10/27/2011

A Easy Journal Cover - My Pet Project

"A Easy Journal Cover - My Pet Project" or "What to do while you wait 2 hours while your brakes are being fixed"  I ALWAYS keep a cheap old aluminum TV tray in the trunk of my car for when I want to stitch in waiting areas and that is where this project was finished..

Susie W. had gifted me with this lovely  journal with graph paper to record seams... I had wanted to make a cover for it and guess who is the "cover boy"?  And I was sorting and cleaning up laces from the Suffrage quilt...

I thought it was serendipity that Susan Elliott posted about embellished book covers as I was working on this...This was an easy project and I will share my clever secrets with you for making it even easier.








First start with something retangle.  It doesn't have to be a correct size....just wider so any extra hangs out top and bottom  and longer so you can have flaps to fold back..  You could even combine two (or more) pieces to make the rectange...  I started with a rectangle doily about the size of a placemat....








I added all my bits and pieces before I folded the flaps back.

Now the big secret....when it was all embellished ..I laced it top and bottom with gold, elastic gift wrap cording.... just a little snug... The when slipped onto the journal it fit just perfect and the elastic keeps it tight and from slipping about plus it gathers the excess lace just a bit....




When I added the elastic cording I started in the middle (both top and bottom) and went across one way going through the flap and then turned and went ALL the way across through the other flap and back to the middle... Then I could knot the ends and leave a little hanging for adjustment...  Now it is gussied up and ready for Carole Samples class in Wichita...I may add a few beads and a button or two to it yet... And doesn't Morris look sooooooo handsome!!!!

Now don't forget to comment here to get into the Nov. 3 drawing for the BoHo bag kit...

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks Gerry for the tutorial on the journal cover. I have been wanting to try this and looking for info on it, appreciate it..

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Wow! You DID make that look easy.

Mosaic Magpie said...

And to think of the silly things I have done in the past while waiting for my car to be repaired. I bet you received quite a few compliments too!
Deb

Kerry said...

I think we must have some kind of psychic connection Gerry! Here I am doing grunt work today cleaning off the computer table and surrounding "overflow" and I am accumulating a little stack of journals I keep buying thinking I am going to cover them! I also really like the trick with the elastic - sounds much easier than making it a perfect fit - or trying to! lol Thanks again for your inspiration!

NickiLee said...

I just bought 12 blank journal last week with the idea of covering them all in CQ and laces... Perfect timing. Love your journal!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

So pretty - and of course I love the dog. My current art journal is pretty much filled up and I know I'll soon need a new one. I might just have to haul out my lace!

BCD67 said...

Wow, that is cool. I've got to try it. Thanks for all your generous tutorials.
Beryl

Anonymous said...

This is lovely - and the use of the elastic cord is brilliant! :)

Linda

Marilyn said...

Well, Morris certainly is the most handsomest guy. But don't tell him I said so - wouldn't want him to get a swelled head. I love the tip about the elastic. Its so much easier than fitting.

Anonymous said...

How clever ..... does it give you a headache to be so smart?? That elastic idea will help to keep the cover in place (irritating problem for other covers) besides making it quick and easy. Thanks!
SusieW

Rose said...

Brilliant! Glad I found your blog and your block talk one too!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Thanks for this little tutorial!

FlowerLady

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