Tuesday 6 December 2022

Christmas Mini Journal

 

     This little journal was made using the new Mini Living Hinge from John Next Door. The previous hinge made an A5 journal from an A4 sheet, this one is half the size so it makes a cute little A6 journal from an A5 sheet. 
     There are many options when making books with this hinge, this is just one of them, using it in it's most basic way to just cut a hinge into one piece of covered card and folding it over.
     The cover was made with a sheet of 1mm greyboard, covered both sides with decorative papers from a magazine freebie. This paper was glued onto the greyboard using a PVA glue and a brayer to smooth out any bubbles, before leaving the board to dry overnight weighed down under some books to stop it buckling.

     I have marked the centre of my hinge die on the back using a Sharpie pen, I found it helps me line everything up more easily.
     To encourage the fold I found easing it over a strong cardboard tube helped to prevent any sudden slips resulting in creases and cracks, the tube is from a roll of tinfoil.
     While I was planning the contents I left the folded cover with a couple of large rubber bands round it to hold it while the fibres settled down and got used to their new position.
     
     To put one booklet in the journal I chose to use an envelope type section on the back cover to hold it, this means the booklet can be changed once full without having to discard the whole journal.
     The flaps on the sides were folded over the outside rather than inside to make it easier to slide the booklet in and out, with a bracket style cut to make it look nice and to ease the placing of the booklet. This pocket was then stuck onto the back cover with redline tape.
     To make the booklet I used 10 sheets of copy paper cut in half, giving me 20 leaves. The booklet cover is a piece of double sided scrapbook paper which was nice and firm. I have been shown how to make these booklet by Clove Bindery, it's a great way to make custom sizes with whatever cover you wish, please feel free to pop over and ask Wendy how, she's very helpful.
     Inside the front cover I have added a small wallet for odd little bits like receipts or tickets. The outside is decorated with one of John's baubles dies stuck over a long length of green ribbon, there is double sided tape under the ribbon on both back and front to keep it in place but not on the hinge as it needs to move a little.



I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:
Jingle Belles - Anything Christmas Goes
International Art & Soul - Ch#148 Winter
The Holly and Ivy - Anything Christmas
Country View - Anything Christmas
Die Cut Divas - Anything Winter or Christmas
Sparkles Forum - #158 Dies and/or Punches
Kraftin' Kimmie - Anything BUT A Card

7 comments:

  1. STUNNING journal. Beautiful workman/womanship.

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  2. What a great project - thank you for the process and explanation. Love the papers you have used. Thank you for joining us at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge xx Lynda/Loopyloo DT

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  3. Impressive! So glad you could join us this month at Die Cut Divas for some die cutting and Winter or Christmas themed cards.

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  4. This is fabulous, such a cute size too! Thanks so much for joining in with us at Country View Crafts and have a very happy week, Sue xx

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  5. Thank you for playing along this week at International Art & Soul. I sure hope to see you back again very soon!!!

    TTFN,

    CraftyGirl
    International Art & Soul DT
    craftygirlcardsandcrafts.blogspot.com

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  6. THat's just fabulous! Such a beautiful die cut on the cover of your journal. Thanks for joining our dies and punches challenge at Sparkles.
    Deborah DT
    www.deborahscraftyblog.com

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  7. Fabulous little journal, Rocky! Love it!
    Thanks so much for joining in with us at Country View Crafts, and have a very happy Christmas time! Evelyn xx

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