9.07.2011

leather journal book tutorial-recover a journal



This is an easy way to recover a journal and make it look pretty unique! I made this one for my brother-in-law, Nick. I hope he likes it! It took me about 2 hours to make. Simple instructions are below with lots of pictures. Feel free to leave me comments if you have any questions.









































I cut extra straps of leather and wrapped them around the book. I also engraved my brother-in-law's name "Elder Grayson". He's getting ready to serve a full-time 2 year mission for our Church.

I'm glad I could make him something that he will record his experiences in and have as a family history for the rest of his life.

40 comments:

  1. Hey lady!

    Thank you very much. I made this today with the help of your tutorial.

    What a great gift for a missionary.

    Elle

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  2. I used these metal stampers. http://www.etsy.com/listing/62016630/116-15mm-metal-steel-stamps-letter

    I know you can get leather stampers, but I didn't want to spend any extra money. Good luck!

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  3. Love this idea...did you find your leather at a particular store. Im having a hard time finding some. Thanks!

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  4. This is a great idea! I drew my sister's boyfriend for the Christmas gift exchange this year. He is an artist and wants a handmade gift. Talk about intimidating for this small-time crafter! I think I can handle this project, though! I was thinking a journal with blank pages for sketches! Thanks for the great idea and the detailed tutorial!

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  5. You can find leather at Tandy Leather, or go to your local thrift store and buy a cheap leather coat and cut that up. Good luck!

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  6. Thanks for the tutorial, I will love making these!

    Girlfriends Are Like Shoes

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  7. Do you think modpodge will work? I am coveringine with fabric. Or should I get the book glue?

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  8. If you are doing fabric, I highly recommend using my tutorial on "how to make your own bookcloth" here: http://mufninc.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-make-your-own-book-cloth.html

    Then glue it to the bookboard using pva. If you don't have pva, you can use wheat paste, but it will take a lot longer to dry. You just mix wheat flour with water until it has the consistency of paste.

    Hope that helps!

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  9. Thanks for that! So after making the book cloth, do I follow your instructions on this post for covering the book? I think I will try the wheat paste. About how long does it take to dry? Thanks again!

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  10. Yes. Same instructions. Quite a bit longer than pva, but I'm not sure exactly how long. It depends on the thickness of the paper/fabric and how much glue the paper/fabric "sucks in" when the wet glue is applied.

    Good luck.

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  11. Great job and simply beautiful thanks for sharing this with us this will be new expirience for me along with the homemadechristmasornaments

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  12. Can't wait to make this! But where did you find your leather?

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  13. Olimpia, There are several places you can get leather, try Tandy Leather. Not sure where you live though. If you don't have one of those, try a cheap thrift store and find a leather coat that you can cut up. Hope that helps. Good luck!

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  14. This is an awesome idea. I want to try this out.

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  15. I used some leather purchased at Tandy Leather. You could also use vinyl I guess. Or try an old leather jacket found at a thrift store.

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  16. Where did you find the endpaper?I can't find it anywhere

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  17. What is a bone folder and what did you use it for?

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  18. Your tutorial was featured in the 2012 Ultimate DIY Gift Guide (101 tutorials & recipes) http://limefishstudio.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-ultimate-diy-gift-guide.html

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  19. Hi, I wanted to know how you engraved the leather? Did you just use the metal stamper and push down hard on the product or is there a specific step?

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  20. Where does one find end paper? Or I suppose what is end paper?

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  21. End paper can be any paper that is text weight. It can't be cardstock. Pretty patterns look best.

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  22. Hi! How exactly did you tie the leather strips on and get them to stay?

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  23. Hello "The Gray Lady". If you're asking about the orange string, I just waxed the string first, using beeswax, and then just square knot tied the two pieces of leather together. You just wrap the journal a whole bunch of times with the straps of leather, it's not actually tied at the end. Is that what you were asking? LMK.

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  24. Awesome tutorial.

    I wanna know, how do u engrave the letters, any specific steps?

    before u glue the leather on or after?

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  25. I used these metal stampers. http://www.etsy.com/listing/62016630/116-15mm-metal-steel-stamps-letter

    I know you can get leather stampers, but I didn't want to spend any extra money. Good luck!

    Also, I did the stamping before I glued the leather on.

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  26. Hi ! Love the journal! What was the name of the leather you purchased at Tandy,and are the straps leftover scraps? Thanks!

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  27. What do you mean by end paper is any paper text weight? Is that regular copy paper?

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  28. if you were to buy leather off Tandy leather, what would be the best kind for this project?

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  29. What leather is this off of the Tandy website? And also how exactly did you put the orange string in to tie the scraps together?

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  30. This might sound dumb but how do you stamp on the letters, hammer?

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  31. Could I use quality leather upholstery remnants for this project? I've been contemplating dabbling in a bit of leather working and this has me super excited. :-) ♡ ☆ ♡

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  32. Can i use a soft cover instead of a hard cover book? :O Does it still work?

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  33. I hate Missionaries,who are they to go around and tell people that their god is not good enough and the Jesus is the only god. Its sickening. They're the reason for almost everything bad thats happened to my people. I hope your brother smartens up and doesnt go.

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  34. hello, how do you engraved the name?

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  35. As someone who has made at least two leather books, I love the idea! It's ingenious, but you may want to pare down the edges of the leather to get rid of the bulge it creates. I believe it helps stretch the material and also adheres better, but I'm still an apprentice as far as bookbinding is concerned. Google it! =)

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  36. Where are the photos? They won't display. :(

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