Free tutorial; how to cover a journal with wallpaper samples

I have discovered that it is so easy and it looks so professional to cover an alter book journal or any journal with wallpaper samples. The kind that I am using in this tutorial is a thicker wallpaper that I sell in my etsy store. I thought that it would be helpful to share how I do these covers. I start with the book or the journal that I want to cover.

Here is all that I need to make this cover

Then I cut the wallpaper exactly to the size of the book, leaving a little on the sides in case of mistake.

I cover both sides and the spine with double stick tape

I carefully apply the wallpaper first to the front, then the spine and finally the back of the book

I cut the extra paper off with an exacto knife

Then add the accent photo or embellishments

There you go, it only takes less than a half an hour and the journal or book is covered and you can do whatever you desire to finish off your cover decoration.

I hope this helps. Here are some other journals that I have used this technique to cover.

Mermaid journal

Well, good luck with making your covers with this versatile and easy substrate. Happy creating.

My Mermaid altered book junk journal Sold

I have to admit, I love to create mermaid journals. There is something seductive about the idea of maidens of the sea swimming around just out of reach. They are beautiful and graceful mythical creatures that fill my imagination. So here is another altered book junk journal that I just listed in my etsy store. I just sold it.

Here are some photos of this lovely journal that I have filled with sparkling gemstones and lots of tucks and tags for you to fill in with memories.

page folds out to reveal a tuck spot and a tag

another fold out page

I hope you have enjoyed these photos of my mermaid junk journal. Perhaps they have given you some ideas about how to create your own. It is for sale in my Etsy store. Take care.

Steampunk Lady travel journal

I just finished this steampunk journal from a vintage altered book. I love the illustratration which came from a paper kit called Lady Vagabond. I added lots of tags, pockets, trifolds, handmade envelops and many items from my streampunk stash. I particularly liked how the cover turned out. I used modeling paste and a stencil to make the background. Then I sprayed it with purple, blue and pink paint. I added the metal gears and other steampunk items and then added the lady with her telescope sitting on a trunk. You can purchase this in my etsy store. Sold but I take custom orders , just DM me.

I added lots of places to put photos and ephemera from a trip.

This is a flip out page with a pocket in the top of the page

This is another flip out page with a pocket on top

The green page flips up so you can write under it

Thanks for looking at this post. You can purchase mixed media journal in my esty store.

Free Tutorial; Mixed media journal ; A place in Time

I love transforming a plain spiral notebook into a beautiful mixed media journal.  Here is  the blank spiral notebook that  I started with.     This is what the end product looked like. 

I created this by taking the book apart and gluing several pages together to make the pages strong enough for the art and embellishments that I put in the inside.  I was using Graphic 45 paper; Fairie Dust for some of the illustrations.  Most of the painted pages were created by using metallic paints.  I made the envelops, decorated paper clips  and tags. 

Handmade envelop and matching paper clip to mark your place

Tip out page with tag

Inside tip out page

Another tip out page

The covers were made by using several coats of white gesso, then using stencils and modeling paste to make the base of the covers.   When making this journal I also used embellishments that I made out of air dried clay, a wooden hummingbird and dragonfly, lace and a vellum picture frame.  I used Dylusions spray paints to paint everything and then added Swarovski crystals and metal dots.  I included 11 blank pages for writing in the  journal. I made a 3 strand jeweled dangle for the top corner of the cover.Then I punched holes and added two book rings to bind the journal together.  I like book rings for journals because you can open them up and add new pages or move the pages around.  I decorated the rings with yarn and fibers.  And that is the completed journal.It is on sale in my etsy store; https://www.etsy.com/listing/753986042/handmade-journal-junk-journaltravel?ref=shop_home_active_1    This journal is sold, thanks

If you have any questions or comments please leave them for me below.  Thanks for visiting my blog.

Mini composition journals for purse or backpack journals

I have recently had surgery and am spending more time at home recovering and so I am making these mini composition journals to sell in my etsy shop and craft fairs this summer.  It is a good way to take my mind into a creative place.etsy store

I am making them to fit into your purse or backpack for travel.  They are very inexpensive and would make a thoughtful gift tucked into a birthday card.

I am using some of my own photographs for covers and some of my Graphic 45 papers to make little pockets and tags so that there are tuck places to keep your memories. I am also making matching paper clip place holders for these journals.

 

These are all wonderful small gift items at a small price in my etsy store.  Come by and see the new ones that I will be making and selling this summer.  They are a best buy.  LDphotography etsy store

 

Graphic45 mini journals

I just love the graphics from the Graphic 45 paper collections.  Here are photos from 2 mini journals that I recently made from the Fairie Dust and Garden Goddess collections.  I think they are wonderful gifts for people to keep in their purses or backpacks to write down those thoughts or observations that you want to keep.  These journals are available in my .Etsy store

Fairie Dust journal

 

 

Garden Goddess journal

 

Thanks for looking at my work and remember that these journals are available in my .Etsy store

Graphic 45 journal The Adventure begins

This is the best travel journals I have made. Using the beautiful Graphic 45 Imagine paper. There are all kinds of clever pages inside it ; like a waterfall page.  I worked hard on making this journal clever and filled with different type of  pull outs, tip outs and 3 large book binder rings.  Enjoy the photo;   it is being sold in my Etsy shop;

 

 

Waterfall page

 

blank pages for you to decorate

 

So thanks for looking at this journal and see my Etsy store.

Graphic 45 Midnight Masquerade art or travel journal

I just finished making this stunning art or travel journal yesterday.  It took me about a week to make this journal from an old book.  First I thinned out the pages from the book and then I glued 4 pages together to make a thicker substrate for the gesso and then the metallic paints.  I made tip out pages, envelops and tags, a small secret book from the decorator paper.

The cover is a work of art.  I made the wings, clock and key from paper clay and painted them with metallic paints. I added raspberry rhinestones, Swarovski crystals and pearl buttons to the cover.  There is a metal clock on top of the clay clock.  I fussy cut a lady from the Graphic 45 paper and added lots of crystals to her dress.  I sealed everything with varnish and covered the spine of the book with purple decorator tape.  And I dusted the entire cover in diamond dust.

 

It is 7.5 x 5 inches and 3 inches thick.  It closes with white satin ribbons so you can expand it when you put your photos and journaling into it.  I feel like it is the best work I have done so far.

Thanks for looking.  If you have any questions, please ask in the comments below.

 

It is currently on sale in my Etsy store 

#Graphic45 Magic Masquerade art journal

I just finished this beautiful handmade art journal using Graphic 45 paper Magic Masquerade.  This paper is so inspiring.  I love the colors and the images.  So here are the photos of some of the pages.  Maybe this will give you some ideas for your own work.

The journal has 42 handmade pages and ties together with a blue satin ribbon.  I love using crystals , metallic paint, stencils and feathers in my work.

This journal has been sold  in my Etsy shop;  art journal

Happy creating and enjoy the process.

#Graphic45 A Ladies’ Diary art journal

I just love Graphic 45 paper.  It always inspires me to create new and beautiful art journals.  This is one that I just completed using the paper called A Ladies’ Diary.

I made this journal using large book binding rings so additional pages can be added.  It started as a vintage map atlas book that I took apart so I could use the covers.  After a lot of gesso, texture paste and spray paint I got to add the fun stuff.  So the crystals, feathers, ribbon roses and chain with charm all came next.

It has 41 pages that have been handmade using paper, cards and images from the Ladies Diary paper package and my vintage papers.  I really enjoyed making this journal and hope that someone special gets to use it.  So please enjoy these pictures and you might get some cool ideas for your own journals.  If you have any questions or comments just leave them below.

This is for sale in my Etsy shop at this link;

Thanks for looking at this journal.  Happy creating.