. Definitely just fell down the rabbit hole.

 

This is the effect I'm going for. The manufacturer, Graphic Image,  offers personalization on their website, but their prices are pretty steep. Jenni  Beck also does personalization in house. I've got gold stamped journals from Graphic Image and some Silver stamped ones from Jenni Blick when they had store branded Graphic Image journals available called Sag Harbor with blue silvered edged pages instead of the usual cream pages with gold. Both are just a joy to use,

 

I still need to figure out the best way to number the spines.

 

 

 

Here's a link if any one needs it. Avoid the bonded leather journals. The leather flaked off and fell apart on all of mine. Grrrr!

 

https://www.graphicimage.com/collections/leather-hardcover-journals

[Misfit]

I got some little notebooks today. 
 

[DilettanteG]

1 hour ago, Misfit said:

I got some little notebooks today. 
 

S that your new Chiefs pen? It’s very cute.🥰 

[Misfit]

@DilettanteG good recall on your part. Yes it is. I paid an extra $10 to get a 1.1mm stub nib on it. 

[DilettanteG]

53 minutes ago, Misfit said:

@DilettanteG good recall on your part. Yes it is. I paid an extra $10 to get a 1.1mm stub nib on it. 

Nice!

[ParramattaPaul]

I bought a journal last year with the plan to begin daily journaling at the beginning of the new year, and I kept to my plan. I started on new year's day and continued diligently. That is, I did for the best part of three weeks. By then, the repetitious entries made it undeniably clear that I'm a boring man living an uninteresting life.  I am happy with with my dull life, but journaling about it could be done with a rubber stamp. It just isn't "me".

 

Anyone need a slightly used blue covered journal missing the first 18 or so pages?

[Misfit]

@ParramattaPaul even if life seems boring, it’s still worth it to write. You can do like I do. Look back to see what you ate, or watched on tv, or when you got up.  Write when the weather is bad, or good. Write about good ideas you saw or read about. Make lists. 

[DilettanteG]

1 hour ago, Misfit said:

@ParramattaPaul even if life seems boring, it’s still worth it to write. You can do like I do. Look back to see what you ate, or watched on tv, or when you got up.  Write when the weather is bad, or good. Write about good ideas you saw or read about. Make lists. 

Cheaper and more effective than therapy, but my diary is probably pretty boring reading. Thank God! What’s that curse about living in interesting times? Basically, I’m a hobbit enjoying my second breakfast in the shire on a good day.

[AmandaW]

My diary is boring too, but the inks are pretty.

[Misfit]

Exactly that! What @AmandaW said. Mine has lots of pretty inks too. I start most entries the same. So far I only write a page a day. I could have written more today, but oh well. 
 

Now that I have yet another TN cover, I need a reason to use two of them.  So I might use the Kyoto version to hold an insert to write other things. Like what today reminded me of a few years ago. That opportunity has happened twice, but I didn’t know where to write it out. I think I can use the insert that came with the Kyoto cover for that.