Artists' Journaling is a new publication by
Stampington that has just appeared on the magazine rack at my local B&N. I was glancing through it and thinking how beautiful these journals were as works of art. But completely impractical as a working sketchbook. My sketchbook has always been utilitarian. I think of it as my catch-all because I need it as a place to store my ideas until I'm ready for them. There are times when ideas have been flitting through my head all day and if I don't collect them they are there buzzing loudly all night as well. For the last two months I have been without my sketchbook and have really found it frustrating. SO today I decided to bite the bullet
and purchase one. I had ideas about a lovely hardcover bound beauty but frugality stepped in and I opted for the cheap paper covered model. Still I wanted something a little more sturdy so once home I altered it a wee bit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIcdTSPPbkqBu-Qs_bSHZqzkoUcxRh8QyKAbTmgESc2l8YhINOWK0eaRMdCBzCG5kxCSzQ5lySaQNat1MviedctIm9tKC_TqueFkEiMdFN_xPOlg6FIifOaS1gWIB_BRB_Rc6rnSRf706/s200/IMG_6991.jpg)
First I glued a piece of fabric to the front cover. Then I tore the cover off of a musty old book and using gel medium glued that on top of the cover.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhLpqwWfUK4c1MdDNI4Kkh1PPrBuimXDG2tChLwPZVpegt9-v1d-ZDrsA0xvsmHniJzN-M2Bn2xBBcveaUknVdtfxnmqgdQKIiyhIny_IC2muD05tlRpnUrXQq56j9dZsUE68pVKIdbuH/s200/IMG_6994.jpg)
On top of that I added a couple more pieces of fabric, a ribbon, and a fabric cut out of a butterfly. I wish before I glued these down I had added some stitching- but I was in the groove and wanted to just go for it. Alas.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBPeFa75MMKtc6XLSS45AYLOVsIZYgU_AbANYzvKHv3arNJyI0_Ayq2t-LYFUeZuYUIiYF7RJo66j3V_onfwWJmhfDMGcFQS1P709nE61mIluKpqHE6lgTSznSGqnFRWB8XXqzDjmx_FA/s200/IMG_6995.jpg)
Then, to reinforce the cover I punched holes in all the corners of the hardcover and added grommets.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKFvbMl1s7uNN5P9BSbdr7_I6o6jUd490VDjE15K6e_NWeyJ3SO9k-tLrr8_A7_PV_73bW8qxP7sYjrSNravdWkkkdbChu8S8ozBiODwe8T3C9tnULd-MQf_mn41wS_xTcyUSNFDouSTD/s200/IMG_6997.jpg)
Finally, I added some details. The "My sketchbook '09" with colored pencil, some stick on gems, and a few rub-ons. I also cut scraps of fabric and tied them to the wire binding.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjiaUgTTw7OFDfQNsO8M737VowEqHfDWjndUt9iWlXmrlwFL6m2Y6LQzI48Sb18dCtdId-nDtaF6K1S3ru4W_sU7rxmYHrAVPM-XC9v-b7z6HAGdaUB4ye_qZlsMsoXpHSy2rLSYWVMsP/s200/IMG_7000+crop.jpg)
Voila! Completely personalized as well as a bit more durable!
1 comment:
LOVE IT!
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