It took me a while to get around to writing this post, and I have just discovered a problem. I only took one picture of the outside of the journal, one picture of the journal wrapped up, and zero pictures of the inside. “Well, can’t you take more?” Nope. I gave the journal away months ago. So there won’t be extensive pictures this time. Hope you enjoy anyway!
When designing a journal for someone, the first thing to take into consideration is what he or she likes. This journal was for my eldest sister. So I posed the questions: what is her overall aesthetic? What is her favorite color? Are there certain objects or designs she especially enjoys?
In the end, I chose to create a vintage rose journal because this theme most closely answered all the questions. I covered the book cover (hmm, is that a play on words?) in a soft, strechy red fabric for a simple but elegant look. Then I put together the three inserts: lots of papers with roses on them, coffee dyed papers for that vintage look (and besides, a book which smells like coffee is quite nice), and few other random pages here and there.
After binding the inserts to the cover, I covered the outside of the spine of the journal with a rose themed ribbon. Using an identical but skinnier ribbon, a small white hairband, and a button I created an book band to hold the notebook closed when not in use.
Personalizing the book came next. I added stickers and pockets with goodies throughout the book along with a couple different letters to the recipient. Then, since it was a gift, I wrapped it in a silky scarf and tied it closed with red thread.
Overall, this was perhaps my favorite journal so far. It wasn’t amazingly hard, although it did take several hours on different days to complete it! But if you have the spare time, making a journal―especially as a gift―is a wonderful and fun task.