This is Not a Sketchbook handmade journal PIC OBESE!

[raeraethejetplane]

Note to self: Wait until paint is dry to take photos The bottom left is a very subtle yellow/green streak once dry and I managed to get the shadow of my head in the pic

I entered to contribute to the Sketchbook Project. http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject My sketchbook arrived and was less than satisfactory. The paper was too thin and the sketchbook was constructed rather cheap. So I pulled all sorts of bits and pieces from my art stash and put it all together. You can join in and discuss it on the Craftalong board http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=353126.0


I love it JUST as it is. I almost want to keep it the way it is. I did choose the theme "this is not a sketchbook" after all.

Some of the pages:






I kept the cover of the original notebook and made it the back cover. That way the barcode on the back is left intact and where it's supposed to be. I made one too many holes so my binding is really messy. By the time I realized my mistake I was more concerned with stability than looks. Front cover is also made in a pamphlet style.


Obligatory binding shot.

Other pages include canvas paper, gessoed drawing paper, drawing paper, watercolor paper, and a few other materials left to be revealed later

[Kyrakat]

I've never heard of this project, but I looked it up and it looks awesome...I might join Your book is beautiful just as it is. I love the simplicity of the cover.

[beckashell]

My sketchbook arrived and was less than satisfactory. The paper was too thin and the sketchbook was constructed rather cheap.

Oh, i'm so upset!! Why would they send us cheap books?!

You have done an amazing job rebinding yours. I might have to ask you for help once mine arrives for advice about rebinding... I've never had done it before.

I have a binding machine... Do you think metal spiral binding would be allowed? It wouldn't look as pretty though... hmmm.

Can't wait to see what else you do to your book!

[raeraethejetplane]

I've never heard of this project, but I looked it up and it looks awesome...I might join Your book is beautiful just as it is. I love the simplicity of the cover.

Thank you It's so tempting to leave it as is but I have big plans already for a few of the pages. Also, paying for getting it scanned and uploaded online would have been a waste of money.

My sketchbook arrived and was less than satisfactory. The paper was too thin and the sketchbook was constructed rather cheap.

Oh, i'm so upset!! Why would they send us cheap books?!

You have done an amazing job rebinding yours. I might have to ask you for help once mine arrives for advice about rebinding... I've never had done it before.

I have a binding machine... Do you think metal spiral binding would be allowed? It wouldn't look as pretty though... hmmm.

Can't wait to see what else you do to your book!

I'm sure they were cheap to keep the project affordable. I don't know anything about the organization but it doesn't look very large.

Thanks for the compliments! I've found many helpful tools online including some great youtube videos. I'll be more than happy to send along the links to you. Just let me know what style you want to rebind your book in and I will try to help. I'm sure metal spiral binding it allowed. I would measure the size of the binder and include that in the maximum size requirements... I'm not sure how sturdy that is though. Things to consider would be: How well it will take people flipping through it? Will it get squashed in shipping? Will it do that stupid thing that school notebooks do and get snagged on something?

[beckashell]

I've never heard of this project, but I looked it up and it looks awesome...I might join Your book is beautiful just as it is. I love the simplicity of the cover.

Thank you It's so tempting to leave it as is but I have big plans already for a few of the pages. Also, paying for getting it scanned and uploaded online would have been a waste of money.

My sketchbook arrived and was less than satisfactory. The paper was too thin and the sketchbook was constructed rather cheap.

Oh, i'm so upset!! Why would they send us cheap books?!

You have done an amazing job rebinding yours. I might have to ask you for help once mine arrives for advice about rebinding... I've never had done it before.

I have a binding machine... Do you think metal spiral binding would be allowed? It wouldn't look as pretty though... hmmm.

Can't wait to see what else you do to your book!

I'm sure they were cheap to keep the project affordable. I don't know anything about the organization but it doesn't look very large.

Thanks for the compliments! I've found many helpful tools online including some great youtube videos. I'll be more than happy to send along the links to you. Just let me know what style you want to rebind your book in and I will try to help. I'm sure metal spiral binding it allowed. I would measure the size of the binder and include that in the maximum size requirements... I'm not sure how sturdy that is though. Things to consider would be: How well it will take people flipping through it? Will it get squashed in shipping? Will it do that stupid thing that school notebooks do and get snagged on something?

Oh that's so true. Pages could easily get ripped out! Thanks

[goatgoddess]

Very cool - looks wonderful!

not sure what I'll do yet - would love to rebind but my binding is limited at best (only bound a few little books and that took all weekend  )

maybe I can practice on some other books while I wait on my journal.....

[rackycoo]

raerae, your book looks amazing already! I can't wait to see it as it progresses.

I've never heard of this project, but I looked it up and it looks awesome...I might join Your book is beautiful just as it is. I love the simplicity of the cover.

You may want to check out our Sketchbook project craftalong: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=353126.0 

[raeraethejetplane]

Thanks for the compliments I don't know where I want to start today... I think I'll combine my studies with my art today and sketch some anatomy in there. I will update the spreads in the craftalong board.

[rackycoo]

Hey, raerae, I got my book today and I definitely want to rebind it as well. Did you use the same number of pages when you changed out your paper? I'm thinking of cheating and putting less pages in. 

[raeraethejetplane]

I think the original book had 40 pages... This book has around 34 plus the covers open up into a two page spread. I made the amount of pages based on the different materials I want to include. There would have been more pages but I kept in mind the time frame we have to finish the books. This is a lot of pages for me Some pages correspond with each other to make a spread so that will help.