leather journal book tutorial-recover a journal

9.07.2011



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:

Anonymous said...

Hey lady!

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

What a great gift for a missionary.

Elle

reddhouston said...

How did you engrave the name?

Muffin said...

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!

mastcrew said...

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

Krista said...

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!

Muffin said...

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!

Sarah said...

Thanks for the tutorial, I will love making these!

Girlfriends Are Like Shoes

Justin and Stacey said...

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

Muffin said...

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!

Justin and Stacey said...

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!

Muffin said...

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.

jagdish said...

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

Olimpia said...

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

Muffin said...

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!

Unknown said...

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

Jennifer Laurel said...

What type of leather did you use?

Muffin said...

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.

Unknown said...

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

Unknown said...

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

limefish studio said...

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

christinephann said...

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?

Shelbie McKae said...

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

Muffin said...

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

The Gray Lady said...

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

Muffin said...

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.

The Gray Lady said...

Yeah, thanks!

Dupicalz said...

Awesome tutorial.

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

before u glue the leather on or after?

Muffin said...

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.

Unknown said...

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

Dottie said...

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

Unknown said...

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

Unknown said...

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?

Unknown said...

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

Muffin said...

Georgia, yes with a hammer!

Unknown said...

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. :-) ♡ ☆ ♡

Celine said...

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

Row said...

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.

Kathy Huang said...

hello, how do you engraved the name?

Kerrie said...

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! =)

R said...

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