Make Me a Journal Swap (SIGNUPS CLOSED!; SEND BY 3/3/08)

[sowingdiva]

This looks super neat! Just sent in my info!! Can't wait to see partners!!!

[sugar-magnolia]

Ooh, I wish I could... I was planning on it, and then I found out my portfolio evaluation date at FIT-- March 1st.  So I won't have time.     Darn.  But I'll definitely be oohing and aahing over all your lovely creations in the gallery!

[Catiana]

i really want to join this swap but i've never made a journal before! Is that okay? I would definently be putting my best into making my first one though.

[Ms Marple]

There are other beginners in the swap, including me  I thought this was a great occasion to motivate myself to try a craft I've wanted to do for a long time!!

ps Ren, I'm in the UK too! (although Swedish by birth...)

[craftybernie]

ooh ooh, I'm in the UK too!   

[Ren]

Yay, more UK crafters!

Catiana, you should definitely give the swap a go, there are so many helpful tutorials here on Craftster and on other websites on making journals from scratch or decorating them.

I've got a simple tutorial on how to make a Japanese-style sewn book.

Materials
+20 sheets of A6 paper
+Two covers, A6 size, slightly thicker or stronger than the pages but not too stiff
+75cm/750mm/30in of strong thread (I usually use the full 6 strands of embroidery floss)

Tools
+Needle
+Bulldog clips
+Cutting Mat

1. Assemble the pages, lining them up evenly along the spine. Put covers in place and when you're satisfied with the position, clamp the pages together with bulldog clips. It's best to put a scrap of cardboard between the clips and the book so stop any indent being left behind.

2. Now we need to make 4 holes along the spine. They don't necessarily need to be uniformly spaced but it does tend to look nicer for this type of stitching. Make sure the 4 holes are big enough for thread to pass through several times.

3. Now it's time to stitch! Start by stitching at the 3rd hole, from front to back. Leave the tail of the thread hanging, take the needle through this hole, over the spine, and in through the same hole again from the back, pulling the thread firmly, but not too tight. Insert the needle up through the second hole and again over the spine and back through the same hole. At this point, the spine will start to feel firm. Continue to the first hole at the head of the book, where you'll need to stitch over the spine, then back through the same hole again, over the head and back through the same hole again (You'll pass the needle through the hole three times in all). Take the needle back through the second hole and then the third, filling in the spaces you left on the way up. Stitch the fourth hole the same way as the first hole, going over the spine and the tail, passing the needle three times into the same hole. Finish by coming back into the third hole where you started. Tie the two tail threads together.

4. Use the tail ends as an extra decoration feature to the book. You can attach beads or buttons. Alternatively, these threads can be cut short then fanned out by separating the fibres with a needle, or left long and adorned with buttons, shells, feathers or small trinkets. As the thread is on show on the outside of the book, it's important for the thread to compliment the covers; compliment or contrast with colour and/or texture.

If you're confused with the way I've worded this, I'll try and get some photo's uploaded. :]

[IHearTreesCry]

i really want to join this swap but i've never made a journal before! Is that okay? I would definently be putting my best into making my first one though.

If you scan through this swap thread, there are multiple posts with links to tutorials and ideas that seems to have given all of us beginners much more confidence that we can do this. However, if you're still unsure of your bookmaking abilities, there is the option to buy a blank book and decorate it and probably receive the same...there are about 5 people so far that will be going that route and that's cool beans too!

[Jennickell]

I found this link as well:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_paper_crafts_books/article/0,,HGTV_3288_3273673,00.html


Has anyone ever seen the movie Wet,Hot American Summer? There is a scene where Paul Rudd is writing in a book and this girl asks "What are you doing?
"Writing in my gournal "(saying gournal with a G)
"You mean your journal"
"That's what I said"

Anyways, it's an inside joke between me and my sis, so I made her one for christmas that said "Emily's Gournal".
But I digress, anywho, I am still really excited about this swap.

[Crimp]

Whoop whoop! I 'm in 

[Rain]

Yay, first swap in like... 8 months. I'm very excited!