Not so Plain Jane Journal

Hi everyone! I wanted to share with you today a not so junky journal with you...it has a combination of cardstock/scrapbook paper, paper doilies, drawing paper and graph paper with no embellishments in it. Since I don't use a sewing machine I  also wanted to create a journal kinda like a Midori. This way  I could add booklets if I want or if I want to take the booklet out to make it easier to work on my page I could do that too.
The cover is created from a 12"x12" Kraft envelope. I scored five inches in on either end of the envelope and folded which gives it a spine approximate two inches wide. I adhered cardstock to the cover both on the outside and inside along with covering the spine on the outside.

I measured and marked off where I wanted to add jumbo eyelets to the spine. I then punched the holes with my Crop-A-Dile before setting the eyelets. Next I cut a strip of chipboard slightly smaller than the spine...width wise...the height of the chipboard was cut twelve inches. I covered it with cardstock and adhered to the inside of the spine. Where I had punched holes previously I went back punched again and added the eyelets to the holes and set them with the Crop-A-Dile. I didn't measure the 1/8 inch braided elastic but ran two strands through the eyelet holes and tied off on the inside of the spine. I tied these off pretty tight since I didn't want my booklets to fall out.

I found this Jane printable on Land of Nod Studio's site. I printed and fussy cut her out and adhered to the cover along with some scraps of patterned cardstock that I cut into banners. I printed the word "Journal" from the computer, added that and then framed with a metal bookplate. I adhered a butterfly diecut in the center and added next to the bookplate and finished off with a Dew Drop.

I almost forgot to mention that before I added cardstock to the inside I added clasps midway to both sides of the cover. The cardstock covered up the brads that I had to use to secure the clasps. Next I cut and tied off twine and seam binding to the back clasp.

The inside of the journal there are four signatures and each one has fifteen papers per signature for a total of thirty papers front and back for journaling, adding photos or a mix of both.

The best part of the signatures is you can take them out and work on them without having the bulk of the journal...makes it a lot easier. I left the thread hanging from where I sewed the signatures together. I might add a heart or butterfly punch to each...might...still pondering on that. :-) Also if I want to I can add more signatures to this journal too. :-)

The back of the journal is a pocket to add loose bits and pieces ephemera.

I covered the inside of the flap with some patterned cardstock since if it got wet it could close and possibly seal itself which would be a bad thing. As always if you have any questions about this project please let me know.

Also I would like to submit this journal for the following:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #228-#229.

Thanks for stopping by, hope your Sunday is awesome and enjoy creating!